Student Update: Learning Online, Study Spaces, Safe Travel and Updating your Contact Details

Please be aware that this information was shared with students by email and correct at the time of sending. For the latest Covid-19 guidance, please visit our coronavirus webpages: www.wlv.ac.uk/coronavirus. If you are a student who has a query or needs support, please log a helpcall with ASK@WLV in e:Vision (www.wlv.ac.uk/evision).

As we approach the end of this term, I hope you are feeling well and staying safe with the unusual situation we find ourselves in. This academic year continues to be very different for everyone, and I recognise that this is an extremely difficult time to be a student.  

The Government has now published guidance on the start of next term. This requires universities to stagger the start of on campus teaching over the five weeks from 4 January in order to minimise transmission risks from the mass movement of students. We will be in contact via email and on Canvas next week to confirm details for all courses. 

Please remember, if you have experienced disruption to your studies because of health-related issues, the Covid-19 situation or any other reason, you can apply for an extension for your assessments.  

As we outlined in a recent update, the University will continue to operate a trust-based system for extension requests for coursework assessments. This means, that where you require additional time to complete your assessment (for example, due to illness or circumstances related to Covid-19), you will not be required to provide evidence of these circumstances. You must, however, notify the University to request this extension. Requests can be made through e:Vision and must be accompanied by a statement explaining your need for additional time. It is important to note that extensions cannot be requested where the assessment is an examination. 

Learning Online  

As you will be aware, the Government stated that universities must move all teaching online before Wednesday 9 December in preparation for the Christmas break and student travel window.  

The last day of on campus teaching for most courses will be Friday 4 December. Courses with practical sessions will finish on campus teaching by Tuesday 8 December. Teaching will move online for the remainder of the term, which concludes on Friday 18 December. 

It is important that all students continue to engage with their teaching until the end of this semester. You can access our guidance for Learning Online, which contains top tips, links to essential resources and virtual backgrounds which you can download and use during your online face to face sessions.  

While teaching will move online for the remainder of this semester, our campuses are open and you still have access to: 

• High quality online teaching with academic support from your Personal Tutor or Academic Coach 
• Library services – our libraries remain open for you to collect resources and access bookable study spaces
• Careers and work placement support, through the Workplace
• IT support from our Digital Services team.
• Support from your Faculty Student Services via the e:Vision Helpdesk
• Mental health and wellbeing support
• Online and virtual activities with the Students’ Union
• On campus study spaces 

The University will continue to offer access to services and facilities during the Christmas break, and in partnership with the Students' Union, we are working on a full programme of events which will take place throughout December. 

Study Spaces on campus

We have a wide range of study spaces on our campuses that are open to all students without prior booking. You can use these study spaces to access your online learning, undertake independent study and complete assignments.  

The effect of the Covid-19 pandemic means that working and studying on-campus is very different and when using study spaces and PC areas you must check-in using the QR code displayed in each area and: 

• Wear a face covering in all learning environments, including the library, classrooms, study spaces, PC areas and walking around the campus. 
• Keep 2 metres safe distance from others. Do not use the spaces if they are too busy and you cannot maintain 2m safe distance. 

• Wash your hands regularly and use the hand sanitiser provided. 
• Use the cleaning kit provided to wipe down desks, keyboards, and other equipment before and after use. 
• Follow the signs and floor markings. Spaces have been arranged to allow you to keep safe distance, only use the spaces designated for use and don’t move chairs or other furniture. 

Any deliberate or repeated contravention of these instructions will be reported to the relevant Head of School/Institute. 

Study spaces are available at City and Walsall campuses:

City Campus

• Alan Turing Building first floor open deck
• Cornerhouse Deli Millenium City Building
• Business School PC Spaces (second and third floor)
• Housman Building Conservatory
• Mary Seacole (MH001 and MH002). 

Walsall Campus

• Sister Dora Building (WP001)
• Samuel Johnson Building ground floor

Please note these study spaces will be open until 18 December, after this date students can use the bookable spaces in the Library. 

Safe Travel  

The Government has created a travel window from 3 December – 9 December in order for you to travel home, or elsewhere, from your term-time address for the festive season.  

Social distancing measures remain in place on public transport, meaning less people can travel. You will still be able to get where you need to go but you will need to plan ahead. There are a number of resources available at wmnetwork.co.uk, including ticket finder, where you can search for tickets and purchase in advance.  

Capacity on public transport is limited to make sure you can travel as safety as possible. Everyone must wear a face covering on board, at stations and interchanges, unless exempt.  

If you are driving or being picked up from accommodation, ensure you leave plenty of time for your journey. You can plan your journey using dedicated webpages at wmnetwork.co.uk. Ensure you check for the latest updates before you travel, there is a choice of mobile apps available which you can download for free.  

To keep up to date with all the latest information, please visit: wmnetwork.co.uk/UniversityTravel  

Update your contact details 

To support the welfare of all our students, it is essential that your contact details are always kept up to date. Please ensure that where you are living now (even if this is only temporarily) is recorded in your Term Time address (this may, or may not be, the same as your permanent home address). 

To do this, please use the edit buttons found on the 'My Details' section on eVision.  

Request a Welfare Check 

If you're struggling with any aspects of the Covid-19 pandemic or adjusting to your studies and would like someone from University to contact you - you can request a Welfare Check. 

More information about support available to you can be found here: www.wlv.ac.uk/support  

Request a Welfare Check 

Please keep checking your emails and reading these updates, we are committed to keeping students up to date, and we do this by email, on our social media channels (Instagram, Twitter and Facebook) and the University Student News web page. 
 
Visit our dedicated Covid-19 web pages for information on how you can stay safe and help protect our University community during the pandemic. This includes information on our Covid-19 Reporting Procedures and the latest guidance on local tier restrictions.  

Please take care, stay safe and look after one another. 

Professor Julia Clarke 

Deputy Vice-Chancellor