*A message from Richard Middleton, Chief Operating Officer*
Dear Colleagues,
An incredible amount of work has been taking place and significant investment made to prepare for the COVID-secure reopening of our campuses. I am very grateful to so many people who have worked long days throughout the summer to enable our University to thrive in these difficult circumstances.
Some colleagues are already back on campus, others are preparing to return and many will continue to work from home for the foreseeable future. Whatever your circumstances, please take the time to read all of this briefing. It contains the latest information about a range of our key facilities and services. I want to provide you with a clear picture of what the campus experience will be like.
I trust that as you read through, you will get a sense of the immense thought and care that has gone into ensuring a safe and welcoming environment. Thank you to all those who are involved – the preparations for the new academic year continue to be a truly collegial effort. I do mean “continue” – there is much still to be done.
I will provide further updates over the coming weeks. The details of other sources of information about our campus preparations are at the end of this update.
Best wishes,
Richard Middleton
Chief Operating Officer
Respect and care for one another
As mentioned in my previous update, I know that as a caring community, we will all respect one another and follow these expectations, as captured in our Stay Safe video:
- Taking responsibility for our own behaviours and realising the impact our actions will have on others, especially those who may be feeling more vulnerable
- Abiding by all University and public COVID-19 guidance – which may change at short notice
- Self-isolating if showing symptoms or if asked to due to contact with someone infected
- Practicing physical distancing
- Wearing face coverings when required (see below)
- Following directional signage
- Regularly washing hands and using hand sanitiser
- Wiping down surfaces after use
You may, like me, have heard Professor Van Tam, England’s Deputy Chief Medical Officer, reminding us all that continuing with these basics is essential to our communal health and wellbeing.
Testing
As announced on Thursday 3 September, we are entering the second phase of the Southampton COVID-19 Testing Programme. We will invite our students and some colleagues who work in close proximity with others to take part in regular testing to help keep our community safe and keep the risk of infection down across the city.
Face coverings guidance
Face coverings must be worn by law:
- In all shared spaces within student accommodation such as communal circulation spaces and entranceways, receptions, laundries, study areas.
- On public transport including Unilink buses, and at transport hubs if indoors or if physical distancing cannot be followed.
- In any indoor space open to the public where physical distancing is more challenging to achieve such as shops and hairdressers.
In addition, the University requires colleagues and students to wear a face covering:
- Inside University buildings such as libraries, learning spaces, lecture theatres, laboratories, workshops, studios – unless you have been specifically told otherwise because the space has been designed to enable 2 metres physical distancing.
Further guidance is available on the Face coverings page of our ‘Health and Safety during COVID-19’ SharePoint site. If you are unsure, the simple rule to follow is to wear a face-covering when indoors on campus.
Some teaching staff will wear visors as an alternative to a face mask. These will be used primarily where there is a splash risk and they will be allocated on the basis of risk assessments.
Wayfinding
To help our staff and students maintain physical distancing on campuses and find their way around a campus landscape that will look a little different with our temporary buildings in place, we have been creating a comprehensive signage network, updating campus maps and the MySouthampton app. Over the next week, wayfinding will be installed within all our buildings.
Cashless campus
To help limit contact with surfaces, the University is no longer accepting cash as a form of payment. Payments across all our campuses can be made using a variety of methods, such as Apple Pay, Google Pay, and contactless as well as the worldwide capabilities of both Visa and Mastercard. All students have been informed of this change.
Sports facilities
I’m delighted that our sports facilities at Jubilee, Mayflower and Wide Lane re-opened yesterday, Monday 7 September. It’s great to see areas like this, which we know play a big role in the student and staff campus experience, starting to re-open safely.
To help returning and new visitors enjoy their visit safely, the team has produced the ‘Swimmer’s Journey’, as well as a video tour explaining how to use the facilities, and the new processes in place – including one way systems, advance booking and increased swimming lane size. To find out more you can watch the video explaining the work that has been completed to make your visit safe.
Additional teaching spaces
All the new Portakabin buildings are physically in place with most still being prepared for use. They are located at WSA, Avenue Campus and Highfield (one in the Gower car park and another west of Building 67).
The space provided by these additional temporary buildings offers the capacity for 8 classrooms, each with socially distanced capacity for 25 people, plus medical teaching spaces (mock-up medical wards) and additional toilets.
Virtual student induction
As we look forward to welcoming students to campus over the coming weeks, we have created a comprehensive induction course to help arriving students navigate their first few weeks of campus life. Many of our students will be arriving from destinations with different government or local guidance, and this induction ensures all our students understand and respect the expectations of them in our community.
The team has also created welcome packs including bedding, utensils and a three-day food supply for those who need to quarantine, as well as ensuring they have continued access to deliveries for food, parcels, post and other essentials.
Student Services – introduction of the Student Hub
Student Services will re-open on 21 September 2020. A 24/7 Student Support Hub will be available, providing the following services:
- Providing student ID card and visa distribution
- An accommodation hotline
- Processing fee and accommodation payments
- Redirecting enquiries to relevant departments
To minimise the amount of people in building 37 at any one time, students will need to book an appointment to visit the Student Services Hub. Additional measures will include hand sanitiser stations, one-way systems, safety signage and Perspex screens on the front desk.
Additional processes have been put in place for students who need urgent assistance and are unable to book.
Library re-opening and independent study spaces
Over the last few weeks the library teams have introduced Click and Collect services and digitised many of our resources, to facilitate access for staff and students.
Preparations continue for re-opening of our library buildings with the installation of sanitising stations, wayfinding and Perspex screens. The libraries will also be opening a limited amount of study seats, allowing for 2m distancing and available by pre-booking only.
Car parking
Staff can continue to use our car parks as they have been doing during the spring and summer, although you may notice a few spaces have been removed. This is to accommodate our temporary buildings which have been erected to provide additional COVID-secure learning areas.
As of 1 October control and management of car parking returns. You will be required to display your permit, although charges will not apply for the remainder of 2020. As of 2021, parking charges will resume. Current permit holders will receive more information shortly.
Catering
We are gradually re-opening our catering outlets on campus. The Arlott Bar is currently open for take away only. The Interchange kiosk is also open. Please visit the Catering webpage for more information, including opening hours.
A free app is now available offering order ahead services at University catering venues, as well as a loyalty scheme. You can download the free Upay app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store or visit www.upay.co.uk. Enter Site Affiliate ID: UOS to set up your account.
Early Years Centre
The Early Years Centre (EYC) has remained open over the lockdown period providing childcare for keyworkers. As the new term starts the Centre will be welcoming more children back and has several measures in place:
- Drop off now takes place outside the building to minimise the number of people indoors
- Children are cared for in fixed ‘bubbles’ who stay together at all times
- Thorough cleaning regimes are in place throughout the Centre
- Parents are regularly reminded to not attend the Centre if anyone in their family has symptoms of COVID-19.
Staying informed
Please do stay informed as we continue to progress our preparations. The key resources include:
- Our COVID webpages
- SUSSED News – click here to read all the posts about campus preparations
- Look out for the Staff Digest in your inbox every Tuesday
- The latest edition of Staff Matters – including videos featuring campus changes
- You can find policies and guidance on the Health Safety and Risk SharePoint site.
- Watch our Stay Safe video
