Newsletter sent on 12 March
Welcome to your latest student newsletter.
Towards the end of last month, we all welcomed the UK news of the roadmap out of lockdown – you can read a copy of the email we shared with you about what this means for our community.
This week, as we celebrated International Women’s Day and thought about what the hashtag ‘Choose to Challenge’ means for us, we know that the events we have seen unfold in the UK media may be triggering. We want you to know that it’s OK to be feeling the way you are – support is available if you need to speak to someone. This article shares details of who to contact should you need help or need to chat.
Returning to campus
Your School should have now been in touch with you about whether you need to return to campus. If you’ve not heard from them, it means that your current learning arrangements will continue until you are told otherwise.
If you have been asked to return to campus, please get tested before you travel to Leeds using a community testing facility, if available. You will then need to get tested immediately on arrival (at the end of self-isolation if you are travelling from outside the UK) and then follow the instructions for regular testing.
Remember, you must be tested for COVID-19 – and found negative – before you interact with others or use campus facilities such as libraries, study spaces, computer clusters, laboratories etc. Please remember these should only be used for essential services (see below).
Free asymptomatic (lateral flow) coronavirus testing is available to book.
Upcoming Easter break
With Easter just a few weeks away, we want to remind you that many of our services will not be available between 1 to 6 April. In our next newsletter, we’ll be sharing details of what will be open during the Easter break, how you can access support and events you can join. In the meantime, here are a few reminders:
- The Government has amended regulations to allow you to return home for the Easter break if you choose to do so. However, to minimise transmission you are strongly advised to remain in your term-time accommodation where possible, especially if you are among the students who were contacted to return to university from 8 March.
- If you do choose to travel you should get tested before you return home.
- When travelling back to Leeds after the break, follow the ‘returning to campus’ advice above.
- If at any point you test positive, you should self-isolate for ten days, not travel during this time, and let us know you have tested positive or are self-isolating so that we can support you.
Information on how to book a test and answers to frequently asked questions are on our website.
Travel from inside the UK
If you are returning to campus for face-to-face teaching and are travelling from inside the UK, please read the information, guidance, and advice on travelling to Leeds on the coronavirus website.
Travelling to Leeds from outside the UK
If you are travelling back to Leeds from outside the UK, please read our arrival webpage. You can also find more information, guidance and support on self-isolating on our dedicated webpages.
For further advice about planning international travel or returning to Leeds, please read our frequently asked travel questions or contact internationalwelcome@leeds.ac.uk
Study spaces
We have been listening to your concerns about the amount of study space available inside and outside the library, and the booking system used to book a study space.
From this week, you can book study space in the Edward Boyle library, Laidlaw library, Health Sciences library, Emmanuel Centre, Parkinson Building and Common Ground in the Leeds University Union building on campus. We have also introduced a new system to book study space which is fairer and more flexible.
The new system allows you to:
- have up to three bookings at any one time. As soon as one of your sessions is complete (or you cancel) you can make another booking;
- book up to seven hours per day; and
- book up to seven days in advance.
You must check in to your study session online within the first 30 minutes of your booked session or it will be cancelled and made available for someone else to book. If you can’t make your booked session, please cancel it to allow someone else to book the space.
Printing
Remember, if you need to print, the Print and Copy Bureau is running a limited copying service (accessed online). To use it, first upload your printing requirements. When asked for a code, enter SILPSFAB and pick up your documents from PCB. There are also three MyPrint devices available in the Common Ground area of the Student Union building which you can use for printing.
Safety on campus
Please remember the Government has requested that our campus facilities, including libraries and study spaces are provided for ‘essential access’ only at the moment and that we are doing all we can to ensure the health and safety of our students and staff. Thank you for following our work together to stay safe guidelines to help keep our community safe.
Hands, Face, Space
We are determined to help prevent the spread of the virus and we are all responsible for remembering hands, face and space:
- Hands: soap or hand sanitiser should be used regularly.
- Face: wear a face covering while moving around all indoor areas (corridors, walkways, open-plan offices) and while seated in teaching spaces, libraries and study spaces.
- Space: 2m social distancing is crucial (unless extra control measures are assessed, agreed and put in place).
Find more information on how we are keeping campus safe.
Updated guidance on face coverings
Read our updated information on face coverings, which includes information about when and where they should be worn, and where on campus you can collect a free reusable face covering.
Tell us what you think of digital learning for a chance to win an iPad Pro
It’s been a year since we first began learning online and we’re constantly looking at how we can improve your learning experience.
Next week we’ll be issuing a digital learning survey to help us understand what’s working well and where we need to make improvements. And, if you take part, you’ll be entered into a draw to win an iPad Pro.
All you need to do to be entered into the draw is to take the survey and share your university email address. We’ll then pick a winner at random when the survey closes.
The survey is almost identical to the one we shared in October and will help us gauge if things are improving and what areas need our attention.
Find out more about the survey.
Worried about money, your rent payment or just need a chat?
In February we received an additional £300k to add to the student hardship fund. This funding allows us to support those of you who have been impacted by the pandemic, for example those in private accommodation struggling with rent costs (see below for help available if you are in University-allocated accommodation), loss of employment, or extra costs to access your teaching online.
- LUU’s Emergency Hardship Fund is available for those of you who are experiencing short term and immediate financial difficulties. Details of the types of things this can cover and how to apply are on the LUU website.
- Leeds Hardship Fund and International Hardship Fund are available to support those of you who may need longer term financial support. More details about eligibility and how to apply are on the Leeds Hardship Fund and International Leeds Hardship Fund pages.
- University allocated accommodation rent rebate has been extended to cover your rent payments until 26 March 2021. We have emailed affected students with details of how to apply. Please do not cancel your payment plan or direct debit – any future instalments will be adjusted accordingly. Read further information and advice.
- In the meantime, it is important that you do not cancel your payment plan or direct debit – any future instalments will be adjusted accordingly.
Let’s make sure University of Leeds students are counted in the census!
The census is a unique once-in-a-decade survey run by Office for National Statistics. It informs decisions about student life, including the environment, healthcare, transport, and sports & leisure. So, it’s important that you complete the census for your university address.
Request a code to complete yours now at www.census.gov.uk.
Not sure what to do? Visit www.census.gov.uk/students.
MyTimetable feedback request
In January we launched a new and more accessible way to view personal timetables - MyTimetable, which can be accessed through Minerva, by clicking on the calendar icon beneath the 'Learn' tab and synced to your calendar of choice.
We’d love for you to share your thoughts on MyTimetable, so we can work on any further improvements and make the Timetable more accessible to everyone.
Click on this link to provide feedback – the form should take around 5 minutes to complete. If you haven’t used MyTimetable yet, you can find instructions here.
Fancy a £5 Costa Voucher?
We want you to help the Leeds University Library Galleries create an event offer to meet your needs. Whether you've heard about the Galleries before or not, we would love to meet you at our focus group!
Book on to a focus group on Tuesday 23 March, 12:15-13:30 via Zoom.
£5,000 Leeds Master Scholarships
If you are considering a Masters degree starting in September 2021, did you know you could be eligible for a scholarship worth £5,000? Our Leeds Masters Scholarships scheme is now open to UK students. Check now if you are eligible to apply.
Don’t forget to stay connected
Connect with others through the Global Community, the Leeds community through the LUU Facebook group and our current students’ Facebook group. You can also find details about LUU clubs and societies, events and their plans for re-opening on the LUU website.
Our support services are also available to you to access remotely.