As the situation with COVID-19 continues to develop we will do our utmost to keep you updated in relation to university services and NHS advice.
Staying in Liverpool
The University would like to reassure those who have decided to stay in their Liverpool accommodation, or are currently in the process of deciding, of the support that will be available to you here at the University. Catering at Vine Court and access to some IT facilities and study space on campus will continue for as long as it is in any way feasible for us to provide it. We will reduce the number of computer labs available but will ensure those that remain accessible have appropriate social distancing and cleaning policies in place to safeguard wellbeing. Wifi will continue to be accessible throughout.
For those of you staying in University of Liverpool-owned accommodation, the University accommodation team will continue to support Students you would have received information about the availability of services directly.
The University will also continue to explore ways in which we can support your wellbeing through outdoor sports activities and online means in the coming weeks, with the Guild being particularly proactive and creative in this area.
Student loan payments
There have been some queries regarding the Student Loans Company’s final payment to students this year in light of the fact that all UK universities have now moved their learning online. The University can confirm that SLC have taken the decision to make this payment as usual and Students will receive this on 6 April.
Assessment
In view of moving all teaching and learning online, we have reviewed our examination arrangements for the Semester 2 exam and summer resit periods and, unless you have been advised otherwise by your Department, Students should not expect to attend any formal examinations in Liverpool.
We appreciate that Students will be anxious to get details of assessments and I can confirm that Departments and Schools will communicate finalised details of their assessments by no later than the end of next week (27 March).
The University have agreed a set of institution-wide principles with all Departments which are designed to ensure a degree of consistency across modules and programmes. In the majority of cases examinations will be replaced by seen (open-book) assessments. In some exceptional cases there may be local variation in arrangements, but the rationale for these decisions will be clear, and will have been approved through internal quality assurance processes to ensure our rigorous standards are complied with. We will share more details of these principles with Students next week.
Tackling COVID-19
We know that in many different ways people across the University community are supporting the response to the pandemic, both in a formal capacity and through voluntary work. For example, you may have seen that many of our final year medical students have volunteered to support the NHS in the coming months. Indeed, medical students in other years are also offering to volunteer in a range of capacities. We are keen to recognise other contributions, too, and share these contributions with colleagues, students and further afield. If you are volunteering or undertaking other activities in support of those affected by COVID-19 and would like to share your story, please email media.digest@liverpool.ac.uk We will feature as many as we can.