The University has announced its arrangements for Semester 1, including semester start dates and campus measures for health and safety.
Many of the measures we are putting in place are to safeguard staff and students alike. The University also continuing to work through the details of additional measures we intend to put in place specifically for staff, more of whom will begin to return to campus as early as next month, and the University will continue to communicate with staff about this separately.
As previously communicated, consultation with the University community is ongoing on the introduction of a hybrid model of learning (a mix of face-to-face and online sessions), that could provide the best student experience while accounting for appropriate social distancing and hygiene regimes. It is clear that such a change in provision would require colleagues to think through how each programme is delivered and the University will be supporting colleagues in this work over the coming weeks and months.
In response to the Covid-19 pandemic the university’s aim is to first define a set of principles for 20/21 which can guide its education delivery model, and the offer the University can make to applicants and students, whilst allowing as much flexibility as possible to Schools and Departments in the design and delivery of their programmes. The University will also be working to free up colleagues’ time through encouraging the review of the number of modules offered and reducing the assessment load on both students and staff, whilst being sure to maintain academic standards. This work will also be necessary to ensure the University has adequate space to provide for some face-to-face learning for all students in a socially distanced way.
Semester start dates
The following semester start dates have now been confirmed although students on a number of healthcare and veterinary programmes will have a slightly different schedule for welcome and teaching:
- First year UK-based undergraduates will be allocated phased arrival dates to join us on campus between 26 September and 2 October, and a series of Welcome events will run alongside this from 28 September to 2 October. This will be followed by a week-long university-wide Foundation Week, including a programme of study skills and cohort-building activities to support our new students, many of whom will have been out of an educational context for an extended period of time. . All students in university-owned accommodation will only be charged for their room from 5 October onwards.
- First year overseas undergraduates and Year 3 XJTLU students will be advised to arrive and move into halls between 12 and 18 September on the basis that Government quarantine requirements of 14 days may still be in place. As mentioned, all students in university-owned accommodation will only be charged for their room from 5 October onwards. As you would expect, we will be supporting students in quarantine as much as possible with supplies and through other means. During this time, students will have check-in chats and the Halls Life Student Experience team and Student Support will be on hand to support them. In addition, bespoke English language provision will be provided for them along with online introductory webinars and presentations.
- Returning UK-based undergraduates will be welcomed on campus when teaching resumes but prior to this will take part in Foundation Week from 5-9 October.
- Returning overseas undergraduates and Year 4 XJTLU students who are booked to live in University halls, will be advised to arrive and move into halls between 19 and 25 September on the basis that Government quarantine requirements of 14 days may still be in place. Again, these students will only be charged for their room from 5 October onwards and, during self-isolation, we will be supporting them in accessing supplies. As with first year overseas undergraduates, these students will have check-in chats and the Halls Life Student Experience team and Student Support will be on hand to support them. In addition, study and support materials will be made available during this time. From 5-9 October, students will be able to participate in online activities as part of Foundation Week.
- Returning overseas undergraduates living in private accommodation will also be advised to arrive between 19 and 25 September on the basis that Government quarantine requirements of 14 days may still be in place. We are working closely with landlords in the private sector to clarify the arrangements they have in place for supporting students in a period of quarantine and we are also in the process of working with local partners to establish plans for support in accessing supplies. These students will have check-in chats and Student Support will be on hand to support them through this period. From 5-9 October these students will, as with those in halls, be able to participate in online activities as part of Foundation Week.
- PGT programmes will begin on one of three dates: 12 October, 16 November or 4 January, with a small number of programmes running two separate intakes to give students a choice between an October or January start. Details of start dates for each programme have been published
All students in university-owned accommodation will only be charged for their room from 5 October onwards.
Although the aim is for students to study with the University here in Liverpool, the University recognises that the course of the pandemic is unpredictable and may cause further disruption. If a student is unable to study on campus from the beginning of term, for example because of government travel restrictions on travel, or if they would prefer to delay their arrival based on their own personal circumstances, provision will be made for them to begin your studies online.
Campus measures
In preparation for these start dates, the University is putting in place a range of additional measures to make sure the campus remains a safe and welcoming place to live, work and study. The University has been at the forefront of regional and national efforts to respond to the pandemic and is well placed to use its expertise and facilities to put in place innovative measures to help protect the staff and student community. The measures the University plans to introduce will include (but not be limited to):
- A campus environment that continues to offer safe access to the University grounds and buildings, supported by new arrangements to ensure that safe, socially distant study space is available in libraries, a teaching schedule that reduces the volume of students moving around the campus at any one time, one-way walking routes, adapted catering facilities and, where possible and in line with government guidance, sports and leisure opportunities.
- The provision of washable face coverings for every student and staff member, which will be distributed along with guidance on how they should be used.
- Access for all students and staff to free COVID-19 testing on campus, with results provided within 24 hours, to complement any testing arrangements available publicly at the time and support a ‘test and trace’ approach to containing the virus. While the University awaits more detail from central Government regarding how testing availability will be rolled out, the University is developing plans to implement this from the start of term using its own facilities and staff.
- Arrangements that allow students to continue to enjoy the same high standards of accommodation in the University halls of residence, with measures to enable social distancing, including a phased and contactless arrivals process, use of automatic gates and doors, tailored warden welcome and induction events, quarantine support for overseas students and new cleaning regimes.
- Continued support from the Advice and Guidance team. The team will be operating a hybrid model, with a mixture of online, telephone and face-to-face services, which will be tailored to reflect the current circumstances and to meet student needs.
- A range of opportunities to ensure that students can continue to participate in university- and Guild-run social activities in a safe way.
- Prior to the move off campus, the University had already put in place a more rigorous cleaning regime throughout university buildings and made hand sanitiser more widely available. Both these important measures will continue and hand sanitiser points will be clearly labelled across campus.
Further information
There is additional information available on the above measures, together with details on how the University will support disabled students, access to hardship funds and a range of other important information, in our FAQs for staff, students and prospective students.
The University will continue to develop our plans over the coming weeks and months and will be following any new guidance issued by the Government.