Today, October 2, an email was sent to all staff with the latest information about working on campus.
Dear colleague,
Below is an update of the latest advice and information for you about working on campus.
Staff working on campus
With the campus now fully open and the start of term underway, we are continuing to provide information to help staff keep up to date with the latest developments.
To ensure the safety of our campus community there are some steps you should take. Please read the guidance on our return to campus: what you should do webpage.
There is Health & Safety guidance for those returning, including the requirement to watch the Staff Induction video available on LearnUpon.
We are asking that everyone downloads and uses the NHS Covid-19 contact-tracing app and there are codes across campus to scan and check yourself into.
Covid reporting and information
The University is keen to ensure that all staff and students are able to access information on how our community is affected by Covid-19.
It is important that everyone is aware of the processes involved for reporting information – and also how information is shared between the University and authorities.
Anyone in the University community (both staff and students) who develops Covid-19 symptoms must submit information on this Covid-19 symptoms or self-isolation reporting form. This enables the University to closely monitor the prevalence, as well as make sure those who require support are known to us.
A dashboard will be shared each week (starting from today) which will allow us to share information on a regular basis on the number of on Covid-19 cases for both staff and student on and off campus.
Mobile testing unit
We will have a mobile testing unit on campus which allows for up to 400 tests a day (although the precise number of tests it will be able to carry out will depend upon the laboratory capacity to process them). The unit will be located in the Arts Carpark (no.7A) from today and over the weekend (three days in total).
The unit is for symptomatic testing and those people requiring the service should book an appointment through the national booking system: https://www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test. This will help any students currently living on campus, who are concerned about having symptoms to seek a test and hopefully receive one onsite.
The mobile testing unit is purposely positioned on the edge of the campus, and close to University residences making it easy for students to access. It will complement the existing testing site in the City and an existing mobile testing unit. The mobile testing unit on campus will be available for members of the public to book if they choose it as their closest and most convenient location.
Car parking will be available for those driving for a test and face coverings must be worn whilst walking to the testing location and whilst within the controlled parking areas. People are told not to take public transport to attend testing venues.
Having a mobile testing unit on campus has been made possible as a result of successful partnership working with the University, local council and Public Health England. Provision of testing sites in the area is determined by the local Public Health Authority working with central Government; we will do all that we can to retain the facility on site.
Ventilation
The University’s guidance on ventilation has been updated and the H&S team will continue to work with Schools and Divisions to ensure that all the ventilation is suitable.
These have been developed following CIBSE guidance and you can read the guidance on our how campus will operate safely page.
Face to face teaching
Academic teaching colleagues are now delivering blended learning to our students and we are pleased to have had some positive feedback from colleagues. A lot of hard work has gone into making this possible and there are resources available to support academic colleagues at this time.
Staff engagement opportunities
Following on from last week’s Academic Forum, we are running a bespoke Question and Answer session today (3.05 pm - 4.00 pm) to provide academic colleagues with an opportunity to get the answers to their questions from:
- Provost, Professor Saul Becker
- Pro Vice-Chancellor for Education and Students, Professor Kelly Coate
- Chief Operating Officer, Dr Tim Westlake
- Director of Human Resources, Siobhan O’Reilly
- Senior Health & Safety Advisor, Alistair Hardwick
There will be no presentation, instead this 55-minute-long open Q&A will give you a chance to ask your questions – and do so anonymously. You can book your place now.
In addition, we are holding a VC Open Forum on Tuesday (6 October) next week. The Vice- Chancellor will update staff on his plans for the University during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and look ahead to how Sussex responds to evolving national and global challenges. Please register to attend.
Recordings of both events will be made available online afterwards if you are not able to attend.
Support for staff
We want to ensure staff get all the support they may need and remind you of the HR guidance for staff and managers to support them returning to working on campus.
It is important that staff speak to their line manager if they have concerns about returning to campus at this time – and using the self-assessment tool around vulnerability to Covid-19, to help guide those conversations, if appropriate.
Best wishes,
Internal Communications