Ross Renton, the University’s Pro Vice Chancellor Students, will today write to all students advising them of a new COVID safe community agreement. For information, here is the full text of the email:
Dear Student,
Community Agreement – COVID Safe
The University of Worcester and Students’ Union have worked hard to ensure our campuses are as safe as possible for students, staff and visitors during the current pandemic. Our aim is to be a COVID-19 transmission ‘cold spot’ whilst being a highly inclusive, high quality, high participation educational ‘hot spot’. The safety and wellbeing of our community is our priority and we have worked closely with Public Health to plan for the start of the new academic year.
The University has put in place extensive measures, based around the principles of:
- Enhanced safety and hygiene
- Avoiding the need for unnecessary close contact
- Managing confined spaces, and
- Extending our cleaning programme.
With the help and support of the Students’ Union, we will do everything we can to maintain a safe environment, in which you can flourish, study successfully, and make the most of your time in Worcester.
As a student, you also have an important role in keeping our University and local community safe. We have a shared responsibility for the safety of ourselves and each other.
We ask that you follow Government and University guidelines responsibly at all times, including:
- If you have any symptoms of COVID-19, please do not come on to campus. You are required to self-isolate, undertake a COVID-19 test as soon as possible and inform us of your absence on your SOLE page. You are also required to update your SOLE page with the outcome of your test. If you live in University accommodation, you must also immediately call Security to inform them that you are self-isolating.
- Keep all of your contact information up to date, inform us of any changes on your SOLE page immediately.
- Washing and sanitising your hands frequently.
- If you are able, protecting others by wearing a face covering on campus when required, particularly when you are moving around, and keeping your distance from others. There is evidence that face coverings are effective at filtering larger droplets, which are thought to be the most hazardous.
- Respect others who are unable to wear a face covering and give them additional space.
- Following guidance for one-way/keep left systems, room capacities, seating arrangements and maintain social distancing at all times on campus.
- Use public and University transport safely and comply with government requirements on face coverings.
- Be a good neighbour to our wider community and represent the University as a responsible citizen at all times.
- Comply with requests from staff to help keep you and others safe.
- When visiting the Students’ Union or other social and sport facilities maintain your COVID safe behaviours.
- Support and encourage other students to follow the COVID safe measures.
We know the vast majority of Worcester students will do as much as possible to help protect their community. As a student, you have agreed to abide by the terms of the Student Charter, which sets out the overarching expectations of behaviour. If there are incidents of misconduct, students will be subject to our disciplinary procedures, which may result in suspension or exclusion from University for incidents of serious misconduct.
To find out more about the measures that the University has put in place, updates on the latest guidance, and answers to your FAQs on our COVID-19 pages.
With best wishes,
Ross Renton
Pro Vice Chancellor Students
University of Worcester Staff News 