University News Last updated 16 June 2020
Selected groups of students have been welcomed back to the campus of Birmingham City University to complete their degrees or progress their studies for the first time since the nationwide Covid-19 lockdown.
New restrictions, procedures and guidance, developed by health and safety and estates and facilities specialists, have been put into place to ensure the safety, health and wellbeing of invited staff and students due to work at campuses in the city centre and Edgbaston during a third semester (15th June- 11th September).
In line with Government Covid-19 secure guidelines, risk assessments have been carried out to ensure safe working in all spaces, personal protective equipment will be made available for all those returning, and significant safeguarding and social distancing measures have been put in place across the University’s footprint.
The move is designed to ensure that impact from the nationwide lockdown on many vulnerable students, including those from four broad groups – those on non-standard post-graduate courses, selected undergraduate students who were unable to study online during lockdown, and those who need access to specialist facilities to complete their degree submissions – is minimal.
Staff at the University will ensure that general teaching spaces are limited to 15 persons maximum, and students have been issued with new personal timetables designed to avoid congestion during changeover periods.
Up to 1,500 students are expected to take advantage of the reopening over the coming weeks.
Circulation maps, health and safety information, and return to campus online training will also be implemented, and all student-facing support – including Enablement and Wellbeing, Libraries, Careers+, Finance and Mentoring - will continue online.
Professor Clare Mackie, Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Birmingham City University, said: “Our top priority remains the health and wellbeing of our student and staff community.
"We thank all staff and students for their patience and understanding whilst we have developed plans for Semester 3 and beyond.
“Applying PHE and UK Government guidelines, as well as drawing on the expertise of our Health and Safety and Estates and Facilities teams and working alongside our trade union partner UCU, we are confident that the new restrictions that we have put in place will ensure the best possible return to campus for those invited.
“We hope the gradual return to campus – whilst under challenging conditions for all – will be one of positivity, marking an important step forward for our students who are completing or progressing their studies. We look forward to welcoming more staff and students back to campus in September, with the appropriate conditions in place.”
The University’s plans for a gradual return to campus is supported by an active ‘no detriment’ assessment policy, which pledges a commitment to clear and fair judgement on the marks received, and overall qualifications for any work disrupted by the pandemic throughout the second and third semester of this year..
The University has already made a seven-point pledge to students beginning courses in September, as well as those returning to university, that they will benefit from the majority of their course teaching in 2020/21 being delivered face-to-face.