Latest Information for Students from Lancaster University

by | Oct 2, 2020 | Lancaster, Students

As the Coronavirus situation continues to change, it’s essential to stay up to date with any changes to teaching practices at University. Every University will be doing things a little differently, and the situation may continue to change throughout the academic year as the number of virus cases grows and shrinks.

So, if you’re a Lancaster University student, you need to know what the University is doing to help keep their students safe. Here’s a look at the latest information for students at Lancaster University.

Lancaster University

Online Classes

Many of your classes will have been moved online for the moment, as some teaching staff will be working from home to reduce the amount of contact between them and students. This is part of the remote and reduced operation model being utilised.

You can check your timetable and Moodle page for information about which of your classes have been moved online. This is all to keep in line with social distancing measures that have reduced the capacity for teaching and research spaces, so the University will be doing a blend of online tuition and lab teaching in small groups. For certain courses like medicine, you will likely have more in-person teaching than other subjects.

Teaching at Lancaster begins on the 5th of October.

Available Services

Lancaster University is keeping all their campus and student services available, with new digital services in place to reduce face-to-face interaction during the COVID-19 outbreak. You can take a look at their website for details on all the campus services and how they are currently running. Here are some examples of the changes being implemented:

  • The Base – You can call a phone line 9am to 12pm and 2pm to 5pm, Monday to Friday. You can visit one of the Student Information Hubs to find out about getting in-person support.

  • Careers Service – This is operating, but the team is working remotely, and all online resources are available 24/7.

  • The Chaplaincy – Prayer rooms are closed, and faith groups are cancelled, but their Facebook page will be live streaming prayer meetings. You can also meet the chaplains virtually for one-on-one support by contacting them via email.

  • Colleges – Just one office will be open for all students who need to see a college staff member in person. It is located in Pendle College and open from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. However, all college managers, principals and accommodation managers from each college can be contacted by email.

Wellbeing, Mental Health and Counselling

Mental wellbeing is essential right now, with all the pressures the pandemic has brought making things more difficult for those who struggle with mental health issues. Lancaster University has a self-help programme known as SilverCloud, which allows you to learn more about stress, anxiety, depression and body image. The programme provides tools to help identify when issues arise and offers guidance on how to make real-life changes to address and manage difficulties.

The Counselling and Mental Health Service is open at the moment, but the practitioners will be doing digital services with students. This will be done either via email or via MS Teams to provide advice, guidance and support.

Students’ Union

The Student Union will be facilitating their welcome desk and their advice services via email during their regular working hours of 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. A Facebook group has been set up to help students support each other during the pandemic, especially for those who are self-isolating.

Accommodation

The University is trying to ensure that households are meeting government guidelines. A flat or house of students is considered to be in a bubble like a family and these are the only people that students do not need to be maintaining social distancing with. Currently, government advice is not to have visitors in your flat or household.

If someone in your household develops symptoms or tests positive for COVID-19, then all of you must self-isolate in your home. The University offers support for those in self-isolation so they can access essential services and have food delivered.

For those living in student accommodation in Lancaster off-campus, students can access all University services and facilities on campus and those online. The Students’ Union and college staff are on hand to support off-campus students.

Self-Isolating

Students must self-isolate if they have COVID-19 or symptoms, and also if they have travelled from a country that does not have a travel corridor with the UK. But this will not stop you from taking part in your University experience.

You do not need to wear masks at home, and you do not need to socially distance from your housemates provided you arrived with them. You should only leave your house if a fire alarm goes off or to collect food deliveries or other essentials.

If you have COVID-19 symptoms, inform the University on the Connect Lancaster app and arrange for a test through the NHS website.

While this is no doubt not the University experience you expected this year, that doesn’t mean you can’t make the most of it. The University is working hard to try and ensure their students can have the best time despite the circumstances. Make sure you keep up to date with their website and regularly check your University email to keep on top of any sudden changes. From everyone here at Student Housing Lancaster, we hope you have a great academic year.

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