Student update: Covid-19 testing and home test kits, staying safe and careers support

Please be aware that this information was shared with students by email and correct at the time of sending. For the latest Covid-19 guidance, please visit our coronavirus webpages: www.wlv.ac.uk/coronavirus. If you are a student who has a query or needs support, please log a helpcall with ASK@WLV in e:Vision (www.wlv.ac.uk/evision).

I hope you are all well and have been able to spend some time outside enjoying the sunshine this week. This academic year continues to be very different for everyone, and I recognise that this is a challenging time to be a student.   

Please remember, if you have experienced disruption to your studies because of health-related issues, the Covid-19 pandemic or any other reason, you can apply for an extension for your assessments.  

As we communicated in a February student update, the University will continue to operate a trust-based system for extension requests for coursework assessments. This means that where you require additional time to complete your assessment (for example, due to illness or circumstances related to Covid-19), you will not be required to provide evidence of these circumstances. Requests can be made through e:Vision and must be accompanied by a statement explaining your need for additional time. It is important to note that extensions cannot be requested where the assessment is an examination.  

This update covers:  

• Covid-19 testing and home test packs 
• Staying safe off campus and protecting our community 
• Support from Careers, Enterprise and The Workplace 

Covid-19 testing and home test packs 

The Government is stating that students are expected to have two lateral flow (symptom free) tests before returning to campus. They also say you should have two lateral flow (symptom free) tests a week while attending in-person teaching or living in accommodation.   

We have a webpage that includes the Government's latest guidance about when to get a test along with the locations and booking arrangements for testing sites close to our campuses. You can arrange to get a lateral flow test using the facilities referenced on the webpage or somewhere local to you.  

Home testing packs can also now be collected from local pharmacies, test sites and community hubs or requested for delivery to your home address – see below for further information. 

By taking part in regular testing, you will help us detect symptom free cases, stop the spread of the virus, and protect our University community.  

Home test kits 

Students at the University of Wolverhampton can now access Covid-19 home testing packs. Each pack contains seven lateral flow test kits, which can be used by those who do not have coronavirus symptoms. Please remember to not use a lateral flow test if you have coronavirus symptoms; you should book a PCR test and self-isolate. 

Home test kits can be accessed in two ways: 

• Collect a Covid-19 home test pack (up to two packs, 14 test kits) from a local pharmacy, testing site or community hub. 
• Order a Covid-19 home test pack (one pack, seven test kits) online to be delivered to your home address – you must live in England to use this service. 

Both positive and negative home test results should be reported online as soon as possible after you get the result. 

If your home test result is positive, you must self isolate immediately and get a PCR test to confirm the result. Please see our Covid-19 reporting procedure for more information on what to do if you test positive or experience coronavirus symptoms. 

Visit our Testing webpage

Covid-19 testing survey and focus group 

To effectively prepare for our wider return to campus, we are asking students to complete a short survey about Covid-19 testing.  

The survey should be completed by all students, including those studying online and those accessing teaching on campus. It should take you no longer than two minutes to complete, and there is the chance to win one of 15 £10 Amazon vouchers provided by the City of Wolverhampton Council. The deadline to complete the survey is Friday, 7 May 2021. 

The Department for Education is hosting a student focus group to gain an insight into student views on symptom free Covid-19 testing. The session will take place on Tuesday, 27 April, 2 pm – 2:45 pm. If you would like to join the focus group, please email: covid-19help@wlv.ac.uk.  

Complete the Covid-19 testing survey 

Staying safe off campus and protecting our community 

We all have a role to play to keep ourselves and our communities safe. Every member of the University of Wolverhampton community has a personal responsibility to adhere to guidelines and safety measures in place for your own safety and the safety of the community as a whole.  

I ask that you are mindful of others, understand that some people may be shielding or more vulnerable to the virus, and play your part in keeping our campus and our community safe.  

The number of cases of Covid-19 at the University remains very small, but to keep these numbers low we need each member of the University community to do their bit in following the rules. 

Here's how you can keep our community safe: 

• Follow the Government's national guidance on what you can and cannot do, including socialising outdoors and hands, face, space, fresh air.  
• Adhere to the Rule of 6 or two households and maintain social distancing when meeting with people outside your household.  
• Wear a face covering (unless you are exempt) wherever required.  
• Take part in regular testing and self-isolate if you test positive or symptoms of Covid-19.  
• Download and use the NHS Test and Trace app to check in at venues using the QR codes displayed.  
• Continue to wash your hands regularly for 20 seconds and use hand sanitiser where it is available. 

If we all continue to play our part, we will be that bit closer to a more familiar future. 

Support from Careers, Enterprise and The Workplace 

The Careers, Enterprise and The Workplace team can help you navigate your career journey throughout your studies and beyond. Support is available to you to help you gain the skills you need to make your way into employment or further study successfully. There are many opportunities available, including part-time work, placements, graduate roles, self-employment and volunteering. 

There are lots of ways that you can access support from the team, including 1-2-1 support from a Careers Advisor and joining weekly workshops covering a range of topics.   

Find the full calendar of careers events, workshops and activities here: wlv.ac.uk/careers/events   

Find out more about our careers services

Stay up to date with the latest information   

Please keep checking your University WLV emails and reading these updates. We are committed to keeping students up to date. We do this by email, on our social media channels (Instagram,  Twitter and Facebook) and the University student news webpage.   

Our latest update for international students includes information for students in the UK and those studying from their home. 

Visit our dedicated Covid-19 webpages for information on how you can stay safe and help protect our University community during the pandemic.   

Thank you, and stay safe.  

Professor Julia Clarke 

Deputy Vice-Chancellor