Student Update: Covid-19 safety, Easter update, IT essentials, skills for learning and 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).

This week (from Monday, 8 March), we have started to welcome students on practical courses back onto campus for in person teaching with social distancing measures in place to protect our whole community. You can find out more in our recent student update, which was sent to you by email on Tuesday, 9 March.   

We will continue to keep you updated on how we will provide the best education and support possible during this challenging time for students who have returned to campus and those continuing to access their studies online. Thank you for your continued cooperation with government guidance. Please be assured our priority is to protect your educational progress and support your wellbeing. 

Today's update covers:  

• Covid-19 safety and testing 
• Easter update for students in accommodation 
• Accessing your IT essentials
• Skills for learning and digital skills support
• Wellbeing support
• Students' Union survey 

Covid-19 safety  

Everyone must continue to play their part in keeping our University community safe; this means following Government guidance, wearing a face covering and social distancing when required.    

Please be aware that when you are on campus, everyone is required to social distance. This includes those who may be in a household bubble and students studying on the same course. Students do not belong to a course or study bubble.    

Everyone must keep 2 metres apart at all times in teaching and study spaces, communal areas, and whilst moving around the campus in corridors and stairways.    

In line with Government restrictions, catering outlets on campus are open for takeaway only.  Government advice is that “students should take their food home to the place where they live to consume it wherever possible”.  We recognise that this will not be practicable in all cases, but we ask that students do not gather in groups to consume food and drink whether purchased on or brought to campus. 

If you have returned to campus for in person teaching, the Government states that you are expected to have two lateral flow (symptom free) tests a week.    

Please visit the Testing webpage that includes the locations and booking arrangements for testing sites close to our campuses. Students can arrange to get a test using the facilities referenced on this webpage or somewhere local to them.    

If you develop coronavirus symptoms (a high temperature, a new continuous cough or a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste), you should self-isolate immediately, book a Covid-19 test and follow the University's Covid-19 reporting procedures. 

Visit our Safety on Campus webpage for more information about the University’s on campus Covid-19 safety guidelines.   

Easter update for students in accommodation 

For those students who are in student accommodation or due to return soon, the Government guidance states: 

“Students will be able to return home for their Easter break, if they choose to do so. However, in order to minimise transmission, we strongly advise that students remain in their term time accommodation where possible. Where students do travel home for their Easter break, they should get tested before they travel. Students are also encouraged to test before they travel back to university, where community testing facilities are available.”  

Please visit the Testing webpage that includes the locations and booking arrangements for testing sites close to our campuses. 

Please remember that in line with current restrictions, students should not bring other students, friends or family into their accommodation. Parties and overnight guests in accommodation are strictly not permitted.    

The Government has introduced a new £800 fine for those attending house parties, including in halls of residence and student accommodation, which will double for each repeat offence to a maximum level of £6,400.    

In student accommodation, your 'household' is the people with whom you share a corridor and communal kitchen area. You must not hold house parties or visit other households – even if you're living in the same accommodation block.     

Accessing your IT essentials 

There is a set of core IT essentials that all students need to access, as well as specialist software for some courses. Whether you are studying from home on your own device or on campus using a University PC, you have access to all our core applications:   

• Microsoft 365 for your email, file creation, storage and video/chat.   
• Canvas for your Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) and online learning   
• MyWLV app for central access to your emails and timetable 
• E:Vision where you can update your details and log a Helpdesk call to your Faculty Student Services.  

If your course requires specialist software, for example, Adobe Creative Cloud or Matlab, your course team will provide you with more information on how it can be accessed. You can also check the Software Catalogue; for a full list of all software for you to use both on and off-campus.  

Visit our Digital Services webpages for more information, including how to access IT help and support and advice for making the best use of your home Wi-Fi.  

Find out more

Skills for Learning 

Our Skills for Learning team can help you to develop more effective approaches to your studies. You can access a range of online skills resources, academic skills workshops and book appointments for one-to-one support.   

In response to Covid-19, the Skills for Learning team now offers support with developing your digital skills for studying, for example, using Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams and Canvas.   

Students can join weekly workshops and drop in sessions that cover studying online. 

Upcoming sessions 

• Monday 15 March, 9:30 am - 11 am: Finding academic information
• Monday 15 March, 2:30 pm - 4 pm: Introduction to critical thinking
• Tuesday 16 March, 9:30 am - 11 am: Digital skills – Engaging with online study
• Tuesday 16 March, 2:30 pm - 4 pm: Introduction to academic writing 
• Wednesday 17 March, 10:30 am - 12 midday: Introduction to critical thinking
• Wednesday 17 March, 2:30 pm - 4 pm: Introduction to reflective writing 

Find out more and book your place here 

Digital Skills Workbook 

The Digital Skills Workbook is made up of short videos that support you to develop the digital skills you need to succeed in your assignments. You'll find tips for using Microsoft packages (Word, PowerPoint, Excel) and how to make the most of Canvas and Teams. There are also tasks for you to work through, to help you practise your skills.  

If you have any questions about the Skills for Learning programme, please contact the team by email: skills@wlv.ac.uk  

Access the Digital Skills Workbook

Wellbeing support for students 

The pandemic has created and exacerbated many challenges for us all, and we have a range of services to support your wellbeing during this time. All of our students can access online mental health and wellbeing support 24/7 through Togetherall – an online community monitored by trained clinicians. In addition to this, our own dedicated Mental Health and Wellbeing Service can signpost you to additional support services. If you feel that you need advice or extra support please check our self help resources webpage or complete the mental health and wellbeing support registration form.  

Find out more about the student support services available to you here:  www.wlv.ac.uk/support 

Shape your Students' Union 

To help shape their future direction, the University of Wolverhampton Students' Union are asking all students to take part in a survey about student life, giving you the opportunity to provide honest reflections about your SU experience. All students should receive an email direct to your WLV email address with an invitation to complete the survey.  

The Students' Union's activities and services should always reflect the interests and aspirations of our student body. That's why it is essential that your SU continues to be shaped by you, the students at the University of Wolverhampton.  

Please take this opportunity to be open and honest, and help inform the future of your Students' Union.  

Thank you to everyone who voted in our recent SU elections, the results have now been announced, and we’ll share more information about your new officer team soon.  

Find out more 

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 web page.  

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