Student Update: Graduation ceremonies, Covid-19 testing, SU Awards and Census 2021

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 well and staying safe. It is now a year since we first moved activities online, following the first national lockdown announcement. This has been a challenging time for our community, and I know many of you will want to participate in the National Day of Reflection that is due to occur next week (Tuesday, 23 March). 

As part of this, the University will observe a minute’s silence at 12 midday, and I encourage you to join this. I realise that there are still some challenges to overcome before we can return to a more normal University life. Yet, with the national vaccine programme now in full swing, real progress is being made, and we can have hope that we will be together again on campus in the not too distant future. 

This update includes information covering: 

• An update on graduation ceremonies 
• A reminder about Covid-19 testing for students on campus 
• Change of location for Covid-19 LFT testing at Walsall Campus  
• Students' Union Awards  
• Support available from Careers, Enterprise and The Workplace 
• Census 2021 

Graduation ceremonies update 

Last year, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, graduation ceremonies for the Class of 2020 could not go ahead and were instead rescheduled to take place in July 2021. Unfortunately, due to the ongoing restrictions both in the UK and on international travel, we have taken the difficult decision to postpone these ceremonies, which will now take place in September 2021.  

For students completing their studies this year - the  Class of 2021 - ceremonies have been rescheduled to take place next year, from Monday, 18 July to Wednesday, 27 July 2022, at the Grand Theatre in Wolverhampton.   

We recognise that this will be disappointing, but I hope you will understand and agree that the delay to next July is important to allow students to be impacted by the postponement of our 2020 ceremonies to graduate first.   

As promised, the University will hold a full and proper in person ceremony for every graduate who wishes to celebrate their achievement with us, and we look forward to seeing you there.   

We wanted to update you on the changes to graduation ceremonies at the earliest opportunity. Dates for individual ceremonies, booking processes and more information will be confirmed on the graduation ceremonies webpage as soon as possible. We will update you again once this information is ready.  

Covid-19 testing 

All students who use on campus facilities (such as the libraries or study spaces) or attend in person teaching activities are expected to take a Covid-19 test twice a week.  

The University is working with local authorities to provide access to testing. We have a webpage that includes the Government's latest guidance about when to get a test and the locations and booking arrangements for testing sites close to our campuses. 

Please be aware that University students CANNOT request rapid lateral flow home test kits at testing sites or online.  

Students and staff can arrange to get a lateral flow test using the facilities referenced on the webpage or somewhere local to them. 

This testing is for those who do not have symptoms – even if you don't feel poorly, you may still have Covid-19 and pass it on without realising. If you do have symptoms, you should instead get an NHS PCR test. 

Walsall Campus lateral flow testing (LFT) site – change of location 

From Monday, 22 March, the Walsall Campus lateral flow (symptom free) testing facility will be relocated at the Gorway Road Accommodation (RWQ). The opening times remain the same. For the most up to date information, please visit the Testing webpage.  

When accessing the test site, please ensure you follow the signs for Lateral Flow Testing. An interactive map of Walsall Campus is available on our website. 

Students' Union Awards: Nominations now open 

The Students' Union will be hosting their annual awards event for the tenth year running in May, and there are 11 awards to be won.  

The SU Awards are an opportunity for you to celebrate your fellow students' achievements and recognise the support from University and SU staff, who have helped enhance your experience of life at the University of Wolverhampton. 

Please do not miss out on this fantastic opportunity to thank someone for all of their hard work and support. 

Nominations close on Monday, 29 March 2021, at 12 midday. 

Find out more and submit a nomination

Careers, Enterprise and The Workplace 

Our Careers, Enterprise and The Workplace team can help you navigate your career journey throughout your time at the University and after you graduate.  

They offer support to students in developing essential skills and the preparation needed to make their way into employment or further study successfully. The team have a range of opportunities available, including part time work, placements, graduate roles, self-employment and volunteering.  

You can access their support online, in virtual meetings and over the phone.  

Find out more about our Careers, Enterprise and the Workplace

The Lord Paul Award 2021 

The Lord Paul Award will support nine student entrepreneurs to develop their fledgeling businesses through bespoke business development support and a prize fund:  

• One headline prize of £10,000 
• Two prizes of £5,000 
• Six prizes of £1,000 

The closing date for entries is Friday, 23 April 2021. This opportunity is open to all current students who have a new business or a well developed business idea.  

Census 2021 

This Sunday (21 March 2021) is national Census Day, a day when every household will be asked to answer the same questions on the same day to give a snapshot of the nation. Every ten years, this information is gathered from people living in England and Wales to provide a picture of society at the time. However, this year, due to the pandemic, getting that picture is going to be harder, but it's really important that students are included in the census.  

Whether you are in halls, living in a shared house, living with your parents or guardians, or are an international student, you should complete the census this Sunday. 

How to complete your census?

Census Day is Sunday, 21 March, but you can fill yours in now. You can complete the census online, and it only takes around ten minutes. 

We understand your circumstances may have changed during the Covid-19 pandemic. So, although you might not be living where you normally would be when at University, you must complete the form with your normal term time address.   

Find out more and complete the census

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.  

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