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Returning to campus: an update from the Vice-Chancellor

Published: 24/02/2021

This week the Government has unveiled its plans to ease lockdown in England, including the return to on campus in-person teaching for universities.

The supporting Government guidance has also been released and has confirmed that we can “resume in-person teaching and learning for students who are studying practical or practice-based (including creative arts) subjects and require specialist equipment and facilities from 8 March.”

All other courses will remain online with a Government review scheduled for mid-April.

Please remember that our campuses remain open for any student who needs our support or with special circumstances.

Your Course Leader or School will email you later this week to confirm arrangements if you are returning to on campus in-person teaching this term. For now, please continue to follow your current timetable as published. Term Three timetables will be released on 30 March 2021.

Students wearing face coverings

Being on campus

You should only come back to your term-time address, for those students where it is not your permanent home,  if you are returning to in-person teaching or have special circumstances.

Once you have returned, Government guidance advises you should stay at your term-time address as much as possible.

At NTU, we will continue to offer Lateral Flow testing to all students and colleagues. If you can, please take a COVID-19 test before returning to campus. Otherwise, please book a test for your return and three days after, and then twice weekly if you are on campus regularly. Please minimise your contact with people until you have received your negative test results.

Please remember face coverings should be worn in all NTU buildings, including study spaces, unless you are exempt.

Our campuses are COVID-secure due to good ventilation, revised layouts and furniture remains arranged to accommodate social distancing. Our libraries, study spaces, Student Support Centres, Global Lounges and cafes are open, in line with Government guidance where appropriate. Our opening hours may vary to comply with Government guidance, so please check before visiting.

Please consider all those in our NTU and wider communities, and comply with COVID-19 regulations and guidance. All NTU students have signed up to NTU’s Student Code of Behaviour which includes adhering to these regulations. In addition to any action you may face from NTU, if COVID-19 restrictions are breached, the Government has introduced a new £800 fine for those attending house parties which will double for each repeat offence to a maximum level of £6,400. Please help us to help you live and study safely at NTU.

Staying safe and well

We are keen to see the return of our in-person sports and social activities and we will continue to take Government guidance on when this can happen. In the meantime, you can continue to take advantage of virtual events and opportunities.

If you need our support, there are a number of ways that we can help you.

Clearly, it is very disappointing that we cannot welcome back all of our NTU community at this time, but   we must continue to do all we can to help stop the spread of COVID-19.

For those returning to on campus in-person teaching, we look forward to seeing you soon. For those remaining online we shall continue to support you with your studies wherever you are. We have plans in place for your safe return so we can act as quickly as possible once Government guidance permits.

We can see the light at the end of the tunnel getting brighter and clearer.

Best Wishes

Professor Edward Peck
Vice-Chancellor, Nottingham Trent University