Student Update: Updating your Covid-19 Teaching Preference and Celebrating Diwali

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).

The UK Government has now outlined its plans for students’ during the festive period once the national restrictions end on 2 December.

Universities in England will be required to end all on campus teaching and switch to online classes by 9 December. A ‘student travel window’ will be open from 3 December to 9 December, during which students who live away from their home during term time will able to travel home.

The University will be working hard over the next few days to finalise the plans for moving to online learning and student travel, and will update you at the earliest opportunity.

We will look after all students who stay in the University during the Christmas period, ensuring our study spaces remain open where possible to support learning online.

University entrance barriers

The barriers at the entrances to University buildings will be in use from today (Thursday 12 November) at 5 pm. This mainly affects the Wolverhampton Campus where there are various barriers present as you access buildings, plus the Performance Hub at Walsall Campus and student accommodation.

Students and staff are reminded to keep your University ID cards with you at all times on campus, as this will enable you to activate the barriers.  

This is to enable us to keep everyone safe during the Covid-19 pandemic and also to ensure that only students and staff are on campus at this time to comply with the national lockdown rules. I would like to take this opportunity to remind you that you must not swipe anyone else (student, staff or visitor) through into the buildings.

Celebrating Diwali

At the University of Wolverhampton, we are proud to be an inclusive community, with students and staff from diverse nationalities and backgrounds. This week, we're celebrating Diwali the festival of lights, however like so many other recent events – religious or otherwise – Covid-19 will severely impact Diwali celebrations.

Diwali celebrates the victory of light over darkness, good over evil and knowledge over ignorance. It is marked by Hindus, Jains, Sikhs and some Buddhists.

A five-day festival, Diwali includes the Festival of Light on Saturday, 14 November and students who will be celebrating are being asked to take extra care because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Read our full Celebrating Diwali update for information on how you can celebrate Diwali at home, access support from the Chaplaincy and attend free virtual events.

Update your Covid-19 Teaching Preference

We recognise that not all students feel safe to come onto campus and where possible, we are making live teaching also available to online groups.

If you would like to move to online teaching, you should notify the University as early as possible via e:Vision to ensure we have the right support in place for you to access your learning.

You can now do this by selecting the ‘Update Preference’ button under the ‘COVID-19 Update: Teaching Preference’ section on your e:Vision home page.

• Blended Learning – studying using a mix of recorded lectures, online learning resources, virtual face-to-face sessions and in-person teaching on campus.
• Online Only - studying using a mix of recorded lectures, online learning resources and virtual face-to-face sessions.

Please note that for some courses with practical elements, such as laboratories and performance, Online Only learning will not be possible. If your course is exempt from Online Only teaching, this task will not appear in your e:Vision.

International students are required by their Visas to attend their timetabled sessions on campus.

Keeping our Campuses Covid-secure

We remain committed to ensuring that you have the best learning experience possible but we need to place the safety of students and staff at the heart of everything we do. When using classrooms, study spaces and PC areas it is important that everyone follows some simple rules to ensure the safety and wellbeing of everyone.

You must:

• Wear a face covering in all learning environments including the library, classrooms, study spaces, PC areas, and walking around campus.
• Keep 2 metres safe distance from others. Do not use the spaces if they are too busy and you cannot maintain 2m safe distance.
• Wash your hands regularly and use the hand sanitiser provided.
• Use the cleaning kit to wipe down desks, keyboards, and other equipment before and after use.
• Follow the signs and floor markings. Spaces have been arranged to ensure you can social distance - only use the spaces designated for use and don’t move chairs or other furniture.

View our Life on Campus FAQs

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Support for Students