Student Update: Covid-19 vaccine, Vision 2030 and student communications

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 this update finds you all safe and well. As I am sure many of you are aware, anyone over 18 years old can now book an appointment to receive their coronavirus vaccine, including international students living in the UK. Getting your Covid-19 vaccination as soon as possible will help protect you, those you care for and others in our University community. I want to encourage all students to participate in the vaccination programme against Covid-19, in line with government guidance.  

As we now move into the summer period, many of you will be taking a well-earned break from your studies. With this in mind, we will reduce the frequency of our regular student updates for the next couple of months. However, please be assured that the University remains committed to keeping you up to date with important information about your studies, Covid-19 and returning to campus. You can find more information about how we communicate with you later in this update.  

This update includes information covering:  

• Getting your Covid-19 vaccine 
• Vision 2030 and the University's student and education strategy 
• Support for students
• University communications and staying up to date with the latest information 

Getting your Covid-19 vaccine 

Anyone over 18 years old can now book an appointment to receive their coronavirus vaccine, including international students living in the UK.  

To book your appointment, you must be registered with a GP (doctor) and have your NHS number. If you are not already registered, you can access guidance on finding and registering with a local GP surgery on the NHS website. 

Once you are registered and have an NHS number, you may receive an invitation to book your appointment, or you can book through the NHS vaccination booking portal at a location that is convenient for you. You can use this service if you think you will be in a different place for your first and second jab.  

While registration with a GP is encouraged to access the vaccine, individuals can request a coronavirus vaccination appointment as an unregistered patient through a local GP surgery. 

Please be aware that anybody aged 18 or over in the UK is eligible for the Covid-19 vaccination free of charge, regardless of their nationality or immigration status. Anyone seeing requests for payment should report this activity to Action Fraud as soon as possible.  

Getting the vaccine in Walsall  

Where: Saddlers Shopping Centre (in the former TJ Hughes shop)    

Walk-in appointments are available from 8 am to 7 pm, or  you can book here. You will need to know your NHS number and present a form of ID.  

More information about the vaccine 

You can find more information about the Covid-19 vaccine on the NHS website and in the frequently asked questions about the vaccination for students in higher education. 

Staying safe 

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 which have been put in place for your own safety and the safety of the community as a whole. If we all continue to play our part, we will be that bit closer to a more familiar future. 

To stay safe, please remember:  

• Six people or two households can meet indoors, and people can meet in groups of up to 30 outdoors.  
• Students are expected to take part in regular testing if they access the campuses or live in accommodation.   
• If you have coronavirus symptoms or test positive, you must self-isolate and follow our Covid-19 reporting procedure.   
• Face-coverings are mandatory indoors on campus and in most public places.   
• Everyone must maintain two-metre social distancing on campus, including students who live in a household bubble.  

By following safety guidelines and taking part in regular testing, we put ourselves in the best possible position when the Government reviews restrictions in July.  

Vision 2030 and the University's student and education strategy 

In April, we launched Vision 2030, the University's new strategic plan for the next ten years. With the two key themes of inclusive student success and place at its core, our focus going forward is to ensure greater inclusivity and equity of outcome for all who study with us.  

One of the central themes of our strategy is partnership working with students, and I want to thank everybody who contributed to the consultation on the students and education sub-strategy. 

From my meetings with School Reps and the live Student Q&A session, I was pleased to find that there was consensus on the overall direction of the strategy, including the foundations, initiatives, and commitments. Your feedback is extremely valuable, and a number of key changes were made to the strategy as a result of the consultation:  

• Greater emphasis on the diversity of our student population, including mature students and international students and different levels of study.  
• Recognition of the need for development and training for all staff not just those who teach, particularly with regard to respect agenda and cultural awareness. 
• Staging of the pace with which we can move to proposed flexibility of assessment  
• The term 'BAME' is no longer used in the sub-strategy document.  

You can read the students and education sub-strategy and the other sub-strategies for Vision 2030 on our dedicated webpage.   

Support for students 

Studying during this time may challenge you in unexpected ways, especially when you're balancing your studies with work and home commitments. If you feel stressed or anxious, you can find the support you need at the University. 

Your Faculty Student Services should be the first point of call to access support and advice, and the easiest way to contact them is by the e:Vision Helpdesk.    

All students can access online mental health and wellbeing support 24/7 through Togetherall – an online community monitored by trained professionals. If you feel that you need advice or extra help, please check our self-help resources webpage or complete the mental health and wellbeing support registration form.      

Tim Steele, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Global Opportunities, has recorded a message of support for those affected by the pandemic in South East Asia.  

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

University communications and staying up to date  

During the Covid-19 pandemic, the University has been committed to keeping students up to date with the latest information through our weekly student updates, social media channels, and dedicated coronavirus webpages.  

Over the summer period, we will reduce the number of student update emails you receive; however, please be assured that we will update you as soon as possible with any critical information that you need to know.  

Where you can stay up to date with the latest information and guidance: 

• Visit our Student News webpage for all the latest updates and stories. 
• We post regular messages on our social media channels (Instagram,   Twitter and Facebook). 
• Our Covid-19 webpages have information on testing, reporting, safety on campus and our Road to Reopening @WLV.  

If you are in the final year of your studies, please remember that you can access help and support with planning your next steps through the Class of 2021 programme.  

Julia Clarke  

Deputy Vice-Chancellor