Student Update: Latest Covid-19 guidance, EU Settlement Scheme reminder and Wolves Wellbeing Day

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 all well and safe. I realise that this week's announcement of continued restrictions will have been disappointing for many of you, especially those who are due to complete their studies soon. Please be assured that we are doing everything we can to make your last few weeks of the academic year as rewarding as possible.  

This update covers: 

• The latest Covid-19 guidance and getting the vaccine 
• A reminder for EU students applying for the EU Settlement Scheme 
• Class of 2021 programme for final year students 
• Volunteer at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games 
• Volunteer at the British Art Show 9  
• Opportunity with the City of Wolverhampton Council to join the community testing team 
• Updating your IT password 
• Wolves Wellbeing Day on Wednesday, 14 July 

The latest Covid-19 guidance 

As you may be aware, on Monday, 14 June, the Government announced that the next step in the planned easing of Covid-19 restrictions is likely to be delayed until 19 July.  

This delay does not affect the teaching currently taking place on campus, and our libraries remain open to all students who do not have access to an appropriate study space where they are living.   

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. 

Getting the Covid-19 vaccine 

Everyone in the UK aged 18 and over will be able to book their Covid-19 vaccine from tomorrow (Friday 18 June). 

Getting your Covid-19 vaccination as soon as you can will help protect you and those you care for as well as others in our University community. I encourage all students to participate in the vaccination programme against Covid-19, in line with government guidance. 

More information, including how to book your appointment, is available on the NHS coronavirus vaccine webpage.  

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. 

EU Settlement Scheme 

If you are an EU, EEA or Swiss national and entered the UK before 1 January 2021, you may be eligible to apply for the EU settlement scheme, which will allow you to continue living, studying and working in the UK after 30 June 2021. 

This is a reminder that if you have not yet applied, you should do so as soon as possible before the deadline on 30 June 2021. Further information on eligibility and making an application can be found on the Government website. 

If you need any support in applying, please contact the Visa team by email: visa-enquiries@wlv.ac.uk 

Class of 2021: We're here for you 

The Class of 2021 programme aims to support students who are completing their studies by offering tailored advice and guidance to help plan the right next steps for them.  

Being in your final year is tough. On top of assessments and deadlines, we know it's hard to make time for future planning, especially during a pandemic. You should take great pride in how you have risen to the challenges of these unsettling times and in all you have achieved during your time with us. But those achievements can continue.  

We can help with: 

• Planning your career and finding a job 
• Accessing a mentor from our network of alumni and industry professionals 
• Finding a volunteering opportunity 
• Exploring postgraduate study  

Please look at what support is available to you and remember that the University of Wolverhampton is here for you.  

Find out more 

Join the Commonwealth Collective and volunteer at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games 

The Birmingham 2022 team are looking for more than 13,000 dedicated volunteers to support the Commonwealth Games and help deliver the biggest sporting and cultural event the West Midlands has ever seen.   

As part of the Commonwealth Collective, you'll be the public face of Birmingham 2022, the heart and soul of the Games experience for athletes, officials, spectators, and a global audience of more than one billion. 

Find out more 

Volunteer at the British Art Show 9 

We are delighted that the Wolverhampton School of Art has been selected as one of the venues for the prestigious British Art Show 9. 

The event, which is the biggest touring exhibition of contemporary art in the UK, will take place in the city between 22 January and 10 April 2022, and there are lots of opportunities for students to get involved.    

To find out more information about volunteering opportunities, students are invited to join an online event with The Workplace on Thursday, 24 June, from 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm.  

Book your place 

Join the Wolverhampton community testing team 

The City of Wolverhampton Public Health team is looking for flexible people with strong communication and customer service skills to help support safe Covid-19 community testing. This will be a paid position, and training will be provided.   

In the event of an outbreak or discovery of a new Covid-19 variant, targeted testing will be deployed in specific areas of Wolverhampton. People without coronavirus symptoms will be encouraged to get tested to help control the spread of the virus and keep everyone safe.  

As part of the community testing team, you'll be required to share key messages with residents, provide reassurance, and help distribute Covid-19 home test kits whilst adhering to strict safety guidelines.  

This is a fantastic opportunity to help build skills for your CV and gain new experience.  

Find out more 

Updating your University IT password 

The University has a new password policy that means your main University IT password will need to have at least 12 characters, including upper and lower case characters, numbers between 0 – 9 and/or non-alphabetical characters (e.g. ! $ # % @ +), when you next update it. 

You can change your password in the usual way by following the guidance here: www.wlv.ac.uk/password. 

Wolves Wellbeing Day on Wednesday, 14 July 

Wolves Wellbeing Day is a day full of virtual activities to help you check in with your wellbeing, take a breather and have some fun too. 

The event will begin at 9 am, and activities include mindful moments, poetry, gardening, drawing, and lunch with the Coaches' Kitchen.  

Join for one session, dip in and out, or stay with the Wellbeing team the entire day - it's up to you. 

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

Book your place 

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 webpage.    

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.   

Julia Clarke  

Deputy Vice-Chancellor