Our campuses are still open, as they provide a home to many of our students – and we have taken extensive measures to ensure that members of our community who have remained on our campuses are safe and have the essential services they need. We have also been running a programme of events and activities for our community to engage in online, whether they are still on campus or elsewhere.
At both the Colchester and Southend campuses you will be able to walk between accommodation and teaching rooms, as well as all essential services (shops etc). We are also looking at ways we can support transport from airports to minimise public transport requirements.
We are doing everything we can to make sure that as many students as possible can come back and join us in October, and that your teaching and learning will be able to carry on uninterrupted. This is the case even if some of it needs to be delivered virtually, either due to further stay-at-home requirements or individual illness and the need to self-quarantine.
We will follow all national and international guidance on the reintroduction of more students and staff to our campuses. We are now working on a range of actions that will allow us to gradually open up our campuses, and if necessary, manage further waves of COVID-19.
To protect our community on campus once the academic year starts again in October, we will be looking to introduce the following measures:
As it gets closer to October, we will provide you with more information.
We encourage all members of our community to support our efforts by washing hands regularly and using the hand sanitisers provided across our campuses.
The Government is advising that the public should consider wearing face coverings in enclosed public spaces such as shops, trains and buses to help reduce the spread of coronavirus.
If masks are worn, they must be used and disposed of properly to ensure their effectiveness and to avoid any increased risk of transmitting the virus and wash your hands with soap afterwards.
Over the last three months our community may have become socially distanced but beyond the physical, our Essex Spirit has brought us closer than ever.
Since lockdown, every week our award-winning Students’ Union have hosted Netflix parties where you can get together to enjoy your favourite shows together.
Our legendary The Hook open mic night has enjoyed huge success in a virtual space, with singers, actors poets, and performers all taking to the virtual stage for the enjoyment of huge audiences. We have a host of Essex Life Online events, everything from yoga and anxiety busting sessions, to online art classes and pub quizzes.
Our postgraduate community has been actively engaging too, in everything from our business and entrepreneurship webinar series to discussions and collaborations through our Essex Women’s Network and our Parent’s Network.
Many have found our mindfulness and resilience online workshops vital during this period and record numbers have been taking part in our sporting challenges on social media, from footballing skills to interval sprints and plank challenges, there’s something for everyone in our unique and diverse Essex community.