Listen up: Here’s how Covid-Cardiff Uni will look in September

The Pro Vice-Chancellor’s latest letter gives an insight into what university life could look like in September


It’s been three months without a trip to the ASSL and withdrawals are kicking in. Unfortunately, the latest update doesn’t look too promising for those of us who like to grab a meal deal and sit in the library procrastinating for hours on end. Here’s whats in store for those of us heading back to Cardiff in September:

In the most recent letter from the Pro Vice-Chancellor, Claire Morgan lays out Cardiff’s post pandemic makeover. 

In the letter Claire assures everyone that the university will be ready to welcome us back come September 2020. She wrote that the university is working to, ‘balance.. education and wider student experience.’ She also proritised the safety of staff and students in the letter.

But what does that mean for us?

In short, social distancing is here to stay. The Government regulations that require everyone to maintain a distance of 1-2 metres between those outside of your household will be upheld throughout university buildings, on campus and around the city.

Additionally, face coverings must be warm inside the buildings and there will be less people on campus. 

What about lectures and learning? 

All large lectures will be held virtually instead of in person. However, some small face to face teaching will take place with additional safety measures. Unfortunately for some students, the VC states that these groups ‘include laboratory work, clinical teaching and other practical sessions such as those in our Schools of Architecture and Music’. Therefore, we are unsure if seminars and tutorials will be taking place for all courses. 

How will online/virtual learning work?

The Study Skills page  will be updated with new resources in order to help ensure we can get the best out of online learning. In addition, a survey is due to be released soon so the university can assess our current online learning experience. 

The Vice Chancellor has also revealed that they will be recruiting representatives to sit on the student insight panel. These students will give feedback on plan for the new academic season as well as student experience. 

Will libraries be open?

The short answer is that going to the ASSL for that last minute all nighter won’t feature this year. Instead, libraries will be operating a ‘click and collect’ service.

The only way you’re seeing the inside of the law floor this year is by booking a slot. Study spaces in our libraries will have bookable two hour slots with social-distancing and additional safety measures in place. Further details on the libraries can be found here.

Can I still study abroad?

If your placement is due to take place in Semester 1 and is a non-language programme outside Europe then it will not be able to go ahead. Affected students will get specific communications from either Global Opportunities Team or directly from their school.

There is more detailed information on the intranet and the university has said they will be using this section to keep student updated and indicate the timescales for when further decisions will be made. 

What if I’m a vulnerable student? 

Any student who is shielding or lives with someone who is, and therefore cannot return to Cardiff this September, needs to contact the Disability and Dyslexia Service: [email protected] / +44 (0)29 2051 8888. This department will be able to assist you to get reasonable adjustments put into place in order to enable you to continue your learning. 

What if I have to quarantine during my studies? 

The University is ‘extending the reasonable adjustment process to ensure that students who are in either of these situations have access to digital content where appropriate’. However, very little was mentioned in regards to this area. Nevertheless, we have been assured more information will be released in due course.

So, whilst there’s still a bit of ambiguity as to EXACTLY what university life is going to look like, we can now say with some certainty it will be very different to the Cardiff we’ve all come to know and love. Time to start looking for some facemasks and invest in superfast wifi!

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