I hope you are making the most of the summer and taking a well-deserved break from what has been a difficult year for us all. As I mentioned in my last newsletter, over the summer I will be sending the student newsletter monthly, to ensure that you are kept up-to-date with our plans for the 2021/22 academic year.
The Government’s delay to the final stage of their roadmap out of lockdown is an example of how the situation is continuing to change and evolve. We are however, hopeful, and still expect that all legal restrictions will be removed by September and we’re looking forward to welcoming students to campus.
Welcoming you back to campus early
Some of you may have limited, or perhaps no experience of campus in-person, and may have only met friends and people on your course virtually. With legal restrictions hopefully lifted we can all look forward to connecting in-person again and we can’t wait for you to join us, and for you to be able to enjoy the different aspects of our campus community in-person.
For continuing students, the College and Students’ Union are welcoming you back on Monday 13 September. This is a week earlier than you might have expected and is absolutely optional. Arrivals dates are being staggered for students in Halls and new students will be arriving for Welcome Week from Monday 20 September and teaching starts on Monday 27 September.
We are planning to open our venues and are offering a week of face-to-face events and experiences to either welcome you back or introduce you to campus for the first time. The programme will include a range of ‘re-Fresher’ events, Give It A Go activities and opportunities for you to meet up with friends, old and new, on campus. The goal of the week is to give everyone an opportunity to reconnect with campus, join in activities that were not possible last year at the start of term and, if you’ve never been on campus, to familiarise yourself with study spaces.
I’ll be in touch with you again at the beginning of August and will be able to provide more information on the events that will be taking place from 13 September. We can’t wait to welcome you back.
Professor Paul Layzell
Principal