Author: Shaun Williams, Executive Director, Engagement and Advancement
In Gold Command mode UEB discussed a number of operational campus issues:
- UEB reviewed the latest number of confirmed active COVID cases amongst our students and staff. Last week we saw a slight upturn in student cases reflecting local community transmission rates, however over the last few days the number of new cases in the University community has returned to its previous comparatively very low rate. UEB welcomed this and expressed its continuing appreciation to our students for their responsible behaviour on and off campus.
- UEB discussed the promising news of recent days around three vaccines, including the Oxford vaccine, the Southampton trials for which the University has been actively involved in supporting from the start. These developments are clearly very encouraging indeed and bode well for next year, but UEB stressed that it is important this does not lead to any complacency about the continuing need to comply with our COVID-secure guidelines. The roll-out of vaccinations next year, and increased community immunisation, will not be an overnight event, indeed it seems likely we will need to be adhering to some COVID-secure measures on campus for much of the current academic year. The eventual loosening of restrictions will need to be planned very carefully.
- Last week UEB was updated on the detail and implications of the Government’s guidelines on ensuring the safe return home of students for the winter break, requiring all teaching to be moved online from 9 December, and the provision of COVID testing to all students. Focused testing of students in the run up to the winter break starts this week. Confirmation that the national lockdown in England will end on 2 December was subsequently confirmed and Southampton will be told which tier it will then move into on Thursday.
- Based on its assessment of the local context, and after discussions with local public health bodies, UEB confirmed that the University will remain at Tier 1 in terms of the Department for Education response levels.
Reverting to normal UEB mode for the rest of the agenda:
- There was an update on the planned launch on Wednesday of the Technician Commitment, which aims to ensure visibility, recognition and career development for technicians working in higher education and research, across all disciplines. UEB welcomed the launch and expressed its thanks to the technician leads in each faculty who have been working so hard on the initiative.
- UEB were updated on the new UK immigration system which will be introduced from 1 January 2021 when free movement ends for EU citizens on 31 December 2020. Information from the Home Office regarding the new ‘skilled worker’ visa route has been limited, and as a result HR are planning the change in a pragmatic way to enable refinement when the user guides are available. A webinar via Teams on 2 December at 14.00 will provide an overview of the Skilled Worker Route and demonstrate how the points will work. UEB agreed that its current policy relating to visa reimbursement will continue.
- With the President of SUSU now attending each UEB meeting, UEB discussed the President’s report on student matters to be discussed at Council this week. Student mental health and wellbeing is of particular concern to UEB, SUSU and Council at the moment.
- Finally, UEB endorsed the University’s Exports Controls Compliance Statement, and had its regular review of the University Risk Register.