Author: Shaun Williams, Executive Director, Engagement and Advancement
Welcome to the first UEB Blog for 2021.
The Vice-Chancellor opened the meeting by expressing his gratitude to all those colleagues who worked during the winter break to support students who had chosen to remain with us over the break, and who kept our campuses operational and secure over the period. He also added UEB’s congratulations to Professor Keith Godfrey and Dr Nisreen Alwan, who were both awarded MBEs in the New Year Honours for their work during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Vice-Chancellor welcomed Professor Michael Butler to his first UEB meeting in his capacity as the new Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, and UEB formally noted the appointment of Professor Phillip Wright to the role of Senior Vice-President (Academic). He joins Southampton on 1 May.
UEB then moved into Gold Command mode to discuss fast-moving developments in respect of the continuing COVID-19 pandemic:
- Over the winter break there have been two announcements of significance to the University: from 26 December, Southampton and Winchester were both moved into Tier 4 restrictions; and further changes to the planned return of students in January were explained in an email to staff by the Chief Operating Officer on 31 December.
- Our students have been advised that there will be no in-person, on-campus teaching until they are advised otherwise, with the exception of Medicine, Health Sciences and PGCE students, who will be able to continue with their placements and/or in-person, on-campus teaching as planned. We have also reinforced to our students the message in a letter to them from the Universities’ Minister Michelle Donelan MP that they should remain where they are wherever possible and start their term online, and only travel to Southampton when in-person teaching starts.
- There was a recognition that in the light of the rapid rise in COVID cases nationally, a further strengthening of restrictions in England is very likely this week, and we will need to assess the implications for students and staff – a further period of uncertainty is likely until Easter. [Subsequent to the UEB meeting the Prime Minister announced a nationwide lockdown in England until at least mid-February.]
- UEB agreed that our laboratories will remain open, as for the time being will all other buildings currently open on campus. The risk assessments originally applied to the re-opening of each building after the first lockdown were very rigorous – these will now be reviewed against the latest advice relating to the new COVID strain variant, stressing the importance of maintaining 2-metre distancing. All staff, PGRs and students on campus are expected to participate regularly in the Southampton Testing Programme. Returning students will be required to undertake initial testing before accessing university campuses.
- It was agreed that, in some cases, staff engaged in face-to-face teaching or synchronous online delivery can be defined as a critical worker under the Government’s definition of eligible groups of whose children are entitled to attend school during any period of partial school lockdown. This will be dealt with at Faculty and School level. Access to campus is currently being restricted to essential staff only, including those required to teach the priority face-to-face courses. Again, that will be determined at Faculty and Professional Services Directorate level, taking into account those who for a number of reasons are unable to work from home.
- There was a recognition that this fast-moving situation will be the cause of considerable uncertainty to international PGT students due to join us this month, some of whom have already arrived. Clear communication, advice and support will be provided to them this week.
- The Government’s imposition of national Tier 4 restrictions in England, with further restrictions expected imminently, has now by definition superseded the Department for Education response level tiers we have previously aligned with and reviewed weekly. For the foreseeable future therefore, our operational activities will be governed by national tier restrictions and any sector-relevant guidance, and we will suspend review of our DfE tier levels until and unless they are re-instated.
The remainder of the meeting then reverted to normal UEB mode for the rest of the agenda:
- UEB discussed the Brexit trade deal agreed on Christmas Eve and the end of the transition period on 31 December. Our principal concern is the impact of the UK no longer being part of the Erasmus study exchange programme and what the proposed Turing replacement programme might provide. An assessment of the impact will be provided to UEB shortly. We continue to provide support and advice to colleagues, particularly around ensuring settled status. No immediate supply or procurement issues have been reported.
- There was an un overview update on our Strategic Major Projects, including an update from the Director of ODAR on the Campaign for Southampton, the University’s first comprehensive fundraising and engagement campaign, with an ambition to raise £100M and achieve 100,000 volunteering hours over the next 10 years. UEB agreed this was a strategic priority for the University, requiring future investment. Finally, there was an update on estates planning.