Staff Open Meeting 21 July 2020
Introduction
Today’s agenda • News update • Flexible learning • Safe campus/return to campus • Growing our research • Summary and questions
News update: local • Around 98% engagement by students in online assessment • Results published Tuesday 14 July • Graduation celebration after results published • National student survey results published 15 July • Senior management presence on campus • Recognition of colleagues working on campus.
News update: external • Student number cap and controls on student recruitment ‘incentives’ • Research funding package announced • Universities UK and London Higher promotional campaigns.
Professor James Knowles Senior Vice-Principal (Education)
Technology enhanced learning • TEL = using technology but also best practice and models to make online experience effective learning experience for students – not an emergency replacement or substitute • Resources and materials platform: Moodle, library +Moodle will continue functions for assessment • Collaboration and communication tool: MS Teams + collaboration, small group work, communication via chat, discussion, etc. + integrated single-entry point, stable, secure.
Flexible education hub The page will be a single access point for colleagues with all of the key information on the first page This will include: • How to use Microsoft Teams for teaching • Case studies and videos from other universities Aims: • Flexible education > balance of on campus, face-to face and online • Resilience > potential for further disruption .
Implementation • Training and support: Mixture of Moodle courses and Teams meetings for training • Development of role of e-learning group, peer-buddying systems, good practice sharing • Technical standard update + policy guidance = end July • Netiquette and good practice guides = end August • Student-facing policies including attendance and engagement = September • ‘September sprint’ = rapid upskilling courses • Room based technology induction = pre-teaching • Urgent help clinics/drop-ins = start of term (+ in-room AV support).
Professor Ken Badcock, Senior Vice-Principal (Academic Strategy, Partnerships and Resources)
Reduced classroom capacities
Options for additional timetable capacity Recommendation Options Rooms Hours Weeks Additional % Increase Slots on 19-20 One additional hour (6–7pm) 83 1 10 3,320 10% Back-up 2 (6-7) Mon/Tues/Thurs/Fri) Action Wednesday afternoon 83 4 10 3,320 10% Saturday Teaching x four hours 83 4 10 3,320 10% Rule Out Action for reading weeks One additional week of teaching 83 40 1 3,320 10% Already Done Moving additional rooms onto timetable 8 40 10 3,200 9.6% Rule out Herringham Room 1 40 10 400 1.2% Action Herringham Room (if split into two 2 40 10 800 2.4% seminar rooms) Rule out (Cost) Founder’s SE Ground void space 1 40 10 400 1.2% Action NOH Theatre (£119,500 inc VAT) 1 40 10 400 1.2% Founder’s E/W 2 nd Floor rooms Rule out 8 40 10 3,200 9.6% (accommodation) McCrea Fractional Rooms 2 40 10 800 2.4% Action Rule out (cost) Renting - Per 25 capacity room 1 40 10 400 1.2%
Defining and approving the details • Executive Board approval for the plan was given on 17 June • Based on considering balance of “on-campus education” – staff workload – estate limits • “For classroom based teaching, we will attempt to timetable the same number of hours in the presence of a staff member, with half of these hours in person if Health and Safety conditions allow this.” • Lighter touch validation based on information collected at module and programme level on changes to learning objectives and assessment methods • Constructive discussions with departments on the general pattern of teaching - many exciting ideas and workable patterns of classes defined in every department • Discussions continue to finalise plans for laboratories, performance, field work and PC Labs • Information collected through schools to allow timetabling and validation • Room setup and IT environment being configured to allow classes in the general teaching pattern, along with recording (more communications on this by the end of July) • Ongoing collection of special hardware and software requirements.
Dr David Ashton, Deputy Principal (Operations)
Staff wellbeing and safety • Health, safety and wellbeing of staff is our number one priority • Work is progressing across the College to ensure that all practicable safety measures are in place for a return to campus for some activity • Our goal is that each individual staff member feels as comfortable and confident as possible about any return to campus • We also need to ensure those who remain working from home are supported to do so.
Your wellbeing: Working Well Hub
Working Well Hub On the hub, accessible from the home page of the intranet, you can find information about
Support available to all colleagues • Employee Assistance Program (EAP) – free to use, anonymous, and can be used by partners / children in some cases • Staff wellbeing activities are still available online • Managing Stress eLearning is available for all managers through the Health and Safety Office • Coping with Change workshops will be bookable through links on the Working Well Hub • Other resources are available through the Working Well Hub including ways to stay connected to our diversity networks or through the line managers’ forum. • A Stress and Mental Health Policy is being created to be published in term one
What is the journey to reopening the campus Open buildings Opening of key to science Open key enable Campus research academic Opening Visits in support laboratories. buildings and remaining of student Provide access set up for buildings for recruitment. to study space Confirmation start of session Initial opening for students and Clearing of EWD for Click most in need and Collect June July August September
Who might return to campus by the start of session • Colleagues who support the physical, educational and emotional needs of students living and/or studying on campus for services which cannot be delivered remotely • Academics undertaking research on campus • Colleagues who deliver essential services for staff working on or off campus including colleagues who support the safety and security of campus users and provide campus maintenance • Colleagues and contractors delivering work which requires access to equipment and facilities on site which can be delivered in a safe and socially distanced manner
Who might not return to campus for the start of session • Colleagues whose roles do not require them to work on campus • Plans for those colleagues will be developed and agreed with the Deputy Principal (Operations) following consultation with the Directors of Health and Safety and Estates and in line with the easing of social distancing.
Health and safety on campus • The measures being put in place which are designed to help keep our whole campus community as safe as possible divide into two broad groups - Hygiene - Social distancing • Everyone has a part to play in helping to keep everyone safe on campus
Hygiene • When on campus, regularly wash your hand, or use hand sanitiser when that’s not possible • Hand sanitiser stations will be available in high-traffic locations. • Wear a face covering where you feel it’s appropriate. Two face coverings will be made available to all members of staff and students • Each teaching space will be cleaned daily with a record in each room to give confidence that it was completed • Wipes will be provided in teaching spaces so that you can wipe down areas and gloves will be provided in PC labs to protect yourself. If requested, visors can be provided.
Social distancing • Teaching spaces and offices will have maximum occupancies and the number of staff working on campus will be reduced • Clear signage will be in place across campus to encourage social distancing • We are planning to increase car parking by circa 25% to allow for more students and staff to travel to campus by car if they wish • Teaching spaces are being configured with a minimum of 1m social distancing for students and 2m for the lecturer • Face shields / visors can be provided to lecturers on request • Work completed for Drama and Media Arts is based on a planned 2m separation and a minimum of 1m during sessions. A 3m separation is being used for Music.
Some of the signs you will see on campus
Additional measures being investigated • Extending the use of Piggery Gate to support socially distanced access to the campus • Reviewing options for external canopies/coverings to enhance the social distancing enabled use of external spaces • Considering targeted landscape improvements and new outside furniture to support enhanced wellbeing and socially distancing enabled use of external spaces • Reviewing options, including College vehicles, to flex the Hallmark bus service to match demand as it emerges for the start of session • Working with the cleaning contractor Haywards to provide enhanced room specific cleaning notices confirming daily room cleaning of all teaching spaces.
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