I am writing to ask for your help in urging the government to provide clarity over the timing of university students’ return to campus in England, and the support that will be provided to them at this difficult time.
Students and staff at the University of Greenwich, and all across England, had been eagerly awaiting the Prime Minister’s roadmap announcement on Easter Monday but have been left disappointed by the lack of any information about when remaining students will be able to return to campus. As you may be aware, students studying key-worker courses and other subjects requiring practical learning or specialist equipment were able to return in January and March respectively, however government advice states that others should remain at non-term time addresses and universities should not provide in-person teaching.
The list of sectors which are allowed to operate in-person activities in England from 12 April is extensive – all shops, personal care businesses, gyms, spas, zoos, theme parks, public libraries, and community centres will be open. Individuals will also be able to travel across England for self-catered holidays and yet students remain unable to access in-person teaching and learning. It seems illogical and unfair that students who have been studying online up until now are being told they still cannot access facilities or socially-distanced teaching in their Covid-safe university campus – nor when this might be possible –despite the significant benefits it would bring to their development and their mental health.
We have diligently followed the government’s guidance and made the following arrangements to ensure our spaces are safe for all:
- Hands: We have purchased and set up hand sanitising stations in front of every building entrance and again in every room
- Face: We have given free face masks to all our students, staff, and partners who tend to visit the university
- Space: We have completely re-organised our students’ timetables and our physical spaces to ensure that all our provision follows the 1m+ guidance from the government.
- Fresh air: We are ensuring good ventilation of our spaces, as we know that the virus tends to spread through airborne transmission of aerosols.
- Test: Through our partnerships with our two local councils, we have community testing sites as well as PCR sites on all our campuses. This has enabled us to offer testing to our students and staff who are on campus, in our halls, as well as supporting the wider community testing effort. With our support, Greenwich council has achieved the position of being the top local authority in London and among the top 10 in the country for community testing.
The public health departments of our local councils and an inspection from the Health and Safety Executive last year all confirmed satisfaction with our Covid Safe arrangements.
Another concern that has been expressed in the media is that the return of students to on campus learning would lead to migration of people around the country. However, at University of Greenwich 55% of students live at home locally. Out of the students who live in our university accommodation, 84% are believed to already be in residence. Therefore, allowing our students to return on campus would not lead to mass migration.
Universities are now being asked to explain this decision to students when we have been given no explanation or clarification whatsoever by the UK government with no information or guidance being published. Many students have been studying away from university since the start of December, and we have particular concerns about the impact of a prolonged period away from campus on students from disadvantaged and underrepresented backgrounds. Ensuring students can return to some in-person teaching and benefit from in-person social and sporting activities as well as careers advice and mentoring opportunities will be vital to their wellbeing, personal development and employment prospects.
On behalf of the University of Greenwich I would be grateful if you could take action in one, or several, of the following ways and support your local university and student body to get the clarity they need:
- Write to the Education Secretary Gavin Williamson MP and Universities Minister Michelle Donelan MP asking for urgent confirmation of the government’s plans for the return of remaining students
- Table a written parliamentary question to the Secretary of State for Education. Suggestion-
To ask the Secretary of State for Education to confirm the date from which all university students will be able to return to campus and resume in-person teaching?
- Raise the issue in any forthcoming debates or ministerial statements once parliament returns [I would be happy to provide additional notes]
Universities across the country have played a vital role in the immediate and longer-term response to the pandemic including through research and vaccine development, volunteering and providing facilities, as well as supporting their students by moving teaching, assessment and mental health services online. Students now deserve to know the government’s rationale behind allowing other sectors of the economy to open up while they continue to be advised against returning to campus.
I hope I can rely on your support for this important matter, and please do not hesitate to get in touch with any questions.
Yours sincerely
Professor Jane Harrington
Vice-Chancellor
