All major Covid-19
restrictions, including requirements for physical distancing, ended in August as we moved beyond Level 0. But what are we doing at Edinburgh Napier?
- We’re sticking with 1m social distancing in learning and teaching areas, common areas and whilst moving around inside campus buildings
- We've removed one way systems in corridors and staircases. Instead, signs are in place stating ‘please maintain social distance’
- Toilets, lifts and kitchen areas are opening up, subject to 1m distancing
- Face coverings - see the separate article below
- You no longer need to check-in at each campus using a QR code
- Perspex screens will remain at iPoints, cafés etc
- Everyone should continue to follow the Scottish Government’s guidance on good hygiene principles
The latest on wearing face coverings (updated 31 August)
The
Scottish Government has confirmed all university spaces are workplace settings,
which means face coverings can be removed provided there is a partition or
people are at least one metre apart.
It is a legal requirement
to wear a face covering in all indoor areas. This is only removed when an exemption applies,
such as:
- Where we’ve actively put in place
measures to ensure people are either separated by a partition or a
distance of at least one metre, such as all teaching spaces and libraries
- When people are seated in a hospitality
setting and
are
eating or drinking
- When individuals have a physical or
mental health condition which means they are unable to wear a face
covering and are exempt
This means students will be able to remove face coverings when sat down in teaching spaces.
Some lab situations will be different and will be dictated by local risk assessments. For example, some will have extra PPE such as nurses in clinical skills settings.
Teaching space specifications
An important message from Alyson Tobin for academic colleagues regarding teaching space specifications can be found here (10 September).
Welcome back on campus!
Our
campuses are open and we’re doing everything we can to make you feel safe and
welcome.
Details of the University's phased approach for the return of all colleagues to campus life can be found here.
Many colleagues are returning to work on campus on a regular basis and we’ve developed the following guidance and FAQs to help you do so:
Catching up with colleagues on campus
Staff looking to meet up with their colleagues on campus over the coming weeks and months may wish to book rooms for hybrid meetings attended by those on campus and online. While a limited number of our rooms do support this approach, most do not. We’re currently focusing on upgrading and configuring learning and teaching spaces, so it will take time to put all meeting rooms on to Resource Booker and develop a more user-friendly approach to highlighting what the setup is in each room. Please bear with us as we make these changes.
The number of colleagues who can meet on campus is consistent with the caps in place for our learning and teaching spaces – 30 maximum, with up to 50 by exception. This will be kept under review and there may be further exceptions with enhanced risk assessment and in line with wider changes.
Events
can also now be held on campus for up to 30 people – or 50 by request – but
availability of space is very limited.
You no longer need to book a PC in the main part of our libraries or the JKCC via Resource Booker. Group study rooms must still be booked in advance, while timetabled spaces such as labs and classrooms can be booked in part or as a whole when not in use. There are now no restrictions on how far ahead you can book these
If
you’re coming on to campus and work in a shared office space, review the shared
office guidance here.
For
more information on bringing visitors onto campus, click here.
While some colleagues are returning to campus, many
will continue to work from home for another few months, on a full or partial
basis. Updated guidance on working from home can be found here,
while managers can continue to support their teams in doing so with the help of
this
guidance. Both documents were updated on 1 July.
LFD test collection and vaccination buses on campus
While Covid vaccinations and testing are not compulsory, we strongly recommend these to staff and students. We continue to highlight the importance of getting vaccinated and being tested to students while making it as easy as possible for them to do so. Staff should also test themselves regularly to lead by example and help reduce asymptomatic transmission.
Lateral flow test kits for asymptomatic testing are now available for colleagues and students at all campuses, as well as at our student accommodation and ENSA campus roadshows.
Those without symptoms can now collect these kits from our iPoints in Merchiston and Sighthill, and the NHS test centre in the Craiglockhart campus car park. Kits will be available at our Craiglockhart iPoint from 27 September.
You can also obtain lateral flow kits from community pharmacies and by ordering online.
Remember, lateral flow kits are used to test those who are asymptomatic. If you feel unwell, please don’t come onto campus and, if you have Covid symptoms, book a PCR test. You’ll find full details of the process, how to book a test, and where the testing sites are situated, here.
The NHS vaccination bus will spend two days at Craiglockhart and Sighthill during the first weeks of the trimester. This is a walk-in service available to all staff and students:
- Craiglockhart campus – 20 and 21 September, 11am to 7pm
- Sighthill campus – 22 and 23 September, 11am to 7pm
Edinburgh Napier students and staff are also welcome at the Heriot-Watt University facility.
Staff car parking
You now need a permit to park at all three campuses, although this will remain free of charge until Trimester 2. All users must have had a permanent permit prior to the pandemic – all temporary permits issued during the past 18 months have been revoked. If you're unsure as to what type of parking permit you have, contact car.parking@napier.ac.uk.
Remaining spaces will be offered to colleagues on our current waiting list before we open these up to applications, which will be on a first-come, first-served basis.
UKPC have begun to monitor campus car parks and surrounding areas. If a user does not have a valid permit, then UKPC will address this in the usual way.
We’ll continue to monitor demand for parking and will keep you updated of any changes. In the meantime, users should update their car registration details if these have changed during the pandemic by emailing car.parking@napier.ac.uk.
Exciting changes to catering services
To coincide with the return to campus life, Property & Facilities have announced longer opening hours, a new menu, the launch of a vegan cafe, and the return of walk-up catering services. Get all the details here.
Right to Work checks
The
University undertakes Right to Work checks to ensure everyone working for
Edinburgh Napier has the appropriate right to work in the UK before beginning
employment, in line with government rules.
During
the Covid-19 pandemic, the Home Office implemented a temporary measure to allow
employers to check all Right to Work documents remotely and rely on scanned
copies of documents. While this measure was due to end on 31 August, it will now continue until 5 April 2022.
Further
details on the Right to Work check process and how to book one can be
found here.
Student accommodation for 2021/22
Our
Student Accommodation Team have produced a newsletter to ensure all colleagues
have access to the latest information about student accommodation. If you or
your students have a question about student accommodation for the 2021/22
academic year, you’ll find the answer here.
Autumn graduation celebrations
We’re
delighted to announce we’re aiming to return to in-person ceremonies for our autumn
graduation celebrations. Three ceremonies are planned over Wednesday 27 and
Thursday 28 October at the Usher Hall. Get all the latest on this here.
Any questions?
Any
questions you may have on Returning to Campus Life can be submitted to staffcommunications@napier.ac.uk.