20 January eNews
Campus safety and access, free parking, carer's leave, digital developments, new awards and have your say
- Coronavirus
- Campus life
- Wellbeing and support
- Digital developments
- Brexit
- Celebrate
- Events
- In case you missed it
- Keeping up to date
- Have your say
Coronavirus
Safety on campus
We’ve spent a significant amount of time ensuring campus and all activities taking place there adhere to the Government’s covid guidelines, working closely with our local public health team. Risk assessments, with corresponding operating procedures, are in place for all activities on campus, to reflect the fact the health and safety of our community is our top priority. Please ensure that if you’re on campus, you follow the coronavirus measures in place, including taking a weekly lateral flow test (as outlined below) and maintaining the ‘Hands-Face-Space’ guidance.
Asymptomatic (lateral flow) testing
We’re encouraging all staff and students who are on campus during the national lockdown to take a weekly lateral flow test. Book a free test via the coronavirus website
Wearing face coverings
Watch the video featuring Professor Cath Noakes – expert in the spread of airborne infections inside buildings and member of the national Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) that advises Government – explaining why we need to wear face coverings in public places
Reporting queries or concerns
Report queries, concerns or suggestions related to covid-19 control on campus (e.g. activities where queues form, or issues about buildings or cleaning etc.) via email to the Estates Helpdesk or call 0113 343 5555. Email Wellbeing, Safety & Health for issues relating to safety on campus.
Updated data | Coronavirus cases among staff and students
The health and safety of our staff and students is our absolute priority. To support this and to ensure transparency, we are publishing a weekly update on the numbers of positive covid-19 test results, along with a graph that shows the number of active cases during the past two weeks.
Campus life
Access to buildings
There is limited access to buildings on campus during the national lockdown. Information on the current access status of our buildings is available on our dedicated coronavirus website.
Free parking
Free parking is available on campus to staff and students at any time of the day until the end of February. Before you can park on campus, you must ensure your car is registered for out-of-hours parking (you will need to log in via the Virtual Windows Desktop from home). Students should register by emailing their vehicle registration details from their University account.
Wellbeing and support
Carer’s leave extended to March 2021
In March last year, to support colleagues who are balancing caring responsibilities, we increased the standard entitlement of paid carer’s leave from five to 10 days for 2020 (pro rata for part-time staff). We’re now extending this provision to the end of March 2021. These 10 days include any carer’s leave already taken within the past 12-month period.
Homeschooling resources
Dr Judy Sayers and colleagues from the School of Education have compiled a list of recommended resources to help parents and teachers manage learning at home while schools are closed. There are academic resources for all ages, as well as games and crafts.
Digital developments
New appointments calendar
The web-based Microsoft Personal Bookings calendar tool is now available. Integrated with your Outlook calendar, you can publish your available hours and allow internal and external colleagues and students to easily book appointments. Please note this is a separate feature to Microsoft Bookings (for use with shared calendars), which is being evaluated.
New way to view timetables
Staff and students can now view timetables on personal devices with MyTimetable. The simplified weekly view is available on your desktop through Minerva and can be synced to calendars on other devices – simply click on the calendar icon beneath the ‘Teach’ tab to access it.
Live online session support
The Digital Education Service will continue to support teaching colleagues with the delivery of their live online sessions into semester two. This is designed to help those unfamiliar with teaching virtually or who are delivering particularly complex sessions. Submit your requests for assistance by the end of today (Wednesday 20 January). Further information about all the support and training available for online teaching is available on the Digital Practice website, as well as via the Digital Education Service Helpdesk
Brexit
One-to-one immigration solicitor appointments
International staff can book a free and confidential 30-minute appointment with an immigration specialist from Freeths Solicitors tomorrow (Thursday 21 January). Sessions take place on Microsoft Teams or over the phone and provide an opportunity to discuss anything relating to visas, Indefinite Leave to Remain and British Citizenship issues. Please note appointment availability may be limited.
Latest updates
Read the latest updates on our Brexit In Depth page. It contains a host of information on what Brexit means for colleagues and research funding, including links to helpful resources. Please note this page is being updated as new information becomes available, so be sure to check back regularly for the latest details.
Celebrate
Women of Achievement
Entries close on Friday 22 January for our Women of Achievement Awards 2020, recognising the significant contribution and impact women at Leeds are making across our institution and beyond, academically or professionally.
University Teaching Awards 2021
You can now submit nominations for our University Teaching Awards 2021, celebrating and recognising excellent practice in student education at Leeds. Open to colleagues involved in teaching or supporting the student learning experience, winners receive a cash award to support professional development and scholarship, a certificate and an invitation to a celebratory event.
Prestigious research award
Professor Sheena Radford is to receive one the Royal Society’s most prestigious research awards, enabling her to develop new techniques to reveal the way proteins interact to shape, or destroy, memories.
LIDA announces Sainsbury’s partnership
Leeds Institute for Data Analytics and Sainsbury’s have formed a strategic partnership to deliver a programme of data-intensive research projects in nutrition and health, property analytics, location analytics and e-commerce.
Events
Online workshop
There’s still time to register for the Share, Adopt, Adapt Workshop (SAAW) at 1pm today (Wednesday 20 January). Introduced by Professor Neil Morris, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Digital Transformation, the focus will be on synchronous online teaching. Relaunched by Leeds Institute for Teaching Excellence (LITE) in an online format, the new workshop series continues to examine and showcase best practice across the University, as well as address new challenges posed by covid-19 restrictions.
In case you missed it
Vice-Chancellor’s blog | The importance of listening
Inside Track | Preparing for digital transformation
Unlimited free access to online courses
Cafés and The Refectory: opening hours
New mandatory supplier framework
White Rose Collaboration Fund applications
Research Development Fund: apply now
Join the Engaged Research Microsoft Team
New Interim 2021 Leaders and Managers Support sessions: book now
Bayfields Opticians and Audiologists: temporary relocation
Join Get Out, Get Active’s Virtual Step Challenge
Keeping up to date
This enewsletter is brought to you by the Communications team. You can keep up to date with our latest news on the For Staff website and by following the staff Twitter account. Our previous staff email communications can be found on our dedicated In Depth page, together with guidance on how to request an eNews entry. Please keep checking our dedicated coronavirus website for the latest information and advice.
Have your say
We’d like to get your feedback about our new weekly version of eNews, issued every Wednesday. Please fill in our short, anonymous eNews questionnaire, which should take no more than two minutes to complete. Your responses will really help improve our future communications.
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