eNews 28 July
Arrangements for the summer and beyond, digital developments, British Academy Fellowships, print services, training courses, wellbeing and events.
Coronavirus
Working together to stay safe: arrangements for the summer and beyond
Roger Gair, University Secretary, wrote to all colleagues yesterday (Tuesday 27 July) outlining the measures we’re implementing to keep us all safe and the arrangements for the start of term, as things currently stand. The update covers topics including safe distancing, face coverings, ventilation, cleaning and hygiene, self-isolation, tests and vaccinations, support, teaching and learning arrangements, travel and events. A separate communication has been sent to students.
Digital developments
Minerva and Turnitin | Upgrade and training
Minerva is being upgraded to the latest version of Blackboard at the beginning of August. As a result, the platform will be unavailable from 5pm on Friday 6 August until Wednesday 11 August. The Turnitin integration – used for assessment – will also be upgraded at the same time. Find out what you need to know about the changes by accessing our online guides and booking training sessions.
Live streaming | Training, guidance and FAQs
About 90 teaching rooms will be equipped with live-streaming capabilities across campus ready for the start of the new academic year. You can access guidance and FAQs about live streaming on the Digital Education Systems website and book on to training sessions taking place on campus in September. Sessions will include equipment set-up and consider pedagogical strategies you may wish to use.
Microsoft Class Teams requests
The ‘Create a new Microsoft Team’ IT form can be used from the start of August to request Microsoft Class Teams for 2021/22 modules. Please submit your request by the end of July if you still need a Class Team for your 2020/2021 modules – e.g. for January starters. After this date, 2020/21 requests must be submitted to the IT Service Desk
Changes to Teams meeting recordings
Microsoft is changing where it stores Teams meeting recordings. To ensure this happens at the same time for all colleagues, from Monday 2 August, the University’s Teams meeting recordings will be stored in OneDrive or SharePoint rather than Stream. Find out what these changes mean for you
Celebrate
British Academy honours
Three of our academics have been elected to British Academy Fellowships. Professors Adrian Favell, David Hesmondhalgh and Helen Steward are joined by Simon Armitage – Poet Laureate and Professor of Poetry at Leeds – who has been elected an Honorary Fellow.
Going global to support international students
Incredible contributions to the global diversity and promotion of international students at Leeds have been recognised in a prestigious awards scheme. The latest in a series of profiles on the winners of this year’s Leeds Partnership Awards highlights the outstanding accomplishments of recipients of the Global accolade.
Campus life
Update | University print services
Microsoft has fixed the global security issue that was affecting printing, and MyPrint is now available again on campus. We’re working to find alternative solutions where print services are unavailable due to the age of servers. If you cannot use MyPrint, printing is still available from the Print and Mail Service (formerly PCB). Simply click the ‘staff’ tab from the Print and Mail Service homepage, which will take you through to the online print ordering system.
Summer in Leeds
The Summer in Leeds programme continues and organisers are still looking for your ideas about different events they can run. Contact Kate Bennett with your suggestions and/or if you would like to get involved in running an event.
Learning and development
Online workshop | Studying at University as a mature student
Whether you’re thinking of doing a degree for your career or to follow a lifelong passion, there’s no such thing as a ‘typical’ mature student. Book your place on the latest Lifelong Learning Centre (LLC) online workshop to find out more about the part-time courses open to colleagues without degree-level qualifications. Taking place on Thursday 19 August, the workshop will dispel some of the myths, and answer common questions, about studying as an adult. It will also explain how LLC can help you balance study with other life commitments.
Apply now | Engagement Excellence Scheme: public and policy engagement tracks
The Engagement Excellence Scheme aims to build researchers’ skills, knowledge, confidence and leadership abilities to undertake public and/or policy engagement. Fellows receive mentorship and coaching support, as well as a bursary of up to £500 to undertake a public or policy engagement activity. Application forms, found through the scheme’s webpage, should be submitted to the Public Engagement Team by 5pm on Monday 13 September.
Sign up | New PebblePad training dates
New PebblePad training dates are now available. Running until Friday 13 August, sessions are designed for new and experienced users, providing support in how to use this ePortfolio system to create innovative and reflective teaching and learning materials for students. Access your PebblePad account and take a quick tour of the homepage before you join the session.
Book | ‘Foundations of Active Learning’ Top Hat Certification training
Academic colleagues can now sign up for new Level 1 ‘Foundations of Active Learning’ Top Hat Certification training sessions. Allocated on a ‘first come, first served’ basis, sessions explore how incorporating Top Hat into your teaching delivery will enhance students’ learning experience. The training has received excellent feedback from colleagues attending previous sessions.
Apply | Aurora leadership development programme
Applications close on Monday 2 August for the 2021/22 Aurora programme – a women-only online leadership development programme, designed and facilitated by Advance HE for colleagues at or above lecturer level, or Grade 7 for technicians and those in professional services. Delegates will explore several leadership themes and skills through a mix of sessions involving guest speakers, mentoring, self-directed study and more. Colleagues can either apply themselves or be nominated by their faculty or service.
Training | Mediasite: Create and Share Digital Content
Don’t miss our short workshops on digital content taking place on Wednesday 8 September. This session explores how to create and share digital content using Mediasite, including the new Mosaic application. The session is delivered via an online webinar and self-paced learning via Microsoft Sway
Apply now | Enhance Your Student Education Practice (pilot) course
Applications are open for a new course from OD&PL aimed at early and mid-career academic teaching colleagues, especially Teaching Fellows. The Enhance Your Student Education Practice (pilot) course features six workshops providing you with the tools and skills to plan, evaluate and enhance your teaching and scholarship practice. It can also support your career development and plans for professional recognition. The deadline for applications is 5pm on Wednesday 11 August.
Inclusive teaching | New marking and feedback resources
New resources for inclusive marking and feedback are available on the Inclusive Teaching website. These include a curated LinkedIn Learning pathway, the policy on inclusive marking, a guide for staff on how to apply the policy and video advice from teaching colleagues and students, together with links to further resources.
Training | Undergraduate admissions results embargo
All relevant colleagues involved in undergraduate admissions are asked to complete training to prevent breaches of the results embargo. This is the period before qualification results day where early access to post-16 exam results (i.e. A-levels) is given to universities. Results cannot be shared or discussed with applicants until the embargo – which runs from 12 noon on Wednesday 4 August to 8.30am on Tuesday 10 August – has lifted.
Research
LITE Fellowships 2021 | Call for applications
Applications are now open for Leeds Institute for Teaching Excellence (LITE) Fellowships. Academic colleagues and those in professional service teams, who are interested in fulfilling projects delivering on the University’s strategic objectives, are invited to apply. New Intro to Pedagogic Research Fellowships are also being offered, aimed at supporting professional service colleagues to undertake a research project that enhances their area of service delivery. All fellows will have access to a comprehensive programme of support.
Save the date | Student Education Conference 2022
Next year’s Student Education Conference (#SEC2022) takes place on Thursday 6 and Friday 7 January, with a theme of ‘belonging and community’. The aim is to offer sessions both virtually and in person, showcasing new multi-mode teaching spaces available across campus. A call for abstracts will be made later in the summer. See Leeds Institute for Teaching Excellence’s SEC2022 webpage for updates.
Book your place | Careers Summer for Researchers 2021
Our Careers Summer for Researchers 2021 programme has continued to grow, offering a wide range of events and resources for the researcher community at Leeds. Sessions provide support in career planning, identifying next steps and developing key career skills. If you’ve missed an event, recordings and self-guided resources are available for some of the sessions.
As part of the programme, OD&PL will host an online session from 2-3.30pm on Wednesday 4 August looking at how professional bodies can help your career. The interactive session for postgraduate researchers and research staff features Dr Rob Bowles, a Careers and Professional Development Advisor from the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC), and Ruth Winden, a Careers with Research Consultant from OD&PL.
Wellbeing and support
Join | Chronic Pain and Fatigue Staff Network
Do you live with chronic pain and/or fatigue? The Chronic Pain and Fatigue (CPF) Staff Network welcomes new members. The group campaigns for inclusive change, raises awareness and provides a safe space for peer support. Anyone with personal experience of chronic pain and/or fatigue is welcome to join. Contact either Clare Coleman or Lucy Prodgers for further information.
Sign up | Upper and lower body postural sessions
Are you experiencing aches and pains? Try the 15-minute upper body postural sessions, offering gentle exercises for your neck and shoulders, including mobility, stretches and activation. The class runs every Monday at 12 noon via Teams. And why not give the 15-minute lower body postural sessions a go, too? They target lower back pain or stiffness in your legs linked with a sedentary job/lifestyle. The class runs every Wednesday at 12 noon via Teams. Contact Fran Andralojc to be added to the class mailing lists.
Rest, Reset and Resume session
Feeling unsettled, distracted or disorientated? The final live, guided, virtual Rest, Reset and Resume session – delivered on Zoom by University staff counsellors – runs from 2-2.15pm tomorrow (Thursday 29 July). Catch up, settle and re-orientate yourself to improve your own mental health and wellbeing. You don’t need to book – just stop, show up and tune in.
Book | Get Out, Get Active Wellbeing Run Club
You can now book sessions for the Get Out, Get Active Wellbeing Run Club. Back up and running for the summer, the club meets at 12.05pm every Tuesday opposite the Refectory steps. All are welcome to join – whether you’ve just started running or are looking for something flexible to fit around your schedule.
Events
Ticket offer | Heathers The Musical
West End smash Heathers The Musical is coming to Leeds Grand Theatre next month. Take advantage of the special staff tickets offer for matinee or evening shows between Thursday 5 and Thursday 12 August. Simply select your performance and enter the promotional code when selecting your seats.
Book now | Free campus sculpture tour
Book your free campus sculpture tour led by team members from Leeds University Library Galleries and Yorkshire Sculpture International. Taking place from 11am to 12 noon on Saturday 14 August, see new installations and hear the stories behind the artworks.
Making strides for charity cause
On Saturday 31 July, you’re invited to join #StrutYourSongs – a virtual event supporting The Miscarriage Association. Run by colleague, Vicky Treherne, the charity campaign has raised more than £30,000 to date. To participate in the event, simply make a playlist of your favourite music and then run, walk, cycle or swim – any activity of your choice – for as long as it takes to listen to your top tracks. Please post a picture of your challenge on social media with the hashtag #StrutYourSongs to help raise vital awareness.
In case you missed it
Download | 2021/22 Year Planner
Recording | Sir William Henry Bragg Building events
Volunteer | UCAS confirmation and clearing call handling
Sign up | Global Food and Environment Institute Symposium
Book now | Careers Summer for Researchers personal branding webinar
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