Update on our plans for January and February

Read a message from Claire Morgan, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Education and Students sent on 7 January.

Dear Student

As highlighted when I wrote to you yesterday, to ensure we both supported the Welsh Government’s COVID-19 response, and made appropriate decisions in light of the new variant, we have been keeping our return plans under constant review.

Update on our plans for January and February

As part of this ongoing review, we have made the decision to defer the start of in-person teaching for most programmes and to move teaching online (with the exception of health-related and practical-based programmes where on-campus activity is required to meet programme learning outcomes) until February 22 in the first instance. Please note this does not affect the return of post-graduate research students.

I realise this may prompt some new concerns and possible distress. This change has been agreed due to the considerable and ongoing uncertainty that exists around the new variant and its transmission, and the worry that it is causing among students and staff. Your school will be in contact with further detail, including how to access your learning online and confirming any changes to your timetable. 

If you have scheduled teaching activity in the week commencing 11 January, your school will be in touch very shortly.

If you have scheduled teaching activity in the week commencing 18 January and thereafter, your school will be in touch by Friday 15 January (at the latest).

Our campus, including our residences, libraries, study spaces and other buildings, remains open and safe due to our evolving safety measures should you wish to return to Cardiff in the meantime. 

If you are due to travel shortly, travelling for educational purposes has been confirmed by the Welsh (and UK) government as a reasonable excuse to travel.

Our position will be reviewed regularly to ensure that we can update you on next steps promptly, and keep you informed about the planned date for a return to widespread in-person teaching.

Supporting you

We are here for you and are doing everything possible to help you, ensuring you have access to the appropriate support. This includes:

• Our Student Connect service, which remains your first point of contact for support. We also have self-help resources for managing anxiety and other challenges, and TalkCampus, a social networking site offering you a safe place to talk anonymously about anything that’s concerning you.  
• You can contact your School Office or Academic Personal Tutor
• We would strongly recommend you continue to take advantage of our asymptomatic screening service when you return to Cardiff.

There are a number of wider factors we continue to work through, including safety nets and potential rebate for residences, that we will update you on next week. 

Finally, I appreciate that this is a development you may not have been expecting. However, please be assured that your health and wellbeing remains our priority and will continue to determine all the decisions we have to make during the pandemic. 

Best wishes

Claire Morgan
Pro Vice-Chancellor, Education and Students