Student Update: Library, study spaces, support on campus and accommodation

Please be aware that this information was shared with students by email and correct at the time of sending. For the latest Covid-19 guidance, please visit our coronavirus webpages: www.wlv.ac.uk/coronavirus. If you are a student who has a query or needs support, please log a helpcall with ASK@WLV in e:Vision (www.wlv.ac.uk/evision).

Over the last three months, the University has moved quickly to meet the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic and respond to government guidance. From this week (beginning Monday, 8 March), we will start to welcome those students on practical courses back onto campus for in person teaching with social distancing measures in place to protect our whole community. 

During Covid-19, we have successfully moved to online lectures, assessments and teaching, and we are using the lessons learned to test and adjust our plans going forward. Still, I recognise that many prefer in person teaching and cannot wait to get back onto campus. Please be assured that staff across the University are looking at a whole range of issues, including transport, lectures, equipment and study spaces, in order to make your return to campus as safe as possible.  

Last year we launched the Road to Reopening @WLV to help communicate our approach to a managed reopening of the University facilities. I would encourage you to use these webpages, including the Road to Reopening FAQs,  as a point of reference and check back regularly for the latest updates and information. 

This update covers: 

• Changes to library opening hours and study spaces
• Support points on campus 
• Catering on campus 
• Accommodation fees update 
• Campus safety and Covid-19 testing 

Library opening times and study spaces 

From yesterday (Monday, 8 March), our library opening times are: 

Harrison Library (City Campus) 

• Monday - Thursday: 9 am - 10 pm 
• Friday: 9 am - 5 pm 
• Saturday: 10 pm - 4 pm 
• Sunday: Closed 

Walsall Library 

• Monday - Thursday: 9 am - 7 pm 
• Friday: 9 am - 5 pm 
• Saturday: 10 am - 4 pm 
• Sunday: Closed 

Hutchison Library (Telford Campus) 

• Monday - Friday: 9 am - 5 pm 
• Saturday and Sunday: Closed 

If you are accessing the library for click and collect or to make use of a study space, you must follow our safety on campus guidelines, which include social distancing and wearing a face covering at all times inside University buildings.  

Please ensure you bring your Student ID to access the library. You must book a study space in advance of travelling and show your booking confirmation to staff upon arrival. 

Students can still access a wide variety of resources and study support online from home through our library webpages: www.wlv.ac.uk/lib and get help from a librarian through our 24/7 live chat service ASSIST. 

Support on campus 

Students can access support on campus through your Faculty Student Services.  

City Campus - Ambika Paul (MD) building, Harrison Library 

For students in the Faculty of Education, Health and Wellbeing and the Faculty of Science and Engineering 

• Monday - Thursday: 10 am - 4 pm 
• Friday: 10 am - 3 pm
• Saturday and Sunday: Closed 

City Campus - George Wallis (MK) building  

For students in the Faculty of Arts, Business and Social Sciences 

• Monday - Thursday: 10 am - 4 pm 
• Friday: 10 am - 3 pm
• Saturday and Sunday: Closed 

Walsall Campus - Performance Hub (WH), foyer 

For students in the Faculty of Arts, Business and Social Sciences and the Faculty of Education, Health and Wellbeing. 

• Monday - Thursday: 10 am - 4 pm 
• Friday: 10 am - 3 pm
• Saturday and Sunday: Closed 

Students can still contact your Faculty Student Services by logging a Helpdesk call in e:Vision or by calling: 

• Faculty of Education, Health and Wellbeing - 01902 518 600 
• Faculty of Science and Engineering - 01902 322 129 
• Faculty of Arts, Business, and Social Sciences - 01902 321 789 

Catering on campus 

The following outlets have reopened on campus, offering a takeaway only service: 

• Walsall Campus Boulevard Coffee Shop: 8 am – 6 pm 
• City Campus Starbucks: 8 am – 6 pm. 
• Telford Campus Greenshoots: 8 am – 6 pm 

Accommodation update 

The University will continue to not charge rent for students unable to use rooms in its University accommodation whilst access to in person teaching on campus is restricted by Government guidance. Students who return to their rooms or remained in halls throughout the current lockdown will continue to receive a 25% discount. 

We will review this discount again after Easter (mid-April), in line with Government guidance and the roadmap.   

The University of Wolverhampton is strongly encouraging private providers to review what support they can offer to students who have been unable to return to their accommodation.   

Please remember that in line with current restrictions, students should not bring other students, friends or family into their accommodation. Parties and overnight guests in accommodation are strictly not permitted.   

The Government has introduced a new £800 fine for those attending house parties, including in halls of residence and student accommodation, which will double for each repeat offence to a maximum level of £6,400.   

In student accommodation, your 'household' is the people with whom you share a corridor and communal kitchen area. You must not hold house parties or visit other households – even if you're living in the same accommodation block.    

Find out more

Keeping our campuses Covid-secure 

We are looking forward to welcoming more students back to our campuses. Still, as you will appreciate, the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic means that working and studying on campus will be somewhat different. We all must do everything we can to keep our campuses Covid-secure, and that includes following social distancing guidelines, wearing a face covering and taking part in regular testing.  

Covid-19 testing 

The Government is stating that students are expected to have two lateral flow (symptom free) tests before returning to campus and have two lateral flow (symptom free) tests a week while attending in person teaching.  

Please visit the Testing webpage that includes the latest guidance about when to get a test and the locations and booking arrangements for testing sites close to our campuses. Students can arrange to get a lateral flow test using the facilities referenced on this webpage or somewhere local to them.  

Visit the Testing webpage

Safety on campus guidelines 

There are specific actions that are crucial for everyone to adopt to keep our campuses as safe as possible:  

• Face coverings must be worn inside all University buildings, including practical learning spaces, libraries (study and PC areas), corridors, stairwells and teaching rooms.   
• Everyone must maintain 2 metre social distancing on campus, including students who may live in a household bubble.   
• Follow hygiene procedures, including washing your hands regularly with soap and water and making use of sanitising stations where available.  
• Clean work and study spaces before and after use using the cleaning products provided.   
• Follow all on campus signage to safely move around buildings and learning spaces, including one way systems and closed workspaces. 
• Adhere to the isolation and reporting guidelines set out in our Covid-19 reporting procedures. If you are feeling unwell or experiencing Covid-19 symptoms, do not come on to campus.  

It is your responsibility as a member of the University community to be aware and abide by these guidelines so that everyone can be safe.  

Find out more 

Stay up to date with the latest information    

Please keep checking your University emails and reading these updates. We are committed to keeping students up to date. We do this by email, on our social media channels (Instagram, Twitter and Facebook) and the University student news webpage.    

Visit our dedicated Covid-19 webpages for information on how you can stay safe and help protect our University community during the pandemic.   

Thank you, and stay safe.    

Professor Julia Clarke    
Deputy Vice-Chancellor