Covid-19 is changing the way we think about the world. Some of you may also be thinking about the next academic year and wondering what this will bring.
We are confident that any student who is living with us next year can still have a great experience. Our accommodation consists of self-contained studio flats – and not clusters with shared kitchens/ lounge – so it’s easier to adhere to social distancing rules.
We’ve also been changing our processes and approach, making sure we can still offer you all the things you know you can expect from us – such as free fitness class and weekly social events – while keeping safe.
On this page we’ll keep you up-to-date with all of our latest announcements, including information about your booking and next steps. We recommend you bookmark this page or save it to your home screen so you access it easily in future.
We’re thinking ahead
The good news is we’re already planning for the ‘new normal’. Here’s what we’re preparing so far:
• Our internet speeds of up to 200mbs are already perfect for online learning, but we’re not stopping there. We’re taking steps to further improve our connections with technology upgrades on site, ensuring you get the very best digital experience.
• Our free weekly social events will still happen, even if in a different way. We’re planning for social distancing and a calendar of virtual activities. We’ll even deliver the materials needed for our events if we can’t get together.
• We’re monitoring Government advice on when we can re-open our communal spaces. But we promise wherever we can, we’ll provide an online alternative if needed. For example, our fitness classes have been happening online for the last two months!
• We’ll be there for you. Our welfare team have already changed how they give advice and support where needed – and we have new processes in place for everything, from our parcel service to how we carry out maintenance.
Staying Covid-19 secure
We are taking a number of steps to protect our staff and residents. This includes:
• Carrying out a COVID-19 risk assessment.
• Making sure high traffic areas, such as our gates and doorways, are cleaned regularly to decrease transmission risks.
• Ensuring we take all reasonable steps in maintaining a 2m distance throughout the site.
• Displaying advice signs in high traffic areas, including encouraging frequent hand-washing and advising residents on how to use lifts safely.
• Sending regular emails to students, updating them on key information and Government advice.
What the universities have said
All of Coventry and Leicester’s universities are planning to deliver both face-to-face and online learning for the 2020-21 year. So if you want to take part in face-to-face learning, it will be much easier for the majority of students to live in local accommodation.
Coventry University, De Montfort University, the University of Leicester and the University of Warwick and have all said explicitly said they will be welcoming people onto campus but the institutions are reviewing what this looks like in detail. Large lectures will be online but the hope is other teaching will be in person.
You can find out about each university’s plans on their dedicated web pages:
We encourage each student to make the decision they feel is right for them regards university attendance and accommodation, but we believe that we can offer our contracted service (i.e. a studio room) to all residents for the 2020/21 academic year. This is why we have kept our current cancellation policy in place. If you want to discuss this in more detail, please get in touch via phone, email or live chat.
What the Government has said
Boris Johnson has been clear on his thoughts. Responding to questions raised in the Liaison Committee on Wednesday 27th May he said:
“Clearly, the implication of your question is that face to face tuition is preferable… I hope that all universities understand that and see that is also important to their students.
——————————————————–
