COVID-19: our university community commitment

To protect us all, we are asking every student and staff member to commit to these guidelines, and do’s and don’ts.

• Follow government and university guidance related to reducing the spread of COVID-19.
• Make sure you are up to date with changing regulations and restrictions: www.gov.uk/coronavirus
• Be aware that this is a challenging time for all of us. Look out for peers and friends and those you live, learn or work with.

• If you see inappropriate behaviour, or are worried about someone, raise it with them in an appropriate way or ask for help. Your lecturer, SSGT, hall manager, site-based staff, Residential Life team and line manager can offer help and support.
• Be mindful of students and staff who may need priority access to lifts or who are unable to wear a face covering.

If you feel ill

• Do not come onto campus if you are feeling unwell or have COVID-19 symptoms (NHS website).
• If you fall ill on campus, put your face covering on, move away from others and make sure that you call the university emergency help desk on 01273 642222 to let us know the areas that you have been in. Then you must go home. If your symptoms persist, get tested as soon as possible and let us know the result: www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test
• Follow instructions to self-isolate or quarantine made by Public Health England (PHE).

• If you are tested and the result is positive:
  • follow university guidelines
  • work with the local NHS Test and Trace teams to ensure that people you have been in close contact with can be identified and contacted if needed
  • remember to tell the tracer that you have been on campus in Brighton or Eastbourne
  • remember to give them your term-time or permanent address if you live in Brighton or Eastbourne.

On campus

• Wash your hands and use hand sanitising stations regularly, especially when entering university buildings.
• Wear your face covering in all university building shared spaces (including corridors, stairs, lifts, communal areas, libraries, Students' Union shops and when queuing for food or drink).
• You can choose to wear a face covering in class or other learning spaces if you wish to do so.
• Remember, there are some circumstances where people may not be able to wear a face covering. Please be mindful and respectful of such circumstances.
• Pay attention to social distancing and follow the COVID signage in all buildings.

• Do not move university furniture – rooms and learning spaces have all been specifically designed to be COVID-19 compliant.
• Make sure that you follow COVID-19 specific guidance related to your course, specialist facilities or activities.
• Workshops, labs and studios have specific requirements in place to make them COVID safe. These are additional to the usual health and safety codes of behaviour that you are familiar with. Please take time to familiarise yourself with these.
• Stick to the new booking procedure in library, study spaces and also our prayer rooms to enable staff to meet government track and trace requirements.

Food and drink

• Wear a face covering and maintain social distancing when queueing. You do not have to wear a face covering while sitting in our catering outlets but it is ok to do so if you feel more comfortable.
• When sitting in catering outlets make sure to complete the track and trace government requirement process by clicking on the QR code link and entering your details.

• Remember that all transactions are now cashless.
• Do not move furniture and make sure that you maintain social distancing when sitting in groups – unless you are with people from your household or support bubble.

At home

Regardless of where you live remember that your student home is classed as a household bubble and you should follow government guidance related to households to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

• Abide by the rules on visitors and social gatherings, ensuring that government guidelines are followed at all times.
• If one of your housemates has COVID-19 symptoms, your household should follow the self-isolation regulations until their diagnosis has been confirmed (or not).
• Show empathy, respect and due consideration to others in your household and to our neighbours.
• When off campus be respectful of our local communities, following government and PHE guidelines at all times and remember to try and walk or cycle between campus and home whenever possible.

These commitments sit alongside the university’s general expectations around student behaviour both on campus and in the community.