Starting this September: Staying safe on campus

September is already upon us and students have started coming to college this week to begin their Introductory Sessions. 

Whether you’re a current student returning or a new students starting at Oaklands College, we’re delighted to welcome you onto our campuses this September and here to provide any support or advice you need, as you get used to student life. 

We’re sure you have lots of questions about what college will be like this September, how you’ll be taught and what safety provisions have been put in place to ensure a safe return to campus this September, so here they are. 

Making campus a safe space:

To prevent infection, Oaklands College have used guidance from the government to ensure that we remind all students of procedures in place to keep them safe on campus. 

Students and staff have been advised to wear face coverings at all times, unless exempt. Social distancing measures have been observed and procedures put in place to ensure all students and kept at an appropriate distance, in line with government guidelines. 

Guidance from the government indicates that it is expected that a ‘bubble’ grouping students together by course area should be in place to minimise contact with others. 

Perspex screens have been installed at both Receptions and around campus to allow for social distancing between visitors and students. 

Across both St. Albans and Welwyn Garden City campuses workstations will be 1 metre plug mitigation procedures, with perspex screens between each computer. The student canteen area will maintain strict 1 metre distancing procedures and operating as a takeaway service one. Break and lunch times have been staggered for all students, who will be allowed to eat lunch in their classrooms to maintain social distancing bubbles. 

All students will be required to maintain a 2 metre distance at all times from staff members and will be reminded to wash their hands regularly. 

Electronic payments in the campus cafe and food and beverage areas have been advised, with money handling avoided where possible. 

Any students who have a high temperature or cold symptoms have been advised not to attend college. 

Students and staff are recommended to download the NHS app on their phones if they suspect COVID19 symptoms, this can be downloaded here. 

If you live with someone who is clinically vulnerable you are able to attend college.

If you or anyone else in your household is displaying any of the following symptoms you must stay at home and not come into college:

• a high temperature
• a new, continuous cough
• a loss of, or change to, your sense of smell or taste

You will be able to access testing for Coronavirus. The details can be found here https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/testing-for-coronavirus/ask-for-a-test-to-check-if-you-have-coronavirus/

Safe travel to and from campus: 

You can find the latest travel information surrounding Covid-19 and UNO’s safety precautions on their web page here, alternatively you can watch the video, and read how to stay safe whilst travelling to and from college via the link here.