Stay up to date with our work
Our monthly updates are a great way for you to stay up to date with our work, events, and higher education news.
Last updated on Thursday 5 Oct 2023 at 11:41am
As students return to campus for the 2021–22 academic year, it will be critical for universities to communicate effectively with students and local communities. Although Covid-19 restrictions are lifting, the public health situation remains unpredictable.
University communications will play a critical role in making sure:
This checklist can be used by universities to help identify actions before the new academic year. The checklist can be adapted to individual settings and contexts. It can also be used alongside the examples of different university approaches.
The checklist and examples cover student-focused communications and communications to the wider community. A staff communications checklist is being developed by UCEA.
Further resources available:
Further resources available: Our case studies: Support for new students starting university in autumn 2021 (June 2021)
Further resources available:
We have pulled together a collection of case studies of how universities are developing communications to help students and local communities prepare for the start of term.
York St John University is carrying out a “Keep it kind on campus” campaign which will promote key expectations around student behaviour, foster mutual respect, and promote collective responsibility.
Imperial College London’s website highlights that despite the lifting of restrictions, the spirit of individual responsibility and respect for others continues. The website sets out expectations on students on face coverings, testing and adhering to local measures which may differ between departments based on specific risk assessments.
University of Gloucestershire’s Student Charter includes a section on Covid-19 which includes clear commitments from the university and students’ union and expectations on students.
In 2020–21 the University of the Creative Arts published a Covid-19 addendum to its student code of conduct.
Newcastle University has published detailed information on How we're keeping you safe during Covid-19 including FAQs on the 2021–22 experience
In 2020, University of the Arts, London produced a Keeping you safe in halls video on keeping students safe in halls which offered easy to understand explainers on how halls were being kept safe.
Imperial College London has developed general advice on keeping safe on campus including the university’s approach to face coverings, details of its return to campus framework and other health and safety measures. Links to relevant information can all be found from one central web page. The university has also published information for those in university accommodation on what to expect in 2021–22 covering cleaning protocols, households, self-isolation and guests.
Imperial College London has published information for students outlining how its student experience may alter if there are changes in the public health situation. The information covers three scenarios: minimal restrictions, partial restrictions, and full Covid-19 restrictions (lockdown). The information published includes details of the academic experience and community experience under each scenario.
The University of Nottingham has developed clear website content outlining what students can expect in the 2021–22 academic year.
University of the Arts, London has published a Coronavirus update on 2021/22 academic year which sets out the university’s approach to teaching and learning, signposts to the university’s Community Pledge and confirms that students will be given a health and safety briefing at the start of the new academic year.
Nottingham Trent University has published a message from the vice-chancellor to students looking ahead to term one of the 2021/22 academic year.
Coventry University has regularly retweeted key public health messages from Coventry City Council on staying safe in hospitality venues and use of face coverings.
In 2020, the vice-chancellors of the University of Warwick and Coventry University issued a joint statement to the local community on the return of students to campus. The statement shared the measures that the universities were putting in place on their campuses and in the wider community and aimed to provide reassurance to the local community in advance of the new academic year.
Coventry University has been promoting video clips of students who have just been vaccinated at the university medical centre
The University of Nottingham is using strong messaging to reinforce the need for students to get vaccinates – “vaccinate to keep our community safe”, “vaccinate to study safely”, “vaccinate to play sports safely”. The university has brought together detailed vaccine information including Q&As and directions to local vaccination sites.
The University of Nottingham has also led on a collaborative initiative between the University of Nottingham, University of Southampton and King’s College London to establish COVIDVAXfacts.info to address vaccine concerns and hesitancy. The site includes information and evidence from independent experts working in immunology, vaccination and Covid-19. Students are signposted to the site from the University of Nottingham website.
The University of Sunderland Students’ Union is promoting videos about vaccinations on social media and the students’ union’s website.
The University of Manchester has been regularly retweeting local vaccination site information from Manchester Health and Care Commissioning (MHCC). The university has also been using university experts to explain how vaccination hesitancy might be addressed. Information on vaccinations is also featured on the homepage of the students’ news site.
University of Sussex has published a clear position on vaccinations. It states that the university is in favour of vaccinations as an effective means of protecting public and individual health and strongly encourages all members of the university who are able to do so, to be vaccinated against Covid-19 and other diseases.
Sheffield Hallam University’s Welcome 2021 page includes a wide range of information for students from getting vaccinated to study skills training to booking welcome week events and learning about available support services.
The University of Brighton has published resources for students on Managing fears and anxiety around Coronavirus
Canterbury Christ Church University’s Welcome Hub includes links to different elements of the student experience including student support and tailored information for different cohorts.
University of Wolverhampton has developed Get Set resources to provide new students with as much support as possible before they start their university journey. It includes Zoom events introducing students to aspects of university life and available support services.
Our monthly updates are a great way for you to stay up to date with our work, events, and higher education news.