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Latest advice and information regarding Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Last updated 20 March 2020

*LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY 20 MARCH 2020*

COVID-19 Update on Library, Dining Area and Buildings

Friday 20 March 2020

As we continue to monitor the fast-changing situation surrounding the coronavirus (COVID-19) we are constantly reviewing how this affects our College community and are responding accordingly.

While the business of the College remains fully operational, most of our students have now returned home to ready themselves for distance learning and our staff are transitioning to remote working. Entry to the following buildings will be limited to staff who require access:

  • Salisbury Hall (Reception will be staffed 09:00 to 12:00 on Wednesday until further notice)
  • Roy Graham Library (resources and support will remain available online)
  • Murdoch Hall
  • Moor Close, Schuil House and Keough house (access strictly limited to residents only from 25 March)
  • Bartlett Hall (Moor Close) Dining Area (food service will be limited to takeaway)

For the safety of our staff, only urgent maintenance requests are able to be actioned at this time – this includes Family Housing, staff housing, and Halls of Residence.

Many people are now self-isolating as they adhere to the Government advice surrounding coughs and fevers. We continue to recommend you follow Government advice regarding social distancing, to stay indoors where possible and only visit essential places.

You should also read the Government’s instructions on self-isolation for households.

We look forward to resuming normal operations as soon as possible, and to welcoming our students back on campus.

IF YOU ARE UNWELL

  • Return to your residence.
  • Contact the NHS either using the 111 phone number or using the website https://111.nhs.uk/covid-19
  • Update the College (on 1742 or 7650 if you are in the Halls or Residence or Moor Close); contact your student representative for Family Housing; or call your line manager if you are staff.
  • Follow the NHS advice as it relates to your situation.

Please continue to take care of yourselves and each other.

*LAST UPDATED: THURSDAY 19 MARCH 2020*

COVID-19: Update on Newbold’s English Language Centre

Tuesday 17 March 2020

As Newbold continues to respond to the changing situation surrounding the coronavirus (COVID-19) it is inevitable that our responses will impact the way that we operate, at least temporarily.

On Monday 16 March we announced that we would be extending the mid-semester break by an additional week, and that when Theology, Business and Humanities classes resume on 30 March they will do so via distance learning.

We have been thinking long and hard, trying to find the best way to take care of our students in the English Language Centre (ELC). It is with regret that we have decided not to teach ELC classes for the rest of the semester.

In the ELC, we believe in teaching English as a tool for practical communication. This means that immersion, one-to-one student support, and the variety of British cultural experiences form a large part of the quality of the learning environment. We cannot see how we could provide our help at the same level online.

What this means for current ELC students

  • Tuition fee refunds: We will be offering refunds of 50% of the semester’s tuition fees. You can choose to invest that money in your fees for the next academic year or get it back as a bank transfer. This refund is in addition to any refund you will receive for accommodation and/or meals. We will get these refunds to you as soon as we can, but this may take some time as we figure out how much you are owed. You will be contacted individually by email when we start working on your case. Students from UNASP will receive their money directly from them.
  • Certificate of Attendance: You will receive a Certificate of Attendance for the first half of the semester that you completed.
  • Online support for the rest of the semester: Our ELC teachers will be available for the rest of the semester to provide support for those of you who would like to continue studying from your homes using your ELC textbook. There will be no charge for this help.
  • Business and Humanities modules: Upper Intermediate and Proficiency students who are also taking modules from our Business or Humanities courses can still continue to follow those classes online.

If you are concerned about how any of these changes might affect your situation, please contact our Academic Registrar, Ms Serena Santona ([email protected]), and please continue to check your student email.

We understand that these are uncertain and worrying times and would like to encourage you again to reach out to our College Chaplain, Pastor Alastair Agbaje ([email protected] or 07703 732278), to any member of our Campus Ministries team, or to your lecturers or other teaching staff if you would like further support.

*LAST UPDATED: MONDAY 16 MARCH 2020* 

Transition to Distance Learning

Dear Newbold community,

Given the continuing escalation of the situation around the coronavirus (COVID-19) and the College’s commitment to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of the Newbold community, we have been closely following the latest UK government actions and advice.

We are committed to sharing relevant information and advice on the situation, and how these impact on the diverse international community on our campus.

Last Thursday the UK Prime Minister announced that the country has moved to the ‘delay’ phase in its response to the virus, including new guidelines for those with either a high temperature or a new continuous cough to self-isolate for seven days.

Many schools, universities and childcare centres around the world have closed in recent days, and while the UK is not currently following this pattern, we need to consider our situation as a residential learning environment – particularly with our shared, dormitory-style accommodation.

Newbold’s Crisis Management Group has considered many different scenarios in trying to strike a balance between government decisions and how they affect our community as we continue to respond to the challenges of COVID-19. Therefore, we are taking the following steps.

  • Extension of the mid-semester break: In order to allow sufficient time for the measures below to be implemented appropriately, we are extending the mid-semester break by one week. This means that the break will conclude on Sunday 29 March.
  • Move to distance learning: All DTS/DBH modules/classes will be taught online from Monday 30 March, immediately following the extended mid-semester break.

Given the nature of our English language courses, we are still making appropriate arrangements for our English Language Centre.

We will continue to keep students updated as to how distance coursework will be delivered, as it relates to your particular course or programme.

  • Halls of Residence: In the event of students in residence contracting the virus and their health deteriorating significantly, the College is not equipped to provide appropriate medical care, nor do we have facilities that allow for adequate self-isolation. Thus, as our teaching moves online, students living in Schuil House, Keough House and Moor Close are strongly recommended to make plans to return to their permanent residence as soon as possible, with a final deadline of Wednesday 25 March, unless they receive prior permission to remain longer. This permission is likely to be offered to international students and those who need to remain in the local area for good reason, and would be granted by the Senior Leadership Team on the recommendation of the Residential Life Manager.

If you are a lodger/boarder in Moor Close or if you live in Family Housing, you will be able to remain in your accommodation as per your tenancy agreement.

  • Cafeteria and Library services: The Cafeteria and Library will continue to operate for any students who do remain in campus accommodation, although the way these services operate is likely to change.
  • Staff working arrangements: As we move to distance learning, staff may choose to work from home if appropriate and after consultation with their supervisor.
  • Travel: All College-related international travel has been cancelled or postponed for the foreseeable future.

Domestic travel is likely to still go ahead as planned for the time being, although this will be under constant review.

We continue to encourage all members of the Newbold community to reconsider the necessity of any personal international travel, and for staff and students to notify us as per the previous notification if they plan to travel internationally.

  • Cancellation of campus events and external bookings: Given the situation, it is unlikely that we will be able to proceed with any campus events, external bookings, or guest bookings at least until the end of the academic year (mid-May).

These arrangements will be in place for the remainder of the 2019-2020 academic year or until the situation stabilises.

What to do if you feel unwell

Please remember to take care of your health:

  • Wash your hands frequently
  • Sneeze into a tissue and bin it
  • Avoid touching your face

Seek NHS advice by calling 111 or go to www.111.nhs.uk/covid-19 if you have:

  • A high temperature
  • A new continuous cough
  • Shortness of breath

Return to your residence. Seek NHS advice. Update the College (on 1742 or 7650 if you are in the Halls or Residence or Moor Close); contact your student representative for Family Housing; or call your line manager if you are staff. Follow the NHS advice as it relates to your situation.

What happens next?

As this is a rapidly-changing situation, we will keep you informed about online teaching, campus services and any other relevant decisions or significant changes at Newbold as soon as we are able and as we continue to respond.

Stay updated on the situation as it relates to Newbold, by visiting www.newbold.ac.uk/coronavirus, and by checking your student email. Students and staff who have not already done so, please download the Piota app, subscribe to the ‘Urgent’ channel, and make sure that notifications are turned on.

If you have any questions or concerns about how any of these changes might affect you, please contact our Academic Registrar, Ms Serena Santona, at [email protected]

Please take care of each other and continue to pray for one another – particularly those who have been directly impacted by this virus – and for God’s guidance as we continue to respond to the situation surrounding COVID-19.

Health and Travel Advisory

*LAST UPDATED: WEDNESDAY 11 MARCH 2020*

Based on information from various government sources and following consultation with relevant staff and the College’s Crisis Management Group, Newbold has issued the following advice for any College-related or personal travel, as at Tuesday 10 March 2020. This advice may change as we continue to monitor the situation:

College travel 

International travel: Please submit all plans for international travel on College-related business for the foreseeable future to Debbie McReynolds, [email protected]. Decisions relating to travel on College business will be made by the Principal in consultation with the College’s Crisis Management Group and based on advice from various government sources. This includes:

  • recruitment trips
  • international student groups (such as mission trips or mission projects)
  • staff travelling as guest speakers at international events.

Please do not travel on College business without approval, even if the trip has already been booked.

This guidance applies equally to trips that have already been booked as well as to those that are still being planned.

Domestic travel and events: all travel and representation at events within the UK should proceed as planned. However, please consider whether this travel can be postponed or rearranged.

Personal travel

We would encourage you to consider carefully any personal international travel you have planned for the coming weeks and months, particularly over the coming breaks, and to take steps to reduce this where possible. You might consider alternatives to airlines and other means of public transport.

If you have recently completed – or plan to

If through personal travel you visit an area that is on the UK Government’s advisory list for returning travellers, we ask that you isolate yourself for fourteen days before returning to campus whether you have symptoms or not.

Any conditions for self-isolation will be discussed with you on a case-by-case basis when you let us know that you will be travelling.

This currently (11/03/2020) includes the following countries, for which travel is advised against:

  • anywhere in Italy on or after 9 March
  • specific areas in northern Italy in the last 14 days
  • Iran in the last 14 days
  • Hubei province in China in the last 14 days
  • Daegu, Cheongdo or Gyeongsan in South Korea in the last 14 days

It also includes countries for which travel is advised to be reconsidered:

  • Italy (outside specific areas in northern Italy) before 9 March
  • mainland China outside of Hubei province
  • South Korea outside of Daegu, Cheongdo and Gyeongsan
  • Cambodia
  • Hong Kong
  • Japan
  • Laos
  • Macau
  • Malaysia
  • Myanmar
  • Singapore
  • Taiwan
  • Thailand
  • Vietnam

Remember to practise good hygiene, including:

  • Washing your hands with soap and water thoroughly, or using hand sanitiser, regularly
  • Covering your mouth with a tissue or your sleeve if you sneeze, or sneezing into a tissue and discarding it in a rubbish bin immediately
  • Being aware of your health both before travelling and on your return
  • Avoiding contact with those who are unwell

Please refer to the following websites for advice on COVID-19 and implications for health and travel: