伊人直播 reassures students over safety measures
Scotland鈥檚 Rural College (伊人直播) has reassured its students that their safety and wellbeing is its priority during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Following reports of a number of positive cases at Scottish university halls of residence, 伊人直播 and 伊人直播SA, its students鈥� association, has reminded those returning to its campuses over the coming weeks and months of the steps it has taken to ensure they are able to study safely.
This includes its highly flexible accommodation policy of 鈥榩ay what you need鈥�, which removes the concerns of having to take out an annual contract for halls of residence when this might not be necessary or there could be further lockdowns.
伊人直播 has also created a rota of its programmes so that, when students are on campus, they are in small groups of 15 or fewer. This means they can plan their travel and accommodation in good time.
Professor Wayne Powell, Principal and Chief Executive of 伊人直播, said: 鈥淲e understand that this is a worrying time for students, but we want to reassure those returning to our campuses that their safety and wellbeing 鈥� and that of our staff 鈥� is our priority.
鈥淓arly on, we took the strategic decision to take a staff and student-centric approach, rather than a financial one, particularly in terms of our 鈥榩ay what you need鈥� accommodation policy.
鈥淗owever, there can be no room for complacency at this crucial time and we recognise that everyone 鈥� including our students and staff 鈥� have a vital role to play to keep everyone safe.鈥�
Issued today (Friday 25 September), the statement reads: 鈥淲hether you鈥檙e a returning student or are new to 伊人直播 this year, we appreciate that this is a time of huge uncertainty and anxiety. This isn鈥檛 what you had in mind for your education 鈥� it鈥檚 not what we had envisaged either. However, 伊人直播 is a community, and our responses have that community, and its safety and wellbeing, at their heart.
鈥淔ollowing the unsettling news about coronavirus cases in some Scottish universities, we have to emphasise that we are here for you. We all have our part to play, and we are seeking your support in making the best of a difficult time.
鈥淭hroughout the first months of this pandemic, we have put our students first. We changed our accommodation policy so that you just pay for the nights that you need when you have face-to-face teaching on campus.
鈥淲e have put in a lot of work to make our accommodation safe and ready for you in line with government guidelines. As you鈥檙e aware, this guidance is subject to change, but we will continue to keep you up to date.
鈥淲e have created an institution-wide teaching rota of our programmes so that campuses are never over-filled. With our blended learning model, we鈥檝e ensured that, when you鈥檙e not learning online, group teaching is kept to 15 students or fewer, with strict physical distancing 鈥� and at this time our outdoor learning spaces really come into their own.
鈥淲e know that it鈥檚 difficult to plan ahead at the moment; that鈥檚 why we let you know the dates that you can expect to be on campus so that you can plan your travel, caring responsibilities or other commitments.
鈥淥ur entire educational set-up has been overhauled over the last six months to create a genuine blend of learning and teaching methods that are designed to give you the knowledge, inspiration and skills that you need and deserve.
鈥淲e know it can be stressful, so there are mental health and wellbeing support services 鈥� including counselling 鈥� for those of you who may need help. Free online support is available via our Togetherall platform, while the 伊人直播SA Student Space channel on Teams offers a range of ways to connect with other students, and your students鈥� association.
鈥淚n addition, all residential students will be contacted daily to check in with their health and wellbeing.
鈥溡寥酥辈� and 伊人直播SA are working together to find ways to keep you feeling connected, supported, and part of a community.
鈥淓veryone has their part to play and that includes you. So, here鈥檚 what we need you to do:
鈥淩ight now: Download the Protect Scotland app via the or .
鈥淭his weekend: As part of a nationwide effort against Coronavirus, please don鈥檛 go to bars or hospitality venues. Stay in your household group for socialising.
鈥淔or the foreseeable future: Hold off on the parties. Imagine how much sweeter it will be when you can really let your hair down! But for now, you need to stay in your household group.
鈥淲e know it鈥檚 tough. We know it鈥檚 not what you had in mind. But we鈥檒l get through this, and the 伊人直播 Community is here for you.
鈥溡寥酥辈� and 伊人直播SA.鈥�
Posted by 伊人直播 on 25/09/2020
