Students and staff are returning to Sheffield Hallam University for the start of the new academic year, and I understand that our local communities may have questions about the University’s plans for the start of term.

Our diverse community of 30,000 students is a huge asset to our region, bringing significant benefits to the city and its economy. Although Covid-19 means that things will be different this year, we are committed to providing an outstanding student experience in a safe environment.

I wanted to provide an update to our local communities on the new measures we have put in place to ensure that our students, staff and wider community are as safe as possible.

Recently, myself and the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sheffield wrote an article on the measures we are jointly taking to try to ensure that the return of large numbers of students to the city is a success for all.

We know that arrivals week can be a busy time with students travelling to Sheffield to move into student accommodation. To make this process as safe as possible, we have planned for staggered arrivals over the space of a week, with allocated time slots and limits on the number of family members who can accompany students.

Furthermore, Sheffield Hallam contacted more than 23,000 new and returning students as part of a campaign to provide clear guidance on how students can stay safe and be considerate and respectful neighbours. Students have been made aware of the action that could be taken should they be found responsible for anti-social behaviour.

Other safety measures which the University is introducing include:

• A new approach to teaching and learning, with all large lectures to be held online, with some on-campus face-to-face learning for workshops, laboratory work and tutorials.
• Limiting the number of people in our buildings to ensure social distancing, with controls at entrances and exits including temperature checking facilities.
• The introduction of hand sanitisers and protective screens across campus.
• Compulsory wearing of face coverings in buildings.
• A robust track and trace process, in conjunction with the local health authorities.
• Dedicated support services for vulnerable students, and support for those who need to self-isolate if they become unwell.
• You can find out more about these measures at shu.ac.uk/keeping-safe-on-campus. 

We recognise that there can occasionally be challenges for residents living in areas with high numbers of students. If you experience any issues that cannot be resolved through informal conversations, please visit our dedicated webpage for local residents, where you can find details of how to report this to us on a 24/7 basis.

I hope this provides reassurance that we are taking appropriate steps to keep our community and the city safe. We will continue to work with local authorities, Public Health England and South Yorkshire Police to review our approach and introduce any further necessary measures to keep us all safe.

We are proud to work with, and for, our communities and take our role as a leading institution in our region extremely seriously. As well as ensuring that we play our part to help prevent the spread of Covid-19, the University is committed to playing a key role in helping our community and the wider economy recover from the effects of the pandemic through our teaching, employer partnerships and research. You can find out more about this on our Covid response webpage.

Yours sincerely,

Professor Sir Chris Husbands

Vice-Chancellor, Sheffield Hallam University