From Professor Karen Cox, Vice-Chancellor and President.

With lockdown due to start tomorrow, I wanted to thank you for all your hard work, commitment and dedication to our university during what has been a very challenging year.

As you know, the Government has decided that universities are to remain open to protect the wellbeing and long-term futures of students. We have now received further guidance from the Department for Education which reiterates the importance of face-to-face teaching, including for the mental health and wellbeing of students, and expects this to continue where it can be done safely.

In discussion with our local Health Protection Team we will continue to operate in much the same way as we are currently doing, although we will have to make some changes, as set out below, to ensure we are compliant with the new Government restrictions. You are therefore expected to continue in your established work pattern unless you hear otherwise from your line manager.

Government guidance has now confirmed the need to close sports facilities and gyms on campus. However, we can continue with the provision of eat-in catering services for those students in catered accommodation and our campus catering outlets will be open on a take-away basis. Libraries and study spaces on campus will also remain open.

The guidelines also clarify that students should only socialise in household units; that they should not travel to and from their term-time address to home for the duration of the lockdown; and that commuting students are able to travel from home to university.

We are working to ensure students are aware of these requirements as well as confirming we will continue to deliver a mix of online and face-to-face teaching and support. On Friday, together with Kent Union, we are holding a WebChat to update students on the current situation.

We will continue to update the information for staff and students on the website and will be touch on a regular basis.

Once again, thank you for all you are doing for the university, our students and our staff, it is very much appreciated.

My very best wishes go to you and your families.

Yours sincerely

Karen

Professor Karen Cox | Vice-Chancellor and President