From 12 April, we will be moving into Step 2 of the Government’s roadmap to ease the country out of lockdown. From Monday, non-essential retail can reopen along with some entertainment venues and hospitality outlets.

For example, on the Canterbury campus, Kent Sport will open its indoor gym facilities and other services as outlined on its website. The main Co-op store and Library Café will also reopen.

In line with the roadmap guidance, all staff should continue to work from home unless they are deemed critical or essential workers. If you are working on or accessing campus, having followed the latest Government guidance and are Covid-19 symptom-free, it is very important that you get tested twice a week. We are offering asymptomatic Covid-19 testing for both students and staff at both Canterbury and Medway. Booking is currently open at the two sites.

Graduations

We recently wrote to all our final year students confirming our delayed plans for this year’s graduations. While everyone will still receive their certificate so there should be no need to delay plans for employment or further study, it is important that every Kent student can enjoy the graduation ceremony they deserve. Unfortunately, we are unable to guarantee this for this summer – however, we will be welcoming all our final year students to celebrate their graduation at Canterbury or Rochester Cathedral next May.

Summer celebrations

We are working on joint plans with our Students’ Unions to make the most of summer and celebrate the end of term, including a festival fortnight of fun and community on our Canterbury and Medway campuses from 21 June to 2 July. We are aiming to have something for everyone, with music events, outdoor catering, sports programmes, screenings, workshops and much more to coincide with the planned removal of Government restrictions.

Watch out for further announcements on this soon, and I hope as many students and staff as possible can join activities when we can this summer and come together safely to mark the end of a difficult year for everyone.

Richard Reece | DVC Education and Student Experience