University of Northampton opens its doors to students as new term starts today

The University of Northampton’s Waterside campus and halls of residence have opened for students, with teaching starting from today, Monday September 28.

To maintain social distancing measures, the university introduced staggered arrival times for students to moving into halls from September 14 over a period of six days instead of the traditional arrival weekend.

Across the first academic term, teaching will be a mix of face-to-face and online learning in a bid to reduce the number of students travelling to and from campus. Staff working at the university are also being encouraged to work from home if their role allows them to.

The University of Northampton is working with bus company UNO to ensure social distancing is being practised. They will do this by asking passengers to wear face coverings, increasing their cleaning regimes, taking contactless payments and reducing occupancy levels on their buses.

For those avoiding public transport, a new bicycle hire scheme is being introduced on campus. The university is already equipped with bike storage on campus as well as ‘safe and easy to navigate’ cycle routes.

Becky Bradshaw, director of Estates and Campus Services at the University of Northampton, said: “As a community, Northampton has pulled together extremely well to respond to the challenges of coronavirus.

“I hope that as we start the new academic year, you, the community around our campus, will join us in giving a friendly, respectful, welcome to our new and returning students.”

A one-way system has been installed in each building with floor markers and protective screens on help desks in order to maintain social distancing.

The use of passenger lifts haves been restricted to those with impaired mobility and those moving heavy or bulky items between floors. Lifts can only be used by one person at a time.

Students can get their reading material from the library through a new click and collect service. Returned library books will be quarantined for a period of time to limit the risk of infection.

Furniture has been repositioned in the Learning Hub and teaching spaces in order to allow social distancing in smaller groups.

This comes after the University of Northampton had to close the majority of its buildings in mid-March and suspend face-to-face lectures due to the pandemic.

The Waterside campus was then turned into a temporary coronavirus clinic in April so that those with Covid-19 symptoms could be seen by a doctor or healthcare professional following a referral from their GP.