University leaders give COVID assurances to the city

The Vice-Chancellors of Brighton & Hove’s two universities have given assurances that the health and safety of students, staff and the local community are their highest priorities for the new academic year.

Professor Adam Tickell of the University of Sussex and Professor Debra Humphris of the University of Brighton have stressed their institutions’ commitment to public health during these challenging times in an open letter to residents, as they welcome the return of students to the city this week.

Staff and students at both universities are being asked to abide by a community commitment, pledging to act responsibly and show empathy, respect and due consideration to the health and wellbeing of all they come into contact with.

Professor Debra Humphris

Both universities have also taken considerable steps, working in close liaison with Brighton & Hove City Council and the local public health authority, to ensure campuses are COVID-secure environments, in line with official guidance.

Measures include:

• Students arriving from countries with travel restrictions will be fully supported to safely self-isolate in university-managed halls of residence.
• COVID-secure campuses supported by 2m social distancing where possible; reduced building and room capacity; increased ventilation; regular deep cleaning; widespread access to hand sanitiser dispensers and face covering requirements where appropriate.
• Limiting demand for public transport by encouraging only strictly necessary campus visits for staff and students.

Speaking on behalf of the University of Sussex, Professor Adam Tickell said: “I am proud at the way that university staff and students have stepped up to support our local community, NHS and social care sector during the pandemic. We are proud to be part of our local community and we will continue to do everything we can to help our city to recover from the impacts of the pandemic.”

On behalf of the University of Brighton, Professor Debra Humphris said: “Whilst some local residents may feel anxious about the arrival of students back into the community I would like to reassure them that the health and safety of our students, staff and local community are our highest priority.”

The full text of the Vice-Chancellors’ joint message is attached.

Joint statement from the Vice-Chancellors of the University of Brighton and University of Sussex

From the end of September, our students will be returning to study on our campuses in and around Brighton and to live in the city.

We know that some local residents may feel anxious about the arrival of students back into the community and we would like to reassure you that the health and safety of our students, staff and local community are our highest priorities.

Over the summer we have been working hard to ensure that our campuses are COVID-secure environments in line with all official guidance and are working in close liaison with the City Council and local public health authority.

Some of the steps we are taking include ensuring that:

• Any students who have travelled from a country where quarantine is required, are fully supported to safely quarantine in university-managed halls of residence.
• Our campuses are ‘COVID-secure’ by social distancing at 2m wherever possible (aided by one-way systems and signage); reducing and reconfiguring building and room capacity; increasing ventilation, regular deep cleaning and disinfection; providing access to hand sanitiser; requiring face coverings where appropriate.
• The numbers of students and staff needing to be on campus at any one time is reduced through changes in the way that teaching is delivered, adjustments to the teaching timetable and requiring staff to continue to work from home where possible.
• The demand for public transport is managed by moving to a blend of online and small group teaching, and extending the teaching/working day. We're asking staff and students to only come to campus where necessary, and are also encouraging walking and cycling safely wherever possible.
• Both universities work closely with the NHS Test and Trace to help identify those who may have been in close contact with a positive case in our communities and react as quickly as possible.

We are also asking all of our staff and students to abide by a community commitment and to act responsibly and in ways that help to keep everyone safe and well. And as we do every year we will be encouraging our students to ensure that their vaccinations are up to date and signposting them to our own and external health and wellbeing services.

We are proud of the way that staff and students at both of our universities have stepped up to support our local community, NHS and social care sector during the pandemic. This includes the thousands of doctors, nurses and other health professionals we produce every year and who play such a vital role in our local NHS.

Some of our academics, including at our jointly-run Brighton and Sussex Medical School, are playing a critical role in global efforts to develop effective treatments for COVID-19, whilst others are carrying out research to help improve the ways in which we manage the many impacts of any future pandemics.

Our universities are proud to be part of our local community and we will continue to do everything we can to help our city to recover from the impacts of the pandemic.

Professor Debra Humphris
Vice-Chancellor
University of Brighton

Professor Adam Tickell
Vice-Chancellor
University of Sussex