Coronavirus

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Updated 6th January 2022

The health, safety and wellbeing of our students and staff remains our top priority. It’s important we continue to be cautious and a range of protective measures will remain in place to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission in our buildings.

January 2022

Our main Inverness College UHI campus and Scottish School of Forestry reopen from Thursday 6th January for a small number of apprentices/students only.

Construction/electrical/engineering modern apprentices will return for face-to-face teaching as per their timetabled classes.
Forestry apprentices and students will return for face-to-face teaching and remote delivery as per their timetabled classes.
All other students will temporarily switch to remote delivery until Friday 14^th January. It is our intention ‘normal’ planned delivery for all programmes will resume from Monday 17^th January.
Senior phase school pupils will temporarily switch to remote delivery on Friday 7^th January. Teaching arrangements for Friday 14^th January for school pupils will be confirmed next week.
Visits by external stakeholders will be suspended until Monday 17th January.

Our Student Support Centre, Library and Learning Resource Centre will remain closed until Monday 17^th January, with services temporarily switched online. All book borrowing has been extended until that date. A remote student support service will remain in place and the team can be contacted via student.support.ic@uhi.ac.uk for general support enquires, and counsellor.ic@uhi.ac.uk for wellbeing support.

These measures are temporary and we very much intend to return to our planned delivery models from Monday 17^th January, unless the Scottish Government advises further action is required.

Covid-19 infections remain at a record high. It is therefore essential that we do all we can to reduce transmission of this virus so we can keep our campuses safe and open for face-to-face teaching. We ask for your support in following these steps, which we know will help minimise spread of this virus and reduce impact on your student experience.

Lateral flow testing. Please test yourself every morning before coming onto campus. We also encourage regular testing when socialising with people from other households. A positive result should be logged via the online portal to initiate ‘test and protect’ contact tracing. Free lateral flow testing kits are available from our receptions. Alternatively, testing kits can be ordered here: Coronavirus (COVID-19): Get a test if you do not have symptoms | NHS inform.
Face masks. We cannot stress the importance of face coverings and wearing these correctly. Type IIR mask should be worn on campus, unless exempt. Research shows these blue, surgical masks have greater protection than normal, cloth masks. The Type IIR masks are available on entry to our campuses, and in workrooms and study/teaching spaces. If you are exempt, please ensure you maintain two metres physical distancing at all times while on campus.
Vaccinations. We strongly advice you to get your first/second/booster vaccine, as applicable, if you haven’t already done so. Information on how to book/local drop-in clinics is available here: Vaccination - South & Mid (scot.nhs.uk).
Physical distancing will be reintroduced in some classroom settings, where this is possible. Please be mindful of maintaining physical distancing where you can.
Ventilation. Windows will be open throughout our campus building to aid ventilation. We appreciate this isn’t always comfortable, so advise you to come to college dressed in warm clothing, with plenty layers.

We continue to review our plans regularly and in line with updates from the Scottish Government.

What to do if you have symptoms, need to self-isolate or test positive content

What to do if you have symptoms, need to self-isolate or test positive

Covid-19 symptoms

If you have COVID-19 symptoms do not come on to campus, self-isolate and book a PCR test immediately by visiting nhsinform.scot/testing or by calling 119.

Symptoms include:

A high temperature or fever
A new, continuous cough
A loss of, or change in a sense of smell and taste

Positive Covid-19 test

Notify your PDA or PAT if you test positive for Covid-19.

Please tell them:

What type of test have you taken - an LFD test or a PCR test. If you have taken an LFD test and it has come back positive, please log your result via the online portal.
When you were last on campus (if applicable)
When you first had symptoms (if you had symptoms at the time of testing)
If you stay in student halls
Email evidence of your positive COVID-19 test result (a photograph is sufficient)

You should also use the normal absence reporting procedure if your classes are taking place face to face and you cannot attend, or you feel too unwell to attend a remote class.

If you test positive it's important you self-isolate per Scottish Government advice.

Your PDA or PAT will work with you to support you to continue your studies remotely if you have to self-isolate.

You don't need to do anything else.

Stay in student residences?

Your PDA or PAT will notify the residences team, who will ensure you have access to food and toiletry supplies.

Student residences content

Student residences

Student accommodation on Inverness Campus is managed by the University.

A shared flat is considered a household. You should follow this guidance for households with possible COVID-19 infection.

It’s very important that you stay at home (self-isolate) if:

you have symptoms that may be caused by coronavirus (COVID-19)
you’ve had a positive test result
someone you live with has symptoms but has not yet been tested or received their test result

Household isolation will help to control the spread of the virus to friends, the wider community and the most vulnerable.

If you live in a household with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, you are a close contact and must self isolate and book a PCR test.

If you have to self-isolate, subsequently develop symptoms or receive a positive COVID-19 test result, please follow the reporting advice outlined above.

Your PDA/PAT/Business Solutions Advisor (apprentices) will inform the student residences team, who will ensure you have access to food and toiletry supplies.

Students are also encouraged to take a lateral flow test twice a week. Test kits are available from the main reception at Inverness College UHI, 1 Inverness Campus, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, or via NHS Inform.

Face coverings are mandatory when entering student accommodation and in all common areas, unless exempt.

Need to self isolate and book a PCR test?

Students in our residences only can now access a test directly from the Inverness Campus drive-through testing site. You should report to the security booth at the testing site and identify yourself as a student living in residences. You will be given a PCR test to carry out yourself. Guidance on how to carry out the test and register your kit online is available here. You should then post your test through a Royal Mail priority post box. Your nearest priority postbox is Stoneyfield Business Park.

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Physical distancing

Physical distancing of one metre will be in place in our canteen areas as a preventative measure, as face coverings can be removed to eat or drink.

There is no requirement to distance in other parts of the campus, however, we will continue to ask staff, students, and visitors to be respectful of safe distancing and personal space when on-site.

Anyone exempt from wearing a face covering should maintain one metre physical distancing.

Face coverings content

Face coverings

It is mandatory to wear a face covering on campus, unless exempt, when eating or drinking, or the sole occupant of a room. This includes moving around our campus building, in study spaces like our library and learning resource centre, and in classes.

All staff and students are required to wear Type IIR mask. These blue, disposable masks are available on entry to our campuses and from staff in study/support/teaching spaces. Snoods, neck warmers or other types of face coverings are not permitted.

If you are exempt, we encourage you to wear a lanyard to identify your exemption. These are available to collect from our receptions.

A student showing how to/how not to wear a face covering

Ventilation and air quality monitoring content

Ventilation and air quality monitoring

We will regularly monitor ventilation and air quality on site using CO2 monitors in occupied rooms to ensure this does not fall below acceptable levels.

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Hand sanitising and cleaning

We will continue to encourage regular hand washing/sanitising. Please use sanitising solution provided in locations throughout our campuses to clean down shared work and study surfaces.

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Visitor access

Visitors to campus and members of the public should report to reception. You will be asked to sign in.

You will be asked to quickly and securely provide your contact details by scanning a QR code poster via your smartphone camera.
If your phone cannot scan QR codes, you can type the short URL printed on the posters into your phone’s internet browser.
If you do not have a mobile phone or cannot access the internet, staff in these locations will manually record your contact details.

Visitors should follow our Covid-19 guidance, specifically:

Do not come onto campus if you have been asked to self-isolate, have Covid-19 symptoms or think you might have Covid-19.
Type IIR face coverings must be worn. These blue, disposable masks are available on entry to our campuses.
Sanitise your hands regularly.

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On site services

Opening hours:

Corrie Restaurant, Inverness College UHI, will be open 8.30am to 2.30pm
Lochan Café, Inverness College UHI, will be open 8am to 4pm
Café, Scottish School of Forestry, will be open 8am to 11am and 12pm to 2.30pm
The Shop, Inverness College UHI, will be open 8.30am to 4pm
The Learning Resource Centre, Inverness College UHI, will be open 8am to 5pm, Monday, Thursday and Friday, and 8am to 9pm, Tuesday and Wednesday, for study. The Library is open 8.30am to 5pm, Monday, Thursday and Friday, and 8.30am to 8pm, Tuesday and Wednesday. We continue to offer Click and Collect and Postal Loans also. For more information, click here.
The Bothy (G36), Inverness College UHI, will be open 10am to 5pm for quiet study. It will be staffed by Education Support Advisers between 10am and 12.30pm and 1.30pm to 4.30pm, Monday to Thursday, for drop-in study advice and learning support queries.
The Student Support Centre, Inverness College UHI, will be open Monday to Friday 8.30am to 4.30pm to help with any enquiries you may have and need support with.

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Testing

Staff and students are reminded of the importance of regularly using rapid, lateral flow tests, particularly as we approach the busy festive period when you may be travelling, socialising and mixing more.

Student can pick up free, testing kits from the reception desks at our campuses. Alternatively, testing kits can be ordered here: : Coronavirus (COVID-19): Get a test if you do not have symptoms | NHS inform

We would urge all staff and students to take a lateral flow test each morning before coming onto campus.

LFD kits are for anyone who does not have symptoms of Covid-19. They are available for collection, Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm, from the main Inverness College UHI reception. Students studying at the Scottish School of Forestry will be able to collect kits from the staff office.

What you need to know about Lateral Flow Device (LFD) testing.

If you are not coming onto campus, kits can be ordered and delivered to your home or collected from a pharmacy, details here.

Vaccinations content

Vaccinations

We encourage all staff and students to take advantage of COVID-19 vaccinations when offered as it’s the best way out of this pandemic. You can find information on how to book appointments here: The coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine (nhsinform.scot) Details of drop-in clinics are available here. The vaccine is now available to all over 16s and children age 12-15 who are considered at higher risk from COVID-19.

International students are strongly encouraged to access vaccinations on arrival in Scotland. Details here.

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Travel

Students planning on travelling over the festive period should follow Scottish Government advice on travel.

In addition to this, the Scottish Government has specific guidance for colleges and universities, and is advising all students, before travelling at the end of this semester and on returning to a term-time address, to take a lateral flow device test three days before and on the day of travel. The risk of Covid-19 spread will be higher after the Christmas and New Year break and it’s important you self-isolate and do not return to term-time accommodation or face to face studies if you test positive. Students returning to the university’s student residences are encouraged to test on their return also, and regularly thereafter.

We would also like to signpost you to a 50% discount on off-peak Christmas train travel. Visit: scotrail.co.uk/students for more information.

International students

International students should follow national guidance: (Coronavirus (COVID-19): international travel and managed isolation (quarantine) - gov.scot (www.gov.scot).

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Protect Scotland

Staff and students are encouraged to download the Protect Scotland app from NHS Scotland's Test and Protect. This free, mobile app is designed to help us protect each other and reduce the spread of COVID-19. Visit: Test & Protect | Protect Scotland for more information.

Contact us

If you have any questions related to COVID-19, please email covid.ic@uhi.ac.uk or speak to your PDA or PAT.

Key staff contact details can be found on our contact us page.

For student support and advice, please email student.support.ic@uhi.ac.uk

For education support, including study advice and learning support, please email thebothy.ic@uhi.ac.uk

For information about our residences, please contact student.accommodation@uhi.ac.uk