Dear Strathclyde student,
I hope this email finds you well and that you are enjoying the new Semester.
As you know, the University puts the health, safety and wellbeing of its students and staff at the heart of everything we do. This has been especially important during the pandemic when we have had a number of protection measures in place to help keep our community safe and well.
I would like to thank you for adhering to the guidance and rules and for helping to protect yourselves, fellow Strathclyders and the wider community in Glasgow.
However, we are aware that some people are not always wearing a face covering or being mindful of physical distancing guidance.
I would like to remind everyone that the wearing of face coverings is a legal requirement in a number of settings. The Scottish Government has stated that by law, everyone aged 12 and over must wear a face covering – unless exempt – in most indoor public spaces.
At the University, this means that there is a requirement that you wear a face covering in indoor spaces on campus, regardless of physical distance, unless you are exempt from doing so.
This applies in classrooms, in labs, in informal student areas and study booths, and in communal areas where students mingle, meet or gather, e.g. entrances, corridors, seating areas, stairs and lifts.
I would like to highlight the Library and the Learning and Teaching Building as two areas where students are routinely ignoring the mandatory guidance. This behaviour cannot continue.
It is critical that you wear a face covering unless you are exempt. We all need to play our part in looking after the Strathclyde community and continuing to suppress the transmission of the virus.
If you are unsure about when and where to wear a face covering, there is signage across campus and Strathclyde staff will also provide guidance and direction.
With regards to physical distancing, even though the law no longer requires it, the University continues to advise keeping a reasonable distance from others to minimise risk – especially indoors and in enclosed places. The University is planning to participate in the Distance Aware Scheme, with badges and lanyards provided to anyone who prefers others to take extra care around them.
Please remember that where furniture has been laid out to support keeping a reasonable physical distance, you must not move this, either in the social spaces or within learning and teaching rooms.
You can find all of our campus guidance, including guidance on face coverings, on physical distancing and on ventilation on the Students section of our website. You can also read more about the Scottish Government’s safety measures and laws on its website.
Thank you for your help and support.
Best wishes,
Veena
Dr Veena O’Halloran, University Secretary and Compliance Officer