Safety measures in the William Robertson Wing

Accessing the William Robertson Wing

At the beginning of Semester 1 access to the School remains restricted and some study and social spaces will be temporarily closed to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. We will review this at Week 4 to see if further access is possible. Up to Week 4 the following will apply:

Students

Only students with a pre-booked appointment or timetabled teaching should enter the building. Students should access our local Student Support service and Graduate School Office by email in the first instance. Student meetings can then be set up on campus by appointment if required.

Undergraduate: hca-sso@ed.ac.uk  Postgraduate: GradSchool.HCA@ed.ac.uk

• Personal Tutor meetings will take place predominantly online for at least the first few weeks of semester arranged via a booking system
• PhD students will continue to have access to the PhD study space. Students must wear a face covering unless exempt
• Postgraduate Taught students will be able to access 2.35 as study space, but will have to check in using a QR code on individual desks. Students must wear a face covering unless exempt
• Undergraduate social and study spaces will not be open in School in the first instance
• Teaching will take place in rooms which accommodate 1 metre distancing for the size of group, but students will not be required to distance within the rooms. Students must wear a face covering unless exempt.

Staff

Only staff who need to be in the building for teaching, student and staff facing roles, or by prior agreement will be granted access.

• Staff who are intending to be in the building should complete the Return to Building Induction Form and Cardinus training, and should inform reception in advance of arriving, including any changes to regular on campus working patterns.

A number of adaptations have been made to the William Robertson Wing to ensure our students and staff are safe.

• A ‘keep left’ policy will be in place to control the flow of traffic, particularly on staircases
• The McMillan Room is open for staff only in the first instance 
• Unless exempt, facemasks should be worn in all communal, teaching ad study spaces

Lifts

We ask that you use the stairs if you are able, leaving the lift free for those who cannot.  All disabled lifts within the building will be operational.

Hygiene

The level and frequency of cleaning has been increased across the University. We would ask you to use the hand sanitiser available and to wash your hands often.

Face coverings

Wearing a face covering is intended to help protect others and reduce transmission in the community, particularly where – as advised by the Scottish Government – physical distancing is more difficult. The University has implemented guidance from the Scottish Government and Health Protection Scotland to manage and reduce the risk from COVID-19.

Read the University's guidance on face coverings

There will be limited group teaching taking place within the building during semester 1. We ask students to come into the building only for timetabled teaching or pre-arranged appointments.

Academic Offices

In person meetings with academics will only be available by pre-arranged appointment.

Student Support Office 

Our student support team are working 9-5, Monday to Friday as normal. They also have dedicated time throughout the week to set up an appointment with you if your query cannot be resolved by email. In order to resolve your query quickly appointments will be online, unless there is a particular need to hold them on campus. Online appointments will be arranged via Microsoft Teams.

Email: hca-sso@ed.ac.uk

Student Support contact information 

Graduate School Office 

Our Graduate School Office staff are working 9-5, Monday to Friday as normal. If your query cannot be resolved by email they will set up an online appointment with you. Online appointments will be arranged via Microsoft Teams. The Graduate School Team also have dedicated time throughout the week to set up an in-person appointment with you on campus if your query cannot be resolved by email or via an online meeting.

Email: GradSchool.HCA@ed.ac.uk

School Reception

Reception is open on a ‘one in, one out’ basis and a protective screen in place.

Fire exits

In the event of a fire alarm, please follow the green fire exit signs to leave the building immediately by the nearest fire exit.

Concerns

We have taken all reasonable measures to ensure the health and safety of the occupants of all our buildings. However, if you have any concerns students should contact EdHelp for any enquiries relating to student services and Covid-19. Staff should contact their local area, service or department that their topic is relevant to and, if the enquiry is relating to Health and Safety specifically, to safety.covid19@ed.ac.uk.

Latest updates from the University on COVID-19