Coronavirus Update
Your health, safety and wellbeing are of upmost importance during this complex and ever-changing situation. Our thoughts are with everyone affected by the Coronavirus outbreak and understand this is a worrying time for the wider student and global community. We have taken several decisions to protect all students and staff, in line with Middlesex University’s steps to facilitate working and studying remotely.
Middlesex Students’ Union will be postponing all non-essential activity and the MDXSU offices and Welcome Desk will be closed with immediate effect until further notice, with all MDXSU staff working remotely. See below for further details on how you may be affected by this and advisable next steps to take.
Due to the fast-moving and evolving nature of the situation, further updates will be made as appropriate. Stay up to date by following us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or check your emails regularly for further updates from the University.
ELECTIONS
It is our legal duty as a Students’ Union to elect our student leaders each year, and as such we must continue with our annual elections. All students still have the right to vote for the candidates they believe best represent their views and will improve their student experience. Voting takes place online at www.mdxsu.com/vote. View all candidates running and the manifestos from full-time candidates at www.mdxsu.com/Elections.
We understand that elections are an extremely important time for all candidates and your health is our top priority. We urge all candidates and campaigners to follow advice from Public Health England if you experience symptoms associated with the virus, and to continue campaigning via online platforms only.
All activities organised during the Election period have been cancelled, including physical voting stations and Results Night, and we will be announcing the winners here and on social media. Click here to download top-tips on campaigning online and remember that the Elections Regulations for both full-time officers & trustees and student group leaders still apply while campaigning online.
If you have any concerns or questions about elections, contact us at elections@mdx.ac.uk
EVENTS
All MDXSU, Student Group and Society events have been cancelled until further notice. If you have bought tickets to the next MDXSU House Party, including House Party and end of year event bundle tickets, you will receive a refund within the next 14 working days. The Student-Led Teaching Awards and MDXSU Awards ceremonies are also postponed, and the winners will be announced here and on our social media.
If you have any concerns or questions about upcoming events, contact us at studentevents@mdx.ac.uk
STUDENT GROUPS
If you are leading a society, liberation group or any student-led community at Middlesex, please ensure you take appropriate measures to cancel or postpone upcoming events, including recurring weekly meet-ups to avoid further spread of the virus. In a situation where you must carry out your activities, please explore different strategies to deploy face-to-face meetings into virtual events online.
As MDXSU’s offices are now closed, all financial processes for Student Groups will be moved online, and further details can be found at www.mdxsu.com/society-finances, or you can email societies@mdx.ac.uk if you have any issues.
If you have any concerns or questions regarding Student Groups, Societies or Student Communities, please email mdxsu@mdx.ac.uk
STUDENT MEDIA
All planned student media events have been cancelled. While campus is open if you wish to continue using the radio studio for your radio show or the student media room for any media projects/activity please inform our Student Media Coordinator, Tyelle (T.Render@mdx.ac.uk).
As MDXSU’s offices are now closed, there will be no on campus staff support and all student media queries should be emailed to Tyelle directly.
ADVICE
All MDXSU Advice service appointments will now be conducted over the telephone or via Skype. If you wish to book an appointment, please contact studentadvice@mdx.ac.uk. Please remember to fill out a consent form and read the Service Level Agreement prior to your appointment.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding your appointment with the advice service, please contact studentadvice@mdx.ac.uk.
MDXSU STUDENT STAFF & INTERNS
If you are a student staff member or intern at MDXSU, you should have received an email with details about your shifts for the next week. However, with the MDXSU offices closed, student staff and interns are not expected to complete their shifts in the office but will still be paid for their scheduled hours. Please look out for emails from your supervisor in the coming days on how best to work your hours.
If you have any questions about your role at MDXSU, please email mdxsu@mdx.ac.uk
COMMUNITY PLACEMENTS
If you are currently on a work placement or have provided work opportunities to Middlesex students via our Community Placement scheme, we advise that you come to an agreement with your employer on how students will be able to fulfil their shifts, which need to be completed by the end of June. We understand that working from home may not be possible for all students on placement, and we will make appropriate provisions in June for these students.
If you have any concerns or questions regarding our Community Placement scheme, please email s.bernard@mdx.ac.uk
STUDENT VOICE LEADERS (SVL)
Middlesex University has decided to move as much teaching as possible online from 23 March 2020. This will have a knock-on effect on SVLs’ upcoming Programme Voice Groups (PVG). PVGs will either be postponed or held online, so please regularly check your emails for updates from your Programme Administrator. Your feedback remains important, so please consider how you might gather feedback from your cohorts and how online provisions can be best suited for your programme.
If you have any concerns or need advice on how best to gather feedback during this time, please email studentvoice@mdx.ac.uk
We will be working the university to mitigate any impact on the student experience whilst also ensuring that student wellbeing and the wider safety of our community is paramount. If you have any questions or concerns at all then please feel free to get in touch via mdxsu@mdx.ac.uk and please do check back regularly for further updates.
If you are experiencing symptoms of Coronavirus infection, however mild, do not leave your home for 7 days from when your symptoms started. To stop the spread of the virus, remember to:
- Wash your hands regularly and avoid contact with others
- Use the NHS symptom checker if you are unsure if you have symptoms
- Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze, do not use your hands.
- Stay up to date on UniHub as the university is closely monitoring CoVID-19 and updating information for students and staff regularly.
