Message from the Vice-Chancellor to staff - 17/03/20

Dear colleague,

I wrote to you last night following the Prime Minister’s latest announcement in response to the Coronavirus pandemic.

The University remains open but we’re changing the way we deliver our services.

I want to reassure you that we are doing everything possible to support you in these extremely difficult and unprecedented times.

Today we have updated the staff intranet with our latest HR advice about home working and other key areas.

I would encourage all staff to review this information, take appropriate action and speak to your line manager regarding any enquires or concerns.

As I am sure you will appreciate the picture is changing constantly and we are updating this information as soon as we can.

Our priority at this time is to keep us all safe and limit potential exposure to Coronavirus whilst we respond to the need to put in place plans to transition to remote working.

For staff already working from home, please ensure that you stay in touch with your line manager and colleagues. For those staff transitioning to remote working, please be assured that we are moving as swiftly as possible to support this.

For those staff for whom remote working is not a possibility, we are working to ensure that appropriate arrangements are in place to support you and to comply with latest government advice.

We are conscious that for some teams and individuals including technicians and others remote working may be more challenging. We are currently working to prioritise our research to ensure that we continue with essential work but reduce the risk to our staff in these areas.

We will be communicating in far more detail shortly.

We appreciate that this is a difficult time you for you and we are constantly monitoring the situation and following the latest available and up-to-date advice.

Today’s Major Incident Team has met, and I want to give you a brief update on the key decisions made today 17.03.2020.

Libraries

We are amending our library provision from 5pm Tuesday 17th March 2020.

From this time:

• Library provision is moving to increase e-resources and remote support

• All libraries sites will close, including Special Collections and Archives, the European Documentation Centre and Print Services
• Three hospital-based libraries, Brian Cooke, Velindre NHS Trust and Archie Cochrane, will remain open for NHS users, with remote support.

For the remainder of the day, the library sites will operate self-service issues and returns only.

Library staff will be available for remote consultation to support academic staff in shifting to online teaching provision and students' study and research activities – we can offer advice and guidance on use of online library resources.

In addition, enquiry services will be managed via Ask a Librarian live chat, telephone and email at library@cardiff.ac.uk between 9am and 9pm Monday to Friday and 10am to 5pm at weekends.

Inter-Library loans will be provided for e-resources.

Because of these exceptional circumstances, we will waive any library fines; staff and students should retain items that they currently have on loan. Loan periods will be extended to 20 April.

These services will be reviewed, and advice updated regularly.  Please regularly check the University’s intranet page and social media.

Day care

The nursery remains open.

We will continue to follow all available advice and will be supporting those members of staff who might be concerned about accessing their workplace.

If the situation changes and alternative action is necessary then we will, of course, do so.

This will be kept under constant review.

Graduation 2020

It is with deep regret that Cardiff University has decided to postpone the summer 2020 graduation ceremonies.

We appreciate this news will be disappointing, but we can assure you that this decision has not been taken lightly.

Our primary concern is the health and wellbeing of our students, their guests and our staff – especially in such difficult and challenging times.

Unfortunately, we are not in a position to say when the postponed ceremonies will run. As soon as we do, we will update on our website and contact all students who were eligible to attend July’s ceremonies with the new arrangements.

Finally, I am enormously impressed at the calmness of our students and the dedication of our staff.

We are a community and never have I felt it more strongly - thank you everyone.

We will stay in touch and update you as fast as possible.

Look after yourselves and those around you.

Kind regards,

Colin Riordan

Vice-Chancellor