Joining NUA in September 2020

Tuesday 15 September, 11:00 We’ve put together this blog to give you information you will need for your new term at Norwich University of the Arts. We are very much looking forward to seeing our new students for Welcome Week which starts on Monday 14 September and all of our returning students for the first week of term on Monday 21 September. 

All students have been contacted directly with further information and details of enrolment, timetables, the booking system and any other updates.

How will teaching and learning work at NUA from September?

Over the summer we have re-organised buildings, studios and workshops, timetables, and teaching arrangements to ensure that the NUA campus can re-open while the Government’s health and safety guidelines about Covid-19 remain in place.

Everything we are doing balances two priorities: our commitment to deliver the curriculum and an equivalent experience of teaching, and the health and safety of students and staff.

There will be a blend of timetabled on-campus teaching sessions and live streamed digital sessions—such as lectures, visiting lectures, seminars, or tutorials, and pre-recorded or on-demand materials to support your on-campus and live digital teaching:

• On-campus taught sessions – teaching and learning sessions that are delivered on campus to enable students to meet the requirements and expectations of their course of study.
  These will depend on the subject but will consist primarily of group teaching sessions, technical and academic workshops and project activities. These are all timetabled as scheduled sessions. Alongside this teaching will be timetabled live digital sessions.
• On-campus booked time – Students will be able to book time on campus to access a workshop, computer or studio space via the VLE. Courses may also book a studio space or computer lab for a group outside of taught sessions to allow them to use the space to continue work on campus.
• Live, streamed digital sessions – may be lectures, including visiting lecturer sessions, group teaching, seminars or tutorials and these live sessions enable delivery of material that does not require students to be present on campus. These are also timetabled sessions. 
• Pre-recorded (on-demand) – materials are in place to support the on-campus and live digital teaching that you will receive and will be available through the course VLE. 

Students will be able to access computers and workshops as part of scheduled sessions and digital delivery and resources have been developed to support this. Additional slot sessions to the capacity of rooms and buildings will be bookable through the VLE.

The Media Resource Centre, Library, Student Enquiries Office, and NUA Shop will continue to provide a service to students although under modified arrangements (information is available via the Virtual Learning Environment – VLE).

How we are teaching and the technologies we are using reflect the blend of remote and studio-based working practices emerging across the creative industries.

What steps has NUA taken to make the campus as safe as possible?

The university has used the government guidance and applied it to all campus spaces.  Furniture has been rearranged so that rooms can accommodate the maximum number of students safely. 

Timetables have been arranged so students can be taught in recommended group sizes; inductions and large group teaching will be delivered digitally.

Equipment and rooms will be cleaned each day and touchpoints (such as door handles) will be cleaned regularly throughout the day.

Are the new teaching and learning arrangements permanent?

We do not envisage the new teaching and learning arrangements being permanent. We all look forward to the time when we can move more freely around the campus without the need to physically distance. Unfortunately, we cannot predict when this will be.

Will I need to wear a mask on campus?

Following the latest Government guidance, all NUA staff, students, and visitors must wear a personal mask where they are required to do so—unless they are exempt by law for a specific reason, such as an underlying or hidden health condition. Generally, this means wearing a personal mask or a communication visor when:

• Moving around university buildings and externally where 2-metre social distancing cannot be achieved (for example if a walkway is busy).
• In all teaching spaces.

​Please contact support@norwichuni.ac.uk for help and advice.

Will I still be able to use communal and bookable spaces on campus such as the photography studios, graphics studios, print rooms, PC labs, 3D workshop?

Yes, if they have been booked through the VLE. All students also have free access to Adobe Creative Suite and Microsoft 365 to use on their own computers when working off campus.

Will the SU lounge and NUA cafe be open?

The café will be offering a takeaway service.  You will be able to sit and eat in communal spaces, but you must observe social distancing guidelines.

How will social distancing be maintained on campus?

We expect staff and students to respect each other and take responsibility for maintaining the recommended safe working distance. There is signage throughout the campus to help with this.

Can I borrow resources from the library and work in the library? 

There has been a large investment in online resources for the Library. The Library will be providing a full service through click and collect.

Will there be Freshers events this year?

Yes – this is organised by the Students’ Union. Freshers spans over two weeks: Monday 14 – Friday 25 September.  For latest information head to the NUA SU website.