New Academic Year FAQ

FAQ for Staff

Teaching and Learning

What will teaching look like next year in Humanities?

We are looking forward to welcoming students back to Manchester for the new academic year.

Clearly, this year will be different, but we are planning to try to keep as much as possible as normal as possible to ensure that we deliver high quality teaching and an excellent student experience.

At the end of the last academic year, we moved abruptly to online learning.

Since then we have been investing in new technology to ensure that we offer an exceptional student experience where we have to deliver teaching online.

Of course, not everything is different. Students will still have lectures, workshops, seminars and practicals if that is what they would have had in a normal year.

Safety is paramount so some teaching will be online, but we will do as much as possible on campus or face-to-face.

We have decided that the safest option is for all lectures to be online and for all other teaching to be face-to-face and on campus, wherever possible.

This means small group teaching (usually groups of around 15-30) such as seminars, practicals and academic advising will take place face-to-face.

We recognise that there may be some situations where it is not possible to deliver teaching on campus.

In these cases, there is the option to deliver these classes in a virtual setting. You should speak to your Director of Teaching and Learning in these cases.

What do I need to do prepare for online teaching?

The Teaching and Learning website is in place to ensure you have clarity about:

  • How you can best prepare teaching materials
  • Shape of the academic year
  • Assessment principles
  • Student experience principles

Everyone should now be using these resources to adapt and develop their teaching and learning material for online lectures, and the face-to-face elements of your programme.

Your new material for week one of teaching needs to be complete and ready for review by your Department by 7 September.

How will my new online teaching materials be reviewed and by who?

 Plans are still being developed and your Director of Teaching and Learning or Head of Department will be in touch about this in due course.

I’m new to digital and online teaching what support is available?

We don’t expect you to do this on your own – advice and guidance about how you do this is available on the eLearning website. We strongly encourage staff to make use of the online training, drop-in sessions and learning design consultations, tools and guidance on how to deliver online teaching.

You can also speak to your Directors of Teaching and Learning and School-based eLearning leads, and Champions for further support. Read more about T&L support here.

What does asynchronous and synchronous teaching mean?

Synchronous teaching is online/blended education that happens in real time (ie, ‘live’), whereas asynchronous learning occurs through online channels without real-time interaction (ie, pre-recorded).

We are recommending asynchronous lectures to ensure the highest quality experience for our students who may be learning across different time zones.

In order to add more interaction with students a live Q&A could be added at the end of the lecture.

If I am in the middle of teaching online and something goes wrong, who do I contact for support?

Colleagues looking for guidance and technical support, can use any of the following routes: contact the eLearning team via the support centre, via online drop-in room http://www.gotomeet.me/elearningteam (Monday to Friday, 10am-2pm) or if urgently via the IT services on: 0161 306 5544. (telephone support is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week). https://sites.manchester.ac.uk/humteachlearn/elearning-support/

Return to Campus

What are the plans for returning to campus - will we be returning to campus full time in September?

Plans are well underway to ensure a safe return to campus in the autumn – you will have seen that the earliest return date for the majority of staff will be the start of September.

It is likely that we will see a flexible approach to our return combining remote and on campus work. Read the managers guidance and full FAQs about returning to campus.

How is the University planning for a safe return to campus?

A great deal of work is taking place to ensure a safe return to campus for us all and, as part of that, we will be providing our staff and students with washable face masks and clear guidance on how our teaching spaces, libraries, study spaces and labs will operate to ensure everyone stays safe.

Deep cleaning is being undertaken regularly and we are assessing all our buildings ensuring they are appropriate for social distancing purposes. Hand sanitiser will be available across campus and we are looking to extend teaching hours to allow for staggered entry and exits to our buildings.

The University has a dedicated COVID-19 website, including links to the NHS and government resources which are guiding our approach.

Further detailed plans and information will be announced later in August.

How much notice will I get if I’m asked to return to work on campus?

You will be given as much notice as possible – usually this will be at least one week. Your line manager will speak with you to inform you, outline what this involves and when you will be expected to return.

Do I need to return if I or someone in my family is classed as vulnerable and/or are shielding?

Once you have been given notice to return to work, you will be asked to complete a Self Declaration Form where you can highlight your personal circumstances (including if you are currently shielding) and any concerns you may have.

BAME colleagues may be at higher risk from COVID-19, so we have included a check box to our self-declaration form for you to highlight this.

If this box is checked then we will carry out an additional risk assessment for you, which will be the same for all people in a vulnerable category.

We are awaiting further guidance on this and we will update you as soon as possible.

What happens if I must travel on public transport to get to work?

If you are required to return to work on campus, you will need to consider your options for travelling to and from work. The Government is advising that people should walk, cycle or drive wherever possible. Find more information in our FAQs and check guidance from your local transport operator such as Transport for Greater Manchester.

I still have questions about my return to work, who do I speak to?

If you have any questions, or concerns about returning to work, you should raise them with your line manager or HR partner.

What happens if there is a staff or student COVID-19 confirmed on campus?

Please see the Guidance for CV Infection on Campus document for information.

Keeping our students engaged

How can I help keep our students engaged until they join in the autumn?

We need to keep both our Undergraduate and Masters offer holders engaged between them accepting an offer and joining us in late September / October.

We know that our prospective students very much value hearing from you. In order to do this effectively we understand you need clarity about what to say.

Our Marketing and Communications Team are on hand to help with key messaging and to ensure the process runs as smoothly as possible.

If it is a panel, video, interview or Q&A and time allows there will also be the opportunity to practice your responses with a member of the team.

Where possible the team will support logistics, with technology and editing, meaning you can focus on communicating the Manchester offer to our prospective students.

Please get in touch with Emma Porter to get involved.

Shape of the new academic year

Where can I find key dates for the semester?
What will welcome week look like?

We want to help student make the most of studying at Manchester. We have extended our Welcome period to two weeks for new undergraduate students and three weeks for new postgraduate taught students. You will benefit from at least one week of University-led events, and one week of School and Programme-led events.

Read more here https://www.staffnet.manchester.ac.uk/news/display/?id=24684

What activities will be taking place?

To help co-ordinate Welcome activities across different areas the University and the Students’ Union, and to ensure that Welcome is as comprehensive as possible without being overwhelming, we have agreed a thematic approach for both undergraduate and postgraduate taught students:

  • Monday – Welcome / Welcome Back to Manchester
  • Tuesday – Uni Essentials
  • Wednesday – Wellbeing Wednesday
  • Thursday – Make the Most of Your Time
  • Friday – Social Justice Challenge

Read more here https://www.staffnet.manchester.ac.uk/news/display/?id=24684

Will Schools be delivering their own welcome activity?

UG School activity will take place w/c 28 September for welcome activity and building learning communities. For Masters students, School activity will take place 19 October.

In addition, Schools have been allocated the Monday of each University-led Welcome week for undergraduate and postgraduate taught students, to deliver a general welcome and induction agenda.

Will extra time be allocated in timetabling to allow social distancing?

Where live activities are taking place on campus, they will finish at 45 minutes past the hour (rather than the usual 50 mins) to allow additional time for students and staff to safely exit the building.  Students will be told not to arrive into buildings more than 5 minutes before a lecture is due to begin.

Key messages for offer holders

The following key messages are to help you respond to UG and Masters offer holder queries. Key messages for returning students are in development and will be updated shortly.

10 things you need to know

Changes on campus, to help keep us all safe
We’ve installed clear entry and exit points, hand sanitizing stations and social distancing markings across campus. You’ll get 2 free washable face coverings and detailed safety guidance at the start of semester.

As much face-to-face teaching as is safe
All lectures will be online in semester one. Seminars, tutorials, practicals and lab work will be face-to-face, in small, socially distanced groups.

We’ve got you covered if you can’t come to campus
Whether you’re shielding, isolating or unable to travel, you’ll be able to access small group teaching online (as well as lectures).

Flexible teaching to suit you
We’ve listened to your views. Our experts have spent all summer planning and adapting their teaching to our new online + face-to-face teaching model.

Assessments will be online
We’ve taken the decision that all assessments online, even if restrictions are relaxed by then.

Joining us might feel strange – and that’s totally normal
It’s ok to feel nervous. To help you adjust, our support services are open and accessible remotely. Visit support.manchester.ac.uk

You’ll have access to better technology
We’ve sped up our IT Modernisation Programme to give you the right tools – from Microsoft Teams to a new version of Blackboard, plus a multimillion-pound commitment to significantly upgrade My Manchester. 

It won’t be all work and no play
Manchester’s thriving nightlife is beginning to get back to a ‘new normal’. Our new Welcome Week will make sure you hear about opportunities on campus – from clubs and societies to sport.

You need to consider the best way to travel to and from campus
Public transport will be socially distanced so make sure you allow more time. Or could you walk or cycle instead? 

It’s not too late to find somewhere to live
We still have places in University Halls of Residence – and we’ve made our contracts more flexible than ever. Or speak to Manchester Student Homes to find a University-approved private property.

With social distancing in place, I’m worried I’ll miss out on being part of the Manchester community

We’re looking forward to welcoming you to be part of our Manchester community – bringing together your classmates, tutors and looking to the future our alumni network.

Manchester’s nightlife is beginning to get back to a ‘new normal’.

Our new Welcome Week will make sure you hear about opportunities on campus – from clubs and societies to sport.

Student Societies will be running online and on campus activity and will be another great way to get to know classmates and interact with the Manchester community.

Our Student’s Union will be working to ensure that you can still access its facilities through the next academic year.

Over lockdown The Student Union has delivered a range of over 350 activities, such as bake along, quizzes to socially distanced choirs. The plan will be for this activity to continue for Semester 1 – so whether you are in Manchester or studying remotely – you will be part of the Manchester community.

If offer holders need reassurance

It’s fair to say that the start of the new academic year will be different for all of us.  We will ensure that you always have someone to ask for help and guidance when you need it.

Our aim is to give you certainty where we can, and enough flexibility to accommodate individual situations where possible.

It’s ok to feel nervous. To help you adjust, our support services are open and accessible remotely. Visit support.manchester.ac.uk

How are you making the campus safe?

We are following all government guidelines to the letter. 

Deep cleaning will be undertaken regularly, face masks and sanitiser will be available across campus and we will allow for staggered entry and exits to our buildings.

In our on-campus teaching, we are putting measures in place to help you stay safe.  We will maintain the 2m (rather than 1m plus) rule which allows us to deliver this teaching in the safest way possible.  

Where can I find key dates for the semester?
What will Welcome Week look like?

We want to help you make the most of studying at Manchester.

We have extended our Welcome period to two weeks for new undergraduate students and three weeks for new Masters Students.

You will benefit from at least one week of University-led events, and one week of School and Programme-led events.

What activities will be taking place?

To help co-ordinate Welcome activities across the University and the Students’ Union – this is what you can expect:

  • Monday – Welcome / Welcome Back to Manchester
  • Tuesday – Uni Essentials
  • Wednesday – Wellbeing Wednesday
  • Thursday – Make the Most of Your Time
  • Friday – Social Justice Challenge

You’ll receive more information in your Welcome packs to help you plan what you want to get involved with in advance.

Will my School/ subject be delivering their own welcome activity?

Undergraduate: Yes, School/ subject activity will take place w/c 28 September.

Masters: Yes, School/subject activity will take place 19 October.

You’ll receive more information in your Welcome packs to help you plan what you want to get involved with in advance.

What activities will be taking place?

To help co-ordinate Welcome activities across the University and the Students’ Union – this is what you can expect:

  • Monday – Welcome / Welcome Back to Manchester
  • Tuesday – Uni Essentials
  • Wednesday – Wellbeing Wednesday
  • Thursday – Make the Most of Your Time
  • Friday – Social Justice Challenge

You’ll receive more information in your Welcome packs to help you plan what you want to get involved with in advance.

What will Semester 1 look like?

Your safety is paramount, and we have taken every measure to ensure that our campus and halls of residence comply with all safety regulations around social distancing.

Where it is safe to do so, we are planning on delivering teaching face-to-face, but we will also provide alternatives to on campus teaching for students who are unable to attend in person for the next few months. 

Of course, we are also preparing for changes to the current government guidance. 
Should there be any changes, we will be ready to either increase our on-campus provision or switch to more online only delivery in order to maintain your safety. 

In parallel, there will be a fully online option for any student who wants to take advantage of this, even if you opt to switch to it part way through a semester.

How will I be learning in Semester 1?

We have decided that the safest option is for all lectures to be online and for all other teaching to be face-to-face and on campus, wherever possible.

This means small group teaching (usually groups of around 30) such as seminars, practicals and academic advising will take place face-to-face.

We are committed to having as many opportunities as possible to meet face-to-face with you, either on campus or online, over the next few months. 

This blended approach to learning, combining on campus and online or digital, is well established and used by many prestigious universities around the world. 

Manchester was an early adopter through our Global MBA and we already teach up to 800 students within our Faculty every year using blended learning methods.

This means we have lots of experience teaching in this way, so you will benefit from learning from some of the leading academics in this space.

What is blended learning?

Blended learning combines on campus teaching with online learning.

It is designed to give you flexibility to learn at a time that suits you.

Manchester was an early adopter through our Global MBA and we already teach 800 students within our faculty every year using blended learning methods.

What will my online lectures be like?

Your online lecture sessions will be an active way to learn.

In addition to hearing from course leaders, you will have ‘bite-size’ videos, text to read and activities to complete including online discussions during the sessions.

There will be lots of opportunities for interaction with your lecturers and other students in these online classes.

You will still be able to ask questions and contribute to discussions even though the material is being delivered online.

Small group teaching will be face-to-face where possible, what does that mean for me

Seminars, tutorials, practicals and lab work will be face-to-face, in small, socially distanced groups. In our on-campus teaching, we are putting measures in place to help you stay safe.

We will maintain the 2m (rather than 1m plus) rule which allows us to deliver this teaching in the safest way possible.  

Deep cleaning will be undertaken regularly, face masks and sanitiser will be available across campus and we will allow for staggered entry and exits to our buildings.

In these sessions, you will have ‘live classes’ during which you will have lots of opportunities to explore texts, do projects etc.

On many courses, you will be encouraged to work with other students on assignments and projects outside of lectures and seminars.

This will help you to get to know other students and to develop a sense of community within your programme.

Whether you’re shielding, isolating or unable to travel, you’ll still be able to access small group teaching online (as well as lectures).

How will online learning work – what are the benefits?

We’ve sped up our investment in technology to give you the right tools – from Microsoft Teams to a new version of Blackboard, plus a multimillion-pound commitment to significantly upgrade My Manchester (the online site where you’ll find everything you need to get the most from studying with us.)

In addition to learning from Manchester experts, you’ll develop lots of valuable digital skills through online learning.

Our teams have developed resources to support teaching and learning for the new academic year to ensure that you have an exceptional student experience.

We will primarily use established systems such as our Virtual Learning Environment Blackboard, Zoom and Microsoft Teams to deliver online teaching. 

To supplement these systems, we have invested in additional software this summer that will facilitate your learning during the new academic year.

Our IT services team will provide you with technical support, either online or in-person, throughout your time at the University.  

Students who want to come onto campus to use WiFi will be able to do so and rooms will be available to book for independent or group study.

Will I have an academic advisor and what learning support will be on offer?

Yes, you will be allocated an academic advisor who will be available online or on campus to offer you all the academic support you need.

Our student support teams will be on hand to support your learning and you’ll be able to access reading materials from the library. 

At the start of the year, you will be given a timetable which will have all the information you need to keep your learning on track week by week.

How will online learning work – what are the benefits?

We’ve sped up our investment in technology to give you the right tools – from Microsoft Teams to a new version of Blackboard, plus a multimillion-pound commitment to significantly upgrade My Manchester (the online site where you’ll find everything you need to get the most from studying with us.)

In addition to learning from Manchester experts, you’ll develop lots of valuable digital skills through online learning.

Our teams have developed resources to support teaching and learning for the new academic year to ensure that you have an exceptional student experience.

We will primarily use established systems such as our Virtual Learning Environment Blackboard, Zoom and Microsoft Teams to deliver online teaching. 

To supplement these systems, we have invested in additional software this summer that will facilitate your learning during the new academic year.

Our IT services team will provide you with technical support, either online or in-person, throughout your time at the University.  

Students who want to come onto campus to use WiFi will be able to do so and rooms will be available to book for independent or group study.

Will I still be able access the Careers Service

Careers Consultants from the Careers Service will continue to support you either online or on-campus.

You’ll continue to benefit from practical help with CVs, applications and preparing for interviews -through to helping you decide what you want to do after graduation and help with getting work experience/placements along the way.

You’ll be able to access the full range of services including an extensive programme of webinar workshops/lunchtime live sessions with employers.

I’ve heard about Stellify – what is it?

Stellify is our package of activities that guides you to develop the 5 distinctive attributes of a University of Manchester graduate:

  1. Learn without boundaries
  2. Understand the issues that matter
  3. Make a difference
  4. Step up and lead
  5. Create your future

You will:

Take part in academic and extracurricular activities to help you stand out and improve your employability prospects with this award.

Complete three Ethical Grand Challenges and take course units outside of your degree.

Make a difference and learn from local and global communities through volunteering and gain confidence and experience by taking on a leadership role.

Will I still be able to access libraries, data sets and learning resources on campus?

Yes, our libraries have the largest academic digital collection in Britain. 

Over 11 million full text articles are accessed each year alongside 5.5 million e-book sections.  As in any other year, you will have access to more digital materials than those at any other British University.  

We are also working with publishers who are currently providing access to additional e-resources, on a rolling trial basis to increase your access to materials.

For those who prefer print, you will still be able to access over 2 million books.  Access is currently via Click and Collect for books held at Main Library and the Library is working towards enabling access to books at other site libraries. 

The Alan Gilbert Learning Commons currently has a number of bookable study spaces available where you can plug in a personal laptop, or use one of the PCs provided.

Our Library offers online support through My Learning Essentials to support your academic and personal development and is working towards restarting face to face interactive training sessions.

Will I have access to computers on campus?

Yes, computer clusters across campus will be open for students to study and access University and externally hosted software.

Will there be learning/ study spaces for me to meet up with classmates?

You will also have access to learning spaces on campus where you can meet classmates to discuss course material and undertake group work.  

All these spaces will adhere to government social distancing and safety guidelines, to keep you and your classmates as safe as possible.

Between teaching sessions, you will be able to collect books and other reading from the library.

Bookable rooms will be available for you to study either alone or in small groups. 

The Alan Gilbert Learning Commons will be open for independent study.

There will also be a range of other less formal spaces available for study and discussion such as bars and cafes.

Will I be able to access lectures at a time that suits me?

Online lecture material can be viewed at any time that suits you.  You won’t be constrained to watching your lectures in allocated time slots.

This means that you can watch, pause, rewind or watch again at any time that suits you.   

How will exams/ assessment work?

You will be assessed at various points during the year to ensure your learning is on track. 

All exams and assessments for semester 1 will be online.

Where you would normally have had an end-of-semester one exam, you will have an online exam rather than an on-campus exam.  In most cases, this will be an open book exam in which you can use your notes and reading.

My programme includes fieldwork/ field courses - will they still be taking place?

Some programmes have field courses, and it remains our intention to try to deliver these aspects of the programme if we can do so in safe way. 

We may have to make some adjustments to the timing or nature of field courses for your safety.

How will International Study and Placements work?

We will work with international study and placement providers to ensure that we can deliver our programmes with international study or a placement if it is safe to do so.

If it is not possible to deliver, or if you change your mind about taking up your placement, we will be as flexible as possible in offering you an alternative.

How can I feedback about my learning experience?

We very much value listening to your views – it’s one of the most important ways we continue to improve your learning experience.

Each programme has student reps who feed your views to the Programme Director.

You’ll also be able to share your views with Student Support Teams and Academic Advisors.

What Disability Advisory Support Service (DASS) support can I access?

DASS will continue to run its usual service for students (for more information see their website – http://www.dso.manchester.ac.uk/). This will primarily be remotely via phone and video appointments.

Will there be learning/study spaces for me to meet up with classmates?

Bookable rooms will be available for you to study either alone or in small groups. The rooms will be bookable via https://resourcebooker.manchester.ac.uk/; students will be able to access this link ahead of the semester starting.

What happens if I don’t have broadband access or the IT hardware to take advantage of online learning?

There will be spaces on campus where you can access computers and/or university internet services. Students who cannot come onto campus or do not have access to broadband or IT hardware can apply to the IT access scheme for a laptop loan and request support with Wi-Fi access. Priority will be given to students who do not have the funding buy their own laptops.

My programme includes a residence abroad period – will this still take place?

We are doing everything possible to ensure your residence abroad can take place. Of course, your safety is our priority. If it is not possible for you to take up your residence abroad placement for part or all of the year, we will offer you an online language and cultural engagement programme to ensure that you can meet the intended learning outcomes of your programme.