Siddra Asghar reflects on the impact coronavirus is having on students and the support available.

In response to the Covid-19 epidemic, Manchester Metropolitan University’s buildings have closed their doors to prevent the spread of the coronavirus and protect the wellbeing and safety of students and staff.

Recent measures have included the end to face-to-face teaching, the introduction of contextualised marking, alternative assessments and postponement of graduation ceremonies, as well as wavering the late penalty for assessment in special circumstances.

This is an overwhelming time for students – not least because the summer exams are a high point of stress for final-year students and first-year or second-year students may be worried their marks may not be enough to get them through to the next academic year.

This may be an oxymoron in such an unsettling situation but try to stay calm. You are alive, and that is something to be celebrated because it is sadly not a guarantee.

On to the next steps…

All is not lost and you can still reach out to the Student Union or other university services for help – here’s how:

1. Visit the MMU Student Union website for updates on the coronavirus situation at the university including; alternative assessment, virtual learning and digital student services.

2. The Union have an article on their homepage explaining the changes the university has made and what this may mean for you. The article also features handy links to Exceptional Factors forms, course reps and information for international or halls of residence students.

3. Read the tips and tricks in their ‘4 Ways To Send Positive Vibes In Turbulent Times’ article, which details how students staying in university accommodation can still have some form of social life while staying safe. Opportunities include micro-volunteering, brushing up on digital skills and donating to charity shops.

4. Many university services are running remotely – support staff at The Advice Centre, for example, are available to contact over the phone or via email.

They share the following information: “If you would like a call back from the Advice Centre, please ring 0161 247 6533 and leave a voicemail. An adviser will check the voicemails and aim to call you back within two working days. At present, it is likely you’ll receive a call back much sooner, so make sure that you have your phone nearby.”

The opening times for The Advice Centre are as follows:

Monday: 09:30–16:00

Tuesday: 12:00–16:00

Wednesday: 09:30–16:00

Thursday: 09:30–16:00

Friday: 09:30–16:00

Weekends: closed

5. Stay connected. Use social media platforms responsibly in order to share experiences and provide comfort amid the chaos to one another. Many students up and down the country are feeling the same – scared, unsettled, stressed. Show each other love both online and offline, even if you have to stay six feet apart. #BeKind. #BeConsiderate. #LoveThyFellowStudent.

This is a turbulent time for many up and down the nation – especially for students who were hoping to have the best summer of their lives or walk across the stage and have that snap in their graduation gown.

It is important to know you are not alone and help is available from The Union, counselling and wellbeing services and the Student Life webpage for any questions you need answering or anxieties you need sharing about the student experience during the pandemic.

For up-to-date information from the government and health service on the coronavirus or COVID-19 epidemic, please visit www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/ or www.gov.uk/coronavirus