Coronavirus information
Covid-19 Student Responsibility Agreement
All students must read and agree to the Covid-19 Student Responsibility Agreement.
The purpose of the Agreement is to secure everyone’s agreement to protect ourselves and each other within the University, the colleges and the wider Oxford community. It is an affirmation of shared values – community, consideration for others, respect and tolerance, and inclusion. It supplements students’ existing responsibilities under University and college policies.
Please complete the Covid-19 Student Responsiblity Agreement form to confirm that you have read, understood and agree to abide by the responsibility agreement.
General information
As you’ll be aware, the University is planning to be open to all students for the 2020/21 academic year. The College and University are following government and health and safety guidance and consulting, for example, recent guidance from SAGE, and will continue to do so.
We have worked hard since the pandemic began to prepare St John’s to reopen to students, and we are looking forward to welcoming you.
In order to keep the whole College community safe in these challenging times – students and staff – we have some new policies, processes, and facilities in place. It is important that everyone understands and observes these new ways of living and working together.
Please read the following information carefully, and also watch the videos we have made about College life, which will be made available shortly.
Please note that while we endeavour to keep this information up to date, we have all seen that circumstances can continue to change, sometimes rapidly. Information on life in St John’s should be read alongside the details published and updated regularly on the University’s website. If you have a question that is not covered here, please let us know and we will try to answer it.
Please continue to check your University email daily for updates, act promptly on any requests for information, and contact us if anything is unclear.
College premises
Preparations in College include the widespread installation of appropriate signage and hand sanitisers, introduction of one-way routes in the busier areas of the College, enhanced cleaning protocols, risk assessment and staff training, use of personal protective equipment where recommended, social distancing adjustments (e.g. to teaching and social spaces) and plans for continuing use of IT/AV to provide us with flexibility in the ways in which students can interact with us and with each other. More detail is provided below.
Face coverings
The University has developed detailed guidance about the use of face coverings across all University and College buildings. This policy should be read and understood alongside the UK’s requirements to wear face coverings in certain circumstances (see the UK Government website for details).
The University’s face covering policy applies to all staff, students, visitors, contractors and members of the public, except for those who are exempt (e.g. on grounds of disability). Unless exempt, face coverings must be worn in all shared indoor spaces, including teaching rooms, communal areas, meeting rooms, and libraries.
We would advise students to bring face coverings/masks with them to provide flexibility in responding to relevant guidance. Face coverings can be cloth coverings that can be laundered after each use.
Use of face coverings are not a substitute for good hygiene, including regular hand washing, and other measures such as social distancing, enhanced cleaning regimes, and self-isolating if unwell.
Information about academic provision, accommodation and life in College, health and welfare will be available soon on the dedicated page on the College intranet.