I’m writing to wish you the very best of luck as you embark on a very different form of “summer exams”. This year’s mode of assessment will be a change from what you are used to, what you experienced last year (or even last term) and I encourage you to seek support from your personal tutor, course tutor or your department if you are finding things difficult.

As you know, the University has been working with your department to get assessments online and a number of students have used this model already in April exams. I hope you feel confident in the advice we have made available to you. As a reminder, here’s where you can find out all you need to know about assessments, our safety net policy and graduating or progressing once the assessments are concluded.

Difficult circumstances

If your circumstances are having a detrimental effect on your studies, you can submit Mitigating Circumstances through the portal in Tabula. We are relaxing the evidence requirement for both coronavirus and non-coronavirus related mitigations - find out more. By submitting a claim at the earliest opportunity, we will be able to determine how we can best support your specific circumstances. Alternatively, if you decide you are unable to take any of your online assessments in the coming weeks, you may want to defer assessments this term until September 2020. Talk to your department’s Senior Tutor to discuss your options.

Wellbeing

The University, your department and Wellbeing Support Services are still here to support you during your assessments and beyond, albeit from a distance. You can still access Wellbeing Support Services appointments via telephone and the team has shared some information on getting in touch, accessing support, managing anxiety and staying well. The SU Advice Centre is still operational online and can help you with any queries.

Taking a break

It’s also important to take a break and keep in touch with friends and family while your assessments are ongoing. Our services are still online and are offering opportunities to step away from the books and online resources – for example, the Library, which is hosting a programme of Creative Chillout and Study Happy Active events via Facebook. Warwick Volunteers has put together a list of opportunities that you can get involved in from home, many of which you can join in with from anywhere in the world. And Warwick Sport is here to get you moving at home with daily free classes.

Best of luck!

Whether you’re in an intermediate year or approaching the end of your undergraduate journey at Warwick, I would like to take this opportunity to wish you the very best for the weeks ahead. I hope you achieve everything you want from your studies. As a student of Warwick, I know you are up to the new challenges you are facing in these testing times.

Stay safe and stay well, best wishes,

Professor Stuart Croft

Vice-Chancellor and President