A very warm welcome to the final edition of our newsletter for this academic year and our last as your Student Officers. The new team (more about them in the article below) take over at the start of July. They will be in touch in mid-September with the next edition unless you ask them to stop by unsubscribing or are due to depart the University this summer. It has been an honour and privilege for all three of us to be chosen by students to lead TUSU, and we hope that working with student reps and staff, we have made a positive difference to your student life. It has been extra special to help students during the incredibly challenging times you have all faced over the past 14 months. We will continue to work hard to ensure your voice is heard by the most senior figures at the Uni until we move on. And, there will also be a proper goodbye from the three of us on the TUSU social media accounts and website at the start of July.
Before that, we are looking forward to another step towards normality from next Monday (17th May) until Friday 28th May (weekdays only) as we re-open The Terrace (1st floor, SU Building) and the SU Welcome Desk. The SU Shop and Love It Lounge will also remain open on weekdays over this period. It is great to have them back, and we can’t wait to welcome you, but please continue to follow the safety measures that will be in place. We will still ask you to wear a mask when walking around the building or using study space, socially distance from others, not exceed a group of six in The Terrace and pay with a card or by contactless in there and the SU Shop if possible.
There is full info on what is available and when in the article further down this newsletter or on tees-su.org.uk/opening hours. They both include details of our summer opening hours and current plans for re-opening in September.
You can enjoy delicious food, a wide range of drinks and a socially distanced space to meet up with mates in The Terrace. The fortnight includes the eagerly awaited return of our much loved Monday Night Quiz for one week only on Monday, 17th May from 7 pm. Get yourself in for the last hurrah before the summer break! We will continue to ask you to stay seated at your table in no more than a group of six except when using the toilet and to order food and drink through tees-su.org.uk/order.
The SU Welcome Desk (1st floor) is open weekdays between 10 am and 4 pm with info, support, directions and more. However, we can’t currently offer assignment binding services.
We are also very proud to present a shorter than usual but still hugely impressive TUSU in Review 2020/21. The infographic, which is available from Fri, 21st May, details all the hard work done by us, our superb student reps and, of course, our fantastic staff in a unique academic year. We thank everyone who has helped us to keep delivering for students over the past twelve months.
We will finish by saying a massive congratulations to all students on getting through a uniquely difficult academic year, particularly those who are due to graduate this summer. We hope everyone has a safe, relaxing and, most importantly, FUN summer, whatever your plans are.
Officers…out : - )
Alan, George and Elisha – Student Officers 2020/21
Alan Lofthouse (President Education) and George Reeves (President Activities) were originally elected to their roles by students in March 2019 before securing second terms in the roles last spring, just before the first lockdown came into place. Elisha Lycett (President Welfare) was also elected at that time and officially joined the team in July 2020.
They all come to the end of their time in office at the start of July 2021 when Student Officers Elect Rebecca Gilling (Education), Harriet Dryden (Activities) and Madhu Bethina (Welfare) succeed them.
Teesside University Students’ Union (TUSU) reverts to summer holiday opening hours after Friday, 28th May, to the middle of September 2021. Those who wish to use the building will be required to continue to wear a mask, socially distance and sanitise their hands until official Government advice on these measures changes.
*All of the information below is subject to change depending on levels of usage by students and any alterations to Government advice.
What are the arrangements from Monday, 17th May to Friday, 28th May?
The SU building will be open on weekdays only from 10 am to 4 pm, with the Love It Lounge (1st floor) available during that time for independent study only. Students should sit and work alone, no group meetings or socialising should occur, and no food or drink should be consumed in the space.
The Student Officer team will continue to work outside of the building for the majority of the time they have left in office. Students should continue to contact them through their social media or e-mail addresses if they need to speak with them; full details available through tees-su.org.uk/officers.
The SU Shop (ground floor) remains open from 9.45 am to 3 pm on weekdays until Friday, 28th May, when it closes entirely for the summer break.
The Terrace (1st floor) is back open from Monday, 17th May to Friday, 21st May from 10.30 am to 11 pm (Food is only served until 4 pm) then between 10.30 am and 4 pm from Monday, 24th to Friday, 28th May (Food is only served until 3 pm). The space then closes for the summer, except for private and external events.
The SU Welcome Desk (1st floor) is back open between 10 am and 4 pm from Monday, 17th May to Friday, 28th May before closing for the summer break. We regret that we will not be able to offer assignment binding services during this period.
The TUSU Activities Team are available for face to face meetings from Monday, 17th May onwards, but students should continue to contact the staff member they need to speak with in advance and arrange an appointment.
SU Student Support (SUSS) will remain a virtual service until further notice. You can contact suss@tees-su.org.uk or facebook.com/SUStudentSupport for help with issues related to your course, money, accommodation, personal issues and more.
The SU Studio and Snooze Rooms (2nd floor) are closed to students until September.
The Hub (2nd floor) is closed until September except for private and external events.
What changes to the above arrangements take place over the summer break from 29th May to 13th September?
The SU building will be closed for general visits from Saturday, 29th May, except when in use for external/ private parties.
The current and incoming Student Officer teams will continue to work virtually over most of the summer months and can be contacted through their e-mail or social media. More info is available on tees-su.org.uk/officers.
The SU Shop and SU Welcome Desk are closed from Saturday, 29th May. Students will then be able to contact the Welcome Desk on weekdays between 10 am and 4 pm through 01642 342234 or enquiries@tees-su.org.uk.
The Terrace is closed from Saturday, 29th May except for private parties and external events.
What is the current plan for re-opening in September?
We will monitor Government advice and continue discussions with the University throughout the summer. Therefore, the below is subject to changes that we will heavily publicise on our website and social media.
We plan to re-open the SU Building from Monday, 13th September, seven days a week from 8 am to late. The safety measures we ask visitors to take, such as social distancing, the wearing of masks and use of hand sanitiser, will depend on the advice we have nearer to that time, but we hope to keep them to a minimum.
The SU Welcome Desk should be available weekdays from Monday,13th September onwards between 9 am and 5 pm.
The Love It Lounge should be available seven days a week whenever the SU Building is open, except if it is being used for TUSU or external events.
The Terrace and SU Shop should be back open seven days a week at their usual times from Monday, 13th September onwards.
We aim to resume evening events from Friday, 17th September with a fortnight of Freshers related activity to start off the new year. We also plan to run Freshers daytime events on all floors of the building and just outside from Monday, 20th September to Friday, 24th September. We will keep all students updated on these throughout the summer on tees-su.org.uk/events and tees-su.org.uk/freshers, our social media and the welcome pack we send out to new and returning students in August.
The TUSU Activities team should be back available for face to face contact from Monday, 13th September as per their usual opening hours. You will be able to find out their availability through the SU Welcome Desk when it re-opens or by dropping activities@tees-su.org.uk a line.
SU Student Support (SUSS) will continue to operate a “hybrid” approach in the early part of the new academic year starting this September. This means some team members will be back in the building on a rota basis on weekdays to speak with students directly, while others continue to provide virtual support from home through suss@tees-su.org.uk.
We aim to have the SU Studio and The Hub available to students from Monday, 13th September and will keep you informed about the future of The Snooze Rooms.
We are currently recruiting School Reps to join the team for the next academic year. If you are passionate about student representation and ensuring that all Teesside University students within your school have a positive academic experience, then this role is for you! We have positions available in all of the School's, so if you are interested and would like some more information about the role and an application, then please email: representation@tees-su.org.uk.
We are already busy planning Freshers 2021 (Friday, 17th September to Sunday, 3rd October) and, after only being able to offer digital events last year, we want to roar back for new and returning students this autumn.
Even if events still have to have some elements of social distancing or other safety measures applied, we still plan to deliver a fortnight of day and evening events, socials, sports clubs, societies, support, info, opportunities and of course fun!!!
We will be updating tees-su.org.uk/freshers and our dedicated Freshers Facebook throughout the summer as events are confirmed. We will also be in touch with new students through the post and returning students digitally in late August. Your welcome pack will explain exactly how Freshers 2021 is going to work.
This has been an academic year unlike any other but, despite all the changes and challenges, we are immensely proud of the collective work our Student Officers, Student Reps and staff have done.
You can read TUSU in Review from Fri, 21st May to find out about all of the ways we’ve supported and represented Teesside Uni students and some of the achievements from the past year of which we are most proud.
As we pass over 12 life-changing months of the pandemic and two lockdowns, we want to know how it has impacted on your student life and experience. We also want to know what role you feel the SU has played in helping and supporting students during this challenging time and if there is any more, we can do for you in the future.
Complete our short, simple Student Opinion Counts (SOC) survey, and you could win £25, £50 or £100. Your feedback will also help us keep improving the services, venues and support we give as we move into a new normal in the coming months and years.
Visit tees-su.org.uk/soc before the end of May when the survey closes to give us your feedback, it matters, and it will make a big difference!
If you haven’t got the TOTUM app and card yet, why not do so in time for the summer? You could bag incredible savings and discounts on food, drink, fashion, travel, digital, music and more? It’s the only OFFICIAL student discount app and card, the only one offered by the National Union of Students (NUS) and the only one we recommend!
You can now get TOTUM Digital for FREE and enjoy 300+ student discounts, exclusive giveaways, the TOTUM app and more for one year from the date you download.
You can also pay £14.99 (one year valid), £24.99 (two or three years valid) for the TOTUM + Age ID card option. All the discounts and savings mentioned above, extra exclusive giveaways, access to the TOTUM app, proof of age, premium discounts not available to others and the inclusion of the International Student ID Card (ISIC)!
Aside from all of that, you will be helping out your TUSU as we receive payments from NUS depending on how many students download the TOTUM app and how often they use it and the number of students who upgrade to the complete TOTUM package! All that money is poured back into making your SU even better!
Teesside University Students Union (TUSU) is committed to giving all Teesside University students a voice and acting on your feedback. Your Student Officers will soon be launching a selection of discussion groups that will meet online or in-person regularly to discuss issues affecting different groups within the student body; Each group will be chaired by one of the three Officers, and all current students at the university are welcome to participate in them. It will be another opportunity to tell us about your student experience and give your suggestions for how your SU can make things even better for you and other students. At this stage, we are registering interest in each of the groups, so check out the descriptions of each of them on the Student Groups page and then complete the short, simple registration form on there if you would like us to get back in touch once we are ready to start them.
PLEASE NOTE; THE NAMES AND DESCRIPTIONS OF THE GROUPS ARE BASED ON ADVICE WE HAVE RECEIVED, BUT IF YOU FEEL THEY SHOULD INCLUDE DIFFERENT WORDS OR PHRASES, THEN PLEASE DO LET US KNOW, AND WE WILL TAKE YOUR FEEDBACK INTO ACCOUNT.
Teesside University has a great range of safe, modern accommodation to suit both new and continuing students. If you’re planning your next move, why not check out what they have to offer?
Top 4 reasons to stay in university accommodation:
Fast wi-fi speeds of up to 1GB
On-site accommodation
All bills are included in your rent
24/7 support from on-site wardens and security
To find out more about University accommodation, e-mail: accommodation@tees.ac.uk or visit tees.ac.uk/accommodation.
TUSU works closely throughout the year with the likes of Cleveland Police, Cleveland Fire, NHS, Middlesbrough Council, and other key agencies to keep students safe and healthy. The summer period is an exciting one, and we know many of you will be keen to make up for lost time by socialising and travelling even more than usual. Here are a few handy tips for keeping yourself and your possessions safe over the next few months.
We would urge you to continue to adhere to the safety measures required as per Government advice! The situation is improving all the time, but we need to keep being sensible to make sure it gets even better! So, where required, wear a mask, socially distance, stick to the rule of six, sanitise your hands and try to pay by a card or contactless.
You should continue to get tested for COVID-19 regularly and take the opportunity to be immunised as soon as it is offered to you.
Even though restrictions are being lifted and a new normal is emerging, we appreciate that some of you will still be struggling with anxiety, depression and other mental health issues or may be concerned about someone else who is. There is lots of support available throughout the year, including help from the Teesside Uni Counselling service, Middlesbrough and Stockton Mind, The Samaritans and of course, the NHS.
If you are leaving accommodation or belongings for any period over the summer, make sure all windows and doors are locked, and any fire or burglar alarms you have been provided with are functioning. You should also ensure any gas or electrical items which don’t need to remain on while you are away are turned off or unplugged and that all taps are properly turned off.
You may also want to consider additional security measures for precious items and should always keep them well hidden and out of sight. If you have neighbours or friends, you trust you could also consider asking them to keep an eye on your accommodation while you are away.
If you do plan to travel, make sure you have the appropriate insurance and, if required, medical attention before you go. You can find out more about the current rules around travelling abroad and what measures you may have to take when you return to the UK by clicking here.
Whenever you are in an unfamiliar place or with unfamiliar people, exercise caution. Be on the lookout for drink spiking and try to avoid being alone with people until you get to know and trust them properly.
We know you are all adults, but we would still urge you to consume alcohol responsibly and in moderation throughout the summer. We also strongly advise you to avoid taking illegal drugs, especially if they are supplied by someone you do not know well.
NEVER drive when under the influence of alcohol or drugs.