Whether you’re returning to campus to complete your next year of undergraduate study, or are an incoming master’s student at Warwick, chances are you spent most of last year studying remotely. As someone who recently completed ten days of isolation myself, I can completely understand that the return to a space as busy as campus can be overwhelming, to say the least! In this post I’ve lined up some of the things to expect when returning to campus over the summer or in term one, and ways that you can make your grand return (…or grand entrance) to campus as easy as possible.
Will campus look the same?
Like many places you visited before the pandemic, campus may look a bit different to when you were last here. If you’re arriving by bus, one of the first things you are likely to notice is the transformation the arts centre has undergone! Be sure to also look out for the great progress that has been made on the new humanities building.
From the screen on the piazza to posters around the university, there is also a hefty amount of signage about the rules you have to follow and the measures in place across campus. As always, these rules may change in accordance with government guidelines so be sure to take a look at the links at the end of this post so you can stay up to date.
What is it like to study on campus?
There are still many places across campus where you can study individually, and hopefully in a group soon! Currently, the library is only open for individual study – but this is dependent upon the current stage of the library refurbishment! Be sure to read the available information about the changes to entering/studying in the library during the summer, as the refurbishment has affected floors 1 & 2.
If you weren’t able to return to campus to borrow any resources, the library postal loan system is still available free-of-charge for students and staff. Alternatively, if you are planning to return to campus over the summer or to begin the next academic year, you may want to refamiliarise yourself with the loan information, as it may have been a long time since you last borrowed a book!
What about socialising?
Before the pandemic, we were all used to stopping by our favourite coffee shops during our study breaks or between seminars. It may sound silly, but once things began opening again in April, I had to refamiliarise myself with the outlets on campus, and remember which ones were my usual haunts! Take some time to revisit the outlets on campus. You can find a list of university-run outlets here and the opening times for the SU here.
(A personal recommendation: my go-to study break drink has always been the mixed mocha from the library café, a great way to stretch your legs and get delicious coffee when you have a free five minutes!)
While all of the information given in this post is correct at the time of writing, if we have learned one thing from the last year it’s that situations can change quickly and unpredictably! To make sure that you have the most up-to-date information for before and during your return to campus, make sure to use Warwick’s latest advice and guidance and the library news page. Check them regularly and hopefully we will all be reunited on campus soon!
What are you most looking forward to seeing on campus when you are able to return? Let us know by tweeting us at @warwicklibrary, emailing us at libraryblogs@warwick.ac.uk, or leaving a comment below.
by Fay Inverarity
The Study Blog 