Message from the Dean

As I write, we are putting the finishing touches to our preparations for Michaelmas Term. We are looking forward to welcoming record numbers of students to the Faculty for undergraduate and postgraduate study this year. Obviously our top priority is to keep both students and colleagues safe.

The University is hoping that most students will be able to come into residence in October, though there are some exemptions for international students who are unable to travel. The University now has its own testing facilities up and running so that staff and students can quickly be tested if they have any symptoms, without burdening local health services. The Faculty will be using a mixture of online and in-person methods for teaching. It is hoped that it will be possible for most tutorials to take place face-to-face. Lectures will generally be available online as recordings – students have told us that they enjoy being able to pause and rewind! – and seminars will involve a mix of face-to-face and online teaching depending on class sizes. Colleges have been working hard to put in place Covid-safe arrangements for accommodation, meals, social events and so on.

Clearly, it will not be ‘business as usual’ in Michaelmas Term. Inevitably, there is an increased risk associated with students travelling to Oxford from all corners of the UK and the world, and we will have to react quickly to any changes in circumstances. Even face-to-face teaching will feel quite different with precautions in place, such as social distancing and the wearing of face coverings. But I hope we can continue to provide our students with an excellent educational (and life) experience – intellectually stimulating courses, lively discussions in seminars and tutorials, and the opportunity to form life-long friendships – whatever happens over the coming months.

This is my last e-bulletin as Dean before returning to the ranks, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you, our alumni, benefactors and supporters, for your friendship over the past five years. It has been a great privilege to serve the Faculty where I once studied, and getting to know many of you has been a particular pleasure. From October, the Faculty will be in the capable hands of my successor, Professor Mindy Chen-Wishart, and I know that she will value your continued support.

September 2020