UPDATE:

Since the below limitations were put in place, we have been working with teaching colleagues to monitor behaviour and assess the impact on timetabled activity. We have also been listening to your feedback, particularly around the potential impact to your studies in what we acknowledge is a crucial time of year for our students.

In response to your feedback, and importantly, no reports of unacceptable behaviour, teaching clusters will now be available for non-timetabled study from 8am provided no teaching activity is scheduled in that cluster any earlier than 11am.

In instances where timetabled activity is scheduled into clusters before 11am, these spaces will remain designated for timetabled activity only until the last timetabled session has concluded.

The availability of clusters will continue to vary each day, so you are advised to check information displayed on the entrances to each cluster for up-to-date information.

ORIGINAL:

Dear student, 

Over the past 12 months, there have been a number of instances of disruption and unacceptable behaviour from students in the Nancy Rothwell Building (formerly Engineering Building A) teaching clusters. This includes refusal to vacate these spaces during timetabled teaching sessions and verbal abuse to staff when instructed to do so.  

In response to these issues, all FSE students received an email at the start of the 24/25 academic year reiterating expected standards of behaviour and advising on further action to be taken if things did not improve. 

Disappointingly, this unacceptable behaviour has continued including a recent serious incident in which a student used misogynistic language towards a member of staff and fellow students when asked to vacate a teaching cluster.  

As a results of this continued unacceptable behaviour and the need to provide a safe environment for teaching to take place, a decision has been taken to limit access to Nancy Rothwell Building teaching clusters. 

Limited access to teaching clusters 

Between Monday, 27 January and Friday, 28 February, access to the Nancy Rothwell Building  teaching clusters for self-study and desktop PC access purposes will only be available after the last timetabled teaching session of the day has concluded. Subject to a compliance review over this period, access for non-timetabled study will be reinstated on Monday, 3 March. 

During timetabled teaching sessions access to the clusters will be via swipe-card only so you will not be able to enter these spaces without staff supervision and unless part of the taught session.   

Following completion of the last timetabled session in each cluster, swipe-card access will be disabled until the specified cluster closing time.  

Teaching clusters 1, 2 and 3 (Second Floor)	6:00pm closure
Teaching clusters 4 and 5 (First Floor)	7:30pm closure

The time at which each cluster will become available will vary each day, so you are advised to check information on the entrances to each cluster for up-to-date information.   

• Access arrangements for timetabled teaching activity 

If you’re timetabled into a cluster, you will be expected to arrive to your session 10 minutes before it starts and wait outside. A member of staff will meet you and bring you into the room.  

Once your session has concluded, you must leave the cluster immediately, taking your belongings with you and leaving the space as you found it – failure to vacate the space when asked may result in Campus Support & Security being called and disciplinary action taken. 

• Alternative desktop PC access  

If you require desktop PC access for study purposes, 123 touchdown PCs with the same software packages are available 8am – 8pm, Monday to Friday, located at the informal computer clusters in Core 3 of the building (First and Second Floor, overlooking the Ground Floor event space).  

• Printing facilities 

When clusters are unavailable, alternative printing facilities can be found in the informal study spaces, located in Cores 2 and 3 on the First and Second Floor of the building. 

Next steps 

We understand that the behaviours leading to this decision are not reflective of the overwhelming majority of our student community, however ensuring staff and students are treated with respect and dignity and that all students have fair access to teaching without disruption are priorities. 

As we review these arrangements over the coming months, we ask that you lead by example and  comply with the above arrangements and treat fellow students and staff with respect. Failure to do so may not only result in disciplinary action for you, but also continued limiting access to facilities for other students in our community. 

If you have any questions or issues, please get in touch via TEAM@manchester.ac.uk  

Best wishes, 

Sarah Cartmell, Vice Dean and Head of School of Engineering 

Chris Hardacre, Vice Dean and Head of School  of Natural Sciences