Update from UCL and Students’ Union UCL about the coronavirus (COVID-19)

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We know many of you may be worried about the coronavirus outbreak and the news that there have been a small number of confirmed cases in the UK.

UCL continues to work closely with Public Health England (PHE), who have advised that the risk to individuals in the UK remains low. The university is also following the recommendations of the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) around travel to affected areas. You can find out more about the virus, including the latest updates and a list of frequently asked questions, on the UCL website.

We are very proud of our students and how you have shown support for each other during this difficult time. We are a home to a diverse community of people from all over the world, and it is more important than ever that we remain respectful of one another.

There have been some cases in the news of people experiencing bullying and abuse related to coronavirus. We would like to remind everyone that UCL and Students’ Union UCL do not tolerate bullying or abuse of any kind, including racial discrimination and hate speech.

If you have been the victim of any kind of abuse, or if you have witnessed someone else experiencing abuse, you can:

• Report it to the police. In the UK, you should always call 999 if you are reporting a crime that’s in progress or if someone is in immediate danger. If the crime isn’t an emergency, please call 101.
• Use UCL’s online Report + Support tool, where you can report incidents of bullying, harassment, sexual misconduct or hate crime. You can choose to make your report anonymously or request to contact advisor for support.
• Use the Students’ Union UCL Hate Crime Reporting Tool, where you can report anonymously.

Any member of our community who is found responsible for bullying or abuse will be subject to the appropriate disciplinary process. You can find out more about the behaviour UCL expects of our students in the university’s Code of Conduct.

If you are worried about the coronavirus or discrimination related to the coronavirus, UCL's Student Support and Wellbeing team provide a safe, confidential and non-judgemental space for students to discuss any concerns you may have. All students can also access support quickly at Student Support and Wellbeing’s drop-in sessions, which take place on Floor 1 of the Student Centre every weekday that UCL is open. No prior appointment is needed.

UCL Security can also help you if you need to report a crime to the police. Contact the team by dialling 222 from any internal UCL phone or 020 7679 2222 from a mobile. UCL’s Crime Prevention and Personal Safety Adviser also runs weekly sessions at the Student Centre on Wednesdays. Appointments last up to 45 minutes and three slots are available: 2pm-2.45pm, 2.45pm-3.30pm and 3.30pm-4.15pm. Please email Sophie Bimson on s.bimson@ucl.ac.uk to book an appointment. 

If you have been impacted by recent events, please contact our free and confidential, helpline where you can access confidential and emotional support, free counselling, advice, and information through UCL's 24/7 Student Support Line. To find out more and access support, please visit the Student Support and Wellbeing website, contact askUCL or call +44 (0)20 7679 0100.

Best wishes,

Professor Michael Arthur
UCL President & Provost

Aatikah, Ashley, Carol, D’Arcy, Jim, Nilisha & Sandy
Students’ Union UCL Sabbatical Officers 2019-20