A level Thursday
Thurs 16 Aug is A level results day. Nearly 10,000 calls are expected - a team of 50 will be working on the helpline advising students about their place at the University, or answering questions about vacancies we have through Clearing or Adjustment. If enquiries come through to any other part of the University regarding admissions or possible vacancies, please advise them to call the Helpline number – 0844 6200012.

Recruitment update
This year there are opportunities for universities like Exeter to recruit more students with grades of AAB or better, so we will be active in Clearing and Adjustment as we try to attract these students. We are well placed compared to many other universities and our applications have held steady compared to last year, though we have stretching targets to meet across all our campuses. The admissions team wishes to thank academic and professional services staff working on and after A level results day in order to convert late applicants into entrants.

£9m on access
The University’s 2013-14 access agreement has been approved by OFFA. In 2013-14, we will spend nearly £9 million on access measures, an increase from £6.65 million in 2012-13. We have broadened our approach to access so that we are spending more on initiatives to support students from lower performing schools throughout their studies and into employment. We are working with the Students’ Guild to develop a programme of activity for these students that will include mentoring and access to work experience and internships.

Medical school legal agreement signed
The University of Exeter and Plymouth University have now signed the legal agreement that marks the demerger of PCMD and the creation of the University of Exeter Medical School, and Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry. BMBS and PGT students will be admitted to the new Schools in 2013. Current students and this year’s intake will graduate with a joint Exeter-Plymouth award, which will continue to be made until 2016/17 for dental students and 2017/18 for medical students. The BClinSci programme continues as an Exeter programme, and Exeter will award PGR students joining from this September. Plymouth and Exeter are consulting with their own staff regarding the staffing structures for the new medical and medical/dental schools. Agreement has been reached between both Universities on sharing information on professional services vacancies and considering existing PCMD staff for these posts. PCMD staff can find out further information from Plymouth and Exeter’s Human Resources departments.

QAA review
The final report of our Institutional Review by the Quality Assurance Agency has now been published, confirming that we deliver excellent learning opportunities for students and, in particular, that our approach to enhancement is "commendable". It praises our ASPIRE staff development scheme; our student engagement activities, particularly Students as Change Agents; the University-Guild partnership and our ethos of continuous improvement; along with employability support. Derfel Owen, Head of Academic Policy and Standards, will work with Colleges to develop an action plan on applying the Teaching Quality Assurance Manual consistently, as this is recommended in the report.

National Teaching Fellows
The Higher Education Academy (HEA) has announced that two of our lecturers have been awarded National Teaching Fellowships. Senior Lecturer in Psychology Dr Paul Farrand and Director of Education for Sport & Health Sciences Dr Richard Winsley have been awarded the fellowships, which are the most prestigious awards for excellence in higher education teaching and support for learning. Each receives £10,000 towards professional development in teaching and learning.

Staff news
Prof David Richards from the Mood Disorders Centre has been elected for a three year term as President of the European Academy of Nursing Science and is one of only two nurses to be appointed as a NIHR senior investigator from 2012 onwards. Dr Michael Pakenham, Honorary Fellow, has been conferred Officier de L’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French Republic for his lifetime work in the fields of Art and Literature.

Hon Grads needed
The nomination process for next year’s Honorary Graduates is underway. If you can recommend a candidate who has demonstrated outstanding merit and personal distinction please submit nominations online before 21 Sept.

Green Flag flies again
For the second year running, the University has received the Green Flag Award in recognition of our well-managed, high-quality green spaces. Judges were impressed by the establishment of a Community Garden on Higher Hooper Lane (off car park B) by members of the Students’ Guild, the University and the local community. Local people also helped plant hedgerows and Redhills Community Primary School helped create a wild flower meadow as part of the Birds and Bees campaign. A 31-strong team works on the grounds, nursery and outdoor sports facilities.

5,500 rooms ready
This September sees the completion of the 3 year building programme to increase the number of beds on campus. From September the University will have over 5,500 rooms (up from 4,000 in 2009) with a range of accommodation styles and budgets. The three main locations for accommodation on Streatham Campus are Lafrowda/Rowe/St Germans and Exeter Halls (approx 1850 rooms) ; Holland and Mardon Halls and the Nash Grove and Clydesdale residences (approx 750 rooms); and Birks Grange Village and Duryard (approx 1900 rooms) as well as a number of residences in the City. We are able offer accommodation to new and returning students from the UK or abroad whether they are on undergraduate or postgraduate courses. See the Accommodation website.

Early arrivals
Freshers’ week starts on Mon 17 Sept. To ensure that roads and car parks on campus and in the city do not become too congested , over 1,000 students will be arriving at Birks Grange and Lafrowda on Fri 14 Sept and the remaining 4,000 will arrive over the Saturday and Sunday.

Global business winners
One of the two teams from the Business School that made it to the UK final of the CIMA Global Business Challenge went on to win the global competition. The Indivisibles were crowned Global Champions at the finals in Colombo, Sri Lanka. They competed against 21 other teams, each a champion in their respective countries.

Grand Challenge 2013
The Grand Challenge 2013 will have the theme of ‘21st Century Dilemmas’. From 3-13 June 2013 first year undergraduates will take part in a range of interdisciplinary learning opportunities that are aligned to the University’s research themes, as well as social activities. Taster sessions will be held in Opportunities Week (week 6 of Term 1) with students signing up for their preferred dilemma after this. For more information contact Michelle Hale.

Learn a language
Enrolement is now open for evening language courses starting in October in the Foreign Language Centre. The programme is designed to give confidence in a language for work, travel or general interest. Levels range from complete beginner to advanced conversation and 13 languages are offered. Discounts for staff, students and alumni. Info online.

Portal peek
Take a peek at the new look MyExeter portal that Exeter IT are currently testing. Features include a new design, clearer and more concise content, integration of University Twitter feeds, and new Outlook integration (email and calendar summary). Send feedback to IT helpdesk - your thoughts will help shape the new design.

St Luke’s swim school
Some 550 children and 24 adults are currently learning to swim at the St Luke’s swim school. Changes are underway to create a swimming lesson programme that runs for 50 weeks a year from 10 Sept with continual progression and assessment of children. New Tuesday lessons are starting, and direct debit payments are being introduced with children getting free casual swims if on the direct debit scheme. Contact Chris Waller.

Forum showers
Eight showers are now operational in the Forum; find them by the stairs next to the Student Information Desk. Access via swipe card.

Reed Hall parking
From 1 Sept Reed Hall car park will be reserved for conference, meeting and lunch guests only so no longer be available to staff.

Out of office?
If you are going on holiday please record a voicemail message and set an out of office outlook reply giving the date you will be back. Please ensure any general enquiry numbers are diverted to a manned phone line.

Now on
Marilyn Monroe exhibition
Exhibition of memorabilia marking the 50th anniversary of the death of the film icon
Location: Bill Douglas Centre for the History of Cinema and Popular Culture, Old Library, Streatham Campus

Fri 17 Aug, 12-4pm
Science in the Square
University of Exeter scientists from the Cornwall Campus are inviting local people to join them and become scientists for the day.
Location: Marquee in Events Square, Falmouth, Cornwall

Mon 20 to Sat 25 Aug
Referred/deferred exams

Mon 20 Aug, 12-1pm
Induction to Spinning
Includes setting up your bike properly and the benefits of Spinning and then a half hour Spin
Free to Platinum members, charges to others.
Location: Sports Park, Streatham Campus
Book your place by calling the Sports Park Reception 01392 724452.

Tues 28 – Thurs 30 August
Conference: '1662': Historical and Ecumenical Perspectives
The conference will revisit the events of 1662 in this 350th anniversary year and assess their significance for the ecumenical movement.
Location: St. Luke’s Campus

Sat 1 Sept, 2-6pm
5-a-side football tournament in aid of Hospiscare
Teams of minimum five and maximum 10 players will get to play seven games. Trophy and medals for winners and runners up.
Location: Rubber crumb pitch, Sports Park, Streatham Campus
Contact: Wayne Hill 07706 089980

Tues 4 Sept, 10am-3pm
AccessAbility internal Open Day
Meet the AccessAbility team and see the support on offer for disabled students.
Demonstrations of assistive technology, information about the broad range of disabilities and medical conditions supported by AccessAbility and how these could impact on studies, a human library, video diary experiences of accessibility around the University, and demonstrations of how dyslexia is assessed.
All staff and PG students are welcome
Location: The Forum Street and Student Services Centre, Streatham Campus

Thurs 6 Sept
Stress at all levels – an interdisciplinary research workshop
The Translational Medicine Science Strategy Theme is hosting a one day interdisciplinary research workshop in Exeter called: 'Stress at all levels - a molecular, cellular, tissue, individual, population and societal view: implications for health in humans, animals and plants'.
The aim of the workshop is to engage academics from any discipline with an interest in stress and its implications on health with a view to developing new and exciting avenues of research.
Register your interest by emailing, Angela Escott.

Thurs 6 – Sat 8 Sept
Second international conference on Kurdish Studies
The Kurds and Kurdistan: Considering Continuity and Change
Location: Streatham Campus

Wed 12 Sept, 4.45pm
POSReF seminar
Redox and electrophilic signalling in cancer, air pollution and aging
Professor Henry Jay Forman
Location: Lavender House Hotel, Knowle Hill, Ashburton TQ13 7JY
Contact: Susan Westoby