Campus matters Sept 14

CAMPUS MATTERS

September 2014 The newsletter for Campus Services

IN THIS ISSUE

BACK TO UNI On Saturday, over 3,000 new students will arrive on campus, all wanting to gain access to their accommodation swiftly and efficiently.

This year, a new system of traffic management has been put in place to try to ease congestion and minimise waiting times for new students.

There will be six arrival “zones� across campus, grouped by accommodation, with Piggery Gate open for all lower campus residences. Each student will have already booked a two hour arrival slot online and a single check in queue this year will mean that students can be checked in at any of a number of desks, rather than having to queue according to their hall.

An external contractor will be on hand to manage the parking and will be responsible for directing students from their car park, to an unloading area and back to the car park again.

You said, we did!

Staff will not be able to park on campus, but should park in the North A30 gravel car park, Huntersdale or the Sports Centre.

The results of the recent staff sports survey are revealed. Find out how the provision of sport for staff is changing on page 5.

CAN YOU HELP?

We still need more dedicated, cheerful and confident people to help provide support in a variety of roles this weekend on both Saturday and Sunday. Time off will be given in lieu, to be agreed in advance with your manager.

If you can help on either day, or would like to find out more, please contact Janet Heaney on ext. 3879.

Smarter washing days A brand new approach to laundry on campus is launched. More on page 2.

Campus Account is launched This year’s Start of Session will see a re-branded College card using “Campus Account”, to replace the old RCS brand.

Campus Account signage will remind students of the benefits of using their card and top up machines will have a vinyl wrap The focus of Campus Account to make them easier to see. will be primarily to promote the There will also be promotion of money that students are able to the Upay system as a means of save.

By using their card, topping up cards easily online. students will be able to make a It is hoped that the newly VAT saving of 20% on most food branded card will be more and hot drinks in the College run meaningful and less confusing catering outlets. Residents of than the old obsolete acronym.

Founder’s, Reid and Kingswood will save a further 50% in Communications Officer Neil Founder’s and KW’s dining halls Perrott commented, “Hopefully the new brand will lead to an by using their card.

increase in the use of these cards which will mean less cash handling for operational teams.

Additionally, we are hopeful that the savings will make students feel that catering on campus is good value for money.”

SMARTER WASHING DAYS This year’s Start of Session will see fully refurbished laundrettes across campus, with the installation of new washing machines & dryers, offering a brand new service for all our students.

The new facilities, provided by Circuit Managed Laundry Systems, will minimise waiting times by allowing our customers not only to check the availability of washing machines online, but also to determine exactly how long is left on the cycle. Another feature of the new system is that it will be cashless, allowing customers to pay via an online top up card which can be purchased from the machine in Hub reception. It will even be possible for users to activate machines using their mobile phone, after online top-up, dispensing with the need for a card.

The Circuit team recently collected the prestigious award of ‘Business Partner of the Year’ at this year’s CUBO awards in recognition of their efforts to enhance the student experience by turning laundry from a chore into something that is positive and fun.

Circuit Director Malcolm Brooke said, “It’s our job to make the laundry experience one to enjoy rather than endure and we aim to make our laundrettes a pleasant place to be – to make and meet friends, to relax with a book or a magazine…or of course, to catch up on assignments!”

Gowar’s refurbished laundrette

Premises Manager Vicky Reeves said “We are hoping that these innovations will make a really positive difference Darren to our students’ experience of the laundrette, which will hopefully increase usage and revenue.”

Say hello …...

Campus Services recently welcomed two new faces to the Conference team.

Sara Gibbs joins the team as a part time Marketing Executive, responsible for marketing the conference, catering and wedding offerings to internal and potential external clients. Sara spends the rest of her week as a freelance features journalist and editor.

Zoe Jelfs is a new part time Account Executive in the Conference and Events Office, managing external conference and event enquiries. Before joining Royal Holloway, Zoe worked for 9 years as a Conference and Event Organiser for Penguins, before becoming a full time mum to her two young children. elfs oe J

Z

…. and wave goodbye

Two of our graduates have been offered fantastic new jobs and (sadly) will soon be leaving the department. Campus Matters caught up with them both to discover more about their new roles and how the experience they have gained working at Royal Holloway has helped them.

k w Blac Andre

Andrew Black worked for two years as a Marketing Assistant alongside his degree studies, having worked within the video games industry prior to starting at Royal Holloway.

“Having some work experience already was really helpful for my role here, especially when preparing promotional marketing and social media material,” said Andrew.

He leaves Royal Holloway to take up the position of Business Development Manager at Brighton University, working to help grow and develop new start-up business.

Andrew commented on the time he has spent working at Royal Holloway. “I think my role in Campus Services, combined with my degree in Management with Marketing, played a big part in being offered a job at Brighton University.

Sara

Gibb

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The “real world” experience in marketing and business, which allowed me to put my degree studies to practical use, has been invaluable and I believe it separated me from other graduates when I was applying for jobs.”

Mayowa Olonilua, has worked for 2 years in Sports Development.

He graduated last year in Psychology and has now just completed his Masters. “I can’t be- Mayo wa Ol onilua lieve I have been at Royal Holloway for nearly 4 years. I can still remember turning up to halls (late!!!) on my first day. I have really enjoyed seeing both sides of the College as a student and as a member of staff.”

Mayowa is leaving to take up an opportunity with the Ministry of Defence as an Analyst.

“Working at the MoD is going to be a bit of a change from working in sport but it is something I am very much looking forward to doing!

I am sad to be leaving, especially as so much is changing around campus. I have really enjoyed my time here and learned so much. Campus Services is a great place to work and thanks to everyone for being so great to work with.”

New parcel tracking technology for the post room Parcel delivery in the post room stepped up a gear earlier this month with the launch of a new software application, KxParcels, designed to automate the delivery and collection of student parcels.

Staff in the post room as well as customer service teams have been trained on how to use the new system and are now spending time familiarising themselves fully with the technology before Start of Session.

Developed by Kinetics, the new application has been installed in the Founder’s and Hub post rooms as well as in Kingswood and Highfield receptions. KxParcels replaces the old handwritten system of books and slips of paper advising students that their parcel is ready for collection. Instead, a touch screen will be used to record deliveries which will then automatically send an email to students informing them that they have a package to collect.

Premises Manager, Angela Muswell said, “The application will improve the student experience by dramatically speeding up the process of recording deliveries. It will also allow us to understand in more detail how much post is delivered and where it comes from.”

On collection, the barcode on a student ID will be scanned which will immediately display a list of the parcels awaiting collection and record a digital signature.

Pat Clifford trials the new system

Keeping up appearances The student vacation has provided the perfect visitors (close to 4000 meals a day during the opportunity for an internal refurbishment of language schools) so it really was time for a refurbishment. We also took the time to add The Hub. New flooring, window blinds more noise diffusers to the Coffee & Cake area and wall coverings have and an entrance lobby, so all customers can look been carefully chosen to tie forward to a more comfortable environment in in with the colours of The which to enjoy their meal or favourite cake.”

Hub logo.

New blinds will create a separation between Coffee & Cake and the main dining hall if needed and a lowered acoustic ceiling in Coffee & Cake will help to differentiate the two areas.

Head of Conferences and Catering, Mike Hoare said, “After nearly eight years of constant activity, the Hub floor was starting to look fairly battered and the paintwork was showing the effects of constant use by students, staff, and

The newly refurbished Hub

New opportunities for staff sport Prompted by the new sports facility development and the vision of the department to encourage an active lifestyle throughout the whole College community, our team at the sports centre have been busy evaluating and remodelling their active lifestyle and sport memberships.

From as little as £11 per month, staff can enjoy staff only sports clubs, discounted gym entry (£3), discounted exercise classes (£3) and reduced facility hire costs. Membership is available now!

Based on the results of the recent staff survey, the team have committed to: 

offering 5 low cost staff sports clubs each week (7-a-side football, tennis, netball, squash and badminton). These clubs are open to all abilities and occur most week day evenings;



introducing a low cost membership option exclusively for staff;



introducing additional staff only exercise classes.

STAFF SPORT AT THE COLLEGE

For more information on membership packages, prices and times of weekly staff sports clubs, please follow this link https://www.royalholloway.ac.uk/sports/memberships/ staffmemberships.aspx.

Thank you …..

New parking permits

…. from CHASE Shooting Star Children’s Hospice for the £742 of money raised via all of the cans across campus.

CHASE’s Brenda Small commented, “The money raised has enabled our staff to purchase a wide variety of equipment and employ more therapists to improve the children’s quality of life. We really have appreciated all your hard work, enthusiasm and the perseverance you have shown in raising such large amounts of money.”

HAVE YOUR SAY!

Please email any news, stories or ideas from your areas that you would like included in the next issue of Campus Matters to carol.robinson@rhul.ac.uk. The next issue is due out in early November 2014.

This month sees the introduction of a new car park management system with all staff required to register for an annual permit in order to bring their vehicle onto campus.

Once the portal has gone live, all staff will be informed via email so that they can log on and register for a parking permit.

For further information and FAQs please visit the iQuad Campus Life section on Travel.