Learning & Teaching

Please note: government guidance is still evolving and our guidance may be updated in response to any changes in government policy.

We are doing our best to ensure we cover all of the questions we receive, but please let us know if you still have any questions that are not covered by the content below, or by the health and safety guidance for all staff. You can also view the Scottish Government's face covering guidance and the University’s Principles for Managing Class Behaviours Jan 2022.

• Q: For 1-to-1 PhD supervision in an office where 2m distancing is possible, do both individuals maintaining social distancing have to wear masks? The argument is that this is not 'teaching', as such, but can be seen as a socially distanced discussion.
  
  A: No, the use of face coverings is not required in this situation, provided 2m distancing is maintained between both individuals. (Updated 07/01/2022)

• Q: How do I explain to students why the University COVID regulations are tighter than those set by the Scottish government?
  
  A: The requirement to maintain 1m distance in teaching has been removed for Semester 2.  We will nonetheless continue to operate with capacities which ensure adequate ventilation and allow some distancing.

  In line with Scottish Government requirements and additional University of Glasgow guidance, non-exempt individuals must wear face coverings while on campus when:

  moving around in buildings; outside, in congested areas; in libraries and study spaces; and in classrooms (including teaching labs); in offices and other workplace settings, where two metre distancing is not possible. (Updated 07/01/2022)

• Q: Are students (unless exempt) required to keep masks on at all times in classes?
  
  A: Yes, in line with Scottish Government requirements and additional University of Glasgow guidance, non-exempt individuals must wear face coverings while on campus when:

  moving around in buildings; outside, in congested areas; in libraries and study spaces; and in classrooms (including teaching labs); in offices and other workplace settings, where two metre distancing is not possible. (Updated 07/01/2022)

• Q: Can staff remove face coverings to teach?
  
  A: Yes, in line with Scottish Government requirements and additional University of Glasgow guidance, whilst non-exempt individuals must wear face coverings while on campus in teaching spaces (including teaching labs), “Individuals may, at their own discretion, remove face coverings temporarily while teaching or presenting, provided they are distanced from others.” If you can keep a 2m distance from your students, you can remove a face covering.  If, for example when speaking 1-1 with a student, 2m distancing is not maintained then you would need to wear your face covering as would the student. (Updated 07/01/2022)

  Please also see the question below for help on understanding this with reference to the teaching lab spaces.

• Q: In a teaching setting, can distancing be temporarily reduced between staff member and student, provided face coverings are worn by both parties? For example, in a Teaching Lab to review the students' work and provide temporary support.
  
  A: Yes, it is recognised that in some instances during teaching that relatively close contact will be needed (for example helping a student with individual work). Close contact should be avoided if possible, however where this is essential all parties (unless exempt) should ensure they are wearing face coverings. (Updated 07/01/2022)
  
  
• Q: Is face covering wearing combined with social distancing, or instead of it in classes? 
  
  A: The requirement to maintain 1m distance has been removed for Semester 2.  We will nonetheless continue to operate with capacities which ensure adequate ventilation and allow some distancing.

  In line with Scottish Government requirements and additional University of Glasgow guidance, non-exempt individuals must wear face coverings while on campus when:

  moving around in buildings; outside, in congested areas; in libraries and study spaces; and in classrooms (including teaching labs); in offices and other workplace settings, where two metre distancing is not possible. (Updated 07/01/2022)

• Q: What if we want to ask students to answer questions; for them to ask us questions or to work in groups in class? Can we ask them to remove masks to do this and/or reduce social distancing? 
  
  A: No, whilst the guidance says that “Individuals may, at their own discretion, remove face coverings temporarily while teaching or presenting, provided they are distanced from others”  a student participating in in-class discussion would not constitute 'teaching or presenting' and therefore face coverings will need to be worn. (Updated 07/01/2022)

• Q: Where balancing reasonable adjustments to support disability with Covid safety measures, could a staff member ask all students to sit in a way that is distanced from each other, so that they can remove their masks when they speak (and only when they speak)?
  
  A: Yes, in this situation staff may ask students to remove their mask, whilst speaking provided students are seated at 2m distance from each other and staff members.  Please note that room capacity may not support 2m distancing between all students. (Updated 07/01/2022)

• Q: Are colleagues in a staff meeting required to wear masks if the staff meeting is held in a classroom that permits 2m distancing?
  
  A: No, for any non-teaching activity taking place in a classroom/teaching space, attendees are not required to wear a face covering, provided they are distanced at least 2m from others. (Updated 07/01/2022)

• Q: Are students required to wear masks if being taught in a lecturer's office in which 2m distancing for the number of students is possible?
  
  A: Yes, masks are required in classrooms / teaching spaces regardless of the distancing possible. The categorisation adopted in this guidance aligns with the way that the Scottish Government, and additional University of Glasgow, guidance is set out. The intention behind the guidance is to indicate that when engaged in teaching (irrespective of the type of room), wearing of face coverings is the expected measure. (Updated 07/01/2022)
     
• Q: A lab is a workplace setting and they have been designed to run without physical distancing; therefore, can students take their masks off whilst seated in teaching labs?
  
  A: The categorisation adopted in this guidance aligns with the way that the Scottish Government, and additional University of Glasgow, guidance is set out. The intention behind the guidance is to indicate that when engaged in teaching (irrespective of the type of room), wearing of face coverings is the expected measure. Teaching labs are categorised in the same way as classrooms and therefore face coverings must be worn. Research Labs would be categorised as workplace settings (unless being used for teaching) and the relevant workplace guidance would apply. (Updated 07/01/2022)

• Q: Are colleagues in a staff meeting required to wear masks if instead the staff meeting is held in an office that permits 2m distancing?
  
  A: No, the guidance sets out that 'Face coverings are not required, when seated in offices and other workplace settings, where  2m distancing is possible'. (Updated 07/01/2022)

• Q: Is there quality standard of face covering eg FFP2 expected to be worn by staff and/or students?
  
  A: Face coverings are not classed as protective equipment and so have no specific quality standard associated with them. Further advice on face coverings is given on the Health and Safety Executive guidance page here: Face coverings and face masks during the coronavirus pandemic – HSE