University of Sheffield Accommodation A-Z Guide by Rob Ellerington

ABCDE FGHIJK LMNOP QRSTU VWXYZ Including Useful Contacts

Your University Accommodation A-Z Guide 2010

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Your University accommodation A-Z guide 2010 Whatever you need to know about living in University accommodation is right here in this A-Z. There’s fun stuff, such as the activities and events that are available to you (p.3) and also more important information like Room Inspections (p.10). And just in case you thought it was another boring publication containing the same old information, there are a few comical additions to hopefully make you smile too! If you can’t find what you’re looking for, visit www.shef.ac.uk/accommodation

USEFUL CONTACTS Accommodation Office

National Meningitis Helpline

Contact them about your Residence Contract and your accommodation options for future years.

If you’re concerned that you or a friend may have the symptoms of meningitis or would like more information about the disease, contact this helpline.

Call: 0114 222 4488 Email: accommodationoffice @shef.ac.uk In person: propertywithUS, Level 4, University House

Communities Lauren and Matt organise a wide range of activities and events and work closely with Community Development Committees. Find out more on p.6 & 11. Call: 0114 222 8689 / 222 8622 Email: communities@shef.ac.uk Visit: www.sheffieldstudentsunion.com/ communities In person: 11a Endcliffe Crescent, The Endcliffe Village or Activities & Sports Zone, Level 3, Students’ Union

Call: 0808 800 3344 Email: helpline@meningitis.org

NHS Direct Contact NHS Direct if you have an out of hours health enquiry. Call: 0845 4647

Nightline (8pm–8am, during term time) Nightline is a confidential, anonymous listening and information service provided by student volunteers at the Students’ Union.

Customer Services

Call (listening): 0114 222 8787 Call (information): 0114 222 8788 Email: nightline@shef.ac.uk

Deal with keys, post, lost property, room bookings – pretty much anything to do with your accommodation!

propertywithUS

Call: 0114 22 4488 Email: acs-customerservices @shef.ac.uk In person: The Edge and The Ridge receptions

eatwithUS team They manage all the catering outlets in the Villages and on campus, look after the eatwithUS card (see p.6) and arrange themed dining nights throughout the year.

Here to offer advice and information about University and private accommodation. Call: 0114 222 6058 Email: propertywithus@shef.ac.uk In person: Level 4, University House Visit: www.shef.ac.uk/housingfinder

Security Services They monitor the safety and security of the Villages and Campus, 24/7.

Call: 0114 222 8909 Email: eatwithus@shef.ac.uk

In case of emergency (fire, police, ambulance) Call: 0114 222 4444

Maintenance

For all other emergencies Call: 0114 222 4075

Report a maintenance problem in your accommodation to this team. Call: 0114 222 4488 Email: acs-helpdesk@shef.ac.uk In person: The Edge and The Ridge receptions Visit: www.shef.ac.uk/accommodation/ facilities/maintenance

For general security advice and information: The Villages Call: 0114 222 4075 Email: monitoringstation@shef.ac.uk City & Central Campus Call: 0114 222 4085 Email: security@shef.ac.uk

Contents P2

Accommodation for future years Accommodation Survey Activities and events

Bars Bin collection

Cleaning Compliments and complaints Contract extensions Cycle storage

Damage deposits Digs Energy and environment

Feedback and Forums Food and drink Get involved! Green Routes

Health and Safety

Heating controls Inventories Joining in Keys and swipecards Launderettes Lifts Money worries

Not happy? Our lovely countryside Parking Policies and Procedures Post Postgraduate information Quiet time

P10

Recycling Resident Support Room inspections Staying up? Keep it down. Travel and transport Trim trail

P11

University Health Service Universities UK Code of Practice Vacating your room Welcome Exams Your Student Community Zzzz...

Activities and events

The Endcliffe Village The Edge Bar is at the heart of the Village and holds many regular and one-off events including quizzes, beach parties and the ever popular Rockaoke where you can be the lead singer of a band for one night only!

Accommodation for future years

Living in the residences is about more than just renting a room. Whatever you’re into – be it dance, sport, partying or movies – there’s a whole range of activities and events for you to get involved in.

When the time comes for you to start thinking about where to live next year, remember that there are some really good deals available if you stay in University accommodation. You’ll probably see some super cheap rents advertised by private landlords, but it’s important to find out exactly what’s included – and what’s not. All those monthly bills soon add up! With us, there are no hidden extras to pay for, just lots of extra benefits like 24/7 security, flexible move-in dates and free internet. Unlike in your first year, you get to choose who you want to live with and where. If there’s a group of you looking together, you can choose from contemporary apartments or Victorian houses for 3-16 students. If you haven’t found anyone you want to live with, we can find you like-minded flatmates to share with or you may want to consider a studio, ideal if you prefer more space and privacy. If you decide to move out next year, you can still move back in future years. There are properties reserved for non-first years which are ideal when you just want to focus on your studies. To find out more, email: accommodationoffice@shef.ac.uk

From weekly film nights to IntraMural sport, this is your chance to try something new and meet new people. For full details of what’s going on, look out for the listings posters around the accommodation, check out your weekly ‘What’s on in my Community’ email and visit your Community Facebook groups: Official Endcliffe Village Student Community 2010/11 Official Ranmoor Village Student Community 2010/11 Official City Student Community 2010/11 Find out more about ‘Your Student Community’ on p.11.

Apples As well as keeping the doctor away, owning one will almost certainly make all of your PC-owning friends insanely jealous. Can be baked in a pie or a crumble.

Unive

rsity ion

There are pool tables, a state of the art music system and big screens showing all the popular sporting events. We’ve recently introduced a new menu, serving meals and snacks including nachos to share, Chicken Caesar salad and a range of burgers. Plus, at the weekend there’s The Edge Bar Big Breakfast to help cure your hangover! The Endcliffe Lounge is situated in Stephenson and is open to all Endcliffe residents. It serves a range of cocktails, beers and lagers. The games room next door is ideal for when you want to challenge your new flatmates to a game of pool or table football.

The Ranmoor Village The Ridge Café Bar is open all day from 8am and serves a range of soft drinks, freshly brewed Barista coffee and all your favourite alcoholic drinks in the evening. The popular food menu offers breakfast, lunch and dinner with classics like a good old chip butty, a selection of burgers and homemade curry plus porridge, bacon butties and muffins for breakfast. Residents love The Ridge Café Bar Sunday Carvery too!

University Arms The University’s very own real ale pub is a student favourite, located on campus adjacent to the Information Commons. It’s open to all and is ideally located for City residents. It serves a range of ales and delicious pub meals.

Bears Wild bears are not indigenous to Sheffield. However, should you find a bear in your room at any time, please call security services immediatley.

Bars

Accommodation Survey Our annual Accommodation Survey gives you the chance to tell us what you think about all aspects of living in University accommodation – as well as having the chance to win some great prizes! Your feedback is really important as it enables us to find out what we’re doing well, and also where we can improve. We’ll email you in November with a link to the online Acco mmod survey. at

place to meet your mates, enjoy a quick drink and have a bite to eat. Your bars are:

Bin collection You’re responsible for emptying all the rubbish and recycling from your accommodation and taking it to the bin stores. For the majority of properties, the bin collection day will be Wednesday. General waste will be collected weekly and recycling will be collected fortnightly. Wherever you live, there’s always something going on in the residences bars. From quiz nights to karaoke, pool tournaments to parties, they’re a great 3

Confirmation of the bin collection day for your property will be provided shortly.

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C Cleaning

Compliments

All equipment requires wiping down with a damp cloth from time to time.

If you’ve had great service from a member of staff or there’s something you particularly like about your accommodation, our facilities or services, let us know! You can tell the teams direct or speak to Customer Services (p.2).

Remember that water and electricity don’t mix, so always switch off any appliance at the socket before cleaning. l

Toasters should be emptied of crumbs every so often to prevent the risk of fire. l

Try not to overfill the shelves and drawers in the fridge/freezers – these are easily damaged and overfilling them means that the appliance works less effectively.

If things still aren’t able to be resolved, we welcome constructive comments about our facilities and services. If you require a written reply you can write to or email:

Remember to wipe up any spillages in the fridge as soon as possible.

Customer Services, The Edge, The Endcliffe Village, 34 Endcliffe Crescent, Sheffield, S10 3ED

Microwaves

acs-customerservices@shef.ac.uk You’ll receive a response within 13 working days. To find out more about our ‘Compliments and Complaints Procedure’, visit: www.shef.ac.uk/accommodation/ policiesandprocedures.html

The best way to tackle the cleaning is to work together! Your Residential Mentor (see p.10) can help you agree a weekly cleaning rota so that everyone’s clear what their tasks are.

Cleaning and washing up as you go along makes things so much easier than letting everything pile up. l

No-one wants to walk into a grubby bathroom or untidy kitchen, so be considerate to your flatmates and leave communal areas as clean as you’d like to find them. l

To clean the oven, wait for it to cool, remove and wash the shelves and wipe down the sides and bottom of the oven, making sure to remove any spilled or splashed food.

Always wipe down the hob, oven and oven shelves after use – if something is wiped up soon after spillage, it will be much easier to clean.

Here are a few tips to help you keep your accommodation spick and span:

Complaints

If there’s something you’re not happy with, it’s best to speak directly to the team responsible to try and resolve things as soon as possible. You can also contact Customer Services (p.2).

Ok, so it’s not everyone’s idea of fun, but it’s your responsibility to keep your accommodation clean and tidy. Part of your Damage Deposit (see p.5) depends on this, so it’s in your interest to keep on top of things.

Kitchen Equipment

Should be wiped down after every use. l

Contract extensions

Remember, don’t put metal inside your microwave. l

Don’t switch a microwave on with nothing inside. l

Don’t overfill your microwave – as well as being likely to burn your food, it could cause the microwave to break, or at worse, start a fire. l

Depending on where you live, the Housekeeping team may provide a cleaning service from w/c 27 September 2010 onwards: En-suite self-catering: Kitchens, stairs and landings are cleaned every fortnight. En-suite catered: Kitchens, stairs and landings are cleaned once a week.

Shower curtains Need to be taken down and washed occasionally. They can go in the washing machine – why not put yours in when you wash your bedding or towels? Remember to hang them back up to dry if they can’t go in the tumble dryer.

Compliments and complaints

Standard catered: Bathrooms, toilets stairs and landings are cleaned twice a week. Kitchens are cleaned once a week. Standard self-catering: Bathrooms, toilets, kitchens, stairs and landings are cleaned once a fortnight. Houses: No cleaning. 4

If you need to stay in your accommodation after your contract end date, short term contract extensions can sometimes be arranged, subject to availability. For further details, keep checking: www.shef.ac.uk/accommodation/ summervacation

Cooper As in Mini Cooper. Whilst driving any car at University is a luxury, driving a new MINI Cooper will well-and-truly mark you out as the trendy, rich kid. In the case of the original Mini Cooper, you’ll become the cool, retro kid whose car never starts. Probably best to study Mechanical Engineering.

Cycle storage There are plenty of cycle stores in the residences. Depending on where you live, you’ll have a different way to access your store.

Damage Deposit – this cost includes delivery, materials, labour and VAT (there may also be an administrative charge added):

your Mentor will bring when they visit. There’ll also be copies in your bars and cafés, and it’s available online too at www.digsmag.co.uk

Microwave Freezer Drawer Toilet seat Sofa (3 seater) Operator Chair Carpet (bedroom) Wall repaint (mainly caused by blu-tack or sellotape) Cooker hob Oven door Ceiling tile

If you’re a budding photographer or wannabe journalist, or you just have a story to tell about living in University accommodation, we’re always looking for student contributors. Email ruth@ digsmag.co.uk to get involved.

£71 £60 £20 £454 £124 £223 £90 £264 £263 £19

Fire extinguishers If you live in one of the new apartment buildings (e.g. Howden, Laddow) you’ll need to get your key fob activated to give you access to your nearest cycle store. In all other properties (e.g. Stephenson, Broad Lane Court), you’ll need a cycle store key or swipe card. Visit Customer Services at The Edge or The Ridge to activate your key fob or to pick up a key or swipe card. Remember, bikes must not be taken into buildings, flats or rooms. If they’re discovered, they’ll be removed and you’ll need to pay a £25 retrieval fee to get it back. No responsibility will be taken for any damage caused to the bike or any locking device when the bike is moved.

D Damage Deposits

Fire extinguishers, when maliciously used, are also charged for and may result in criminal prosecution. The cost taken from your Damage Deposit for this is approximately £62.50.

Road signs, cones, shopping trolleys If any items of street furniture are found in a building, flat or room then a £25 per item charge will be made against your damage deposit. If it isn’t possible to determine who is responsible, the charge will be made against all residents within the block or flat.

David Dickinson

As well as helping you recycle (p.10), we also want to reduce the amount of energy we use in the residences. We’re part of the national ‘Student Switch Off’ campaign – an energy saving competition between different accommodation blocks. To get involved and for the chance to win some great prizes, sign up to be an ‘Eco-Power Ranger’ at: www.studentswitchoff.org

Digs

Small changes can make a big difference to the impact you have on the environment. Here are some energy saving top tips to help you do your bit for the planet: Switch off lights when you‘re not in the room l

Turn electrical equipment off at the mains rather than leaving them on standby l

At the end of your contract once you’ve moved out, we carry out final Room Inspections (p.10) comparing the condition of the room, fixtures and fittings with your Inventory (p.8).

Here are the ten items which are most often damaged either accidentally or maliciously and the approximate cost which will be deducted from the

Energy and environment

During your time at University, be prepared to watch this man on television far more than you currently feel is appropriate.

When you move into your accommodation, a £150 Damage Deposit will be taken with your first instalment of rent. This will be held until the end of your contract. If there’s any damage to the property throughout the year, you’ll be invoiced for it.

We’ll notify you by email to let you know whether or not any deductions are to be made. This will take approximately eight weeks.

Don’t overfill your kettle – only boil the amount you need l

When cooking on the hob, using a pan lid saves energy l

Don’t leave the tap running when you brush your teeth l

Digs is exclusive to the residences and is your University accommodation bible – it will tell you everything you need to know about life here. Most of you will have received a copy before you arrived, and there’ll be three other issues throughout the year which 5

Try to limit your showers to less than 8 minutes l

If you have a water saving flush on your toilet, use the short flush wherever possible l

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Ey up Common Northern greeting, often followed by the words ‘love’, ‘cock’ or ‘duck’, none of which are intended to offend. Also known as ‘ay up’.

accommodation who have an eatwithUS card.

Ferrets

What is it? The eatwithUS card is our flexible catering offer which gives you a food and drink allowance to spend in all eatwithUS outlets.

Pet of choice for many Yorkshiremen. Beware sharp teeth and any sudden movements towards trouser legs. Not to be confused with whippets (see p.11).

You choose when, where and what you eat, plus you’ll get a 10% discount in The Edge Dining Room, the International Food Court and the specials board in The Ridge Café Bar, with a 5% discount everywhere else.

Feedback and Forums

G Get involved!

The Student COMMUNITIES

We’re always looking for ways to improve our facilities and services to ensure you have the best possible experience whilst living in University accommodation. We really value your feedback to help us to do this, so as well as running our annual Accommodation Survey (see p.3), we hold Forums throughout the year. The Accommodation and Catering Forums take place in both semester one and two and give you the opportunity to meet the teams who manage the accommodation and catering, including the General Managers. It’s really informal, and you can discuss with them any issues you may have about your Community, accommodation, bars and the catering on offer here. Look out for more details of when the Forums will be taking place.

Food and drink

There are fifteen eatwithUS outlets to choose from in the Villages and across campus, so wherever you are, there’s somewhere to get a bite to eat or drink.

Interested in running events, trips and block socials, sports and volunteering? Then be your block social rep! If you’re in catered accommodation, you’ll have already received your eatwithUS card with an allowance of £40 to spend each week. You can also top up to £50 if you’d prefer more to spend. If you’re in self-catering accommodation, it’s worth considering having an eatwithUS card. They’re a great choice for students who aren’t into cooking and whose parents worry about them not eating properly whilst at Uni! Choose from a £30, £40 or £50 allowance per week, for the year or just a term at a time.

Or, have a year in office on your student Community Development Committee (CDC). There’ll be a Community Development Committee in each Community (find out more on p.11) – it’s made up of a group of elected student leaders who represent their fellow residents so that you all having an amazing time! If you’d like to find out more about being your block social rep and getting involved in your CDC, email: communities@shef.ac.uk

Green Routes

Choose from traditional British classics like Fish and Chips in the University Arms, authentic dishes from around the world in the International Food Court, a fresh fruit smoothie in City View Café or a delicious cup of freshly brewed coffee prepared by our Baristas in our many cafés. For more information and to download our ‘Where to eat on campus’ map, visit: www.shef.ac.uk/accommodation/ prospective/food&drink

The eatwithUS card The eatwithUS outlets are open to all, but there are special offers available exclusively to residents of University

To find out more about the eatwithUS card Call: 0114 222 8909 Email: eatwithus@shef.ac.uk 6

There are designated ‘green routes’ linking the Villages with the city. They are well-lit and regularly patrolled by Security and the Police, so we advise you to use them when travelling to and from campus and the city. See the map of the Villages for full details of the green routes.

H Health and Safety

Your welfare is our top priority and our residences conform to all National Health and Safety Guidelines. We are also fully compliant with the Universities UK National Code of Practice (see p.11) which, among other things aims to ensure students live in a safe environment.

How safe is your accommodation? All our accommodation has fire detection systems. l

All kitchens have heat sensors and fire blankets. l

All bedrooms and corridors have smoke sensors. l

Every flat has fire fighting equipment and protected fire evacuation routes. l

Sound the alarm by breaking the glass at the nearest red fire call point.

Call 0114 222 4444 – campus Security who will inform the Fire Brigade.

Report any fire fighting equipment you have used to ACS Customer Services (p.2) so that it can be replaced quickly.

Electrical appliances

Window catches are there for your protection and should not be tampered with. l

lf rise yourse TIP: Familia afety s with the fire ur room and o y ow notices in reas and kn a l a n u m m co cape route. your fire es

Open kitchen windows and turn on the extractor fan. Do NOT wedge kitchen doors open! This will allow cooking fumes and smoke to trigger smoke detectors and increases the risk of a fire spreading.

Your electrical equipment should be compatible with the UK electricity supply and be fitted with a three pin plug with an appropriate fuse. To ensure your safety: Never interfere with electrical equipment or installations. l

If you hear the fire alarm Assume every alarm to be a real fire, not a test.

Leave the building by the nearest available exit.

l Do not use multi-way block adapters (cube type) as these can overheat.

Always use the stairs, never take the lift. l

l Trailing adapters/extension leads are permitted, however, never plug one into another – this is extremely dangerous and one of the main causes of electrical fires.

Make your way to your assembly point – this will be displayed on the fire notices in your accommodation. l

If you discover a fire

Do NOT re-enter the building unless instructed to do so by someone in authority. l

Remember: Get out, stay out, get the Fire Brigade out! l

Stay safe when cooking

Your safety must come first, so only tackle the fire with a fire extinguisher or fire blanket if it is safe to do so. l

If it isn’t safe to tackle, close all doors to stop the fire spreading. l

Never use electrical equipment which is unsafe (e.g. with exposed wires, cracked casings).

According to the fire service, the most common cause of domestic fires is unattended cooking. To ensure you don’t cause a fire in your kitchen: Ensure grill pans are kept clean. l

Keep an eye on your food whilst you're cooking. l

Remember to switch off appliances such as irons and hair straighteners before you go out! l

You can help If you become aware of any potential Health and Safety risks in your accommodation, please contact Customer Services on 0114 222 4488. Risks can include: Trip hazards – particularly on stairwells. l Fire doors that do not close properly. l Damaged or loose glazing. l Out of order door entry systems. l Faulty electrical appliances. l

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Heating controls

John Shuttleworth

Launderettes

Versatile singer/songwriter from Sheffield, South Yorkshire. Responsible for such hits as ‘Pigeons in Flight’, ‘Two Margarines’ and ‘Shopkeepers in the North’. Google him. Oof!

The heating is set to be on between: 6am-10am 4pm-10pm If your radiators feel cold during these times, check on the side dial that it’s turned to the highest setting.

Joining in

If it’s still not warm, the radiator may need bleeding and you’ll need to complete a Maintenance Request (see p.2) to get it fixed.

The Endcliffe Village Crewe Endcliffe Crescent Flats Stephenson The Edge The Ranmoor Village The Ridge

It’s possible to increase or decrease the ventilation in your bedroom by opening or closing the vent at the top of the window if you have one.

Inventories What is an Inventory? Your Inventory is an online form, similar to a multiple choice questionnaire which you need to complete within seven days of your contract start date. You’ll be asked to confirm the condition and presence of items in your accommodation with questions like, “Is your computer chair ok/missing/ damaged/not working?”

Why do I need to complete my Inventory?

Reporting a problem in your Inventory means that it can be resolved and that you won’t be held responsible at a later date. If you don’t report a problem, ACS will have to assume that you caused it and you may be charged out of your Damage Deposit (see p.5). Don’t let that happen – complete your Inventory within seven days!

At just £2 for a wash and £1 for 50 minutes use of the dryer, our launderettes are significantly cheaper than others in the local area. The main launderettes are in the following locations:

Remember, most radiators are controlled by a thermostat which is linked to the outside temperature. So, if it’s too hot, the heating will not come on.

There are a number of great value launderettes in the residences with both washing and drying facilities.

City and Central Campus Broad Lane Court

Lifts Living in University accommodation gives you loads of opportunities to join in and try new things. Ever fancied volunteering? Being the lead singer of a band? Learning to ice skate? Well now you can! Best of all, joining in can be a great way to meet new people and make new friends. Find out about all the activities and events organised exclusively for residents of University accommodation on p.3.

Please note lifts will be switched off between 11pm and 7am to prevent excessive noise in the apartments.

London Small town to the south of Sheffield. A little bit like Barnsley, apparently.

Keys and swipecards Try and look after them - and don’t lock yourself out! If you do lose your keys or swipe card, you’ll be charged up front for them to be replaced - £10 per swipe card and £20 per key which will be refunded if the original is returned with seven days. Customer Services (p.2) deal with lost keys, so contact them if you need a replacement.

M Money worries If you’re having financial difficulties or are concerned about being able to pay your rent, help is available. Visit the Income Office at level 6, University House or email them at: residencefees @shef.ac.uk

N Not happy? University can be a stressful time for many students and if you’re not happy, there are lots of people around to listen and to help. Your first point of contact should be your Residential Mentor (p.10) who is trained to provide advice and support. There’s also the Union run Nightline (p.2). If you’re not happy in your accommodation, after four weeks you can apply to transfer to alternative University accommodation, subject to availability, by picking up a form from Customer Services or propertywithUS (p.2).

O Our lovely countryside

www.shef.ac.uk/cics/ roomandparking If you live in City and Central Campus accommodation, there is no University parking available and you’ll have to make your own parking arrangements if you choose to bring a car to Sheffield.

Policies and Procedures For details of all our Policies and Procedures, including our Advertising Policy, Compliments and Complaints Procedure (see p.4 for more details), Room Booking Policy and the ACS Organisational Structure, visit: www.shef.ac.uk/accommodation/ policiesandprocedures

Post

Many postgraduate residents choose to work as Residential Mentors (see p.10), to help and support other students living in University accommodation. Being a Mentor is a great opportunity to gain some varied work experience in a role designed to fit around your studies – and of course, it helps pay your rent too! Residential Mentor roles are advertised via the Student Job Shop, so keep an eye out on their website for details of any vacancies at www.shef.ac.uk/ careers/students/jobs To find out more about postgraduate accommodation, visit www.shef.ac.uk/ accommodation/prospective/ postgrad

Letters You should arrange for letters to be delivered to you at your accommodation, as there are letter boxes for each property.

Q Quiet time

Packages and parcels Sheffield is right on the doorstep of the Peak District. Make sure you don’t leave Sheffield without visitng this beautiful and breathtaking part of the country.

For the majority of accommodation, we aren’t able to accept packages and parcels on your behalf and you’ll have to make your own arrangements for delivery. Customer Services are, however, able to accept packages and parcels at The Edge for residents of Halifax and Stephenson in The Endcliffe Village. This is because there is no way for postal staff to contact or access the individual flats in order to be able to deliver the parcel.

Parking Parking in and around the residences is very limited and we don’t recommend that you bring a car with you to Sheffield. The accommodation is all within walking distance of campus and has good public transport links – find out more on p.10. If you live in The Endcliffe or Ranmoor Villages, you can apply for a Category R parking permit although this does not guarantee you a space. Apply for a Category R permit at:

Moving Out All post that is received once residents have moved out is returned to sender so you’ll need to inform the Post Office of your new address to ensure that you receive it.

Postgraduate accommodation More and more postgraduates are now choosing to live in University accommodation whilst they complete their studies. There are properties reserved just for postgraduates which tend to be in quieter locations and they’re great value too. 9

Ssshhhhh! Between 11pm and 7am, it’s Quiet Time in the residences. We know that most of the time, excessive noise isn’t purposely antisocial, but it can still be disruptive. So, singing along to your favourite Glee tracks at 2am may be fun for you, but isn’t so fun for your neighbour trying to sleep next door! It’s particularly important that you keep the noise down during Quiet Time, but remember that excessive noise at any time of day isn’t acceptable either. Find out more in the ‘Staying up? Keep it down’ and ‘Exams’ section on p.10 & 11. Quiet Time is enforced by your Residential Mentors (p.10) and the Security team (p.2), so contact them if you have a persistent problem with a neighbour. If you’re the culprit, you could end up facing disciplinary action.

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R Recycling

So, whether you’re feeling homesick, are struggling with your course, having an issue with a flatmate or you just want someone to talk to, your Residential Mentor can help. You’ll get to meet your personal Mentor at your Block Welcome over Intro Week (see p.11) and they’ll come and visit you every fortnight to see how you’re doing.

l l l l l

Your new home! Well done for making a great choice. Sheffield is scientifically proven to be better than Leeds, Manchester and Birmingham. Fact.

Room inspections

Good

Cans Plastic Paper Card Glass

As well as general waste, some kitchens have recycling bins for paper, card, tin and glass. It’s your responsibility to empty the bins regularly, and ensure they don’t get too full.

Ugly! Each term, your room will be inspected by a member of our Housekeeping team to make sure it’s being kept clean and tidy.

Twice a year, at the end of the first semester and at the end of the academic year, the Communities team will be running a ‘Bring it, don’t bin it’ campaign where you will be able to donate unwanted items such as clothing, crockery, bedding and unopened toiletries to charity. Last year, residents collected over a tonne – equivalent to the weight of a large polar bear! Let’s see if you can beat that this year and collect the weight of an African Elephant...

Resident Support When you live in University accommodation, there’s a Resident Support team made up of 88 Residential Mentors. They’re students like you who live in the residences and are trained to offer welfare support and advice if you need it.

T Travel and transport

Bad

See ‘Bin Collection’ on p.3 for more information.

Bring it, don’t bin it

Find out more in the ‘Quiet Time’ and “Exams’ sections on p.9 & 11.

Sheffield

There’s a duty Mentor available each evening too, so there’s always someone around if you want them.

There are many environmental benefits to recycling which is why we provide plenty of opportunities to recycle in the residences. In most locations, you can recycle:

Remember to be considerate of all your neighbours both in your accommodation (such as when playing music or watching TV) or when travelling around the local area, particularly late at night.

You’ll be informed in advance of when this will be so you’ll have time to prepare. If it’s not in a good enough condition and you fail the inspection, you’ll have a week to put it right. If it’s still not up to standard, we’ll send in cleaners to sort it out – which you’ll have to pay for (see p.5). Please note that photographs may be taken of rooms being inspected.

S Staying up? Keep it down. You’re not just part of your student community, but the wider Sheffield community too. 10

All the accommodation is conveniently located within walking distance of campus and on good public transport routes. We recommend walking or cycling to and from lectures as a great way to keep fit and help do you bit for the environment – and best of all, they’re free! For information about bus routes and timetables, visit: www.travelsouthyorkshire.com

Trim Trail There’s a Trim Trail available for all residents of University accommodation, so there’s no excuse not to keep fit! It snakes its way around The Endcliffe Village and includes parallel bars, bunny hop posts and chin up bars.

University Health Service

Welcome

The University Health Service is an NHS General Practice which offers full GP services to all students at the University of Sheffield.

It’s really important that during exam times you remember to keep the noise down and not disturb other residents who may be revising or trying to get some sleep before a big exam. In addition to the standard Quiet Times (see p.9), during exams there’s a Quiet Period in place across the residences which means you should keep noise to a minimum 24 hours a day.

Call: 0114 222 2100 Email: health.service@shef.ac.uk In person: 53 Gell Street, S3 7QP

The Quiet Periods are:

Universities UK Code of Practice

Semester one 17 January to 4 February 2011

All University accommodation complies with the regulations set by the Universities (UUK) Code of Practice for the Management of Student Housing.

Semester two 23 May to 10 June 2011 For related information, see ‘Staying up? Keep it down’ on p.10.

This code ensures that residents benefit from clear policies and procedures relating to the following subjects: Health and Safety Maintenance and repairs Landlord and tenant relationship Student welfare Antisocial behaviour and disciplinary procedures l Environmental Quality l l l l l

Further information about the code can be found at www.uukcode.info Please note that our Partnership accommodation providers Opal 2 are subject to the ANUK Code which is a similar code for large Landlords. Information about this code can be found at www.anuk.org.uk

Useful contacts For a comprehensive list of useful contacts during your time in University accommodation, see p.2.

During the first couple of weeks of term, you’ll be invited to your Block Welcome. These are a great opportunity to get to know your Residential Mentors, the Communities team and perhaps most importantly, the other residents in your block. For full details of when your Block Welcome is, check out p.6 of the September issue of Digs magazine. If you haven’t got the copy that was sent to you before you arrived, take a look online at www.digsmag.co.uk. Find out more about Digs on p.5.

Your Student Community You’re a part of a Student Community which means there are lots of events and activities (see p.3) for you to get involved in. These are a great way to meet new people and make the most of student life. Find out how to get involved and get in touch with the Communities team on p.2.

Whippets Another popular pet in Yorkshire, the whippet is a quiet and gentle dog. Because of their friendly nature, whippets are known to have been used in old people’s homes. Not to be confused with ferrets (p.6).

Vacating your room When vacating your accommodation, you’ll need to be out of your room by 10am on your contract end date.

X Exams Ok, so this is cheating a bit, but for now, X is for eXams! 11

Z Zzzz... Studying hard, meeting new people and experiencing new things can be tiring. Look after yourself and get some sleep!

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N o p q r s t u v w x y z