Welcome to your weekly email from your Students’ Union. We hope you are all doing okay during this stressful time. Your SU is here for you so keep in touch.
All updates regarding NUI Galway and Coronavirus will be published HERE
Please read this page carefully for updates regarding lectures, exams and assignments and keep an eye on your student email and blackboard. If you have any queries regarding academic issues please contact Cameron on su.education@nuigalway.ie
Student Accommodation and Housing
The USI, the SU and the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) encourage all student tenants to engage in early and open communications with their landlords regarding any potential issues within a tenancy at this time, particularly in relation to rent payments. The RTB encourages everyone to use its online services where possible during this time. Students living in digs accommodation have very few legal protections. USI is raising this issue with the Department of Housing and Local Government and will continue to lobby to ensure any student affected is supported. Contact Brandon on su.welfare@nuigalway.ie with any housing issues you might have.
Mind Your Mind!
Minding your mental health is critical during this time. This will be a difficult time for many so we encourage you to try to keep to a routine with study, food and exercise and check in with friends and family using social media, the phone or other online platforms. If you are feeling anxious please reach out for support through the following channels:
- Text SPUNOUT to 086 1800 280 for 24/7 support anytime/anywhere.
- HSE www.yourmentalhealth.ie
- LGBT Ireland Helpline: 1890 929 539 info@lgbt.ie or online chat at lgbt.ie
- Rape Crisis Helpline: 1800 77 8888 or counselling@rcc.ie
- Samaritans: 116 123 or jo@samaritans.ie
- The Chaplaincy Service is available to support students and staff remotely during normal working hours ben.hughes@nuigalway.ie
- NUI Galway Student Counselling is continuing to operate, remotely online or by phone email counselling@nuigalway.ie
COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment
COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment is a new social welfare payment for employees and self-employed people who are unemployed or who have their hours of work reduced during the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. This includes people who have been put on part-time or casual work. You can apply for the payment if you are aged between 18 and 66 and have lost employment due to the coronavirus restrictions. Students can apply for the payment.
Read the latest issue of Sin newspaper online HERE for all your NUI Galway news.
The Party’s On Hold
In line with Government advice we are urging students not to hold or attend house parties. We know how important it is to students to stay connected especially as many are away from home so our advice is to stay connected but stay distant.
Keeping Active
- Cultivate an exercise routine (preferably with a dose of fresh air or bodyweight exercises)
- Preserve sleep routine and hygiene (decrease screen time 30 min prior to bedtimes)
- Maintain healthy eating and adequate hydration
- Incorporate basic mobility practice such as yoga
Academic Skills Team
The Academic Skills Team are available to help, if possible over the next 2 weeks. Contact them on academicskills@nuigalway.ie if you have a query and they will do their best to help.
Lockers
We won’t be emptying out any lockers during the campus shutdown. As soon as campus is accessible again you can retrieve items from your locker.
Academic Writing Centre open for Online Appointments
For the next two weeks, the AWC will provide distance appointments. Appointments can be made 1 day in advance. To book, email awctutors@gmail.com stating your student number and availability. One of our tutors will get back to you to arrange an appointment.
Online Library services available during Library closure
The Library is closed until further notice due to the Coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak. The following gives information on contacting the Library and accessing online Library services during the closure: https://library.nuigalway.ie/usingthelibrary/onlineservices/
Fines will be suspended for books due back during the library closure.
Calling all Class Reps!
Now is our chance to thank you for helping out all year long with the NUI Galway Award from the President for Volunteering. Thank you for your contribution as a Class Rep – we couldn’t do it without your help all year long. You make it possible for everyone to engage and benefit from the Class Rep mission. To thank you – we invite you to log your contribution online and receive the NUI Galway President’s Award for Volunteering. This award goes on your permanent record from NUI Galway when you graduate. Log in with your student ID and password and fill in the “Presidents Award” one page reflection. Deadline: Friday 27th March. Login: https://yourspace.nuigalway.ie Questions: alive@nuigalway.ie
This Week’s Marchathon Competitions
- Photo competition – win Marchathon Goody Packs this week
For this week’s photo competition, we would like you to send us photos showing the Best of Ireland. It could be the sunrise from your kitchen window or a particularly nice scenery shot. Submit your photo by 2pm on Monday 23rd March to be in with a chance to win.
- Virtual Challenge
As it is St. Patrick’s Day this week, we’ll continue our journey in Northern Ireland where the Saint Patrick’s Way is located. This signed walking trail connects key sites relating to Saint Patrick and Christian Heritage. We’ll start in Warrenpoint and we’ll walk via the Mourne Mountains to St Patrick’s Country and Downpatrick near where the Patron Saint established his first church and where he was later laid to rest. The distance covered on this part of the way, 53 kilometres, gives a daily goal of 10,000 steps per person. If your team achieves a daily average of 10,000 steps or more wherever you are in the country, your team will be entered into a draw to win Goody Packs. Don’t forget to register your steps before 2pm each Monday!
Remember to keep the steps up but use social distancing when you are out.
Connecting Minds – student mental health event is still going ahead!
The event is still taking place on March 26th, it will be taking place online using a platform called ZOOM from 10am – 12pm / 1pm
Main topics we will be discussing is: 1. USI Mental health strategy 2. National strategy for suicide prevention in third level. Please register at the link here and spread the word
Research Project on the Irish Language
For my master’s thesis I’m looking for Irish students with all levels language proficiency in Irish – participants can receive a €50 amazon gift card. More information here: https://imgur.com/abBnu28
TV Presenter Needed
Meangadh Fíbín are in search of a Presenter for a new series about the environment for a show called “Timpeall Orainn” for Cúla 4, TG4. We would like to hear from people between the age of 20-30, who have Fluent Irish and plenty of confidence presenting in front of camera. (If you’ve an interest in this topic, even better again but DON’T refrain from sending us in your Showreel even if you don’t). If you are interested, please send a short video between 1-2mins introducing yourself and telling us about your interest in this particular subject.
Send video clip on WhatsApp to 085 138 9582 Or email fionafibinmedia@gmail.com
Call for Young People to Join EYE on the Edge
Galway 2020 is putting together a small group of young people who will support the development of an exciting new project happening this September called EYE on the Edge. This 2 day festival will take place at NUIG.
Closing date for applications 20th March. If you are aged between 18 and 30 and are interested in where we are heading in the world and have something to say about it then we want to hear from you.
Contact Us
You can contact the Students’ Union by email to studentsunion@nuigalway.ie with any questions you may have.
