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.
Chaplaincy Exam Stress Helpline
If you have any exam stress you can contact the Chaplaincy Support staff who will be running Exam Stress helpline services throughout the exams Mon-Fri 8.30am-5.30pm from Tues 21st of April to Fri 15th May.
- Phone: 091 497 999
- Text/International Call: +353 89 462 3763
- Email/Video Call: examstress@nuigalway.ie
Tips for Looking After Yourself During Exams
- Don’t isolate yourself – Exam time can be very lonely especially now we are all self-isolating. Try to make a conscious effort to arrange online meet ups, phone calls or Facetime with friends, or plan something nice at the end of a day of study with others like taking a free exercise class over Zoom. Cutting yourself off from the world is not a good idea.
- Don’t be a hero – Surviving on 2 hours sleep and 7 cans of red bull is not the way the human body was meant to function. Schedule in some breaks and exercise during your day – a 30 minute walk in your 2km radius can work wonders.
- Eat regularly – You don’t have to eat like a nutritionist, but eating three meals a day and getting in some healthy snacks will keep you on track. Food fuels your body, so if you’re constantly eating junk you won’t feel great.
- Sleep regularly – Many people completely change their sleep patterns during exam time. If you can, try to fit in 7-8 hours’ sleep and follow a routine.
- Stay hydrated – Water is your friend!
- Ask for help if you need it
• Student Health Unit
• NUIG Counselling Service
• Chaplains
• SU Education Officer
• SU Welfare & Equality Officer
Student Health Unit Update
The NUIG Student Health Unit is continuing to operate and provide services to students albeit in a different manner. At present there is no longer a “walk-in” service – instead they are endeavouring to provide remote consultations for health advice/support and prescriptions. This applies to all health issues/complaints including COVID-19. For a very limited number of issues/conditions they can attempt to provide face-to-face consultations under very strict protocols.
If you need to contact them regarding any health concerns, prescription requests, blood tests, STI screening or vaccinations please phone 091 494 337 or 083 325 0034 Mon-Fri 9.15am-12.30pm & 2.30pm-4.30pm. If you can’t reach them by phone email healthunit@nuigalway.ie to arrange a call back.
Disability Supports During Exams
The NUI Galway Disability Support Service (DSS) has put together a list of FAQs for students registered with them with regards to reasonable accommodations for the upcoming end of semester assessments/exams.
Academic Writing Centre Still Open
The Academic Writing Centre is still open for email appointments to help you with essay writing. Get in touch with them at awctutors@gmail.com
The emergency hardship financial aid fund has now been extended and is open to ALL NUI Galway students (including international students) who are affected by the COVID19 crisis. For support from the Fund email una.mcdermott@nuigalway.ie or phone and leave a message on 091 495 282.
Frequently Asked Questions
NUI Galway have put together a handy FAQ page for your queries here.
The Library wants your feedback for their annual LibQUAL Survey. Please click HERE so you can tell them areas they can improve on. You can also optionally leave your name and email address to enter a draw for a Samsung phone.
Online Wellness Resilience Training
The University is running free online 45 minute workshops 21st – 30th April including:
- Wellness Workshops: Working individually on aspects of resilience. Reflecting on the experience if you wish to. Mindfulness exercises. Self-Compassion and Self Care.
- Time Management: How to get control of your time and life. Get the important tasks done. Practical tools to work smarter, not harder. Have more time for the people & things you enjoy.
- Responding (not reacting) to Exam Anxiety: Understanding the physiology behind anxiety. Experience self-awareness strategies that undermine anxiety. Explore which ‘grounding’ techniques might work best for you.
You can just listen or join in any group discussion. Register online for the time/day that suits you here.
For more info email: resilience@nuigalway.ie
- Finding Information for your essay/assignment
- Finding Material on your Reading Lists
- Managing References
- Using EndNote
- Academic Writing
- Literature/Systematic Reviews
- Open Access Publishing
- Research Data Management
- Archives
- Special Collections
Contact library@nuigalway.ie for help!
Well done to the 125 NUI Galway societies and their 11,792 members on another great year which included 3,154 society events! They held their annual awards virtually and it includes some great highlights from the year. Watch it here.
Hoax/Phishing Emails
There has been an increase in the number of hoax and phishing emails in circulation – these are emails which attempt to trick you into providing account login details or financial/banking information. You are asked to be extra vigilant and cautious when you receive an email of this nature, including those that seem to come from a trusted source. If you receive a suspicious message asking for your account details or financial information please forward it to phishing@nuigalway.ie
If you believe you have already replied to emails of this nature or clicked on a web link within an email and provided your password, you must reset your Campus Account password online at https://cass.nuigalway.ie
Female Students Needed for Survey
If you are a female college student, under 25, who has not previously had a smear test, and would like to participate in MSc research on factors affecting intentions to attend cervical cancer screening, please fill out this survey here.
Upcoming Webinars
- 4pm-5pm TODAY Thurs 23rd April The Moore Institute NUI Galway is hosting a webinar on “Data, Ethics and the COVID-19 Crisis”
- 6pm-7pm Mon 27th April STAND & USI are hosting a webinar “What does COVID-19 mean for sustainability?”
- 6pm-7pm Weds 29th April USI are hosting a webinar “Practical self-care tips for Positive Mental Health”
Discounts & Free Courses
Thanks to USI’s partnership with SIPTU NUI Galway students now have access to a new benefits website packed with discounts and educational courses completely free of charge. Login at siptu.group-login.com
Applications are now open for SUSI grants for the 2020/21 academic year
More info and online application here.
Postgraduate Student Tips
Here’s some advice from the Union of Students in Ireland to postgraduate students for studying and staying connected during the COVID-19 Crisis. Watch video here.
Are you a student working in any essential service during the COVID-19 pandemic?
The Union of Students in Ireland is launching a campaign to raise awareness and thank students working on the frontline and they want to hear from you! Fill out your details here:
LIFT are running free online leadership training sessions for everyone! In each session participants work through a proven process to think about leadership values, what they mean to us and how we could strengthen them. This is done by connecting a small group through Zoom and working through a LIFT leadership trait such as Positive Attitude, Determination, or Resilience. Sessions run every day 6 times a day – you just pick a time that suits and build your leadership muscle! More info and online booking here.
Win €10,000 Worth of Student Accommodation
Exit Entry thought given the current circumstances students and families needed a lift and they want to give one student a massive prize. They will pay one students rent for the next academic year starting from September of up to €10,000!
- Download the Exit Entry App and register
- Click on the competition post when you land in the app.
- On Instagram – Follow Exit Entry App, tag 3 friends and add this post to your story.
Contact Us
You can contact the Students’ Union by email to studentsunion@nuigalway.ie with any questions you may have.
