DCUSU NEWSLETTER - SEMESTER ONE WEEK FOUR
Hello all!
We’ve made it to Week 4, congratulations! It’s been a busy couple of weeks. I hope you are all looking after yourselves and checking in with your friends!
We know this time can be challenging as we begin lockdown 2.0, just know your SU Team is still working very hard for you and will continue to do so! If you are struggling at the moment or just not sure about something, please reach out to any of your DCUSU Team, we'll always do our very best to help you. You can also find more information on support available here.
In regards to how DCU Campus will be operating during Level 5 restrictions, DCU will continue to operate as it has been for the next six weeks. Click here for more information.
We’ve received a huge amount of nominations for this year’s Class Rep Elections. Thank you so much to everyone who put themselves forward and best of luck to everyone taking part in elections! Elections will begin on Tuesday from 9am until Wednesday at 5pm on Loop. Please email dylan@dcusu.ie for more information.
The deadline for deferring the year or withdrawing from University is this Friday, October 30th. If you withdraw before October 30th, you will be refunded the fees, if you defer the year a place will be held until Autumn 2021 for you. Please contact student.support@dcu.ie to explore your options. If you need more information, email lucien@dcusu.ie.
Please be sound when you are booking a spot in the library - if you can't make it, please cancel so someone else can make use of the spot!
Make sure to keep in touch with us here in the Students' Union, we are here to help!
Contact your team here:
President - Fearghal@dcusu.ie
VP for Academic Affairs - Lucien@dcusu.ie
VP for Education and Placement - Chloe@dcusu.ie
VP for Engagement and Development - Dylan@dcusu.ie
VP for Welfare and Equality - Dean@dcusu.ie
Learn more about the full SU team who are here to represent you!
Head to the 'Welcome 2020' section of our website for all the information you might need!
As always,
Keep safe, be nice and let’s look after each other,
Fearghal
DCUSU President
CLUBS AND SOCS
Join DCU Clubs & Societies - one of the best decisions you will make while in DCU! Here is a list of our 140+ Clubs and Societies. Click on each one to find out more. Make an account on our Clubs and Socs system to register so you can join as many Clubs and Socs as you'd like!
Check out all of the events our Clubs and Societies have on next week here. There are plenty of opportunities to get involved!
CLASS REPS
FIRST YEAR ELECTIONS
First Year Class Rep Elections will take place from Tuesday the 27th at 9am to Wednesday the 28th Otober at 5pm on Loop.
Keep an eye on your emails for more information!
Who is my Class Rep?
Check out our Class Rep Hub to find your Class Rep. Don't worry if your class doesn't have a rep, elections are ongoing and this list will be continually updated. Stay tuned!
Got any questions? Pop Dylan@dcusu.ie an email!
HELPFUL INFORMATION
Withdrawing/Deferral: Friday Oct 30 is the deadline for withdrawing from the University without forfeiting your ‘free fees’, which you will only receive once. Therefore it'll be cheaper for you to re-enrol in University in a future year. It's also the deadline for deferring your academic year if you'd like to sit this year out and come back in Autumn 2021.
Accommodation: DCUSU have met with Campus Res to discuss life on campus during Level 5 (including refunds). Please get in touch with dean@dcusu.ie if you are struggling with your time in Campus Res. A reminder to keep yourselves safe and not have guests in your accommodation.
Sexual Health: Free STI services are still running during level 5. Locations of centres across the country. More information including how to get free condoms by post. Free pregnancy tests here.
Black Students & Students of Colour Advisory Group: The Advisory Group met for the first time on Fri (23rd Oct). Please email dean@dcusu.ie if you’d like to join.
Harm Reduction: We have sent out all orders of drug-purity testing kits. Available here. A reminder that students seeking addiction help or medical intervention for overdose can do so without prosecution, even during COVID-19.
GP Services: The Health Centre in DCU is operating via telephone (01 7005143) or email (healthservices@dcu.ie). There are many GPs linked with DCU who offer discounts for students. Information here.
Mental Health: Students can always free text ‘HELLO’ to 50808 to be connected with a trained counsellor. More mental health information including free DCU Counselling here.
Most textbooks and readings for your course will be available through the library, but if you need to buy a textbook, check out our DCU Book Fair group on Facebook where students swap and sell used textbooks.
School Placement: If you are sourcing a school for placement, keep track of the schools you have contacted. If the deadline is soon and you are struggling to find a school, you can contact the School Placement Office and include this log.
Academic Support: If you’re struggling with essay writing, maths or any other element of learning, check out the Student Learning section of DCU’s website for a variety of support.
The DCU Little Things are 10 key messages around the little things you can do every day to support your own or a friend's mental health and wellbeing. These messages are based on feedback from you, a real DCU student!
This week's message is:
Make a cup of tea when you're feeling stressed. Organise a cup of tea virtually with your friends!
Each week we will share a DCU Little Things message across DCUSU and DCU Healthy social media platforms. We hope these messages encourage you to do the little things to support your wellbeing as we start a new semester in an uncertain time.
MY DCU - Student Experience Hub!
My DCU is your student experience hub on Loop, for all DCU students. See some of the great features of My DCU below:ASK - use the chat button to link in with the Student Advice Centre or to make an appointment with a Student Adviser Events and Workshops - check out the listing of upcoming events by theme News and Newsletters - important updates from SS&D and the OSLDEVELOP - a link to a wide range of digital resources 24/7 in one place My Virtual Neighbourhood - forums to link in with other students in your countyMy Wellbeing Space - a chill out space, with a monthly newsletter full of wellbeing activities from DCU Healthy and the SUOrientation resources - for any students who want to revisit these materialsAll students have now been enrolled on the My DCU hub so check it out today!
Have you engaged in First Year Check-in at DCU?
Over 250 of our first-year students have already downloaded the app - getting involved is easy, just go to your app store (Android OR IOS) and search for AthenaCX
Once downloaded, you can participate in short weekly app-based surveys focusing on how you are adjusting to university life around three key areas of self-confidence, belongingness and engagement. You can also monitor your weekly scores through the app and see how you are progressing from week to week. Your individual scores are confidential, but DCU will use the collective weekly data to provide you with suggestions around ways to improve your level of self-confidence, belongingness and engagement for a more enhanced first-year experience.
Further information and weekly updates are available through your My DCU portal.
Queries relating to the Student Experience should be directed to studentsupport@dcu.ie and technical queries to celine.heffernan@dcu.ie
Check out our Student Leap Card Service here.
DCU Clubs & Socs!
Do you have a TikTok account? You can share your videos on DCU's Official TikTok account. Send your videos to socialmedia@dcu.ie or DM them to DCU's Instagram account - @dublincityuniversity
UPCOMING EVENTS
Make sure to keep an eye on our social media for upcoming events throughout the week!
Mindfulness - 4-week Lunchtime Course
'Mindfulness is a way of befriending ourselves and our experience.'
Starts Tuesday October 27th, 1.00 - 2.00 pm
Free for all DCU students
A certificate will be given to students who attend all four sessions
Registration for each session is required
Click here for more information
DCU TEACHING ENHANCEMENT UNIT
TIP OF THE WEEK
For the audio version of this text, click here
For the plain text version, click here