Halls staff accommodate Vice-Chancellor

Friday, 23 March 2012

Vice-Chancellor Sir David Bell (right) is shown a student bedroom in Stenton Hall, with UPP Chief Executive Officer Sean O'Shea

As part of his initial series of campus visits, the Vice-Chancellor has toured some of the University's student accommodation in the company of senior UPP and University staff. He also met Reading UPP residences staff, many of whom joined UPP from the University under the terms of the halls transfer agreement

All of the University's accommodation, along with some members of University staff, transferred to UPP on 9 January 2012. Under the terms of the long-term partnership agreement, UPP manage and operate the majority of University accommodation as well as the University accommodation office.

The agreement, valued at approximately £200 million, sees UPP taking on responsibility for the University halls of residence development programme, freeing up the University's capacity to invest in current and future academic developments and other student support.

Sir David Bell visited a diverse range of halls, including Wantage, St Patrick's and Stenton, and received an update on how the partnership was working so far. He also heard about the student experience in halls from current students, and was taken to see the progress of the Childs Hall development, which is due to take its first students in the autumn term.

UPP now provide all management services for student accommodation, while the University have retained responsibility for the provision of student welfare and pastoral matters, grounds maintenance, security and IT, as well as running the catering in halls and bars.

During the transfer, the University was keen to ensure a sense of continuity, and staff are confident that students living in halls will not have noticed a difference since they returned after the Christmas vacation.

Part of this smooth transition is thanks to Karen Thomas, who is employed by the University as the Contract Relationship Manager. Karen is the main point of contact between the University and UPP, and it is her responsibility to ensure that UPP meet all of the terms in the complex contract between the two parties.

She said: "Understandably, we have had to iron out some initial teething problems, but UPP are doing everything they can to get it right and the partnership, to date, is working well. I have been and will continue to forge close working relationships with the Students' Union, hall wardens and student groups to maintain the positive working relationship between the University and UPP to ensure that our students receive the best possible service."

University staff with questions regarding accommodation and the partnership with UPP can contact Karen on k.l.thomas@reading.ac.uk. For emergency halls queries, contact the UPP Halls Hotline on 0118 378 7777.