From the very first days of lockdown, in addition to ensuring educational continuity, the teams at Université Côte d’Azur were determined to maintain a connection with the student community.
The initial focus was naturally on health, social, and psychological issues. The objective was simple: ensure no student was left isolated or struggling.
In total, over €180,000 have already been allocated and mobilized by Université Côte d’Azur and its Foundation to support students during the lockdown.
Health: liberal doctors available for students
A network of around fifty partner liberal doctors with UCA has been activated: students can contact them throughout the lockdown period without paying any upfront fees. Université Côte d’Azur is using its CVEC credits (student and campus life contribution) to cover the payment of fees for students without social security benefits.
Social: a shared emergency aid commission and meal baskets
A joint effort led with CROUS and unprecedented coordination has been established: a shared emergency aid commission to address present difficulties. The main targets are food aid, compensating for the loss of internships, and student jobs due to the lockdown. The usual budgets have been increased by €70,000 by Université Côte d’Azur.
Université Côte d’Azur and CROUS are also involved in the meal basket distribution initiative led by the City of Nice and student associations, enabling disadvantaged students to receive balanced meal baskets with unprocessed foods from local producers.
Psychological Support: a listening and support pathway
In addition to the university teams mobilized all year round, the BAPU (university psychological aid office) has supplemented and reinforced its listening and support pathway. BAPU supports the increased activity alongside the University to ensure that no student is left in psychological distress during this unique period, which can exacerbate isolation.
100 computers delivered to the most disadvantaged and connectivity aid to combat the digital divide
One of the largest projects began with an identification campaign launched via SMS to 28,000 students. After nearly 2,000 phone calls, more than a hundred computers were delivered by the Université Côte d’Azur services to students’ homes throughout the region.
Support from the Université Côte d’Azur Foundation and its generous donors enabled the acquisition of 100 computers in record time. This achievement signifies the Foundation’s ability to convince its donors of the validity of its actions.
Simultaneously, 35 students without internet access and facing social difficulties received 4G keys delivered to their homes. Another 200 students with poor quality connections were offered a subsidy to upgrade their connection with their mobile operator. Thus, over 300 students have been assisted. This initiative will help minimize issues during exam sessions and, more importantly, combat the increased isolation that can result from the digital divide.
Sport: more than 70 content items offered since the start of the lockdown
The benefits of physical activity at home during this confinement period were evident at a university that houses the HEALTHY University Research School: Ecosystems of Health Sciences, with research and education on the STAPS campus – Sports Sciences focused on the physiological and psychological effects and benefits of physical activities. One can be pleased that the over 70 fitness and weightlifting content items (“live” and programs) published by the very dynamic “UCA SPORT” sports service have already reached over 81,200 views.
Cultural Chronicles offered by UCARTS
Nearly 300 students were able to enjoy and interact with the 14 chronicles that allow for the discovery or rediscovery of musical, literary, or cinematographic content. These contents, offered by the UCARTS team, are part of a new Culture and Society strategy at Université Côte d’Azur, which boasts a College of Art Schools.
To combat boredom and make good use of this period, an exclusive #UCACHEZMOI page was created, listing the proposed contents: sports, cultural, cooking, eco-friendly DIY, chess tournaments with UCA Chest, UNIsson program by Invent@UCA and LUMIA, …
