Back to College FAQ's

If students feel unwell and have symptoms of COVID-19 you should stay at home, self-isolate and telephone your GP, the Student Health Unit (0429370245) or the HSE (1850 241 850). If the student is already on campus, they should make efforts to self-isolate immediately by either going home or (where this is not possible) they  should make use of the self-isolation room (located in the Student Function Room (Old College Bar) located in the Faulkner Building. Please follow the instructions included in this flow-chart.

• Please remain at home, do not come into the Institute.
• Stay calm. If you have a temperature take Paracetamol. Rest in bed and take plenty of fluids.
• Self isolate. Please see Self-Isolation and Self-Quarantine for advice on how to do this.
• Please telephone your own GP to discuss your symptoms. If a Covid-19 test is required your GP will organise the test for you. Do not attend your GP in person.
• If you have no GP please contact the Student Health Unit on +353 (0)42 9370245. You will be triaged by telephone and a Covid-19 test will be organised for you. Do not go to the Health Unit in person.

• Please telephone your own GP to discuss your symptoms. If a Covid-19 test is required your GP will organise the test for you. Do not attend your GP in person.
• If you have no GP please contact the Student Health Unit on 042 9370245. You will be triaged by telephone and a Covid-19 test will be organised for you. Do not go to the Health Unit in person.
• Please follow the HSE guidelines for Self-Isolation and Self-Quarantine.

• When a person is confirmed as being positive for Covid-19 they will be contacted by a member of the HSE testing/tracing team.  Guidance will be given by them. For further information see the latest guidelines from HSE.

• Please inform a member of staff or contact the Student Health Unit by email on healthunit@dkit.ie.

• You will only be contacted by the HSE  testing/tracing team in the event of you being in close contact with a confirmed case of Covid-19.

• The Insitute is strongly recommending that all students and staff members download and use the COVID Tracker app. COVID Tracker is a free app for your mobile phone. It will help us to protect each other and slow the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) in Ireland.
• All contact tracing is carried out by personnel from the HSE testing/tracing team.

• We expect all students  adhere to official government public health advice and safety guidelines in the context of COVID-19 restrictions, including those related to social distancing and the use of PPE.  
• DkIT is strongly recommending that students and staff use face coverings when possible while on campus. Students should bring their own face coverings when attending DkIT.
• Risk assessments have been carried out to evaluate all teaching activities. You will be advised what additional PPE may be required for your individual programmes.
• It is important to note that we all have a personal responsibility to ensure good respiratory and hand hygiene when returning to campus, along with practising social distancing inside and outside of campus life.

• Signing in and out of campus may be required for contact tracing purposes. We will primarily be using timetables and class attendance lists to assist us in monitoring the presence of students on campus. Further details around this process are currently being developed.

Yes, wearing of face coverings is now mandatory while on campus. DkIT students and staff must use face coverings when possible while on campus. Students should bring their own face coverings when attending DkIT.

• Read HSE Guidelines on Face Coverings

Face masks are now mandatory in all public circulation spaces while on campus. In general DkIT is strongly recommending the use of face-masks over the use of visors.

If you find it difficult to wear a cloth face covering, it's okay to wear a full face visor or face shield instead. They are not as good as wearing a face covering, but you'll still get some level of protection.

The visor should wrap around the sides of your face (ear to ear) and extend to below the chin. Reusable visors should be cleaned after each use and then stored in a clean place until needed.

You should still wear a mask if you:

• have coronavirus, think you have coronavirus or are waiting on a test result
• are caring for someone with coronavirus or who has suspected coronavirus
• are self-isolating and you cannot keep 2 metres between you and other people in your household

These guidelines were taken from the HSE Guidelines on the Use of Face-Coverings. For more information, please click here.

• For Semester 1, classes start on Wednesday 28 September and finish on Friday 18th December with Study Week running from 26th to 30th October.
• Teaching for first year students will begin on Monday 28th September.
• At this stage the vast majority of postgraduate courses are also due to start on September 28th. Part Time courses will have different start dates and students on these courses will be advised separately.
• Semester 2 will start on Monday 25th January 2021 and finish Friday 30th April 2021. Study Week will be from 3rd to 7th May.
• View Academic Calendar 2020/21

• We will be using a blended model of delivery. DkIT courses are made up of practical content (lab work or studio work), as well as theoretical content (lectures). In practice, we expect that lectures will predominantly be delivered online, but that students will most likely do their practical work on campus.  For this students will attend DkIT campus a few days per week.
• It is envisaged that lectures will be in the main be delivered online but that students may need to attend DkIT campus a few days per week for practical and small group teaching.
• As timetables emerge in the coming weeks, we will make them available online. At all times, the safety of staff and students is our priority, and we will be adhering to public health guidelines at all times.

• We understand that decisions around programmes and accommodation this year will be influenced by timetables in a way that has not happened before.  We are currently planning our delivery of the next semester, and our timetables will emerge from this process in the coming weeks.  As soon as they do, we will make them available in order to help people make informed choices.
• It is envisaged that lectures will be in the main be delivered online but that students may need to attend DkIT campus a few days per week for practical and small group teaching.

• CAO Applicants:  If you wish to defer taking up your place until next year, you must follow the Deferral Procedures, available here.

• Continuing students:  A student who wishes to defer their place on a program, must seek the approval of the Institute. Such approval is not guaranteed and is totally at the discretion of the Institute.
• Such a deferral is conditional on the program/module continuing in subsequent years, as program/modules can be discontinued or altered from time to time, without prior notice. Please consult with your Head of Department before making your decision. Click to download the Deferral Application Form.
  

• We are currently planning our delivery of the next semester, and our timetables will emerge from this process in the coming weeks.  As soon as they do, we will make them available online.

• At all times, our priority is the safety of staff and students, and we adhere to the latest guidance from public heath officials.
• We will be making the environment in DkIT as safe as possible for staff and students by following the latest public health guidelines. This includes putting certain supports in place for those who are immune-compromised or otherwise at risk.
• Students will be asked to complete a Covid Self Declaration Form as part of on-line registration and this will include declaring whether you are in a high risk category.  A member of our Health Unit staff will then contact them to review their health requirements and will assist them in liaising with their Head of Department in relation to academic requirements.

• We will be adhering to all relevant advice to keep our staff and students safe in all circumstances, including exams and assessments.  Where this means conducting assessments through alternative and remote means, we will do so.

• We do have measures in place to ensure that students are not disadvantaged through technical issues associated with blended delivery. Where you have difficulty in this regard, please inform your lecturers as soon as possible so that your situation can be addressed.
• The HEA (Higher Education Authority) is providing funding to all third level institutions to purchase laptops for students from nationally recognised groups that may face disadvantage at this time.
• Once funding has been received, the laptops will be purchased and configured for use. We will be emailing all registered students in due course once we have developed an application system that is robust, transparent and straightforward. 
• As you will appreciate, it will take a number of weeks before the details of such a system can be finalised. A loan system that is safe and compliant with COVID 19 restrictions will also need to be put in place.
• DkIT is not accepting expressions of interest at this time. All students will be invited to apply for a laptop in due course. Please keep an eye on your DkIT student email account for updates as they become available.

• We do have measures in place to ensure that students are not disadvantaged through technical issues associated with blended delivery.  
• The HEA (Higher Education Authority) is providing funding to all third level institutions to purchase laptops for students from nationally recognised groups that may face disadvantage at this time.
• Once funding has been received, the laptops will be purchased and configured for use. We will be emailing all registered students in due course once we have developed an application system that is robust, transparent and straightforward.
• As you will appreciate, it will take a number of weeks before the details of such a system can be finalised. A loan system that is safe and compliant with COVID 19 restrictions will also need to be put in place.
• DkIT is not accepting expressions of interest at this time. All students will be invited to apply for a laptop in due course. Please keep an eye on your DkIT student email account for updates as they become available.

• We will be practicing social distancing at all DkIT facilities, and expect that as a consequence the permissible number of students in classrooms will be substantially less than would otherwise be the case. Therefore, you may find that you are in classrooms with fewer students, and your timetable reflects this.  
• We shall  be operating one-way corridors and will have hand sanitising and other measures in place on campus.   You may also be required to wear PPE such as face coverings.  
• At all times, our priority is the safety of staff and students, and we adhere to the latest guidance from public heath officials.

• In practice, while we expect that lectures will predominantly be delivered online, we if possible most practical work will take place on campus.  While each area of study is different, with different practical requirements, we do expect that in many cases, this may involve the use of screens and other measures, including possibly PPE.  
• At all times, our priority is the safety of staff and students, and we adhere to the latest guidance from public heath officials.

• The grant system is administered by SUSI, and is independent of DkIT.
• You can get further information at www.susi.ie. 

Yes.

• DkIT Sport is open to students and has been since 1^st July 2020 when national restrictions on gyms and leisure facilities were reduced. The facility has introduced strict health and safety measures (in line with national guidelines) to safeguard its patrons at this time. For more information please see here.

We expect that the volume of people who will be on campus at any given time next semester will be very substantially reduced.  The precise level of this will become clearer as our planning progresses. At all times, DkIT adheres to the latest public health guidelines.

We adhere to public health guidelines at all times. Our library, restaurant and other facilities will operate to ensure the safety of staff and students.

All supports and services will continue to be made available to students.

• All services will accessed by appointment only.
• Students will be able to access the services both in person and remotely.
• Full details on each service is included under the Student Services & Supports section with in the Student Information Portal.

• We hope so. Student Sport Ireland and all third level sporting bodies are currently planning how to bring sport to colleges and universities. We hope to have a full update in September but it looks like competitions will be run on a more regional basis. Majority of sports have resumed nationally and if this remains the case then third level sport will proceed. 

• Yes we still intend to run our sports clubs and societies. Our societies play an integral role in college life and we will deliver these in line with Government Guidelines. This will involve a mix of online and face to face activities. 

• Students who are currently attending placement should continue with their placements as agreed. If the host site has made changes to your placement arrangements or your personal circumstances have changed which impacts on your ability to attend placement, you must inform your Placement Officer who will advise on the appropriate next steps.
• If there are changes to nursing and midwifery clinical placements, the Department of Nursing, Midwifery & Early Years staff will contact you directly. In addition please contact the Nursing and Midwifery Allocations Office if there are any changes in your personal circumstances which impacts on your ability to attend clinical placement.

Health Unit Service during Covid-19 restrictions

• The Health Unit will be available to students Monday to Friday 9.00 am to 4.30 pm.
• In order to enable the Health Unit to open safely for students the following changes have been made:
• If you require medical assistance by the Nurse or Doctor, telephone the following number +353 (0)42 9370245 or email healthunit@dkit.ie
• Do not go to the Health Unit in person.
• All medical assessments will initially be triaged by the nurse over the phone. Appointments will be made with the Doctor or Nurse accordingly.

The institute is currently finalising plans for graduation this year in line with the latest public health guidelines. We hope to provide further details on finalised plan in September.

• The DkIT campus is an important part of a North Leinster South Ulster region and serves its community. While all events (eg, Open Days) are migrated online or postponed, we do expect that visitors will be permitted on campus in a range of circumstances.  In such cases, they will be expected to adhere to all DkIT protocols, including the requirements of contact tracing and infection control.  Further details of how this will operate will emerge as national guidance develops. 

• Yes, it is anticipated that our student support services, including medical care will be available.

• It is anticipated that we will generally be opening our facilities on campus, though there may be changes in practices to ensure the safety of staff and students.

Signing in and out of campus may be required for contact tracing purposes. We will primarily be using timetables and class attendance lists to assist us in monitoring the presence of students on campus.  Further details of this process are currently being developed.

Yes, it is anticipated that we will continue to deliver all student support services on campus in a way that ensures the safety of staff and students. Full details can be found under the Student Services & Supports section on the Student Information Portal.

• While exact details will emerge as national guidance in clarified, it is essential that DkIT manages numbers on campus and can facilitate contact tracing at all times.  To this end, measures are currently being planned to ensure this.

Accessing HelpDesk:

To comply with Covid-19 mitigation protocols all Computer Services staff offices will operate as closed door until further notice. All incidents and requests for service must be raised via Helpdesk on https://helpdesk.dkit.ie. For urgent requests, once you have raised the Helpdesk ticket, please ring your School or Department technician directly. The technician will attempt to resolve all issues and requests remotely and will only attend offices, labs and classrooms where absolutely necessary.

When raising a Helpdesk ticket please include your contact details and as much problem detail as possible to assist the technical support team in responding and resolving. Also it is important that users don’t raise tickets on behalf of other users, in particular sensitive requests such as password changes. Computer Services can only deal with the impacted user directly due to GDPR.

Acessing Onedrive:

In the current environment of remote teaching and home working, OneDrive is an essential tool for staff and students alternating between campus and remote. All staff and students in DkIT have a OneDrive with 1TB of secure storage space accessible via http://Onedrive.dkit.ie  Your Onedrive is backed up in the cloud and files are recoverable for up to 30 days.

Using File Transfer

FileSender is a free and secure way to share large files with anyone. It works through your web browser to send a file to any email address. FileSender can securely send files of up to 500 GB. This considerable sending power allows users to transfer large files with ease. Files sent by FileSender are available for download for up to 30 days after sending. Files can be downloaded an unlimited amount of times over this period.

Discounts on IT Products:

Please be aware of the HEAnet Store where you can find discounts on a range of products and services brought to students and staff by HEAnet on behalf of the Irish Higher Education & Research Community.

Office Pro Plus

This utility allows you to download copies of Microsoft Office products to your home device. You can install Office on up to 5 PCs or Macs, 5 tablets, and 5 smartphones.

Computer Services Quick Links

• http://moodle.dkit.ie - for DKIT Moodle 2020/21
• https://helpdesk.dkit.ie - to raise or update a Helpdesk ticket for Computer Services attention
• https://webmail.dkit.ie - to access your DKIT email account and Office365 applications
• http://Onedrive.dkit.ie - to access your DKIT Onedrive folder
• http://officeproplus.dkit.ie - to download licenced office applications to your home device(s)

In all cases above you authenticate using your DKIT username & password.

For assistance with any of the above please raise a ticket on the Computer Services Helpdesk.