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THE UNIVERSITY of Newcastle will move the majority of its face to face classes online for the first fortnight of semester - which starts next Monday - in response to COVID-19 restrictions in Greater Sydney.
Vice Chancellor Alex Zelinsky wrote to staff on Tuesday to advise them the first two weeks of semester two - from July 19 to 30 - would be moved to "study-from-home mode".
"All courses scheduled for face-to-face learning will now be offered online, except in the cases of approved placements or practicums," Professor Zelinsky said.
"Importantly, class timetables will remain in place with only the delivery mode changing, for example a 10am tutorial will run at 10am live.
"Requests for on-campus exceptions will be considered where practical and/or laboratory sessions cannot be reconfigured or rescheduled.
"Please liaise with your Heads of School regarding these exemptions.
"When requesting an exemption, please also outline a COVID-Safe process whereby all students will be safe, and no students will be adversely affected relative to their peers."
He said UON hoped to resume usual operations across all campuses from August 1.
"Thank you for your extraordinary effort and flexibility during this time."
UON's Sydney and Central Coast campuses have been closed in recent weeks and its Callaghan, city and other regional campuses are operating with a minimal staffing approach, which has been extended to July 30.
The Central Coast open day on July 31 has been moved to September.
Professor Zelinsky has encouraged staff to use their paid vaccination leave.
University of Newcastle Students Association president Luka Harrison said students had been expecting the announcement.
"Obviously it's disappointing because students want to be on campus, they want to be learning face to face, but UNSA and students completely understand the situation the university is in and they're making a responsible decision to keep the university safe, so UNSA definitely supports that."
Mr Harrison said staff and students were more prepared after 2020 to transition to remote learning.
"I think last year it was done really suddenly, I think every university in Australia was thrown into this situation where they had to immediately go to online learning from face to face and there were a lot of lessons learned out of that, so I think both the university and students will be better prepared to handle that transition."
National Tertiary Education Union Newcastle branch president Dan Conway said COVID-19 presented a "unique and difficult operating environment that brings considerable uncertainty".
"However, that uncertainty is being exacerbated by a management who should care less about rushing staff and students back to campus and more about the welfare of those same students - even when they have demonstrated they have little concern over the welfare of many of the staff," Mr Conway said.
"But, as always, the ever resilient staff will put students first and give them the best experience possible no matter how difficult it is.
"Even when many staff are already under immense stress - knowing they have no future with the institution due to management and council's reckless and unnecessary restructures and job cuts."
Branch vice-president (academic) Associate Professor Terrence Summers, who is having to change plans for a class of 450 students, said staff had been "fantastic".
"Someone makes a call and they're able to adapt to that at extremely short notice, it's pretty impressive."
EARLIER
THE University of Newcastle will move the first two weeks of semester - which starts next Monday - to "study-from-home mode".
Vice Chancellor Alex Zelinsky wrote to students and staff on Tuesday morning and said the decision had been made in response to the "increasing COVID-19 restrictions for Greater Sydney".
"The minimal staffing mode currently in place will also be extended until 30 July 2021," Professor Zelinsky said.
"We encourage staff at our Callaghan, City and regional campuses to rotate with their colleagues and to be in the office as is practical for your work setting."
All courses scheduled for face-to-face learning from July 19 to 30 will be offered online, except in the cases of approved placements or practicums.
Class timetables will remain in place, with only the delivery mode changing.
Professor Zelinsky said requests for on-campus exceptions would be considered where practical, or laboratory sessions could not be reconfigured or rescheduled.
"The safety of our students and staff is paramount, and we will continue to provide further updates as information is released by NSW Health and the State Government," he said.
"We are hoping to resume usual operations across all our campuses from 1 August 2021.
"Thank you for your extraordinary effort and flexibility during this time.
UON is already currently holding its Orientation Week events online.
The Central Coast Open Day on July 31 will be postponed until September to coincide with the UAC early bird deadline.
Professor Zelinsky encouraged staff to take advantage of UON's paid vaccination leave and book to get vaccinated at the new Belmont Vaccination Centre or the Callaghan-based health service.
More to come