Macquarie U writes off lectures for second semester

As the NSW Government extends the Greater Sydney lockdown, MU says existing on-campus restrictions stay.VC S Bruce Dowton tells staff, all large group lectures will continue on-line only, with mandatory masks for “small group” in-person learning. The university will “reassess this guidance” at mid-semester break in September.

Professor Dowton says “lockdown conditions” “may mean fewer shifts” for casual staff. But he adds, “some casual staff may now qualify” for a federal government disaster payment. Which will cheer-up as many as no people looking at weeks without pay.

Next semester at Newcastle will be face to face, for now

While Uni Newcastle’s NSW central coast campuses are within the plague pale, Newcastle- city campuses are open, “however the minimal staffing approach” in-place continues. And while management wants Semester Two to “be fully face-to-face” it does not sound confident, warning “staff to be prepared to switch to study-from-home mode potentially from week one.”