Campus life (but not as we knew it)

Sydney universities are preparing for staff and students to return

Macquarie U staff are back this week: “It’s a significant step forward,” says VC S Bruce Dowton, ahead of students returning for second session, next week. While lectures will continue on-line, “many tutorials, seminars and small group learning activities will be face-to-face.”

Not all staff are happy about this, with questions common about class sizes, teaching-room cleaning and how to deal with students who show signs of sickness.

Professor Dowton acknowledges that if the situation in Sydney changes so may the university’s plans.

UTS is keen to see life on campus: It’s hosting a BBQ next Monday, for “all first-year students and any students missing the campus vibe.”

“Most importantly, this BBQ is an opportunity to meet your fellow students face-to-face,” UTS says.

Could be big, which would be a problem –  on Friday the NSW Government reduced group bookings in cafes and club, pubs and bars. But DVC Education and Students Shirley Alexander tells CMM people have to register, to manage numbers and for contract tracing, they get to stay for an hour, with tables and seats 1.5m apart, among a bunch of precautions.

Might be more fun to send everybody a sausage sanger and a ZOOM meeting ID.