The ARC wants to help people who are struggling to meet application deadlines, as long as procedure is followed

The Australian Research Council advises it “is aware that the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is affecting researchers and research organisations,” but it still business as usual for grant applications which are being administered, “in accordance with our standard processes.”

These include allowing late grant applications, “in exceptional circumstances” and extensions to post-award reporting deadlines where researchers and/or administrators “have been directly effected.”

Contrast with Marnie Hughes Warrington, new DVC Research and Enterprise at Uni SA; “the weekend gives me time to acknowledge how tough things are for researchers right now. I also want to thank all the professional and academic staff who are working to keep research going. Their quiet and selfless efforts are the best welcome to a university a DVCRE could have.”

Optimism at ANU

ANU went further than the government required Friday, cancelling all, all, “public events and social gatherings” to the end of semester on June 20. This will include the installation of Julie Bishop as chancellor which was already cancelled early last month (CMM February 6).

However, ANU is upbeat (relatively); “this additional precaution also ensures ANU can keep delivering its essential operations of teaching and research with minimal risk in the face of the rapidly evolving situation. Right now, the risk is very low. We are planning and acting now to help manage the future, not because of imminent threat.”

Deakin U commits to paying casual staff who are caught by the virus

“I am very aware of the potentially precarious financial position of casual staff during these times, and we undertake to pay casual staff who were scheduled to work and are unable to because of self-isolation requirements for the duration of the self-isolation period,” Vice Chancellor Iain Martin told staff Friday.

As will Monash U

The university makes it plain that casual/sessional staff are not entitled to isolation leave under the Enterprise Agreement but commits to providing it from March 11 to April 30.

Management also advises that the university’s Prato centre in Tuscany is subject to the Italian Government’s ban on teaching and public gatherings and that there are arrangements for staff to work remotely.

And Uni Queensland creates new sick-leave

As of today, “eligible staff” qualify for ten days COVID-19 leave. Staff who are not ill but need to self-isolate can also use the provision if they are not able to work from home.

Casual staff whose “projected rostered work has been cancelled as a result of COVID-19” and who can work from home “will be paid for the work you have done.”

But unis don’t have to answer the big-question yet

Which is whether they follow Macquarie U and pay casuals for two weeks if campuses are closed (CMM March 10). The exemption for universities from Friday’s ban on public assemblies of more than 500 people gets universities off that cash-flow crippling hook, for now.

However, Uni Sydney steps-up

Late Friday Vice Chancellor Michael Spence told staff that casual staff will be paid for COVID-19 illness as well as self-isolation for rostered hours in any two-week period. Plus, and it is a very big plus, “should campus close for a period, such leave will also be available to all casual staff who have not already access it.”

This makes Uni Sydney the first to follow Macquarie U which made this commitment last week (CMM March 10).

Dr Spence also announced an indefinite ban on “all university events or events hosted on our campuses” but “regular teaching and research activity” goes on, for now.

The university also announced its first COVID-19 case Sunday, stating six campus locations were “extensively cleaned” Sunday after a student tested-positive. The university and NSW health identified 80 people who were on contact with the student who are asked to self-isolate for 14 days. The joint statement states, “the current advice is the rest of the campus can continue to operate as normal.”

As to Uni Wollongong, don’t ask

Uni Wollongong is planning, “remote working arrangements for key personnel”. And for people who have to turn up to campus, “additional personal protective equipment supplies have been procured and are being prepared for distribution as required.”

Late Friday UoW was quick to act on the new ban on events with 500 plus people. It cancelled the annual student garden party scheduled for March 21.

As for consulting staff and their unions, it “will continue on an on-going basis.” But whatever support the university will offer, UoW does not want you read it here. “The university does not conduct its workplace relations via the media and so will not comment publicly on the details of its consultations with staff.

Or complain at Griffith U

The university says there are no confirmed cases at any campus, university facilities “are operating as usual”.  This is not good enough for the Nathan campus Student Representative Council. “COVID-19 does not care where mass gatherings take place and students have the right to choose to study off-campus during this time.” The SRC launched a petition about this Friday but says it was removed from the Nathan-Mount Gravatt SRC Facebook page. It wasn’t there when CMM looked Saturday afternoon

First case at UNSW

The university announced 8.50 last night that a bized student was positive for COVID-19 and was in self-isolation. It added that NSW Health advised he was not contagious while on campus.

But there’s some, sort-of, good news

International students who work as supermarket-shelve packers are now allowed to increase the hours they work – above the present 20 hours per fortnight in term.

Acting Immigration Minister Alan Tudge says supermarkets have asked for this to help them keep up with COVID-19 driven demand. There is no mention of a specific cap but the relaxation applies to international students with their existing employer in their present role.

“This is really something. One of the hard-fastest rules in HE, for the moment gone,” says Conor King from the Innovative Research Universities.