The university is down $200m because of COVID-19 – here’s how it plans to claw cash back

The university is projecting a 7 per cent revenue loss on $2.8bn revenues and has announced immediate savings.

* a “limit” on all capex, apart from “large building projects already contracted”

* “a pause” on capital projects not funded by philanthropy or external grants

* “project spending” deferred

* recruitment stopped, excluding roles funded by external research grants or for appointments “at written offer”

* no international travel, unless “essential” or externally funded

* “all current and new contractor and consultant roles will be reviewed”

““Our focus remains on the health and welfare of all our students and staff, both on campus and overseas, and in ensuring our world leading research and teaching can continue,” Vice Chancellor Michael Spence says.

But what does this mean for casual teaching staff, who may have far fewer international students to teach in first semester? The University of Sydney has expanded casual staff across the last decade.  Frank Larkins’ analysis of employment patterns at Uni Sydney puts casual teaching-only staff at 497 in 2009, growing to 895 in 2018.

A university spokesperson told CMM last night, “our aim is to minimise the risk of potential job losses. We have asked managers to look at the best way to manage all workloads during this period and beyond and anticipate the increased demand for online and flexible teaching will reduce the impact on our much- valued casual workforce.”

On Monday night Monash U, (657 teaching-only casuals) VC Margaret Gardner told staff the university has, “increased expenditure on our flexible programs which should reduce the impact of lower student numbers on sessional and casual staff employment,” (CMM yesterday).