University to send teaching online
DUE to the developing coronavirus situation, the University of Southern Queensland will move all learning off campus from Monday.
Bucking the trend of full closure, as seen at other universities across the state, USQ Deputy Vice-Chancellor Karen Nelson said the facility would provide an elearning option for the majority of courses.
“The health, safety and success of our students is the key priority of the university at this time,” Ms Nelson said at a press conference.
“We are moving all of our campus courses to online teaching, so effectively we are doing more of what we are already good at as an online teaching and distance education provider.
“Most of our courses are already offered online and we are extending that to make sure all our students can continue their studies and succeed in that online environment.”
She said the move came after renewed health warnings from the federal and state governments.
“We are very much conscious of the need for social distancing, so the more we can reduce the density of our staff and students on campus, the more we will be able to make sure our students can stay and complete their studies - and that’s what’s important,” she said.
“We believe if we can keep the density low on campus, we will have the best possible chance of students completing their studies this semester and to go on to get those degrees they are working hard to achieve.
“From Monday, all of the on-campus teaching will cease, we are looking at options for a small number of courses that have a face-toface component.”
Ms Nelson said USQ had also opened a discussion with students living on campus.
“We’re having some conversations with the small number students in our residences,” she said.
“We are asking them to consider if they can return home from next Monday, and we will be working with those individual students to make sure we look after them.”
She thanked students and staff for their patience.
“To our students, keep doing what you are doing, attend to your studies, persist and we will be with you right through to the end of semester,” she said.