Adelaide University moves studies online over disease concerns
The University of Adelaide will move all of its tutorials and lectures online in response to the coronavirus crisis, following the lead of Flinders and UniSA.
Photo: Tony Lewis / InDaily
All of the university’s lectures will be delivered online from next Monday, and all of its tutorials delivered online by the following week.
It follows decisions by Flinders University and the University of South Australia to transition course content online as a means to minimise the transmission of the COVID-19 coronavirus.
In a post to the Adelaide University Student Representative Council Facebook page earlier this week, SRC president Henry Armfield argued that the university was asking students to “choose between their health and their grades” by maintaining physical attendance at classes and lectures.
Adelaide University Vice-Chancellor wrote to students in an email yesterday, saying that while the University will remain open and classes will continue, “many students want to have a choice about whether or not to participate in campus life at this time”.
“Students will then have the choice of whether they attend tutorials face-to-face – observing social distancing requirements – or attending the tutorial online,” the email reads.
“Assessment of attendance at tutorials and other classes will be abolished.”
Flinders University yesterday announced that one of its students had tested positive for COVID-19.
In a statement, Flinders said the third-year student had not been on campus for eight days and had not been in direct contact with any staff or other students during that time.
“The student’s partner, who had recently returned from overseas, was confirmed to have COVID-19, at which point the student self-isolated in line with Department of Health advice,” said university Vice-Chancellor Colin Stirling.
“In line with Department of Health practice, any close contacts of the student will be identified and contacted by the Department; we understand that they are not seeking to contact any Flinders University staff or students and are advised that no further action is required by the university.”
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