Email update from the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Students): 18 November

Dear staff and students,

Notice of physical closure of Flinders University South Australian campuses and facilites

Following the State Government press conference at 12.30 pm today and the announcements of a state-wide lockdown for six days, I write to advise that Flinders University will close its South Australian physical facilities at its campuses and locations in South Australia from midnight tonight, 18 November 2020.

All the Universities facilities will be physically closed including classrooms, labs, offices, clinics and common areas such as the library and hub.

We will maintain our services and operations online during this time.

All staff and students are required to remain at home and work/study from home during this period, with limited exceptions only for approved personnel who must attend campus to maintain critical services.

We are awaiting further information from the State Government in coming hours and will communicate further as more information comes to light. 

For now, the following key points are provided:

Studying and working from home

As of midnight tonight, staff and students are to work and/or study from home.  We expect this direction to be in effect until 25 November.

For students

Exams which were scheduled on campus between 19-24 November inclusive are postponed. You will be contacted in coming days about new arrangements for completing your assessments.

On campus tutorials, workshops and practicals are suspended.  Your teaching staff will advise of alternate arragements.

All exams and teaching activities which were scheduled to occur online will continue to be held online as scheduled.

We are seeking information regarding the continuation or otherwise of student placements and we will communicate separately with these students as and when information is available.

Our Student Support and Directory of Services is available online which includes contact information to the Health, Counselling and Disability Services.

For staff

If you are an essential worker required on campus to maintain critical infrastructure or ensure critical operations are continued, the University will contact you to ensure you have evidence of authority to travel to campus.

All other staff will be deemed to be working from home until or unless advised otherwise. 

Travel

If you are a staff member or student on work related travel or field trip then you will need to adhere to Government advice that travel must cease at midnight tonight and you must remain where you are. If you need advice or assistance please get in contact with your University Nominated Contact, Dean, People and Resources or Vice-President and Executive Dean.

Symptoms and testing

Again, this is a timely reminder that anyone developing COVID-19 like symptoms – even if you have not been in one of the locations linked to the outbreak- should immediately get tested and self-isolate until you know the result of the test. If you have any of the following symptoms, get tested:

• fever or chills
• cough
• sore throat
• runny nose
• shortness of breath
• loss of taste and smell.

Ongoing updates, information and support

Recognising that this is a rapid response, high-level update following the announcement this afternoon, we will provide further updates by email and on our website as new information emerges.

You will receive an email each work day over the following week with the latest information.  Please check your emails and our website for updates.

Flinders University continues to closely monitor the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak and we continue to align our actions with advice from the health authorities and the South Australian Government.

In particular we reinforce the message from the Premier and Professor Spurrier of the importance of adhering to the lockdown protocols and working together swiftly and decisively to overcome this outbreak.

If you have any questions or concerns please email them to coronavirus@flinders.edu.au and please check our staff and student websites for regular updates.

I realise that this current outbreak in South Australia may be a cause for concern or worry for members of our community. Please remember that our student and staff support networks are available to you throughout this period.

Take care and look after each other, and I will be in contact again soon.

Clare