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Universities stay online despite easing of lockdown restrictions

   

Only a limited number of essential face-to-face campus activities will resume immediately in New Zealand

Most of New Zealand’s universities will not reopen until July, despite a government easing of Covid-19 lockdown restrictions from 18 May that will allow students to return to campuses.

A statement on the government’s Covid-19 website says the move to Level 2 restrictions means that “early childhood education, schools and tertiary education will all be free to reopen”.

“Tertiary education is a safe environment for students and staff to return to at alert Level 2,” it says.

“Tertiary education facilities will implement public health requirements and physical distancing as appropriate for the context and will work closely to ensure a safe environment where students can continue their learning.”

However, most universities have posted updates on their websites saying they will continue with online classes until at least mid-July.

Auckland University of Technology has also announced that it will introduce a “cost reduction programme” to deal with a $50 million shortfall caused by Covid-19 restrictions on travel and overseas enrolments.

“Thanks to everyone’s efforts, we are continuing to adapt extremely well to the changes created by Covid-19. One of the most obvious issues we face is our financial situation. We entered this crisis with stable finances, but like most organisations AUT is facing a serious challenge,” vice-chancellor Derek McCormack said in a university statement.

The university has announced a freeze on increases to higher-paid roles until July 2021, and a recruitment freeze and a ban on international travel for staff are in place for the rest of 2020.

The University of Auckland has said the move to Level 2 restrictions will allow “a wider range of on-campus activities [but] for most staff the current work-from-home arrangements will remain in place and access will only be permitted for staff who have a critical need to enter campus”.

Massey University deputy vice-chancellor Tere McGonagle-Daly told NZ media that the university would continue to prioritise online classes “regardless of the Covid-19 alert level” because of health considerations for students.

“The move to Level 2 will allow some on-campus student services to reopen, as well as the face-to-face teaching of essential labs and studios which cannot be done remotely. The university is currently working through the procedures needed to allow this to happen safely, including health and safety protocols and contact-tracing procedures,” he said.