This article was co-written by the UOW Crisis Management Team (CMT), Student and Accommodation Services Division (SASD), Facilities Management Division (FMD).This work supplements the COVID plan and should be read in conjunction with the information available at UOW COVID-19 response page.
As the majority of teaching for Autumn 2023 continues to be on campus, disruptions to delivery may occur as staff or their families need to isolate and recover from COVID. The University is committed to providing a safe environment for staff and students with the following processes in place.
COVID-impacted teaching guides give you a quick and simple place to start when you become aware of a disruption to teaching delivery and provides options and actions to consider to ensure students are communicated with appropriately.
Teaching staff decision making guides
The purpose of this template is to provide guidance and options on how to manage unavailability of teaching staff. For additional information on reporting positive cases in staff and students, please see the COVID-19 Reporting Process Infographic.
Step 1: Simple solution
Can the staff member be easily covered?
If yes, arrange for coverage.
If no, contact your escalation point.
Step 2: Escalation
Where a simple solution is not clear, teaching staff are advised to contact their designated escalation point:
| ASSH | Academic Program Director or Head of School |
| BAL | Head of School |
| EIS | Head of School |
| SMAH | Subject Coordinator or Head of School |
- For more complex cases, or where large cohorts/full disciplines are likely to be impacted, escalate the issue to the ADE.
- Additional support and advice can be sought from the following areas:
LTC Available to help with a variety of learning and teaching matters, including support for the design and development of technology enhanced learning environments and experiences. SASD Timetabling Services Can assist with room scheduling requests and issues. SASD Student Service Centrally manages Academic Consideration. PVCS Disability Services Can help provide advice on complex, long-term student support needs. WHS Can provide resources and information on COVID-safety. FMD Can assist with cleaning enquiries and requests.
Escalated options to consider (and actions to take for each):
| Option | Actions | Comms Templates (tweak as required) |
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Moodle Post: Hello Students, This message is to let you all know that you will have a replacement tutor, <NAME>, for next week’s class (<CLASS DETAILS>) while <NAME> is unavailable for a short period. |
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Moodle Post: For next week’s class (<CLASS DETAILS>), we will be moving your tutorial group to the online version of the tutorial. Details for accessing the online tutorial are <DETAILS>. You will be covering the same content and topics in the online tutorial as was planned for your on-campus class. We expect to return you to your normal on-campus class the following week (<DATE>). |
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Moodle Post: Hello Students, We will be delivering next week’s class (<CLASS DETAILS>) online rather than on-campus. Details for accessing the online tutorial are <DETAILS>. You will be covering the same content and topics in the online tutorial as was planned for your on-campus class. We expect to return you to your normal on-campus class the following week (<DATE>). |
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Moodle Post: Hello Students, Due to some unexpected disruptions, we are allocating you a period of self-paced learning for next week (<DATE>) in lieu of your scheduled tutorial (<CLASS DETAILS>). Instructions for your self-paced learning are: <DETAILS> The in-class activities that were planned for this tutorial will be rescheduled for the coming weeks, so you don’t miss any content We expect to return you to your normal on-campus class the following week (<DATE>). |
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Moodle Post: Hello Students, Due to some unexpected disruptions, we are allocating you a study week next week (<DATE>) in lieu of your scheduled tutorial (<CLASS DETAILS>). The in-class activities that were planned for this tutorial will be rescheduled for the coming weeks, so you don’t miss any content We expect to return you to your normal on-campus class the following week (<DATE>). |
Date updated: 21st March, 2023
The purpose of this template is to provide guidance and options on how to manage students who report short-term impacts of COVID (eg. Isolating, vaccination appointments, illness). For additional information on reporting positive cases in staff and students, please see the COVID-19 Reporting Process Infographic.
Step 1: Simple solution
Are you able to accommodate the student/s needs informally?
If yes, confirm arrangements with student/s.
If not, advise student/s to apply for academic consideration (refer to note #).
Student/s apply for Academic Consideration and Student Central confirms.
Action Academic Considerations/s when they come to you.
* Teaching staff can approve considerations at their discretion, without requiring a formal academic consideration application (eg. Short submission extensions, missed classes). Non-assessable activities especially do not require a formal application.
Step 2: Escalation
Where a simple solution doesn’t seem clear OR if a large cohort of students (for example, all in the same subject) are impacted in the same way contact your escalation point:
| ASSH | Academic Program Director or Head of School |
| BAL | Head of School |
| EIS | Head of School |
| SMAH | Subject Coordinator or Head of School |
- Additional support and advice can be sought from the following areas:
LTC Available to help with a variety of learning and teaching matters, including support for the design and development of technology enhanced learning environments and experiences. SASD Timetabling Services Can assist with room scheduling requests and issues. SASD Student Service Centrally manages Academic Consideration. PVCS Disability Services Can help provide advice on complex, long-term student support needs. WHS Can provide resources and information on COVID-safety. FMD Can assist with cleaning enquiries and requests.
Escalated options to consider (and actions to take for each):
Things to consider:
- Simple and lower-risk requests can be accommodated informally without requiring an academic consideration application. This reduces complexity and workload for students, academic approvers, and central professional staff.
- Students are not required to produce evidence documents to support formal Academic Consideration applications in 2022.
- If a large cohort of students (for example, all in the same subject) are impacted in the same way, consider whether a blanket adjustment can be applied (eg. Extending the due date of an assessment for the entire cohort).
Date updated: 21st March, 2023
The purpose of this template is to provide guidance and options on how to manage students who report long-term impacts of COVID (eg. Long-COVID or high-risk medical need to remain in extended isolation). For additional information on reporting positive cases in staff and students, please see the COVID-19 Reporting Process Infographic.
Step 1: Simple solution
Are you able to accommodate the student/s needs informally?
If yes, confirm arrangements with student/s.
If not, advise student/s to apply for Reasonable Adjustment (refer to note #).
Student/s apply for Reasonable Adjustment and Disability Services confirms.
Action Reasonable Adjustment/s requirements when student/s provides them to you.
* Some arrangements can be accommodated informally (e.g., switching a student to an online tutorial for the remainder of the session where available).
Step 2: Escalation
Where a simple solution doesn’t seem clear, or the situation appears to be risky, contact your escalation point:| ASSH | Academic Program Director or Head of School |
| BAL | Head of School |
| EIS | Head of School |
| SMAH | Subject Coordinator or Head of School |
- Some students may be able to have their issue solved by simply switching them to an online version of their class for the remainder of the session (where it is available)
- For more complex / risker cases – or for students who are likely to require adjustments in more areas than just teaching (eg. Exams), they should be directed to apply for a Reasonable Adjustment via Disability Services
- Additional support and advice can be sought from the following areas:
LTC Available to help with a variety of learning and teaching matters, including support for the design and development of technology enhanced learning environments and experiences. SASD Timetabling Services Can assist with room scheduling requests and issues. SASD Student Service Centrally manages Academic Consideration. PVCS Disability Services Can help provide advice on complex, long-term student support needs. WHS Can provide resources and information on COVID-safety. FMD Can assist with cleaning enquiries and requests.
Date updated: 21st March, 2023
Classroom COVID safety teaching slides
The classroom COVID safety teaching slides are available for you to use as part of your general housekeeping with students.
FAQs
Available support
| LTC | Available to help with a variety of learning and teaching matters, including support for the design and development of technology enhanced learning environments and experiences. |
| SASD Timetabling Services | Can assist with room scheduling requests and issues. |
| SASD Student Service | Centrally manages Academic Consideration. |
| PVCS Disability Services | Can help provide advice on complex, long-term student support needs. |
| WHS | Can provide resources and information on COVID-safety. |
| FMD | Can assist with cleaning enquiries and requests. |
