University of Newcastle may see American students return to USA amidst coronavirus

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THE University of Newcastle is preparing to support a handful of American students whose institutions have encouraged them to return home in the midst of the coronavirus outbreak.

Pro Vice Chancellor Learning and Teaching Professor Liz Burd, who is now working full-time on UON's response to the virus, said she understood the US government had recommended higher education institutions evaluate risk and consider whether its appropriate to pull students out of study abroad - and some individual institutions had done so.

"We are hearing from a few students that are somewhat disappointed to find that their higher education institutions are saying they need to return home," she said.

"They've asked to continue studying with us, but online... I don't think they've got any choice, as soon as their higher education institution says they have to come back they're required to do so."

She said she thought the advice related to Australia, not specifically the Hunter, but the small number of students who had raised the issue informally meant "we don't yet if it's speculation or whether it's the reality".

While other universities are rushing to convert courses into online-friendly offerings, Professor Burd said UON already had a "flipped and blended" mode for many courses, which has put content online and brought activities into the classroom.

She said some affected students were being advised to either use existing online materials alongside support to emulate "engagement-based activities", or to transfer to more online-friendly subjects.

Cost: Professor Liz Burd said UON was being mindful of costs but had not cut back on anything. She said the financial impact would be clearer after the census date.

Some courses had been adapted for individual circumstances.

She said UON was also investigating the best service to allow trimester students preparing for mid-term exams to sit them remotely.

Professor Burd said UON had discussed campus closures, but only if following public health advice.

She said UON was relocating some students living on campus in less-populated areas to more heavily-populated areas, to ensure 130 beds reserved for incoming students can be kept together to make quarantine easier.

UON told staff on Wednesday only essential travel was being approved.