Griffith University Gold Coast prepares to welcome students back to campus after virus shutdown

A Gold Coast university has announced it’s preparing to reopen doors and welcome students back for on-campus learning as COVID-19 restrictions continue to ease.

GRIFFITH University is preparing to welcome students back to its Gold Coast campus almost four months after switching to online learning.

The university has announced it will “progressively ramp up” on-campus teaching from July 13, the start of Trimester 2.

Senior Deputy Vice Chancellor Professor Debra Henly said the “staged and considered return” of on-campus activities would be in line with health guidelines.

“Many teaching and learning activities will resume on campus in a staged manner during Trimester 2, including the return of on-campus amenities and support services,” she said.

“We have also advised students they will have the flexibility to continue their studies online for the remainder of the trimester, should they wish.”

Professor Debra Henly (centre), with Jock McIlwain and Professor Paul Burton. Picture: Regina King

MORE NEWS

New hospitality restrictions branded ‘a joke’

Teen accused of ramming police car in stolen Jaguar

Real reason $15m bridge failed revealed

The University’s Bachelor of Nursing Deputy Program Director Hazel Rands said the School of Nursing and Midwifery was prepared to deal with COVID-19 measures.

“One of the things in our favour was a review of our curriculum four years ago where we did a lot of work around blended learning, so we already had a lot of content available to students that they could view in their own time, online,” she said.

“We are currently working on a process to get our second years in the clinical laboratory spaces in early July, and our technical staff have done a mapping exercise around social distancing.

“For our labs to safely accommodate 900 second year students spread across Logan, Nathan and Gold Coast campuses, we probably need to run about 15 per cent more lab classes.

“So there will be additional teaching sessions available to allow the students and teaching staff to socially distance.”