Southern Cross University has reverted to at-home study and work in line with NSW Government Covid measures
Covid concerns force the return of at-home study and work for a Gold Coast University. READ THE LATEST.
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SOUTHERN Cross University says “Covid concerns” has forced the return of at-home study and work for all campuses from June 28, including the Gold Coast’s Bilinga campus.
While the university libraries and student hubs will remain open in a scaled-back capacity, students are encouraged to engage online with those services where possible.
The university was also planning to welcome new students in person for Orientation Week from June 28 to July 2 but these activities will now proceed online.
Griffith and Bond universities are yet to follow and presently remain open for face-to-face learning.
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At this stage, SCU expects normal activity to resume on Monday 12 July, subject to NSW Health Department advice at the time.
“Since Covid-19 first appeared last year, the university has always put the safety of our students and staff as the highest priority,” said Mr Allan Morris, vice president of operations.
“With that in mind, and given the escalating situation with Covid in NSW and QLD, the university has decided to revert to a ‘study/work from home’ environment for students and staff at the Lismore, Coffs Harbour and Gold Coast campuses, with attendance on campus limited to essential activity only.
“We appreciate the flexibility of students and staff as we respond to this situation. Please take care and always follow the relevant state health department advice.”
It also advised students and staff that border passes are now required to enter Queensland; the previous ‘cross border bubble’ arrangements no longer apply.
For orientation details visit scu.edu.au/orientation.
University makes sweeping changes to 'survive' COVID
February 16, 2021
SOUTHERN Cross University has completed a major faculty restructure to “ensure the university survives the impacts of COVID-19” and “thrives long into the future”.
It comes on the back of forced and voluntary redundancies, staff being asked to take pay cuts and pay freezes and estimations that the organisation will post a $33m million deficit (2020-21) because of a drop in international students.
The program of reforms, known as TransformSCU, comes after six months of consultation and planning and they are effective immediately.
The biggest change is the university will have four new academic faculties instead of six. They are health, science and engineering, education and business, law and arts.
Each will be headed by an executive dean who will oversee both teaching and research. It is expected the changes will ensure a closer alignment of teaching and research and place emphasis on small-group face-to-face learning.
Any remaining large-scale lectures will move to online only and there’ll be more flexible and adaptive study periods for students that will expand progressively over the next two years.
Changes also give students the ability to undertake majors in disciplines outside of their main degree. “Very small classes” will also be moved to online only.
Vice Chancellor Professor Tyrone Carlin said the changes were part of an ambitious program of continuous improvement, particularly aimed at ensuring the very best student experience.
“Taken together, these changes will strengthen the university, help us drive greater quality and consistency, enhance our sustainability and equip us to meet the challenges of the future with greater confidence and agility,” Prof Carlin said.
He said the flexible study periods would enable students to undertake one or two subjects every six to eight weeks, delivering a better learning experience along with the capability to scale their study according to their life needs.
These include a number of course offerings from SCU College, the Faculty of Business Law & Arts and the Faculty of Science & Engineering that will be delivered via the new model from this academic year onwards.
Southern Cross is home to about 20,000 students and has three main campuses at Bilinga on the Gold Coast, Lismore in the Northern Rivers and Coffs Harbour. Orientation starts next week, with classes resuming on March 1.
JUNE 2020 - Staff asked to take pay cut
STAFF at a Gold Coast university have been asked to consider a 10 per cent pay cut and a potential freeze on pay increases as the sector struggles to survive from the drop in international student numbers.
Southern Cross University Vice-chancellor Adam Shoemaker today laid bare the impact COVID-19 and international border closures have had on the university.
The organisation is expecting a deficit of an estimated $40-58 million in the next two years without any changes, but have made clear they will not be closing any campuses.
International student numbers at SCU sit at 28 per cent in a regular year but have dropped to almost nil since the pandemic hit.
“The University sector across Australia is in an unusual situation, Southern Cross is no exception, but it is business as unusual,” Prof Shoemaker said.
“Anyone who thinks at the end of the Covid crisis things will return, they are mistaken. That doesn’t mean we can’t be better.”
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Prof Shoemaker said the university will be “rising up to meet the challenge” with a number of Queensland and NSW first programs and cost-saving measures.
The university campus on the Gold Coast currently has 8000 students studying online and domestic applications for the next intake have gone up by 20 per cent.
“This is a record number of applications for semester two, despite the crisis,” he said.
“We are finding people are choosing very directly to think about their future at this moment in time.”
Lismore and Coffs Harbour have seen similar increases in applications.
“It is an interesting dilemma, while our borders are shut and we have taken a hit in our revenue our domestic interest is up so we need to balance these two forces.”
To make up the difference Prof Shoemaker announced a new academic model which includes six study periods a year. The change is planned to allow students to work and study simultaneously.
A number of cuts have also been put forward, including immediate wage freezes for the executive group.
“We have already identified $10 million in non salary savings which we have already extracted from the budget,” prof Shoemaker said.
“We had to do it now as we are already facing a $38 million dollar loss in the next two years – everybody is in the same boat.
“But if you don’t do it now you pay the price next year – we have gotten on the front foot and done that.”
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During a virtual meeting today with 880 staff the university also put forward a savings plan which includes a 10 per cent voluntary reduction in hours and salary, excluding super.
“Many of them are considering that option,” the Vice-chancellor said.
A vote will also be taken by staff to forego the next two wage increases, which could save the university a further $6 million.
“It’s not just about money, the main thing is despite the challenges we are on the up,” he said.
While no lay-offs or course closures have been announced, Prof Shoemaker said they have not been ruled out.
“We will not shut any campus,” he said.
“The chancellor said last week it would seem like an easy thing to do, but it goes against our founding act and our purpose.
“We are not going to shut any campuses.
“When it comes to courses, they will be introduced in an equal number they are retired. “
Only last year the university announced it had broken even and had zero debt with $31 million in the bank.
“If adopted, these actions assist our position significantly,” the Vice Chancellor said.
“Each of these measures has been proposed after deep consideration of all available options and will enable Southern Cross to withstand the worst financial impacts of the COVID-19 crisis.”
Last week the University made the decision to close its football centre at Lismore.
“We share the community disappointment around that but it was costing the university more than $500,000 a year to run and in these difficult times we just couldn’t continue with it.”
Southern Cross University has the equivalent of about 10,000 full-time students and 1100 staff, with more than 65,000 alumni worldwide.
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