Woke uni classes students are forced to take

Universities are blocking students from classes and graduation if they don’t complete a series of woke mandatory learning modules.

The University of Melbourne modules cover respect, diversity and inclusion, sustainability, community and wellbeing. Picture: Daniel Pockett

Students at Victorian universities cannot enrol in classes and risk being barred from graduating if they do not finish mandatory sexual consent and Indigenous culture lessons.

In a moved criticised by student representatives, some institutions are blocking students from submitting assignments and accessing lesson materials if they do not complete online training modules about safe drinking, sex and academic integrity.

The University of Melbourne “Joining Melbourne” modules cover respect, diversity and inclusion, sustainability, community and wellbeing. These so-called “hurdle requirements” must be completed upon enrolment.

In addition, students are expected to do an online “Consent Matters” module upon enrolment, which includes scenarios of sexual interactions and common sexual and relationship misconceptions.

Academic integrity and Indigenous cultural awareness units are mandatory for all La Trobe University students before graduation.

Every student living on campus at the university must undertake consent and respectful relationships training, and cannot move into the accommodation until completing it.

But that will extend to all students at the university from 2023, when they must complete the modules in the first six month of their degree, or be banned from enrolling in the next semester.

Monash University locks students out of their online learning hub until modules on consent and Indigenous history are submitted. Picture: Chris Eastman

A La Trobe spokeswoman said: “This is an important measure to ensure that this significantly important training is undertaken in a time frame that supports students to make the most of their time at university and professionally and respectfully engage as a member of our community”.

All Australian Catholic University (ACU) students have to complete an academic integrity unit before they can access their results.

Monash University locks students out of their online learning hub, barring them from lecture recordings and weekly materials until modules on consent, drinking and indigenous history are submitted.

At RMIT, students are given optional online training modules on topics such as Indigenous culture, consent conversations and responding to disclosures of sexual harm.

“We are aware that the new affirmative consent laws have been introduced into the Victorian Parliament and will look to incorporate activities to support these laws in our 2023 plans,” an RMIT spokeswoman said.

It comes as Attorney-General Jaclyn Symes last week introduced a bill to the Victorian parliament that would make stealthing a crime and emphasise affirmative consent.

If passed, the law would mean direct and clear consent must be given before engaging in sexual activity from June 2023.

The new National Student Safety Survey found in March that one in 20 students has been sexually assaulted since starting university, while almost half had been sexually harassed.

But National Union of Students national president Georgie Beatty said while the topics covered by the modules were crucial, students should always be able to access materials paid for by steep fees.

“Not only should these modules be mandatory and backed up by services on campus, but they should be run with the flexibility that recognises the reality of student life,” she said.

“These institutions have a responsibility to provide education and services on campus around consent and first nations education but it’s important that it’s flexible enough that students can realistically engage with them.”

Meanwhile, online Respect and Responsibility is only optional for student leaders at Victoria University, but a spokeswoman said the university had not ruled out mandating the lessons in the future.