Monash University law faculty to release recorded lectures after backlash from students

Monash University’s law faculty has sensationally scrapped its “ableist” ban on recorded lectures following fierce backlash from students.

Monash University, Clayton campus. Law moot court.

Monash University’s law faculty has backflipped on its refusal to release lesson recordings following scores of backlash from students over fears students with disabilities would be forced to attend classes or miss out on lessons altogether.

In an email to students on Thursday, the faculty confirmed students would be expected to attend and participate in all classes, but “seminar recordings will be provided to assist with the transition into the new seminar mode of teaching.”

The reversal followed the faculty’s move on Wednesday to overhaul the traditional lecture and tutorial model by turning all lectures into compulsory three-hour long seminars.

Monash’s law cohort expressed outrage over the “ableist” move, saying it put the university’s most vulnerable students at risk of being exposed to Covid-19.

It is understood the University did not make exceptions for students on the Disability Support Services (DSS) scheme, meaning all students were expected to attend in-person classes to ensure they don’t miss out on content.

The only students believed to originally have access to seminar recordings were those studying their entire degree online, with the faculty initially refusing to release recordings to the broader cohort over “privacy concerns” of students participating in class.

The Herald Sun obtained a statement issued to the university’s law students, which states all students are expected to attend classes from February 28 in a bid to create a more “interactive” learning approach.

“The Monash Bachelor of Laws (Honours) will be returning to an in-person program from the start of Semester 1,” the statement read.

“In accordance with university announcements, all students are expected to attend and be active participants in class.”

RECORD SEMINARS! A recent decision made by the Law faculty shows their plan to change regularly scheduled lectures to...

Posted by Student Voice for Monash on Tuesday, February 8, 2022

One female student said: “This decision is just incredibly ableist. Students can’t get to class for so many reasons and shouldn’t be penalised for trying to take care of their health while getting an education. Monash needs to do better.”

Another said: “Recordings for every student for every subject is the minimum we deserve after paying full fees for two years of online study”.

“The faculty should be embarrassed”.

Concerns were mounting for law students who work full-time, with many fearing they will lose their jobs or not be able to afford their rent if these new rules are to come into play.

Law student Hailey Summers, who has worked full-time at a law firm since 2020 while completing her studies, said: “The University has placed us in a position of choosing between education and livelihood.”

“As someone who works full time, I either have to forfeit my job or lose all access to the resources which I require to complete my degree,” she said.

The faculty’s push for a completely in-person model comes after Monash was slapped with a health and safety notice for failing to consult with staff on its plans to return to face-to-face teaching, which has since been withdrawn.

Several of the university’s union groups remain in talks with the faculty over its refusal to release the recordings.

A Monash University spokesman confirmed class recordings would now be made available to all students.

The spokesman said additional support for more vulnerable students would be assessed individually.

“As has always been the case, our Disability Support Services assists students who may require assistance with their studies on a case by case basis,” the spokesman said.

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Originally published as Monash University law faculty to release recorded lectures after backlash from students