Tara Murray
Students will be back at Deakin University campuses next year after the university announced its reopening plan.
The University announced this week that their campuses would be fully vaccinated study and work environments, with students returning for the new semester.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Iain Martin said students and teachers needed certainty over where their study lies for the rest of this year.
He said it was now clear that public spaces will increasingly be open only to people who are fully vaccinated.
A survey of 2000 staff members found that 85 per cent of respondents have had at least one vaccination dose and that less than 3.5 per cent had indicated that they do not intend to be vaccinated.
Nearly three quarters of those surveyed either somewhat or strongly agreed with mandatory vaccination for staff and students.
All staff and students attending campuses as approved essential workers-students will be required to demonstrate evidence of having received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by October 15.
From November 5, only fully vaccinated staff, students or visitors or those with exemptions may attend campus.
On-campus pracs and labs will be scheduled for fully vaccinated students from December.
From January 31, all staff, students and visitors attending, working or studying on campus are required to be fully vaccinated.
Many classes, seminars and hands-on learning activities will be delivered in person, while Deakin’s digital learning environment will continue to underpin this.
Professor Martin said the regulations in the Victorian government’s roadmap make clear that students and staff would need to be vaccinated.
“We are awaiting further information from the government on how vaccination status will be recorded and will share this with the university community as it becomes available.
“In addition, Deakin will continue with other recommended measures such as mask-wearing, density limits and the availability of hand sanitiser to minimise COVID-19 transmission on-campus.”
“We want our campuses to be as inclusive and as safe as possible, and that requires having our students and staff as close to full vaccination as possible.
“So I urge everyone to make a booking or visit a walk-up clinic and get your jab as soon as you can.”
