VU open for business & progressing on-campus classes
Victoria University is very much open for business, with a ‘safety-first’, gradual approach to on-campus classes and activities for 2022.
Health & safety always our top priority
Vice-Chancellor Professor Adam Shoemaker said that the University was "progressively and carefully" increasing its on-campus activities over the coming weeks.
"Our aim is to maximise personal and academic support for all of our students while maintaining optimal COVID safety for both students and staff."
"We have already run successful, COVID-safe classes for hundreds of higher education students over summer that included practical, on-campus activities,” he said.
Trades & vocational students return
Like other TAFE institutions in Victoria, from Monday 31 January, Victoria University Polytechnic, the University’s TAFE division, will welcome approximately 5,000 students to begin their practical training and assessments on nine campuses. Attendance will be staggered across the days of the week.
Over 800 apprentices, hair and beauty, and clinical health students already started attending essential practical learning and assessments last week.
They will be joined by VCE and VCAL students in February, as well as students learning English as an Additional Language. On-campus learning, supported by rich online delivery, will be available on every one of the Polytechnic's campuses and teaching sites, including the VU Whitten Oval.
In-person events welcome commencing higher education students
VU’s 2022 orientation and other student-focused activities begin from 8 February. More than 4,500 new first-year higher education (degree) students will have the opportunity to celebrate the commencement of their academic year at more than 30 different events.
These COVID-safe orientation activities will be held in-person (or online if preferred) across seven campuses including City Flinders, Footscray Park, Footscray Nicholson, Sunshine, St Albans, Werribee, and City Queen – until Friday 18 February.
VU Block Model: balancing in-person and online learning
All essential laboratory and clinical health classes will be face-to-face when VU Block Model classes begin on Monday 21 February. Other classes (non-essential laboratory and clinical health) will be held online in real time.
The number of safe, on-campus courses at VU and VU Polytechnic will increase steadily between February and April. After eight weeks, and to mark the inauguration of our new 32-storey VU City Tower and City Campus on Tuesday 26 April, VU expects the majority of its courses and activities will be on-campus.
If Victoria's public health situation worsens, the University is in a position to pivot.
Graduations are back
For students who completed their studies with VU in 2020 and 2021, VU has scheduled 13 COVID-safe graduation ceremonies at the Victoria Racing Club in Flemington with restricted numbers and live-stream broadcasting.
These long-awaited and eagerly-anticipated opportunities to celebrate the success of over 3,000 graduands will take place from Monday 21 to Friday 25 March.
Progressing toward safe & healthy operations
Professor Shoemaker stressed that “everything that needs to be done to maintain healthy and safe campuses will be done."
"For example, we have already contacted Western Health offering to host pop-up vaccination sites for third COVID-19 booster shots for students, staff and the wider community, and we will continue to run our annual influenza vaccine hubs for staff."
"At the same time, student preferences and staff views will be canvassed in February and March to ensure VU maintains the highest standards of health and safety."
Other services
A range of support services are also now available on-campus. These include VUHQ, (the University's student service centres), IT support, Campus Security, campus libraries, as well as VU's health and fitness, and childcare centres, which are open to students, staff, and the wider community.
“Our number one priority is student-centeredness coupled with excellent, safe learning experiences,” said Professor Shoemaker.
VU will continue to be guided by Victorian Department of Health requirements and advice. When attending campus, students, staff and visitors must be fully vaccinated (except for those who have medical exemptions) and must wear masks indoors.
