Dear colleagues,
 

On Tuesday, the Semester 2 examination period ended. In a little over two weeks, almost 8,000 students completed exams and assessments, capping off what has been a challenging academic year.
 

With no face-to-face exams, it was another example of University staff working incredibly hard to adapt and support our students’ education journeys in the face of COVID-19.
 

That process of adaptation continues as we look ahead to 2021 with staff and students back on campus.
 

On campus in 2021

We know our students have felt dislocated and isolated this year. We admire the way they and their families, with your support, have navigated this period, but we understand how they miss being part of a thriving community.
 

Being around others, forming new friendships and rekindling old ones, and exploring new ideas together are vital parts of the university experience. Offering this experience to our students – safely – is a priority.
 

We also know our staff and students value in person teaching and planning is well underway to deliver this from Semester 1 next year.
 

We all have a role to play. Teams across the University are working to ensure lively, active campuses with new social hubs and activities such as food and market stalls. Staff working and meeting and interacting on our campuses is crucial.
 

COVID-safe plans will be in place for all activities, and the University has a well-developed and extensively tested outbreak management plan in place.
 

This planning continues alongside the work of academic scheduling.

 

Additional space

Building a timetable is always a complicated task. Across our campuses, we need to schedule thousands of learning and teaching activities into hundreds of spaces – a job made more difficult this year with the added overlay of vital COVID-safety measures.
 

We have done detailed analysis on what we need to teach in a COVID-safe way and the rooms we have available. Physical distancing has a significant impact. One of our large 250-seat lecture theatres can accommodate just 50 students. Across Hobart, we have just eight spaces that can hold more than 30 students.
 

We have the space we need in Burnie, Launceston and Sydney, but without more capacity in Hobart, timetabling is an impossible puzzle.
 

As you know, the University owns a number of properties in Hobart, which will be integral to the creation of a city-campus. However, our plans for the new campus were paused due to COVID-19 and the buildings are not suitable without significant refurbishment. Our need is more immediate.
 

To give our students the experience they expect and deserve – and to meet our requirements in minimising the risk of COVID-19 spreading in Tasmania – we have secured additional floor space in the KPMG building on Melville St in the Hobart CBD, and are looking at another option which is yet to be finalised.
 

In Semester 1, 2021, we will have up to 400 additional students and 50 more staff operating out of the Hobart CBD in modern, fit-for-purpose teaching spaces. Students enjoy being part of life in the city and, along with staff, they provide a boost to local businesses, which have had a tough year.

 

Next steps

The academic scheduling team is building the Semester 1 timetable right now. We expect the draft timetable to be provided to schools and colleges on 14 December, seeking feedback by 8 January. This will allow a timetable to be published for students on 18 January.
 

We are incredibly grateful for the enormous amount of work individuals and teams have done to continue our teaching, learning and research this year, and to plan and secure a safe and fulfilling future next year.
 

There is no going back to the way things were. Together, we are shaping the way things will be.
 

Warm regards,

 

Rufus