MGSE staff news

Digital Taskforce Update

New Canvas feature

Staff users can now embed direct links to individual readings from their Readings Online libraries in Canvas.

For more about this feature see the latest Tip of the Week on the MGSE LMS Support community. If you haven't already, subscribe to the updates by following the link below – all staff welcome.

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Visit the Digital Taskforce page for further updates.

Update on COVID-19

Alternative Exam Arrangements

The University notes the changes announced allow final year students who require access to in-person teaching, assessment and/or work placements in order to complete their qualifications by the end of January 2021 to return to campus. The University intends to facilitate a return to campus for these students from Monday 12 October, which coincides with the resumption of teaching after the Semester break.

Student and Scholarly Services (SASS) has developed alternative exam arrangements (AEAs) for online assessments – centrally-managed and departmental examinations.

SASS, School Executive Directors (SEDs) and Exams teams will be meeting with each Academic Support Office (ASO) over the next week or so to go through the AEAs; how they will be applied to end of semester online examinations; and to ensure the settings are correct to allow this information to feed seamlessly from the timetable to the LMS exam shell.

The teams will work together to ensure consistency in treatment and application of AEAs to online exams to ensure compliance with policy and individual student academic adjustment plans.

In the meantime, if you have any questions contact Lee Papworth from SEDs or Amber Sloan from Exams.

Keeping the campus safe

As a reminder, all staff and students must have formal approval to return to campus and complete the compulsory COVIDSafe Campus online module (available in TrainME). In addition, individuals must complete a health declaration every time they come to campus or a worksite.

The University has implemented a range of public health and infection control measures on campus to help create a safe learning and working environment for those people on site including:

  • All workplaces have robust COVIDSafe plans and processes in place.
  • Enhanced cleaning, installation of more than 3,000 alcohol wipe dispensers, more than 2,500 touch-free hand sanitiser dispensers around campus and installation of more than 30,000 floor decals promoting physical distancing have been implemented.
  • On-campus activity has been spread across various buildings and  rooms have been reconfigured, enclosed spaces and offices to make it easier for people to physically distance while inside.
  • Heating and air conditioning systems will be altered to increase air circulation where possible.
  • QR codes have been introduced so students and staff can scan to check-in and out of rooms and spaces, which will help contact tracing - if required.
  • In the event that there is a confirmed COVID-19 case within the University community, the internal contact tracing capability – the Campus Community team – is available to provide expert, quick and decisive action that benefits the entire community (eg contact tracing, deep cleaning, DHHS liaison).

While all of these measures will help keep people safe, our success will depend on everyone doing the right thing, following the rules, and being COVIDSafe. That means practicing physical distancing, wearing a mask, and staying home if unwell with any of the following symptoms, however mild: fever, chills or sweats, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, runny nose, loss of taste or smell.

Request for return to campus via ServiceNow

As of Monday 5 October, requests for approval for staff returning to campus need to be submitted via an online form in ServiceNow. Check with your supervisor before submitting a request, as a team request may have been submitted on your behalf.

This new ServiceNow process is consistent with the process already in place for Researchers and Graduate Researchers. Those who have already been approved, do not need to reapply – this includes final year students that are returning to campus from 12 October to complete their courses.

In line with Second Step restrictions, any University staff member required to attend on-site for work must have a valid worker permit issued by the University. Failure to do so could result in a fine for the individual.

Divisions can issue permits only for permitted activities that cannot be completed remotely in accordance with the Victorian Government business and industry restrictions.

Operational response to COVID-19: three-week cycle review

Every three weeks the Pandemic Response Group (PRG) reviews the University’s operational response to the pandemic. Outcomes of the review – including decisions taken and compliance matters – are communicated to the University Executive to provide visibility of the response and to notify of key changes and impacts. Here are key outcomes from the most recent review:

  • PRG completed an assessment of Cycle 7 and endorsed an additional 3-week review cycle and potential for an additional 1,300 students to return to campus in line with easing of government restrictions.
  • Health & Safety Business Partners undertook observational work at all campuses, residential accommodation and clinical sites. 560 samples were collected, 20 potentially adverse findings, of these, eight required specific action in relation to disposal of face masks and physical distancing.
  • Daily average attendance on campus is 1,999 staff, students and contractors with 1,244 people attending eight buildings at Parkville for medical research, teaching and learning.
  • Demand for the Health Service has dropped during Stage 4 capacity for in person and telehealth available for same day appointments and COVID-19 tests.
  • All three Childcare centres are operating as per pre-Stage 4 with extensive COVID Safe protocols, including temperature checking upon arrival and health questionnaire for all staff and children.
  • Two students contracted the virus in this cycle.

Confirmed case update

Since Friday 18 September, the University hasn’t been notified of any new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the University community.

This is good news and while the current restrictions have obviously helped minimise movement and transmission, this result also reflects the robust COVIDSafe plans in-place on campus as well the commitment of our students and staff to adhering to these processes.

Please remember, if you, a staff member, or another member of the University community tests positive for COVID-19, please follow the testing and notification process for COVID-19.

The University will continue updating the  dedicated COVID-19 website at the end of each week with the latest information about confirmed COVID-19 cases.

Results submissions due in Semester 2

The Results due date for MGSE is  Monday 30 November COB. Non-standard subject results (eg Term 3, Winter) are due within 20 working days of the end of the assessment period. Check the Handbook for the assessment end date. For more results information visit the MGSE intranet.

UoM Early Childhood Centres - applications open for 2021

Applications are now open to enrol your child for a place in one of the UoM Early Childhood Centres at Queensberry and Swanston Street. To apply, please complete and return the application form by Friday 23 October to be considered for vacancies commencing from January 2021.

For any enquiries email childcare-enquiries@unimelb.edu.au

Invitation for feedback

'UniPlus' co-curriculum

Chancellery (Academic) invites staff to provide feedback on the activated and recognised co-curriculum initiative of the Student Life strategy.

Provisionally named 'Uniplus', this initiative will promote and recognise students' participation in activities outside of the classroom, helping to build connection for students with each other, with the University and with the broader community. These activities can also bring new meaning to the curriculum, allowing students to create new understandings and connections.

Understanding staff and students' views will be an important step for successful development and implementation of Uniplus, which will have significant impact on students' experience and learning.

Mindfulness podcast

A Walk on the Wise Side is a six episodes podcast about practicing mindfulness. Together with host Dr Stephen McKenzie and expert guests, this guided meditation series will take from where you think you are - to where you really are. These podcasts are designed to help you gain insight into the practice of mindfulness and include step-by-step guides on how to do it at home. Mindfulness is a state of mind, or actually a state that's beyond our minds and their limitations. To really understand mindfulness and its benefits, we need to practice it. This podcast will help answer your burning mindfulness questions, like: What is mindfulness? What are its benefits? Is it a fad or is it something deeper? Can it help me study/work/sleep? There's no right or wrong way to practice mindfulness - but it can't hurt to have a guide.

Visit the University's podcast page for more UoM podcasts.

Assisting staff to support student mental health

Counselling and Psychological Services (CAPS) provides resources to assist staff to support student mental health. Staff can contact CAPS for a confidential secondary consultation (mental health advice) regarding any student or staff-and-student related mental health concern during business hours.

All staff can access the CAPS 40-minute online training program "Supporting Student Mental Health" to learn how to respond to students with mental health problems and about available services and resources. For those requiring more in-depth training, Mental Health First Aid certificate programs are provided monthly through online delivery. For further information or tailored mental health training requests, see the Services for Staff section of the CAPS website for details. Mental health and wellbeing self-help resources are also available including information on managing feelings of stress, anxiety, or distress associated with COVID-19, and early identification and support of students who may be experiencing mental health issues.

For further enquiries contact Karol Crvenkovic on 8344 6927 or caps-reception@unimelb.edu.au

IT Update

The Service Centre can help with any IT, facilities, HR, finance, OHS, research, teaching and learning enquiry from any part of the University. They're here to help or get you in contact with the right specialist service team. The Service Centre operates weekdays from 7.30am-7.30pm and on weekends from 9am-5pm. You can contact the Service Centre by:

New Staff Hub search launches next week

The Staff Hub team is completely changing the way the Staff Hub search works, tailoring it specifically to improve the staff user experience. The new search launches from Wednesday 7 October.

The new search will make it easier to find information, services, forms and support articles online.

For further enquiries contact Andy Marasa.

New Zoom features

Great new features to the breakout room and file-sharing tools in the Zoom app are coming from next week in the version 5.3.0 update. Updates to the breakout room feature mean that meeting hosts can now create breakout rooms with the option for participants to self-select the breakout room they would like to join. If enabled, participants could move freely between breakout rooms, without needing the host's help. Updates to the file-sharing feature mean that in addition to OneDrive and Google Drive, attendees can now share files from SharePoint directly through in-meeting chat.

University computers should begin to see the Zoom update from Monday 5 October. If you're using a University computer, the Zoom app may prompt you to restart the application to complete the update.

Find out more about these features on the Staff Services Portal. For further enquiries visit the IT services support page.

MU sport named most LGBTIQ inclusive organisation in Australia

MU Sport was named Sporting Organisation of the Year at the Australian Pride in Sport Awards for the second consecutive year. The awards are based on ACON's Pride in Sport Index, a national benchmarking tool to assess LGBTIQ inclusion within Australian Sporting organisations. MU Sport is proud to assist University programs, clubs and communities in being as inclusive and welcoming as possible.

Sustainability Update

Have your say - University's Sustainability Plan

The University's Sustainability Plan expires at the end of 2020, and a new Plan for 2021 to 2025 is being developed over the coming months. The new Plan will shape the University's commitment to lead and act on the critical challenges of global sustainability and a changing climate, and to model our campuses as sustainable and resilient communities.

To inform the new Sustainability Plan,  the University is seeking input from staff, students and alumni on three key questions:

1. What does sustainability mean to you?
2. What role do you think the University can and should play in transitioning society to a sustainable future?
3. What priorities would you like to see reflected in the University's Sustainability Plan 2021-2025?

Have your say by submitting your response via a survey or join an online session:

Visit Our Sustainability Commitment page for more information or for any enquiries contact: sustainable-campus@unimelb.edu.au.