MGSE staff news
Update on COVID-19
COVIDSafe summer restrictions
Last week the Victoria Premier announced a return to COVIDSafe summer restrictions as of midnight Friday 26 February.
At the University this will mean:
- Masks will no longer be mandatory indoors, including office spaces. Masks continue to be recommended when 1.5m physical distancing can’t be maintained – indoors or outdoors.
- The cap on office-based workers on campus has increased from 50 per cent to 75 per cent. Staff must book a workstation.
- Kwong Lee Dow and 100 Leicester St building entrances no longer require swipe card access between 7am-7pm Mon-Fri, however swipe card access control remains in operation at most internal entry points, including floor entrances and lifts.
Visit the MGSE return to campus page for MGSE specific information and advice.
Check in and out using QR codes on campus
To support contact tracing, the University has installed QR codes across the campus and strongly encourage individuals to 'check in' on entry and 'check out' when you leave a space.
COVIDSafe ambassadors
As we enter Semester 1, look out for the COVIDSafe ambassadors on campus, a team of trained student ambassadors who will be on hand to encourage COVIDSafe behaviour, including physical distancing, hand hygiene and use of QR codes. You can spot the Ambassadors in their bright pink vests.
Update your contact details
In the event of a positive case of COVID-19, the ability of the University and the Department of Health to conduct quick and thorough contact tracing will be critical. This can only happen if we have current contact details for our staff and students recorded in the Themis HR and StudentOne.
COVID-19 Guide for Educators
A Guide for Educators is available outlining key considerations and guidelines for educators, teachers and lecturers conducting face-to-face teaching on campus. The guide includes advice on public health measures on campus, responding to breaches of COVIDSafe requirements, student access to the COVIDSafe Campus Module and individual roles and responsibilities to help keep our campus safe. Download slides for use at the beginning of your class.
COVID-19 Staff entitlements
A reminder that there are special leave and other COVID-19 entitlements available for staff who cannot work due to COVID-19. If you are required to self-isolate or become ill with COVID-19 and are unable to work from home, Special Paid Leave (Quarantine) is available for fixed term and continuing staff and a COVID-19 Special Payment is available for casual staff.
New COVIDSafe campus video
The University has rolled out a COVIDSafe campus video featuring Professor Jane Gunn. There will be more short videos coming soon to reinforce key COVIDSafe behaviours - wash your hands, scan QR codes and so on.
Thursday EFT payment runs
As of Monday 15 March 2021, the University is streamlining its Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) payment runs for domestic suppliers by moving the frequency of these payment runs to once a week. Under the new arrangement, Tuesday EFT payment run will cease and invoices for domestic suppliers (when due) will be paid on the Thursday’s pay run. The final Tuesday EFT will run on Tuesday 9 March.
Invoices on shorter payment terms such as Immediate and 7 day will be included in the once a week (Thursday) payment up to the scheduled payment date. All suppliers will still receive payment according to UoM standard payment terms assuming on time invoice submission.
Please note AP invoice cut-off time still applies meaning electronic approval/hold release of invoices must be completed by 11am Wednesday to ensure payment on Thursday.
There is no change to Wednesday’s international suppliers (Wire) payment run schedule.
Read more in the Knowledge Base article.
Update about on-campus library services
Semester 1 library access and hours have been modified to align with the University ‘open’ and ‘operational’ building access model. Swipe access has been removed at libraries from 1 March and libraries will be open to the public as well as the University community, with Student COVIDsafe Ambassadors at most library entrances. Bookings continue to be required for the Baillieu Library Reading Room.
In general, libraries will be open Mon-Thurs 9am-7pm and Fri 9am-5pm, with some libraries opening on weekends. After-hours study zones will open from 7am until library opening time Mon-Sun. They will not be available in the evening after the libraries close. Library hours will be reviewed after Easter in light of demand and the COVID situation. Visit the library's website for up-to-date library hours information.
At this busy time of year librarians continue to support academics and students by organising required learning materials - Readings Online, High Use materials, acquisition of new materials and facilitating student purchase of etexts. Liaison librarians are also partnering with academics’ to provide materials and learning experiences that develop students’ essential library research skills. Virtual services to researchers continue to be provided and can be accessed via the Library homepage.
Blended Synchronous Learning - support for teaching staff
Spaces across Parkville and Southbank campuses are being equipped to enable blended synchronous learning (BSL). BSL supports and training are available for teaching staff, including daily drop-in sessions, in-room tech support and self-serve resources covering BSL tech and pedagogy. Staff are strongly advised to attend a drop-in session.
Recording your online teaching sessions this semester
If you're intending to record your online teaching sessions this semester (lectures, tutorials, workshops etc), you can learn more about managing student privacy when recording teaching sessions.
Lunar New Year 'Prosperity toss' 2021
Some MGSE staff members gathered in a restaurant on Friday 19 February to welcome the Lunar New Year of the Ox with a 'prosperity toss'.
Submit a story idea for Pursuit
Pursuit is the University's multimedia content site. The stories, videos and podcasts on Pursuit reinforce the University's reputation as one of the world's leading research and teaching institutions.
Visit the Staff Hub to learn more about writing for Pursuit. You can find the Pursuit style guidelines and more about the process of getting a story published. If you have a story idea, please contact Genevieve Costigan.