Spring has sprung! Student Rep Update: Academic Board 20/03

Spring has truly sprung! Welcome back to the beginning of a new session as we kick off Spring. This week, the UTS Academic Board convened on Wednesday, 29 July 2020 via Zoom as we settle into Spring session, working on our response to COVID-19, revising our UTS 2027 Strategy in a COVID-era and plan towards 2021 student admissions.

Student representatives handed down a report on the Student Learning Experience in Autumn 2020 providing recommendations for implementation in Spring. I was pleased to be the lead sponsor of this paper with the support of eight other co-sponsors of student reps in other faculties. More information on the report can be found below.

Report by the Vice-Chancellor

The Vice-Chancellor spoke to his report as UTS enters Phase Two of the campus reactivation plan. From Spring, building access has been widened, and most critical face to face learning activities, including labs, practicals, group work, studios, etc will be returned to campus in face-to-face mode.

On the Federal Governments changes to the cost of university degrees, Attila touched on UTS's focus on equity of low-SES, remote, and Indigenous students. UTS has always advocated for greater participation of students from these groups in tertiary education, and this is now more important than ever as the Government tries to drive Australia's economic recovery through opportunities to retrain and reskill for jobs of the future.

On international students, Minister Geoff Lee, NSW Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education, announced NSW Government support for international students as part of a $20 million support package, including funding temporary crisis accommodation for international students suffering hardship. The Minister said that increased support would be provided via the International Legal Service NSW with free advice available from a new 24/7 international student support service through the NSW Government COVID-19 hotline.

On 2020 Higher School Certificate (HSC) students, Attila recognised that existing educational disadvantage will be exacerbated by the COVID-19 crisis and negatively impact 2021 admission. UTS has developed an approach to tackle this challenge including:

• Existing early entry schemes – more students will be encouraged to apply via existing early entry schemes.
• Year 11 track record – UTS is working with the Universities Admission Centre to automate and apply the better of an applicant's years 11 and 12 results (i.e. Year 11 predicted ATAR or Year 12 actual ATAR).
• Lifting of adjustment points cap for eligible Educational Access Schemes applicants (i.e. lifting of maximum allowable x adjustment points for x degree).
• Matriculation flexibility for low SES school leavers. Ordinarily, applicants must matriculate based on raw ATARs (minimum ATAR of 69 or 80 for Law) before any adjustment points are added. However, the Provost has the delegation to consider special admissions schemes.

On the QS University Rankings, released on 10 June, UTS has improved on performance by seven places from last year to an overall ranking of 133. Since 2014, UTS has moved up 139 places, and we are currently in the top 12 per cent of institutions for performance. This endorses the strategic direction UTS has taken over a decade and our ability to weather the setbacks of 2020 while maintaining a growing position on the world stage. 

On the newly announced Tech Central where UTS is set to be part of the biggest technology hub, Attila spoke on future-focused thinking and looks forward to welcoming Atlassian and other leading tech companies to our increasingly dynamic neighbourhood.

I asked the Vice-Chancellor, what role will UTS play in shaping the new precinct and our involvement with companies such as Atlassian?

Attila said that the creation of Tech Central was envisioned some four years ago as part of UTS's Campus Masterplan with UTS on various committees throughout the planning and soon to commence construction stages. He states that over the next few years, development and student programs will create an active precinct well before the building of a world-class innovation precinct takes shape and partnerships established once built.

Report by the Provost

The Provost spoke to a report on the student load (enrolment) forecast for Spring 2020. There are 4 major categories of UTS students:

• Commonwealth supported students – domestic undergraduate (UG) and some postgraduate (PG) coursework students supported under the Commonwealth Grant Scheme (CGS);
• Domestic fee-paying UG and PG coursework students;
• International coursework students – onshore and offshore;
• Higher degree by research (HDR) students – domestic students in Research Training Program (RTP) and international research students (fee-paying and fee waiver including International RTP Fee Offset).

Andrew states that the total student load is projected to be significantly under target as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Overall, the domestic undergraduate load has reached the target, but all other categories are below target, and significantly in the international load.

UTS 2027 Strategy - Presentation

The Board received a presentation on the UTS 2027 Strategy by the Provost highlighting the financial impact of 2020. Operational components of the 2027 Strategy have been rescheduled with a finalisation of UTS's budget to be delivered at the September meeting of Academic Board. The budget will highlight the flow on effects in 2021/22/23.

COVID-19 has allowed us to work in ways that were unconventional and often unpredictable which is very much analogous to the way we work under our UTS 2027 Strategy. Learning for a lifetime acknowledges that society is constantly changing and the way we're taught must change with it.

Unpredictable workforces are guaranteed in a technologically connected world, but fluidity in how we're able to work will provide agility to adapt, which COVID-19 for better or worse has forced us to do.

Internationalisation (COVID-19) - Presentation

The Board received a presentation on internationalisation by Iain Watt, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (International) in light of the impacts of COVID-19.

At a glance

• In February 2020, there were 4,000 students unable to travel due to partial border closures, resulting in a financial impact of A$80-90M. A hardship fund of A$3M was established immediately in response for support.
• In March 2020, the closure of all borders saw the remote delivery of the Autumn session with 4,200 Chinese students studying off-shore and 700 in Vietnam, Korea and Indonesia.
• In April/May, the revised financial impact indicated A$113M. The hardship fund was increased to A$15M to support international students financially.

Recent developments

• 3 Online Learning Centres (CLO's) have been established in China and Vietnam to support UTS students undertaking their studies abroad.
• Within the international student cohort, there were 600 deferrals, 1000 leave of absences (LoA), 1300 students remained in Sydney, 2300 students studied remotely abroad and 100 returned to their home countries.

Elected Faculty Student Representatives - Student Experience (COVID-19)

Student representatives spoke to our report on the student learning experience in Autumn 2020, in light of the impacts of COVID-19 specific to each of the respective faculties to consider student insight and any relevant recommendations.

For the Faculty of Law, I spoke about the mixed feedback received about the overall learning experience. At the beginning of the session, students initially made representations on the inability to engage in organic learning given the discussion-based nature of our subjects, including some subjects not offering Zoom.

I highlighted the increased challenges first-year students experienced given the unconventional commencement on their university journey. Further, I focused on penultimate year students applying for clerkships and other graduate programs experiencing a great deal of anxiety in striving to perform their best prior to applications.

For an additional update on the Faculty of Law, continue here.

Wendy John from the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences spoke on concerns about the lack of internships available as well as the inconsistency of communications from faculty and UTS. She further focused on students with accessibility needs and reflection on the usage of digital technologies such as Zoom as well as positive student feedback.

Brooke Lazarus from the Faculty of Design, Architecture and Building spoke on the challenges with the cutting back or removal of faculty resources, such as limiting the hours the computer labs in Building 6. Further, the closure of laser cutting labs, photography studios, model making spaces, and fabrication workshops inclusive of being removed the ability to rent university-owned cameras posed difficulties in Autumn.

Matthew Choy from the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology spoke on difficulties in completing assessments and studies online, particularly as the majority of subjects consist of assessable group work components. A large proportion of international students continued to experience significant hardships throughout the session, including the inability to secure internship experience.

Jane Kenny from the Faculty of Health spoke on the inconsistency of information being delivered and the quantity and quality of lectures. Jane reported that students stated the repetitive comments from lecturers ‘we are in uncertain times’ and students feel that there has been enough time for gradual adjustment. For instance, a 32-hour subject was delivered in four hours of lectures and additional ‘YouTube’ videos.

Georgia Lloyd from the Faculty of Science spoke on the loss of face to face learning meant there was a significant reduction in required practicals which are commonly compulsory aspects of their degrees. Having some lab work and practicals undergone via Zoom was suitable for a few, whereas many felt the loss of practical work noticeably reduced its value.

Nicola Panopoulos from the Faculty of Transdisciplinary Innovation spoke on the transition has not been without its challenges, with students noting how different the learning has become without feeling the energy of students working within a physical collaborative space. A unique quality of FTDI subjects, fostering emergent practice and transdisciplinary learning potential. It is not a small feat within FTDI to switch into an online format as the teaching and learning are mutualistic. 

Caster Calma, President of the UTS Business Society and 4th-year business student assisted out-of-session of Academic Board in the absence of Nina Frost for the School of Business. Caster spoke on the unusual learning experience that was beyond the control of both students and academics to learn new skills to adapt. Recognising it was an unconventional period of learning, lectures are ordinarily recorded and classes were delivered via Zoom. Caster recognised UTS's response which is owed to the one week pause in W2 and the offering of take-home exams in place of physical, open-book exams.

Rebecca Lorena Bachmann for the Postgraduate Research Students spoke on the challenges of many students to remain motivated and to dedicate sufficient time to research activities while working from home. For some, this was due to a change in environment, as many are used to working and collaborating with faculty and other research students on campus. Others struggled as they had to take care of family and children at home. This has resulted in one common concern: how the past few months will impact the progress and performance evaluation of their candidature. 

• Lori Lockyer, Dean of the Graduate Research School said that GRS will work with supervisors and faculties to provide students with information regarding the upcoming Review of Progress. She says, "we want students to feel comfortable to use this process to accurately document the impact of COVID so we can continue to find ways of supporting on an individual student basis and across the cohort where possible".

In summary

Maxine Evers, Associate Dean (Education) for Law thanked and acknowledged the work of student representatives and the recommendations for adoption in my report for take-home exams to continue in Law.

Jan McLean, Director, Institute for Interactive Media and Learning thanked student representatives for feedback on the resources of LX Transformation.

Mary Coupland, Director for the Mathematics Study Support Centre thanked student representatives for feedback and useful insight for improvement to support services.

Monica Attard, Head of Journalism of the Faculty of Arts and Social Science thanked student representatives for insight into FASS.

Joanne Gray, Chair of Academic Board thanked student representatives for working over the break to deliver the report as part of UTS's response to COVID-19 and for the relevant recommendations be considered for adoption.

The Academic Board received and noted the report – Student Experience Autumn 2020 (COVID-19) with the relevant insight and recommendations considered for adoption by its members.

Student/Council Liaison Group 03/20

Last Tuesday, 21 July 2020 the Student Council Liaison Group convened chaired by Michelene Collopy, Pro-Chancellor and attended by Shirley Alexander, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education and Students) with student reps from all faculties, ActivateUTS and Students’ Association.

The meeting received a presentation on the student campus report by Shirley, including results from the Student Feedback Survey (SFS). In the coming days, students will receive an additional survey designed with the consultation of student reps on the online learning experience in Autumn 2020 focusing on the delivery of exams. My recommendation was that additional ‘Comments’ boxes are added beyond multiple choices allowing answers to be fleshed out, this was subsequently adopted.

Wendy John from the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences introduced an item about Indigenous Graduate Attributes and Bias Awareness Training for Students with the support of other reps and myself. All members resonated well with the paper. Speaking for the Faculty of Law, I spoke on the importance of bias awareness as future practitioners or leaders in non-legal industries in representing society within one of the most multicultural countries in the world. Shirley subsequently offered Wendy a seat on a soon to be announced committee, chaired by Michael McDaniel, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Leadership and Engagement).

I introduced an item about Respecting Our Frontline Workers with the support of other student reps. This paper aimed to introduce a micro-campaign in acknowledging the work of our cleaners, security, doctors, nurses and counsellors so far this year with even greater challenges as we return to campus. The poster and screen-based campaign, if adopted, will be rolled out across campus in Spring. The paper will now be forwarded for consideration.

Lastly, the SCLG received the 2019 UTS Annual Sustainability Report which covers our work in sustainability over the past year. Amongst many highlights, we opened our plastic-free food court, processed 87 tonnes of organic waste on campus and the first Australian university to declare a climate emergency in 2019.

What's been happening?

• Earlier this month, I met with our Senior Project Manager at UTS to undergo observation of the double glass doors in UTS Central, particularly Levels 14, 15 and 16 that posed accessibility issues for impaired or disabled students and staff. Further to my previous update, UTS Facilities Management Office will now enter a consultation period as we return to campus, with rectification works to follow.
• Last week, I met with our Program Manager for U@Uni Academy, UTS’s equity pilot-program that targets students from Year 10 that show potential to study at uni but hindered by socioeconomic status and other external factors. Upon completion of programs in Year 10-12 at UTS, the student is offered a place without an ATAR. The meeting was productive in exploring the program in light of the Federal Governments proposed changes to uni fees, I look forward to exploring the program further in 2020/21.
• In June, my colleague Rebecca Chea and I introduced an item to the Faculty Board in Law for discussion regarding feedback received in Autumn for Zoom sessions being offered in some subjects. The Board received and noted the item with the relevant improvements made for Spring to enhance the student learning experience.
• In May, I requested all student common spaces in UTS Central, especially for law students on Level 14 to be installed with microwaves and fridges. I’m pleased to update you that microwaves and fridges have now been fitted in all student common spaces in UTS Central. The question remains, is the fridge stainless steel or white? Grim. 
• In May, I made a request to ensure the spaces of the UTS Law Students’ Society are regularly cleaned as well as the Moot Courts, given they are not considered part of the routine cleaning schedule in a COVID-19 era. The Moot Courts and LSS spaces are now cleaned three times a day in the morning, at lunch and overnight – weird citrus chemical scents, nice. 

Just a few remarks

As a student myself, the break has been a time of reflection as we look back at the first half of 2020 and see how we can improve ourselves for the next half. During the break, I had the opportunity to escape to the Blue Mountains with a few friends where the sense of tranquillity away from everyday life is rejuvenating. While I have been recommending everyone (literally) to check out the pies in Leura, taking some time away or doing something you truly enjoy is the best possible way to cope in our frantic lives.

As we look back at the first half of 2020, the challenges we faced has allowed us to grow resilient to the challenges that may present itself in the remainder of year. This Spring session, remember the way we worked in Autumn, the connections we created and the importance of genuine human connection. We may have friends who might feel withdrawn or friends who might feel ecstatic on return, but remember to support each other as friends and peers. Our generosity in spirit and kindness is what makes up UTS’s fabric of diversity and who we are.

If you have any questions, concerns or queries, get in touch by way of email at [email protected], submit an anonymous form here or find your respective student rep here. I’m incredibly thrilled to see what Spring has in store and I hope to see you back on campus very soon!

Kurt Cheng is an undergraduate student studying a Bachelor of Laws / Bachelor of Communication (Social and Political Sciences) representing the Faculty of Law on the UTS Academic Board and the Faculty Board in Law.