University of Newcastle will delay the resumption of semester one by a week after the Easter break and has told staff to take a compulsory week of holidays as the institution grapples with the impact of the coronavirus.
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Vice-chancellor Alex Zelinsky wrote in a letter to staff on Tuesday that the impact "must be shared between the institution and individuals".
Staff will receive an extra three days of paid special leave after the Easter long weekend then will take the following week, April 20 to 24, off as holidays.
Staff preparing teaching material, those seconded to help fight COVID-19, security personnel and employees deemed crucial by the vice-chancellor and directors are exempt from the compulsory holiday.
"As I said in my message on Friday, one of my goals is to shield the university as best we can from future job losses," Professor Zelinsky wrote.
"This measure will support the university's financial position going forward.
"I hope most of you will see it as an opportunity to pause, rest and restore so that we can continue to keep our university operating effectively and support our students in the coming months."
There will be times when the impact must be shared between the institution and individuals. This is one of those times.
- Professor Alex Zelinsky
He acknowledged that some staff would not welcome the changes but others might appreciate the opportunity to look after children at home.
The university will delay the resumption of classes, which are now all online, by one week to May 4.
Professor Zelinsky said he had met with union representatives on Tuesday morning to explain the decisions.
On Friday, he told staff in a video message that he expected them to be on campus one day a week during the pandemic.
He did not revisit this issue in the latest correspondence with staff.
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Michael Parris
Michael Parris reports on politics for the Newcastle Herald. He started at the Herald in 1994 after working in the ABC Newcastle newsroom. Michael spent much of his career as a sub-editor before moving into political reporting in 2017. He was a finalist in the Sports Australia national media awards for his stories about a male-only tennis club in Newcastle. He has covered NSW and federal elections, state and federal budgets and local politics. He has also written extensively about the COVID-19 pandemic with a special focus on data analysis and the effects of lockdowns on the Hunter community.
Michael Parris reports on politics for the Newcastle Herald. He started at the Herald in 1994 after working in the ABC Newcastle newsroom. Michael spent much of his career as a sub-editor before moving into political reporting in 2017. He was a finalist in the Sports Australia national media awards for his stories about a male-only tennis club in Newcastle. He has covered NSW and federal elections, state and federal budgets and local politics. He has also written extensively about the COVID-19 pandemic with a special focus on data analysis and the effects of lockdowns on the Hunter community.
