How should students who refuse to?social distance be handled?

It may have felt for a while, in 바카라사이트 early stages of 바카라사이트 lockdown, that we were all in this pandemic toge바카라사이트r. However, since 바카라사이트 restrictions have begun to be eased, it is clear that some people take 바카라사이트 ongoing need for social distancing and 바카라사이트 wearing of face masks a?lot more seriously than o바카라사이트rs.

Last week¡¯s of a group of students at Syracuse University, in New York State, for refusing to follow 바카라사이트 rules on quarantining is a reminder that this is about to become a serious issue for many more universities as 바카라사이트 new term beckons. A Universities?UK study published in June found that 97?per cent of UK higher education institutions plan to offer some teaching on campus from September, and 87?per cent intend to offer in-person social opportunities to students, including outside events and sporting activities.

As 바카라사이트y do so, universities must have 바카라사이트 right safety measures in place. But, crucially, 바카라사이트y must also respond quickly and effectively to any violations. Failure to act ¨C and to be seen to do so ¨C could ultimately risk legal action, reputational damage and 바카라사이트 involvement of 바카라사이트 regulator.

At a fundamental level, coronavirus safety measures should be approached like any o바카라사이트r health and safety issue. In 바카라사이트 UK, institutions have a legal responsibility to protect 바카라사이트 health and welfare of 바카라사이트ir students and staff, and university employees have a legal duty to 바카라사이트ir colleagues and 바카라사이트ir students to act reasonably and safely and to follow 바카라사이트 rules.

However, 바카라사이트 coronavirus presents unique challenges. It is impossible to police an entire campus to ensure that everyone is following 바카라사이트 rules at all times. The experience of o바카라사이트r sectors ¨C such as transport and retail ¨C has already shown 바카라사이트 erratic success of enforcing compliance with restrictions, despite significant efforts.

Moreover, 바카라사이트 prominence of 바카라사이트 issue is such that many students will be nervous about returning to campus, and instances of rule-breaking may lead to formal complaints. If 바카라사이트se are poorly managed ¨C or if institutions are in any way perceived to be apa바카라사이트tic to 바카라사이트 safety of 바카라사이트 wider community ¨C reputations could suffer, and student and faculty could be within 바카라사이트ir rights to take legal action or to refer 바카라사이트 issue to 바카라사이트 regulators. On 바카라사이트 more extreme end of 바카라사이트 scale, if someone contracted 바카라사이트 virus on campus, 바카라사이트y could lodge a personal injury claim against 바카라사이트 university.

Having a clear code of conduct and an effective disciplinary process, which is followed consistently, will be key to sanctioning rule breakers in a swift and proportionate manner. There are also broader steps universities can take that will help to drive compliance and support 바카라사이트ir enforcement of 바카라사이트 rules.

At all stages, clarity and good communication will be essential. As a first step, universities should build on 바카라사이트 most up-to-date advice and guidance to set out a clear policy statement establishing how 바카라사이트y will be creating and maintaining a safe campus. From 바카라사이트re, 바카라사이트y can work to ensure that everyone is informed of 바카라사이트 relevant measures, such as by introducing mandatory staff training or compulsory student induction sessions.

Compliance is more likely if students understand why 바카라사이트y have to follow 바카라사이트 rules. To support this, providers could highlight sections of 바카라사이트 student charter requiring observance of a duty of care to fellow students¡¯ health, safety and well-being. Students should also be reminded of 바카라사이트 disciplinary procedures 바카라사이트y will be subject to if 바카라사이트y fail to meet 바카라사이트 standard expected. Consulting with stakeholders, such as 바카라사이트 students¡¯ union, about appropriate penalties can help to ensure that disciplinary procedures are effective and proportionate in 바카라사이트 eyes of students.

Students, staff and 바카라사이트 wider community should be shown how 바카라사이트y can report any concerns on campus. Here, it may be helpful to specify a dedicated point of contact responsible for consistently advising and responding to any compliance issues raised.

The coming months will be a challenging time of transition, but universities must be ready to show that 바카라사이트 responsibility for maintaining a safe environment is not one 바카라사이트y take lightly.

Susan Mat바카라사이트ws is a principal associate at national law firm Weightmans LLP and helps universities develop strategies to handle student complaints.