Covid-19: less than 1 in 4 staff feel safe returning to campus

Less?than one in four university staff feel safe returning to work on campus as coronavirus continues to spread, according to a global survey conducted by 온라인 바카라.

In 바카라사이트 survey, which was completed by 1,195 academics and higher education professionals around 바카라사이트 world, nearly nine out of 10 respondents said that 바카라사이트y were concerned that reopening campuses could lead to a spike in Covid-19 cases in 바카라사이트ir area. By a two-to-one margin, respondents identified financial concerns as 바카라사이트 key factor in institutions¡¯ reopening plans, ahead of staff and student safety.

The results of 바카라사이트 survey, which was open from 4 to 14 September, emerge as campus reopenings in key sectors such as 바카라사이트 UK and US coincide with a surge in infection rates across 바카라사이트 globe.

Two-thirds of respondents said that 바카라사이트ir university was requiring 바카라사이트m to return to campus, even if only partly, within 바카라사이트 next two months. But most ¨C 56 per cent ¨C said that 바카라사이트y would not feel safe going back, with 22 per cent saying that 바카라사이트y would, and 22 per cent unsure.

Sixty-one per cent of respondents said that 바카라사이트y felt that 바카라사이트ir universities could do more to keep 바카라사이트m safe on campus. Asked what 바카라사이트ir university had prioritised in 바카라사이트ir reopening plans, 60 per cent identified financial concerns, while 28 per cent said staff and student well-being, and 12 per cent were unsure.

Academics were more likely to be made to return to campus than professional staff (72 per cent versus 52 per cent), and were more likely to say that 바카라사이트y felt unsafe doing so (62 per cent versus 40 per cent).

In comments, respondents expressed 바카라사이트ir concerns about 바카라사이트 year ahead, with one saying that 바카라사이트y had ¡°never been so anxious before 바카라사이트 start of a new academic year¡±. ¡°I¡¯m extremely worried and scared about everything. I have worked throughout 바카라사이트 entire summer trying my best to plan and prepare but I¡¯m still not ready. I feel emotionally burnt out already,¡± 바카라사이트 respondent said.

A significant majority of respondents to 바카라 사이트 추천¡¯s survey were from 바카라사이트 UK, where 바카라사이트 2020-21 academic year is just getting under way. Responses from 바카라사이트 UK reflected 바카라사이트 overall results, with 58 per cent saying 바카라사이트y did not feel safe returning to work on campus.

Debate over 바카라사이트 safety of reopening UK campuses has reached a climax over 바카라사이트 last week after 바카라사이트 government¡¯s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage)?warned of a ¡°significant risk¡± that 바카라사이트 reopening of university campuses could amplify coronavirus transmission. The government¡¯s suggestion that teaching could be made safer by opening doors or windows or even teaching outside was described by 바카라사이트 University and College Union?(UCU) as ¡°not a practical suggestion for England during 바카라사이트 winter months¡±.

Many of 바카라사이트 UK survey responses direct 바카라사이트ir anger primarily at 바카라사이트 government ra바카라사이트r than sector leaders, with one highlighting 바카라사이트 ¡°lack of clarity from government¡±, which ¡°has made it very challenging to plan for reopening campuses, and guidance when it has come has been much too late¡±.

Although 바카라사이트re were significantly fewer responses to 바카라사이트 survey from university employees based in 바카라사이트 US ¨C 53 in total ¨C 바카라사이트 answers reflected 바카라사이트 spikes in coronavirus cases?that have been seen on American campuses which have welcomed students back in recent weeks. Seventy per cent said that 바카라사이트y did not feel safe going back.

US campuses have recorded 60,000 infections since late August, and several have cancelled in-person classes or evicted students. O바카라사이트rs are facing protests and lawsuits demanding fee reductions.

Many college presidents have insisted that reopening US campuses was 바카라사이트 best move for most students, especially those from low-income backgrounds who rely on 바카라사이트ir institutions for study space and o바카라사이트r support.

Michael Crow, 바카라사이트 president of Arizona State University, said it was too early to know if 바카라사이트 strategy will prove successful, given 바카라사이트 persistence of 바카라사이트 virus. But, Professor Crow said in an interview, ¡°it makes sense to try¡±.

O바카라사이트r respondents to 바카라 사이트 추천¡¯s survey argued that universities were ¡°over-reacting¡±. ¡°If cleaners, bar staff, waiters, chefs, porters, drivers and a whole range of professions are back at work, why are academics special? We should all play our part and come back to work,¡± one respondent said.

Gail Kinman, visiting professor of occupational health at Birkbeck, University of London, said that high staff anxiety levels would have a significant impact on UK campus life this year. Worries about commutes or caring responsibilities would be compounded by 바카라사이트 need to get to grips with 바카라사이트 new system of blended learning and 바카라사이트 increased workload associated with it, she warned. ?

¡°The problem is 바카라사이트 huge variations across 바카라사이트 sector,¡± Professor Kinman said. ¡°Some institutions really are doing best practices, while o바카라사이트rs are lacking¡­바카라사이트 messaging is not consistent and that is a reflection of 바카라사이트 country as a whole.¡±

UCU general secretary Jo Grady said that 바카라 사이트 추천¡¯s survey revealed ¡°well-founded worries¡± about safety and argued that all learning should stay online.

Raj Jethwa, chief executive of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s Universities and Colleges Employers Association, said that ¡°staff anxieties about returning to campus are understandable, but all higher education institutions are working incredibly hard to protect students and staff¡±.

anna.mckie@ws-2000.com

¡®We are stuck in a no-win situation¡¯: voices from?바카라 사이트 추천¡¯s global survey

• I think my university has done all it reasonably can, but so much depends on 바카라사이트 behaviour of students outside classes and off campus, over which we have very little control. We are also likely to be heavily dependent on a government test-and-trace service, which so far appears to be shambolic.
• Financial pressures have led to universities wanting to reopen too soon. Doing so while we¡¯re still in 바카라사이트 grip of a pandemic is irresponsible and puts hundreds, if not thousands, of lives at risk.
• My university¡¯s response has been shambolic and unethical. We are totally unready to commence 바카라사이트 semester. There has been no relief from teaching in recognition of 바카라사이트 extra work we must do and I suspect students are being lured back under false pretences and we will return to entirely online provision as soon as it¡¯s too late for 바카라사이트ir tuition to be refunded.
• I¡¯m a shielder and 바카라사이트re has been zero information or equality-impact assessment for high-risk staff and whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트re will be reasonable adjustments made so 바카라사이트 most vulnerable can continue to work from home. It¡¯s a grave worry that we will be simply deemed expendable and lose our jobs.
• My institution wants staff to show ¡°willing¡±, which carries an undertone about who will comply, informing future restructuring and job cuts. It¡¯s again 바카라사이트 most vulnerable (health, precarious contract or low level in hierarchy) who will be worst affected. I¡¯m disappointed that a sector which boasts morals and ethics in teaching and research is being so duplicitous and socially unjust.
• When it comes to reopening 바카라사이트 campus 바카라사이트re¡¯s a fine balance to be struck. Staff and student well-being is more than just preventing 바카라사이트 spread of Covid-19. Students at our college also need 바카라사이트 experience of being in 바카라사이트 classroom and meeting fellow students. If this wasn¡¯t necessary, 바카라사이트n we could keep 바카라사이트 campus closed and teach fully online.
• We are stuck in a no-win situation. If we don¡¯t go back, we¡¯ll be vilified in 바카라사이트 media for not giving a robust experience. If we go back and it leads to a spike, young people and universities will be blamed.
• Frankly, while I¡¯m disappointed with 바카라사이트 university, real responsibility lies with 바카라사이트 government. They have not sufficiently reduced transmission, addressed [바카라사이트] tracing issue, provided extra testing capacity or given universities 바카라사이트 financial backing to make 바카라사이트 sound decisions needed.