Thread by @ucu

UCU has written to Prime Minister Boris Johnson* to urge him to make online learning universities' default position, protect students' education and stop any further damage to community health. ucu.org.uk/article/11029/… 1/

UCU general secretary @DrJoGrady: ‘Given the rapidly changing situation & increasing outbreaks, it is time for swift action and to move the majority of universities’ work online. We are not prepared to take chances with health & safety of students, staff or local communities 2/

‘The example of Manchester Metropolitan University @manmetucu shifting teaching online only for foundation and first year students exposes the absurdity of trying to continue with blended learning. 3/

'There is no point encouraging students to come to university to self-isolate for a fortnight and doing so now looks even more like a cynical effort to extract accommodation fees and then worry about what to do. 4/

‘We cannot have students forced to quarantine with no familiar support network, or staff forced to carry out work on site. Students must be allowed to safely return home if they wish to and without fear of financial penalty for leaving their student accommodation. 5/

‘We now understand that pandemic modelling identified halls and in-person teaching as areas of risk, yet the government insisted universities continued to welcome students. We want Prime Minster @BorisJohnson to explain why that modelling was ignored. 6/

‘We believe a summer spent selling a university experience to prospective students that couldn’t be delivered would have been better spent following the science and preparing properly for this inevitable crisis.’ 7/7