A Sydney university is in the process of moving its classes online in a bid to slow the spread of coronavirus and prepare for the event of a campus closure.

Academic staff at the University of Sydney were “encouraged” to move “as much of (their) teaching online as possible for the duration of this pandemic”.

The University’s vice-chancellor Michael Spence said in a letter to students that the move would “help the university be better prepared if a closure is required at some stage”.

The university is now in the process of “progressively” moving to deliver units of study online and therefore reducing the number of students required on campus.

File image of students sitting on the lawn at The University of Sydney. Credit: PAUL MILLER / AAPIMAGE

While he acknowledged that the decision to close part or whole campus “will have a multitude of implications for your studies and research” he said this outcome was one of multiple scenarios.

“We are considering every measure to minimise any disruption as best as we can, whilst prioritising the safety and wellbeing of everyone in our community in this daily-changing situation,” he said.

‘Scenarios’

Spence said the university’s Pandemic Response teams were “preparing for multiple scenarios”.

He said these scenarios could include closing an affected building, asking staff to work from home, suspending all teaching temporarily or suspending all non-critical operations until further notice.

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However, the decision to close a campus would depend on factors including confirmed cases, the location of those cases and advice from NSW Health.

‘Non-essential’

The news comes as the federal government announced “non-essential” organised mass gatherings of more than 500 people would be banned across Australia from Monday.

While schools and universities were exempt from the ban, the University of Sydney has cancelled all “events hosted on our campuses including student, academic and public events and conferences” - including graduation ceremonies - from March 16.

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“Students will be graduated in absentia and offered the opportunity to attend a ceremony later in the year,” Spence said.

While the university currently has no confirmed cases the changes follow the advice given by the NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant to “protect the health of our staff and students, and the broader community”.