Phased re-opening of FNU campuses – Advisory for Students

Posted On: September 27, 2021

Dear students.

Following the recent announcement by the Prime Minister, FNU will be implementing a phased re-opening of its campuses starting on Monday 4 October. Although we know that students are keen to get back to campus, maintaining strict social distancing, as required by law, means reducing the capacity of our teaching rooms to 50% or less, so we will not be able to open up immediately to all students.

In order to manage the re-opening of campuses in a safe and controlled manner:
Most learning, teaching and assessment is expected to remain online for the rest of this Semester.
• All Senate approved teaching and assessment plans and deadlines will be maintained.
• A return to campus will be in stages, beginning with students who need to complete practical assignments that cannot be done online. If you are in one of these groups, you will be contacted by your Department, School or College. If you have not been contacted by the University before Monday 4 October, please do not come to campus: you will not be allowed to enter.
• There will be no general access to libraries or ICT labs, except for students who are specifically requested to return to campus. Cafeterias and gyms will remain closed until the national guidance permits their safe re-opening.

Students should check their University emails, Moodle pages, University website and social media pages for information about which units will resume face-to-face teaching and a list of FAQs.

In order to maintain the health and safety of all students and staff, the following measures will be operational, in accordance with the directive from the Fiji Higher Education Commission:
• Only students and staff who have been fully vaccinated (or who have proof that they have been granted exemption from vaccination) will be permitted to enter FNU premises. Students will be required to show proof of vaccination status and their FNU identification card to security at the campus entrance. Failure to show both documents will result in refusal of entry. This is to protect all students and staff. Please allow extra time to enter the campus to facilitate these checks.
• All students and staff must adhere strictly to all the COVID-19 safety protocols while on campus:
o A face covering must be worn at all times
o 2-metre social distancing must be observed at all times (teaching spaces have been reconfigured, and room capacities reduced, to maintain social          distancing)
o The CareFiji app must be installed and activated on your device
o Please wash your hands regularly with soap and water or use a hand sanitiser (sanitiser stations will be installed throughout campuses)
• Clear signage will be installed across campuses to remind everyone of the COVID-19 safety protocols.

Depending on the progress of the national vaccination campaign and Government advice, we hope to be able to re-open campuses to wider groups of students later in the Semester. The University and FNUSA will keep you regularly updated by email, our website, and social media channels.

If you have any questions, please contact the Office of the Registrar, your College Dean, or your FNUSA representative.

With best wishes,

Professor Toby Wilkinson
Vice-Chancellor
Fiji National University

Ketan Lal
President
FNU Students’ Association