DCU statement re Semester One Teaching

Dublin City University has decided to retain teaching activities as they are currently being delivered - this means we will predominantly be teaching online. Learning activities which cannot effectively take place remotely - including practical, laboratory and skills based activities - will continue on campus.
 
What this means is that if a student's classes are fully online for the first three weeks, they will remain online for the semester; if students have some on-campus classes, they will stay at that level for the semester.

It has also been decided to hold exams planned for January 2021 online, bar exceptional circumstances.

When DCU adjusted plans for semester 1 (in response to the Government’s request to increase protective measures on University campuses as the Dublin region moved to Level 3 restrictions), we put amended arrangements for teaching in place until the end of week 3. 

We had hoped to revert to our original plan for campus teaching - 'using the campus as much as we can' - at that point.  
 
Unfortunately, the degree of uncertainty and concern around the national public health situation has increased further since then and we are acutely aware that students and staff want clarity on what is happening at DCU for the rest of semester 1 so that they can plan accordingly. We cannot continue to operate on a week to week basis waiting for updates on the latest restriction levels that will/will not apply.
 
This decision, taken with great reluctance, provides clarity in very uncertain times.
 
It should be noted that our current extensive on-campus COVID-19 health and safety arrangements, together with today’s decision, ensure that there will be no change to our current semester one teaching plans should the Dublin region have Level 2, 3 or 4 restrictions in place.  We will review the situation prior to the start of semester two with a view to maximising on-campus teaching, in so far as possible, in accordance with the COVID-19 regulations in place at that time.
 
DCU is very conscious that this is very disappointing news, but we felt it important to provide certainty so that we can all plan for the semester ahead.  
 
Our focus remains on ensuring that you have the necessary support and the best learning experience possible, using all of the tools and ingenuity at our disposal.