Ninth Level Ireland

“Trinity has set up a contact tracing centre in the Tangent area of the Business School, run by College volunteers trained by army cadets from the Irish defence forces. Volunteer staff from the College working in the centre will make calls to people who have tested positive to find out if there are others they may have infected …” (more)

[Ella Connolly, University Times, 31 March]

“A petition to get DCU to implement a ‘no detriment’ policy due to students working from home has passed over 1,300 signatures on Change.org. The policy, which would be brought in to alleviate pressure brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, would apply for all end of semester exams or final assignments …” (more)

[Tadgh McNally, The College View, 31 March]

“An online petition has been launched urging College to implement a ‘no detriment’ policy for this year’s summer assessments. The policy, similar to measures taken by several UK universities in light of the coronavirus pandemic, would mean that as long as students receive a passing mark their overall average grade cannot be brought down by upcoming assessments …” (more)

[Finn Purdy, Trinity News, 31 March]
[See: TCD petition, UCC petition, DCU petition, UCD petition]

“Students of the Institute of Technology Tralee will not be sitting end of semester exams this summer. It’s revealed in a letter issued to students today by Acting Vice President of Academic Affairs and Registrar, Aileen Kennedy …” (more)

[Radio Kerry, 31 March]

“Following an announcement from the Vice President for Academic Affairs in DCU, Professor Eithne Guilfoyle, all final examinations planned in May for first and second year students have been cancelled. Instead, there is now an onus on lecturers to design alternative assessments for students, to replace these exams. While of course this is disruptive for students, many of whom have been studying for final exams for their modules since January and in some cases last September, it also compels us to assess the effectiveness of final examinations overall …” (more)

[Niall Briody, The College View, 31 March]

“Students, migrants and young people renting rooms are being left in ‘legal limbo’ as some are facing eviction during the coronavirus crisis. Despite emergency legislation being amended to prevent all tenants – including those not covered by the Residential Tenancies Act – from being evicted during the Covid-19 pandemic, housing charity Threshold says it remains unclear whether people living under the rent-a-room scheme are being afforded the same protections …” (more)

[Amy Molloy, Independent, 31 March]

“(Yes, I know, I said I would try to stay off Coronavirus topics. But it’s bloody hard to talk about anything else, isn’t it?) One of the least attractive features of the modern university is the mega-classroom: the huge, 300-1000 student classes that dominate first-year courses. These courses, point-blank, are terrible. I mean, I know, fields of study all have entry points and there are some basics about each one that students need to master before moving on to other courses …” (more)

[Alex Usher, HESA, 31 March]

“Ireland’s Ambassador to the United States has urged those who are currently in the country on J1 visas to return home as soon as possible. Daniel Mulhall posted a video on his Twitter page urging people to return to Ireland, saying that people affected should contact their airline immediately …” (more)

[Rudi Kinssella, joe.ie, 31 March]

“Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Education, Thomas Byrne, has called on the University of Limerick to do the right thing and refund rent to students who had to leave campus accommodation early due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Deputy Byrne said that UL should be following in the path of other Universities who are refunding pre-paid rents to students who have left …” (more)

[Fianna Fáil, 30 March]

“Ulster University has decided to postpone summer graduations because of coronavirus with a view to rescheduling ceremonies for later this year. In a letter to students and staff Professor Paul Bartholomew Interim Vice-Chancellor said …” (more)

[Garrett Hargan, Derry Now, 30 March]

“The Junior Cert should be cancelled to alleviate pressure on families during the coronavirus crisis, Cork South West Deputy Christopher O’Sullivan said, joining calls by Fianna Fáil education spokesperson Thomas Byrne that all efforts be directed to ensuring the Leaving Cert goes ahead …” (more)

[Bryan Smyth, TheCork.ie, 30 March]

“Among my academic colleagues and friends, I have observed a common response to the continuing Covid-19 crisis. They are fighting valiantly for a sense of normalcy – hustling to move courses online, maintaining strict writing schedules, creating Montessori schools at their kitchen tables. They hope to buckle down for a short stint until things get back to normal. I wish anyone who pursues that path the very best of luck and health …” (more)

[Aisha S Ahmad, Chronicle of Higher Education, 27 March]

“The Academic Council at Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) has announced today that as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic all semester 2 examinations scheduled for May 2020 are to be replaced by alternative assessment. The submission dates for the revised assessment will be set by the lecturers for each module and can be expected within the period of 8-18 May 2020 …” (more)

[Justin Kelly, Waterford Live, 30 March]