Here's my notes from the webinar if anyone missed it. Kind of long this time! Please feel free to fill in the gaps if I've missed anything.
Exemptions:
A few students have been successful at gaining exemptions via personal means. Priority for the school is M3 and M4 so we need to be patient. Regarding exemption letters, UQ is working with the department of home affairs. The exemption route is open, but UQ has had a discussion with the government and will not be able to have an impact on this process for years 1 and 2. We will need to qualify for an exemption through one of the approved categories to get an exemption. So most of us will need to wait for the work UQ is doing on the secure corridor.
The international student community is important to government, and UQ has been advocating at the highest possible level for managed corridors and work is in progress on a larger scale program. Plans have been submitted, there's public support from the government but timing is an issue--when this might start. There's a difficult balance. Please be patient but they remain cautiously optimistic that things will get moving in time for semester 1. Be ready to jump on the plane immediately, so have everything already prepared. This might not be through a commercial airline so we need to have visa/everything else ready to go. Hope to have another update in the next couple of weeks.
Prof Amedee discussed vaccination status, right now this is not enough to get you into Australia (he's immunized as well and is also unable to enter Australia). Vaccination status is unlikely to have an impact on ability to enter the country, as vaccination provides self-protection but we don't know if vaccinated individuals will still be able to spread the disease so quarantine will likely be required if we enter at any point during Semester 1.
Online learning:
Preferred mode of teaching is in person as much informal learning happens with peers/tutors/staff. But the course coordinators did learn a lot from online learning in previous semesters. All lectures will be run via zoom. Once the application for online learning is approved you can preference an online CBL. Every week there will be 2 CBL sessions of 10-12 students working through series of cases where we apply what we're learning through lectures to clinical practice. Practicals will not be available for online learners but drop in sessions with staff will be available, and support for catching up will be provided. Anything that absolutely must be in person will be presented in Semester 2. Online CBL sessions will consist of online students only.
Orientation week will start 1/25 (Tuesday of that week is a holiday). Online students will participate as much as possible. Link to schedule was sent to UQ email. All sessions will be recorded in case you're unable to attend all of them. They did reiterate that orientation is mandatory, so I'm not 100% how to read this.
Make sure you're enrolled in all 4 courses. Ensure application is complete for online learning, due close of business tomorrow. Make sure you've applied for student visa, and regularly check UQ email address. Blue card is in-person only.
Ochsner information:
Contingency visits to NOLA will commence 3/8 and will extend through 4/9. There will be 5 seperate visits (one for each society) 3 days each. These will be optional, and the student will need to fund travel. There will be a tour, simulations, CBLs, workshops, tutorials with clinicians. This is in preparation for Brisbane and is not a substitute. Visits will occur Wed-Fri, and will consist of 3 full days. More info to come.
Ochsner is distributing 10K vaccines per day. M3 and M4 students all were vaccinated (which is actually really awesome and is concrete evidence of strong support from Ochsner administration, as many US schools are not providing vaccines to their students in 3rd and 4th year). I did feel a sense of frustration from Prof. Amedee though, and I think it's because he's not in a position to implement any changes that would help students unable to get to Brisbane by semester 2. He said that we're in the privileged position of being medical students during a time when the study of medicine is so exciting, and in the midst of a massive increase in applications we've already got a seat at the table even if we do have to defer a year. (Warning: my own personal opinion ahead) I absolutely get where he's coming from, but given this is one of if not the most expensive medical programs in the US, I do feel we should be able to ask questions about the direction the program is heading. I can understand the frustration of wanting to help but being unable to do anything though--we're really at the mercy of the Australian government!
Q/A:
- Regarding the tuition fee reduction of 12.5% for online students, eligibility will be assessed using the information available from the Department of Home Affairs, and the rebate will be applied provisionally and reviewed at the fees due date.
- Immunization upload form will be sent to all students today.
- The catch-up process will vary depending on when students arrive/what they've missed/what students feel they may be lacking. So it's hard to give info about this now, but will be tailored to individual needs. Anatomy, histology, pathology teams have refined process for online learning. We should get into the semester, see how it goes and see what catch-up might be required.
- In person classes can not be made up at Ochsner as they are a clinical school. Faculty and facilities to teach basic sciences are not available at Ochsner.
- Societies have already been assigned. We will get more info probably this week, and should hear from the head of the society by next Tuesday.
- Key textbooks/resources: check UQ library as a lot is already available online for free. Check before buying anything, and wait until after orientation.
survey.app.uq.edu.au
