USyd cancels all events following COVID-19 pandemic

According to an email sent to students today, the University of Sydney (USyd) will be cancelling all events hosted by the University community on campus, including graduation ceremonies, from Monday 16 March. The policy will not apply to teaching and research. The ban is indefinite, although it will be reviewed at the start of Semester 2. 

The decision was made in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and the approach of winter flu season. It follows a series of cancellations of sports and community events worldwide that have occurred in response to the crisis. 

Graduating students will graduate in absentia and will be offered a graduation ceremony later in the year. 

The threat of COVID-19 raises a number of questions regarding how the University will adapt. Pulp reported last week that the University had taken steps to prepare students at a USyd student accommodation residence for eviction to make room for quarantined students. If the crisis continues to worsen, there is potential for closure of the University, a measure which UTS is also reportedly discussing. How the University would adapt teaching and research to a closure or online learning remains in doubt.