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<p>Dear David,</p>
<p>Thank you for your email. Your serious concerns are noted.</p>
<p>I have raised these concerns with the Faculty and put forward our
Departmental case for continuing with online delivery, without f2f
teaching. As stated in my email yesterday, the Dean will discuss
our case with the University Executive Team and I expect a
decision on this in the next day or two, hopefully before our
Department discussion tomorrow afternoon.</p>
<p>I'm sorry you can't make that meeting. I'm happy to discuss this
with you at an alternative time.</p>
<p>Best wishes,</p>
<p>Paul<br>
</p>
<p><br>
</p>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 20/10/2020 10:00, David McKee wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote type="cite" cite="mid:dc421a76-6453-e6dd-86b5-f2a8ef97f737@strath.ac.uk">
<p>Dear Paul</p>
<p>Unfortunately I can't make it to the meeting tomorrow. I would
have liked to hear in what manner the University believes the
Covid situation has improved in the last two weeks? To my mind
the numbers all appear to be going in the wrong direction. With
Northern Ireland and now Wales both moving to temporary
lockdown, it certainly seems like the situation is generally
worsening rather than improving.</p>
<p>At the last Dept Cttee the issue of contingency plans for
dealing with staff becoming ill with Covid, potentially as a
result of being required to come back in to do F2F teaching was
raised. Is there any guidance on who picks up the pieces if
teaching staff are incapacitated? Of course the bigger issue is
dealing with the consequences of a colleague becoming seriously
ill or potentially dying as a result of returning to F2F
teaching. Can anyone really believe that 'blended learning' is
worth dying for?</p>
<p>In terms of health and safety considerations - the hierarchy of
control measures asks first - is it necessary to perform the
activity? The answer here is clearly no. We can deliver an
acceptable level of teaching remotely without incurring the
risks associated with F2F. F2F teaching is an unnecessary hazard
that can be eliminated without compromising our ability to
provide a suitable education to our students in this time of
crisis.<br>
</p>
<p><img alt="Hierarchy of hazard controls - Wikipedia" class="n3VNCb" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/36/NIOSH%E2%80%99s_%E2%80%9CHierarchy_of_Controls_infographic%E2%80%9D_as_SVG.svg/1200px-NIOSH%E2%80%99s_%E2%80%9CHierarchy_of_Controls_infographic%E2%80%9D_as_SVG.svg.png" data-noaft="1" style="width: 585px; height: 376.35px; margin:
0px;" moz-do-not-send="true"></p>
<p>At this point in time, I remain opposed to resuming F2F
teaching, notwithstanding any additional information or
reassurance that the University might be able to offer tomorrow.
At the last Dept Cttee meeting (only 2 weeks ago) the view of
the Department was resolutely in favour of continuing with
online teaching. I believe that this message needs to be
reiterated in the strongest possible terms to senior management.
You may confidently include me as one of those not willing to
return to F2F teaching next week, and nor would I be willing to
put forward my colleagues.<br>
</p>
<p>From the perspective of running the 3rd year lab - we have been
able to deliver a good quality first online experiment
experience for both classes. We are preparing to roll out
further experiments for PH380 next week. Whilst I would dearly
love to be in a position to return to working face to face in
the teaching lab, I cannot envisage it being safe to do so in
the near future. Moreover, having started upon the online route
this year, I believe it would actually be counter productive to
switch mode at this point mid-semester, and it would create a
number of very difficult logistical issues as the new structure
that has been imposed on us (PH380 and PH390) complicates
matters considerably.<br>
</p>
<p>It is a matter of regret that we are still dealing with this
situation. I am concerned that the University has failed to heed
the health and safety concerns of both staff and students. I
reiterate that the students union and UCU both remain opposed to
resuming F2F teaching. <br>
</p>
<p>According to the attached guidance from the Health and Safety
Executive, employees have a <b><u>duty</u></b> to "Tell someone
(your employer, supervisor, or health and safety representative)
if you think the work or inadequate precautions are putting
anyone’s health and safety at serious risk". I believe returning
to F2F next week would put people's health at risk and I am
raising this with you as a serious concern. I am copying this to
the local branch of UCU as I believe this is a matter of concern
across the University as well as in our Department. I hope after
tomorrow's meeting you will be in a position to raise this
concern with senior management.<br>
</p>
<p>Regards</p>
<p>David<br>
</p>
<p><br>
</p>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 19/10/2020 17:42, Physics-HOD
wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote type="cite" cite="mid:9a0692c6-939f-37a2-1050-9abd8a20d6f2@strath.ac.uk">Dear
All, <br>
<br>
This email contains a brief update regarding face-to-face
teaching. <br>
<br>
As you know, the University Executive Team adjusted its plans
for the transition to blended learning, by rephasing the
commencement of the transition phase for two weeks. This means
that across the University there is no face-to-face teaching in
weeks 4 and 5 of semester 1, and face-to-face teaching will
start next week (week 6). <br>
<br>
We are in discussions with the Faculty regarding teaching
delivery in Physics for the reminder of the semester, given that
the learning outcomes for our courses can be achieved via online
methods. The Dean will discuss our case with the Executive Team
and I expect a decision on this in the next day or two. <br>
<br>
I have scheduled a Zoom meeting (details below) for 4pm-5pm on
Wednesday (21st Oct) afternoon, to discuss our approach to
delivering teaching for the rest of semester 1, including a
discussion of the University’s process of approvals, assurances,
and risk assessment. Please join this discussion, particularly
if you are teaching this semester. Thanks. <br>
<br>
Meeting URL: <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://strath.zoom.us/j/97517250810?from=addon" moz-do-not-send="true">https://strath.zoom.us/j/97517250810?from=addon</a>
<br>
Meeting ID: 975 1725 0810 <br>
Password: 898474 <br>
<br>
Best wishes, <br>
Paul <br>
<br>
</blockquote>
<br>
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</blockquote>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">--
----------------------------------------------
Prof. Paul McKenna
Head of Department
Department of Physics, SUPA,
University of Strathclyde,
Glasgow G4 0NG
U.K.
Tel: 0141-548-3132 (secretary) / 5712 (direct)
Email: <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:paul.mckenna@strath.ac.uk">paul.mckenna@strath.ac.uk</a>
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