Dear Staff and Students

Please find below the latest advisory issued by USP DISMAC in light of changes announced by USP Member Governments:

1. Everyone is reminded that the University Mid Semester Break has been extended and it is expected that classes will resume on 6 April 2020.
2. Further to yesterday’s advisory, in addition to Lautoka Campus, Fiji, the following Campuses are in areas where a State of Emergency has been declared by the respective Governments (i.e. Campus is effectively closed except for essential services):
   • Alafua Campus in Samoa
   • Tonga
   • Tuvalu
   • Solomon Islands.
3. Please note that students are strongly advised not to come to Campuses and to observe national protocols in their countries and follow advice from their Campus Directors.
4. At its meeting on 25 March, SMT decided that all staff can work from home effective Thursday 26 March 2020 at those Campuses which are not in lockdown (i.e. Laucala, Labasa, Cook Islands, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Marshall Islands, Tokelau, Vanuatu).
5. Except for staff who have been identified by their Supervisors as being required to work from their Campuses, please note the following:
   • Arrangements for working from home will need to be authorized by your Supervisor and the Line SMT member.
   • This arrangement will be in place until 5 April. A further advisory will be issued before the 5 April to clarify matters further.
   • Supervisors will need to determine which staff are considered essential on an individual basis and inform them accordingly.
6. Please note that additional restrictions have been announced in Fiji which may affect our students and staff:
   • Nadi Airport will be shut down from all passenger travel as of 26 March 2020 until further notice.
   • All passenger travel to outer islands will cease from 29 March 2020.

Please note that the University is constantly monitoring and reviewing the COVID-19 pandemic and we request that USP staff and students regularly check their emails, USP website and USP social media outlets. USP DISMAC also encourages all staff and students to practice clean hygiene protocols, social distancing and limit travel and movement.

We thank you for your understanding in these challenging times.

Professor Pal Ahluwalia
Vice-Chancellor and President