In an email seen by York Vision, the Vice Chancellor Charlie Jeffrey stated that all classroom-based teaching activity will be delivered online for the duration of Spring term. This sees an end to the blended learning approach taken for courses during Autumn term.
Several courses will be exempt from this decision. Medicine, Nursing, Midwifery, Social Work, and PGCEs in Education will continue to be delivered using a blend of online and in-person teaching.
Under current government guidelines, most students can not return to in-person teaching before mid-February as part of lockdown measures.
The Vice Chancellor acknowledges the University’s “realistic assessment is that this may well be extended” leaving little time to resume teaching while facilitating a staggered return of students.
This decision follows similar decision by other universities.
In an email sent to students, the LSE Director stated that teaching will take place online for the remainder of the academic year.
A spokesperson for the University of York said:
“The decision to move online has not been taken lightly and our students have already shown remarkable resilience and fortitude since last March. We know students have a preference for in-person teaching, but we recognise that they need clarity, consistency and a period of stability as we tackle the new challenges of the pandemic.
“We believe the decision to move more teaching online, for the whole term, is the most responsible course of action in this ever-evolving situation, and means we can continue to support our students wherever they are based this term.”