Travel approval
When and how can international students travel to Australia?

• The Australian Federal Government has indicated the likelihood of allowing international students from selected low-risk countries to travel to Australia after the third stage of lockdown restrictions are eased in July 2020. CMU-A is in ongoing contact with representatives of all levels of Government to ensure access to accurate and up-to-date information as things progress or change.

Visa application
When will Australian High Commission in my city/country re-open and how long could my student visa process take?

• Please check with the respective Australian Embassy / High Commission in your country. We expect a processing time of six weeks after visa applications have been submitted. For updates on travel advisories and visas for Australia, please visit https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au

Post Study Work Visa
If I cannot travel to Australia, will the period I study remotely count towards qualifying for a CMU Post Study Work Visa?

• It is likely that the remote study will be counted towards the time spent in Australia as the Government has committed to ensuring that students affected by coronavirus are not unduly penalised.

Quarantine
Will I be required to undertake quarantine when I arrive in Australia?

• Yes. Under the current legislation, a mandatory 2-week quarantine is required for all visitors arriving from overseas.

Where will I have to undertake the quarantine?

• If you have arrived in Australia from overseas, you are required to undergo a mandatory quarantine for 14 days at the port of entry: Adelaide, Sydney or Melbourne (depending on the flight of your choice).

Will I receive support in booking and paying for the accommodation for my quarantine period?

• Yes. CMU-A will arrange and cover the cost of quarantine (up to one month of accommodation). In addition, CMU-A will also cover the cost of a one-way flight and arrange complimentary airport pick up.

Is it safe to travel to Australia?

• Australia prides itself on being a safe, welcoming, and multicultural country. As a community, we have always supported one another in times of need. This includes looking after the health, safety, and wellbeing of our international students. The Australian Government, state and territory governments, educational institutions and the CMU-A community are here to support you.
  

Is it safe to attend classes at the CMU-A campus?

• CMU-A provides updated information from Australian health authorities on Adelaide’s safety as well as guidelines on steps taken to ensure safety on campus for staff and students. We have a comprehensive set of guidelines and procedures for students, staff and faculty that enables everyone to feel and be safe. A hybrid model of study (in the classroom and remote delivery) is expected to commence over the coming weeks.
  

COVID-19
What are the symptoms of coronavirus?

• Reported illnesses have ranged from mild symptoms to severe illness for confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure and may include fever, cough and shortness of breath.

Should healthy people wear masks?

• The current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines do not recommend that people who are well wear facemasks to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, including COVID-19.

What preventive measures are in place to protect the health of the campus community?

• Hand sanitizing stations are mounted at building exits and in other high-traffic areas as a reminder that hand hygiene is the most important tactic to prevent infection.

FAQ for Current Students

Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) Australia takes the lead in transitioning to remote teaching

From 18 March 2020, all classes at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) in Australia, located in Adelaide, are being delivered remotely. The university has taken these unprecedented steps to support the well-being of students, staff, faculty and those in the South Australia community at large in response to the COVID-19 virus.

“CMU Australia is well-equipped for quick transitions in times like this. We can shift quickly to a remote mode of delivery because we have the systems, processes and skills to do so. Our faculty are skilled and experienced in ensuring the highest level of education for students irrespective of the mode of teaching,” said Prof. Emil Bolongaita, Head and Distinguished Professor of Public Policy and Management of CMU Australia.

“The new measures will ensure the continued functioning of the university while presenting a low risk to South Australia regarding the spread of the Covid 19 virus. Even though there are no cases of the COVID 19 virus on campus, the transition to remote delivery ensures that students will not be inconvenienced in the event of a sudden deterioration of public health situation,” added Prof. Bolongaita.

These prudent actions symbolise CMU’s leadership in responsible and quality global higher education. CMU has been at the forefront of analytics (including health analytics) and is a world leader in information technology and public policy. Recently, MIT Technology Review reports that CMU has been tapped by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to develop prediction algorithms in the university’s flu-forecasting labs for the Covid-19 pandemic.[1]

As CMU Australia continues to support current students with ongoing education, information and counselling, it has also assured prospective students of commencement of their studies online in the event they are not able to attend classes in person due to travel or visa restrictions.

For further information, photos or exclusive interviews please contact Celeste Lustosa on 0466 519 982 or email clustosa@australia.cmu.edu.

[1]https://www.technologyreview.com/s/615360/cdc-cmu-forecasts-coronavirus-spread/?fbclid=IwAR1jYOW5IIO0mZh86cYc7SVwOPW67UpEngFqaGyYA3NulZPKE6dqmDLyd_4

July 1, 2020

Dear members of the CMU-A Community,

I’m pleased to let you know that CMU-A’s Return to Campus Plan has been approved by CMU’s Executive Management Team. I would like to thank Provost Jim Garrett, Dean Krishnan and other colleagues at CMU and at Heinz College for their thorough review and support of the plan. I would also like to thank the faculty and staff of CMU-A who worked to draft the plan and who met today to sign off on its readiness for implementation.

In keeping with terms of the approved plan, I’m pleased to announce that starting tomorrow, Wednesday, 1 July, CMU-A will shift to simultaneous in-person instruction and remote delivery (hybrid delivery), subject to physical distancing and other safety precautions as per CMU and SA government guidelines. I wish to assure the students who are not in Adelaide that you will be able to continue participating in classes remotely.

For those returning to campus and taking their classes in person, you will find that the classrooms and study rooms have been arranged and marked to comply with physical distancing requirements of 2 meters between persons. The hallways and other areas are also indicated with signs to support physical distancing and personal hygiene consciousness. The kitchen remains closed as is the student recreation area. Each person must wash their hands after contact with high touch surface areas. Hand sanitisers are available at the entrance of the campus and in the classrooms. To meet Covid-19 cleaning standards and schedules, the campus will be open only at 8:00 am and no one will be allowed to stay past 9:00 pm daily.

If you are unwell, please stay home and email covid19@australia.cmu.edu about your situation. If you are on campus and feel unwell, non-contact thermometers are available at the front desk if you wish to check your temperature. If you have a fever or with Covid-19 symptoms, please self-isolate and seek to tested either by your GP or at a dedicated Covid-19 clinic.

If you have not yet downloaded the COVIDSafe app, the Department of Health encourages you to do so, as this will facilitate contacting people exposed to the virus (https://www.health.gov.au/resources/apps-and-tools/covidsafe-app).

The safety and security of the CMU-A community is our shared responsibility. Let us strictly maintain physical distancing and follow the above guidelines in our return to campus. Please feel free to email me directly if you have any questions or concerns about our return to campus plan.

I look forward to seeing you on campus!

Best wishes,

Emil

Health Care Tips

• Wash your hands often with soap and hot water for 20 seconds, and make sure you wash your thumbs, wrists and in-between your fingers. This is the best defense against the spread of all viruses.
• Stay home when you are ill. A day or two of rest will assure quicker recovery and decrease the spread of infectious illness on campus.
• Cover your cough/sneeze with a tissue or the crook of your arm, and then promptly wash your hands or use hand sanitizer if soap and water is not available.
• Get plenty of rest/sleep.
• Get the seasonal flu vaccine. Though not protective against coronavirus, the seasonal vaccine may prevent against flu

Self-Isolation

We are asking that anyone returning from a country on the CDC Level 3 list to self-isolate for 14 days upon their return to Australia. Currently those countries are China, Iran, South Korea and Italy.

Self-isolation means you should avoid contact with other people. This also means that members of the university community who have been to an affected area within the last 14 days should not attend class, worksites, laboratories, study groups, or other events and activities on- or off-campus until that 14 day period following departure from an affected area has ended and they are symptom-free.

Answer a few questions to see if you need medical help.
https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/symptom-checker/tool