UCL-UCU: Return to campus safety advice - our challenge to UCL’s proposed policy on face coverings

UCL has published a proposed policy on face coverings, which they have not consulted UCU over (as they are obliged to do). Importantly, this says that staff should only ask a student arriving for a class to wear a face covering once, offering them a mask, and if they decline, take no further action.

We do not agree with this position which ignores the responsibility of staff to prevent avoidable risks to themselves and their students.

Our advice remains the same.

Be open with students about UCL’s expectations towards mask-wearing and encourage students to raise concerns they have privately before the class. But if a student engages in behaviour that a member of staff believes presents a risk to others in the classroom, then the staff member is obliged to address that behaviour. A similar issue arises if a student arrives at a class complaining of COVID-19 symptoms. As a last resort, that may mean stopping the class and rescheduling the class online.

We will be writing to UCL to challenge this unilaterally drafted policy that has not been agreed with the campus trade unions. Contrary to UCL’s policy, unhealthy behaviour by individuals in class is likely to create a discriminatory impact on disabled students or staff in the classroom, and a ‘hostile environment’ for disabled students.

The good news is that students are reacting very positively to a message that staff care about their welfare.

We hope to issue a further message later today with advice for vulnerable people, transport into work and workload management.

UCL UCU Executive Committee

@ucl_ucu