The University of Wollongong brought forward the mid-session recess to start on Monday, March 23.
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The break will extend to two weeks, and UOW will move all undergraduate and postgraduate classes to remote delivery mode when the autumn session recommences on Monday, April 6.
The mid-session recess was originally scheduled for one week from April 13 to 17.
Academics, including casual teaching staff, and professional services staff will continue working intensively during the mid-session recess to transition all undergraduate and postgraduate programs to remote delivery.
All UOW campuses, library, facilities, research and administrative functions will remain open during the recess.
Classes will continue as normal this week until March 20.
However, to support students and staff who feel or are particularly vulnerable, the University is introducing flexibility with immediate effect.
Tutorials and other classes will not be mandatory this week.
Academic staff who can and wish to deliver lectures online this week may do so.
UOW Vice-Chancellor Professor Paul Wellings CBE announced the changes on Monday in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"These are extraordinary times, with measures to slow the spread of the virus and its subsequent impact disrupting the way we live and interact," Professor Wellings said.
"Educational institutions in Australia and organisations around the world are experiencing operational interruptions, and UOW is no exception.
"In response, we are taking sensible measures to ensure that students can continue to progress in their studies and our world-class research can continue, while also protecting the health and wellbeing of students and staff.
"Plans are well advanced to move to remote delivery for all our courses."
The Vice-Chancellor flagged there could be further changes to the 2020 academic calendar as the COVID-19 outbreak develops, while ensuring students have the opportunity to complete the necessary workloads to graduate without delay.
"While there are still no confirmed cases of the virus here on our Australian campuses, we know that there are confirmed cases in our communities," Professor Wellings said.
"It is inevitable that staff and students associated with UOW will be impacted.
"As this pandemic unfolds, students and colleagues will experience disruptions in their personal lives, such as needing to care for and support family members."
