Y’all, year after year we have seen lecture recording issues on manifestos – and not just on Education, but also across roles like Community and President. So why hasn’t this been solved? What are the current issues? Where even IS the lecture recording policy ???

This is a “TLDR” of the policy for the bits and bobs that y’all ask me most about – it is worth a read of the full thing if it isn’t covered here, and for the exact wording.

What are the key points of the policy?

It applies to a LOT of places

• The policy applies to all University students and staff – including external visiting lecturers, speakers, and examiners, and anyone else participating
• It applies to any formal teaching activity – both live and pre-recorded lectures, seminars, external speakers lectures, LOILs, and classes
• It DOESN’T apply to things like meetings with project supervisors and some forms of teaching where it is highly unpractical, or isn’t safe.

It is an opt-in policy

• The decision to record a lecture is the decision of the teacher
• This is unless the needs of any student cause a legal obligation e.g., for students with disabilities

It doesn’t have to be continuous

• Staff can pause or stop recordings when hey think it is necessary, like if sensitive or personal info is being discussed.

You can get an alternative

• If you don’t get a recording, and you should (e.g., if it says so in your DAP), it is the teacher’s responsibility to specify what alternatives there are, and to provide them.
• The alternative should fit to your needs, as well as that of the lecturers

What alternatives are there?

This should be custom to the student and the lecturer, but examples directly from the policy include

-             Only capturing presentation screens (PC/Visualiser) with audio

-             Recording the presentations slides with audio commentary

-             The normal capture process with the camera pointed away from presenter

-             Pre-recorded versions of lectures

-             Podcasts with notes

-             Detailed notes accompanying lecture materials (for example, annotated slides)

Where is the lecture recording policy?

The lecture recording policy can be found on the University website

I can’t access my recordings – what do I do?

First, check with your unit convener/guest lecturer/whoever taught you – they could have forgotten to upload the recording, had a technical error, or doesn’t record but they haven’t updated you on the alternatives.

If you have a DAP and it says you require a recording (or that it is advisable), then you should have access to an alternative – see above.

Remember, the policy specifically states that as a student you have to try your best to get to a lecture – “Students are still expected to attend all scheduled learning activities if they are medically able to do so.”.

So - remember to emphasise that you could not attend (for whatever reason) when you are making your request.