New academic year: wearing of masks, working from home and self-testing to remain

Although higher education is reopening physical classrooms, there are still measures in place that indicate things have not yet fully returned to normal at the university. The wearing of masks in the corridors will once again be mandatory and working from home and testing will remain the norm.

On Wednesday, all students and staff received an email informing them about the rules they will need to abide by in the forthcoming period. For example, the mandatory wearing of face coverings will return in the corridors and communal spaces of the university buildings. Masks may only be removed when you are seated in the classroom or at your desk or study place. Stewards have been appointed to keep things running smoothly as students return to campus.

Working from home to remains the norm

Despite earlier announcements that returning to campus would be possible from mid-August, working from home will remain the norm for staff. Staff may come onto campus for educational activities and support services such as front desk work. In addition, researchers who need to conduct their activities on campus will also be allowed to do so.

Self-tests

Group sizes are limited to 75 and the one-and-a-half-metre rule will not apply. Nevertheless, the Executive Board emphasises that self-testing will remain necessary. Incidentally, the Executive Board has stated explicitly that students may still attend physical classes if they have not been vaccinated or cannot provide negative test results.

To prevent group numbers exceeding the maximum of 75 people, online education or hybrid courses will continue to be used for 15 per cent of teaching, especially at the larger faculties. Students and lecturers are expressly asked to pay close attention to their timetables.

Additional measures or regulations may be introduced this week because the Ministry of Education is still issuing educational institutions with information.