|
|
|
| Coronavirus update 18 August
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dear students and colleagues,
Following on Friday's Cabinet decisions, we in the education sector will fortunately be able to meet each other more often as of 30 August. The past 1.5 years have shown us how crucial this is for our education and the well-being of our students. We cherish the Dutch Cabinet's decision to prioritise students and education. It also creates obligations and responsibilities. Together we have to ensure an environment that is as safe as possible - for ourselves, and for the rest of society, where other sectors are also yearning for relaxations.
The Utrecht Introduction Time (UIT) has started and new students are discovering our city. The organisers have worked hard this summer and shown great flexibility so as to welcome the new students from UU and HU within the possibilities we have. Their work deserves a big compliment. We wish all new students lots of fun and success in their new stage of life. We rely on everyone's cooperation to make this happen as responsibly as possible.
The government has set a number of very clear rules for education, such as a maximum of 75 persons per classroom and the obligation to wear a face mask when moving around in buildings. In this update, we explain how we implement the Cabinet decisions at UU. We also explain what we do to find solutions for employees and students who cannot provide or follow education on location due to frail health. Because of the direct connection with health care, the regulations at UMC Utrecht may differ on a number of points from what is described below. Students as well as academic and support staff will be further notified in the week of 23 August.
Some people, including scientists, find that the Cabinet decision to abandon the 1.5 metres in higher education was taken too soon. Achieving a high vaccination rate quickly is a crucial factor. We strongly advise all colleagues and students who have not done so yet to get vaccinated. As of 6 September, this can be done without an appointment at a GGD vaccination location in the Utrecht Science Park. In any case, stick to the rules, make additional agreements together where needed, and watch out for each other.
For questions or remarks, please email to: coronavirus@uu.nl.
With kind regards,
The Executive Board
Anton Pijpers, President
Margot van der Starre, Vice President
Henk Kummeling, Rector Magnificus
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Education on location, online and hybrid
|
From 6 September onwards, we will be offering much of Block 1 education on location, with a maximum of 75 persons in one room. Also, hybrid and online education is scheduled. Study programmes decide for themselves how their courses will be offered.
Where lectures and other courses are scheduled for more than 75 people (we have assumed a maximum of 100 in the timetable), the study programmes themselves determine how they will resolve this and inform their students accordingly. There are various solutions available, such as having a different group of students on location each week, or converting to an online lecture. Read more about the options and support. The adjustments to the education timetables will be processed by 4 September at the latest. Keep an eye on your timetable in the coming weeks.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
It is not yet clear whether a maximum group size of 75 persons will apply to testing. This is still being discussed with the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science. More information will follow at a later date.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Study places, study landscapes, self-study and project rooms are open
|
|
All study places, study landscapes, self-study and project rooms in the university buildings are open to students, and the 1.5-metre rule does not apply when you sit down (exception: study landscape in the Hijmans van den Bergh building). However, a maximum of 75 persons per room applies here as well. In the University Library, each floor in the atrium is considered a separate space. You can reserve study places in the library on bookings.uu.nl. Read more about the study places.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Outside education areas: one and a half metres and a face mask
|
In the classrooms, the 1.5-metre rule is lifted as of 30 August. However, in other spaces the 1.5 metre distance applies wherever possible, for example in the corridors and outside. The walking routes in the buildings stay in place; follow the stickers on the floor. In addition, lecturers are free to make additional agreements with students on, for example, keeping a distance between teacher and student, keeping a distance in large classrooms if possible, or entering or leaving classrooms etcetera. We advise lecturers to inform their course coordinator about the additional agreements they make.
When moving around in the buildings, you should wear a face mask. The mask can be removed when seated. The face mask obligation also applies to introductory activities of study associations that take place in UU buildings before 30 August. Read the instructions for the correct use of a face mask.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The government provides free self-tests for employees and students. We urge everyone to make use of them. Test yourself twice a week before an educational activity on location. You can order them for free. The tests are also available at the receptions in our buildings.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Vaccination location in the USP
|
|
As already mentioned, we urge everyone to do what you can to protect yourselves and others, and we strongly recommend everyone to have themselves vaccinated. It goes without saying that we follow the guidelines of the national government and do not require vaccination for working or studying in our buildings. Nor do we register who has or has not been vaccinated. However, it is our intention to make it easy to get vaccinated. If you do it not for yourself, do it for the sake of others. From the start of the new academic year, there will be a vaccination location on Genèvelaan in Utrecht Science Park. More information about the opening hours will follow on our website and our social media channels. It is already possible to get your first injection without an appointment in Jaarbeurs and some other places. To get vaccinated, you need to have a citizen service number (BSN number). Read what you have to do when you do not have this number.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Ventilation, cleaning and other measures
|
We follow the RIVM guidelines for ventilation. Nearly all rooms in our buildings meet these requirements, and those that do not, are not in use. We also do not have recirculation of air in the form of air conditioning or fans; the installation components that circulate air within a room have been turned off. Where this is not possible due to business operations, custom arrangements have been made. For buildings with only natural ventilation, the windows and ventilation grids are open. Read more about ventilation.
Teaching spaces are cleaned daily. For staff and students, disinfectants are available in various places to clean your hands, table/desk and other materials. Read more on the website.
Of course we ask everyone to stick to the basic measures. So wash your hands, cough and sneeze into your elbow. Do not come to the university if you have any corona-related complaints: stay at home and get tested, even if you have been fully vaccinated. Do the corona check if you are unsure whether you can come to the university.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Employees and students with fragile health
|
Now that the majority of education is again on location, we ask students, teachers who provide classes on location and employees with supporting tasks for these classes to come to UU. This said, we do understand that there are employees and students who, despite the measures taken, are concerned about health risks.
Employees who are not yet able to come to work for health reasons although their work requires them to do so, can consult their manager for an appropriate solution. In the case of lecturers, the educational or study programme director ultimately makes the decision. Students should discuss with their study advisor if, due to their health, they are unable to attend a course (with compulsory attendance) on location. There is a Q&A for students and teachers for more information
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Graduation ceremonies, PhD defences and inaugural lectures can take place on location as of 30 August, with a maximum of 75 people per room and without a 1.5-metre limit. Hybrid and online PhD defences and inaugural lectures remain possible as well.
From 1 September onwards, we aim to have graduation ceremonies on location as far as possible. Unfortunately, this may not be possible in all cases due to organisational circumstances. Students will be further informed by their study programme.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Work-related and informal meetings and events such as brainstorm sessions and farewell drinks can be organised on location, if respecting the 1.5 metre distance. A maximum of 75 people applies to indoor activities with reserved seating and health check, provided the location has sufficient capacity. There is no maximum group size for outdoor activities. However, you must keep a 1.5 metre distance from each other. More information can be found on the website.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exchange to a country with an orange or red travel advice remains prohibited, but if the travel advice changes to yellow/green before 7 September, exchange is possible under certain conditions. The students concerned have been informed about this. For more information contact the international officer of your faculty or check the information on exchange on the website.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| UIT, Orientation and other introductions
|
For the Utrecht Introduction Time (UIT) and orientation time of the social associations, agreements have been made with the municipality and GGD (Municipal Health Services). Part of the activities is on location and part online. The participants receive several self-tests, so that they can test themselves regularly. Since the start of UIT you can also get tested in Jaarbeurs without an appointment. We strongly urge you to do so in order to find an infection as quickly as possible. This reduces the chance of an outbreak with all possible consequences for the start of education on location.
For the Orientation for international students and introduction activities of study associations in UU buildings, more is possible without respecting a 1.5 metre distance, if it concerns informative activities as an extension of education. Here too, the maximum group size of 75 persons per room applies. The educational directors, in consultation with the study associations, will determine the definitive programmes so that they fit within the framework.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
All catering locations will be open as of 6 September. There is no maximum number of people at the takeaway locations. If there are seats, a maximum of 75 persons per room applies. When moving around in a catering location, it is obligatory to wear a face mask.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Working at home or on location?
|
|
Working at home remains the starting point. The rule for meetings is still: online as much as possible. If circumstances prevent you from working at home, it is possible to work at the office. The way to register for work at location differs per faculty or organisational unit. Work in the laboratory and other research that cannot be done remotely may be done on location, at a distance of 1.5 metres. Are you unable to keep a distance of 1.5 metres? Then wear a face mask.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stick to the basic measures:
- Cough and sneeze into your elbow
- Wash your hands
- Do not shake hands
- Open a window if you can
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
