Coronavirus

Dear Students,

The Coronavirus pandemic continues to impose significant limitations on us, even as politicians have now decided to ease the first restrictions. The situation continues to evolve, requiring us at the university to continuously modify our response. We also face the challenge of finding solutions for the current summer semester (which has been moved online and began on April 20) in order to allow you to complete your studies this semester in the best way possible.

In the past weeks, we have become acquainted with the model of “reduced basic operations,” which went into effect with the Organisationsverfügung (Organizational Decree) on March 23. Since that time, we have revised existing university regulations based on the provisions of the Coronaschutzverordnung (Corona Protection Ordinance), the Corona-Epidemie-Hochschulverordnung (Corona Epidemic University Ordinance), and the  Allgemeinverfügung zur Durchführung von Lehr-und Praxisveranstaltungen sowie Prüfungen an den Hochschulen (General Ordinance for Conducting Teaching and Testing at Institutions of Higher Learning) of the Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia as well as the SARS-CoV-2-Arbeitsschutzstandard (SARS-CoV-2 Occupational Safety Standards) from the Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs. These regulations can be found at www.uni-bielefeld.de/coronavirus.

Here is a short overview of the most important regulations pertaining to you:

• University buildings remain closed to the public until further notice. The campus, however, is accessible to individuals whose presence is covered under the regulations for reduced basic operations, including permitted teaching and examination activities, as well as for students and researchers picking up or returning books to the library. This also applies to those who must be present on site to perform contractual obligations for the university, such as construction workers or suppliers.
• On campus, a minimum of 1,5 meters distance between individuals must be strictly maintained. In areas of public traffic within university buildings (hallways, central university hall, staircases, restrooms, etc.), a protective mask covering your nose and mouth must be worn. This also applies for the public area of the library. Forming groups of more than two people should continue to be avoided.
• Individuals with respiratory symptoms, fever, or loss of sense of smell or taste are not allowed on university premises (unless these symptoms have been otherwise cleared by a doctor).      
• In-person events and gatherings continue to be prohibited. Courses and examinations are to be offered in distance learning formats to the greatest extent possible. Exceptions are possible for courses that cannot be held digitally (because they, for example, have to be done in certain settings, such as practical lab courses), and for parts of examinations – provided that safety provisions and hygiene regulations are upheld. Exceptions are reviewed on a case-by-case basis by Bielefeld University’s Occupational Safety, Health, and Environmental Protection Service (AGUS) as well as the Health Department of the City of Bielefeld and then approved by the chancellor of Bielefeld University.
• The University Library remains open in reduced basic operation mode. Student work areas are not accessible.

The Organizational Decree also contains supplemental, updated regulations in full detail, including those relating to teaching and examination activities, travel, risk groups, and what to do in the event of infection.

Even as we continue to make progress in organizing university operations in the midst of this pandemic, we are fully aware that there are still a great many questions that remain unanswered – and new questions that arise on a daily basis. We therefore continue to ask for your patience and understanding. The Rectorate is working together with expert authorities and deans, along with the deans of studies and managers to find optimal answers to these questions as quickly as possible. We will continue to keep you informed – promptly and transparently – of new developments.

Please follow these regulations and act with due responsibility during this difficult time.

Take care, and stay healthy.

Regards,

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Gerhard Sagerer, Rector

Dr. Stephan Becker, Chancellor

Dear ladies and gentlemen, Dear colleagues,

The Coronavirus pandemic continues to impose significant limitations on us, even as politicians have now decided to ease the first restrictions. The situation continues to evolve, requiring us at the university to continuously modify our response. We also face the challenge of finding solutions for the current summer semester (which has been moved online and began on April 20) in order to allow you to complete your studies this semester in the best way possible. The same goes for you and your departments: regulations must be regularly reviewed and updated.

In the past weeks, we have become acquainted with the model of “reduced basic operations,” which went into effect with the Organisationsverfügung (Organizational Decree) on March 23. Since that time, we have revised existing university regulations based on the provisions of the Coronaschutzverordnung (Corona Protection Ordinance), the Corona-Epidemie-Hochschulverordnung (Corona Epidemic University Ordinance), and the  Allgemeinverfügung zur Durchführung von Lehr-und Praxisveranstaltungen sowie Prüfungen an den Hochschulen (General Ordinance for Conducting Teaching and Testing at Institutions of Higher Learning) of the Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia as well as the SARS-CoV-2-Arbeitsschutzstandard (SARS-CoV-2 Occupational Safety Standards) from the Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs. These regulations can be found at www.uni-bielefeld.de/coronavirus.

Here is a short overview of the most important regulations pertaining to you:

• University buildings remain closed to the public until further notice. The campus, however, is accessible to individuals whose presence is covered under the regulations for reduced basic operations, including permitted teaching and examination activities, as well as for students and researchers picking up or returning books to the library. This also applies to those who must be present on site to perform contractual obligations for the university, such as construction workers or suppliers.
• On campus, a minimum of 1,5 meters distance between individuals must be strictly maintained. In areas of public traffic within university buildings (hallways, central university hall, staircases, restrooms, etc.), a protective mask covering your nose and mouth must be worn. This also applies for the public area of the library. Forming groups of more than two people should continue to be avoided.
• Individuals with respiratory symptoms, fever, or loss of sense of smell or taste are not allowed on university premises (unless these symptoms have been otherwise cleared by a doctor).     
• In-person events and gatherings continue to be prohibited. Courses and examinations are to be offered in distance learning formats to the greatest extent possible. Exceptions are possible for courses that cannot be held digitally (because they, for example, have to be done in certain settings, such as practical lab courses), and for parts of examinations – provided that safety provisions and hygiene regulations are upheld. Exceptions are reviewed on a case-by-case basis by Bielefeld University’s Occupational Safety, Health, and Environmental Protection Service (AGUS) as well as the Health Department of the City of Bielefeld and then approved by the chancellor of Bielefeld University. Committee meetings must be held online. Work meetings/conferences should be done digitally or by telephone.
• The University Library remains open in reduced basic operation mode.
• In general, researchers should work from home. There are workplaces, however, for which home office is not fully possible (e.g. labs). Presence on site should still be reduced to a minimum, and regulations pertaining to workplace design must be observed.
• Technicians and administrators are to work from home to the extent possible until further notice. Update: on a case-by-case basis, employees may arrange with their supervisor to work at their normal university workplace if this is desired due to particularities of the employee’s home situation. The responsible supervisor must then organize on-site presence of staff members so that prolonged periods of personal contact among employees are kept to an absolute minimum.
• The move to trust-based, flexible working hours has been extended through August 31, 2020.   

The Organizational Decree also contains supplemental, updated regulations in full detail, including information on risk groups, on what to do in case of infection, travel, workplace design, and dealing with meetings/conferences.

Even as we continue to make progress in organizing university operations in the midst of this pandemic, we are fully aware that there are still a great many questions that remain unanswered – and new questions that arise on a daily basis. We therefore continue to ask for your patience and understanding. The Rectorate is working together with expert authorities and deans, along with the deans of studies and managers to find optimal answers to these questions as quickly as possible. We will continue to keep you informed – promptly and transparently – of new developments.

Please follow these regulations and act with due responsibility during this difficult time. We will continue to rely on you all to help us meet the many challenges of this pandemic with creative solutions.

Take care, and stay healthy.

Regards,

Dr. Stephan Becker, Chancellor

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Gerhard Sagerer, Rector