Coronavirus

Calendar week 36 / 2020

Update of 01.09.2020 for employees: New organizational decision as of 1 September 2020

Dear colleagues and members of staff,

We hope you have had a relaxing and pleasant summer break. Social interaction is still subject to a high degree of uncertainty, especially in view of the rising number of COVID-19 cases. At the same time, however, our understanding of coronavirus is improving and we can use this as a basis for selectively easing restrictions—also at our university. We have taken this into account with an updated organizational decision which will be valid as of today.

As already announced, there will be no return to full presence in teaching in the winter semester 2020/2021. Teaching will have to continue in a predominantly digital format. However, as much on-site presence and interaction should be made possible as is responsible and organizationally feasible for staff and students. At present, the faculties and responsible administrative units are planning teaching activities for the coming semester according to specific criteria with great commitment. It is a challenging task for all involved.

Starting in September, service units on site will at times be open to students. The infopunkt [information centre], Studierendensekretariat [Student Office], Central Student Advisory Service (ZSB), support desk in the BITS, and the examination offices will again, to a limited extent, be open to the public. They can also still be reached online or by telephone. The university library is also expanding its services. For example, a limited number of bookable workstations will be available for students, and external users can again borrow media. Further details can be found on the respective websites.

Regular contact with colleagues, a familiar working environment, and a functioning workplace are required to be able to work effectively. This is also reflects the preference of a large number of our staff. Others, for various reasons, have to keep their risk of infection as low as possible and therefore want to avoid their university workplace and the commute to work this entails. We wish to accommodate both sides and have therefore adopted the following guidelines until further notice:

• Up to now, academics were to work from home—if their activity allowed it. This policy is being repealed. The following now applies: those who wish to work at the university may do so again. However, the rules of distance and hygiene must then be observed.
• The goal for the staff in technology and administration is for everyone to work on campus again, at least from time to time. In this context, the desired goal is to have half of the workforce present. The actual staffing of the organizational units is based on the respective departmental requirements and accompanying circumstances (especially the space available). Superiors are requested to make appropriate plans.

Some members of staff in the library, the departments P/O [Personnel and Organization], FM [Facility Management], F [Financial Services], and SL [Learning and Teaching], as well as the Office of Occupational Safety, Health, and Environmental Protection (AGUS), and in the laboratories/workshops have had to work on site in past months because their work could only be done at the university. Their presence was necessary to keep the university running. Another topic we would like to mention is invigilation during examinations and tests. We know that this has been difficult for one or the other and that there have also been concerns. On behalf of the university, we wish to thank these colleagues for their cooperation and dedication.

Further changes to the organizational decision concern, among other things, the holding of academic conferences and events, dealing with groups of people who are particularly in need of protection, holding work meetings (if necessary with external guests) as well as official travel and return.

According to the decision of the federal and state governments, a two-week quarantine period is required when returning from risk areas. This can only be ended by a negative test after five days. During this time the work is done from the home office. If it is not possible to perform work from home, the supervisor must first check whether the employee concerned can be temporarily assigned another suitable task. Therefore do not travel to the defined risk areas.

More staff will be here from September onwards and more students at the start of the semester, then the question of food provision will also become increasingly important. We are talking to the Studierendenwerk about this. The Studierendenwerk currently has a snack service in the cafeterias (building X, main building) and a takeaway service in the canteen. The plan is also to partially reopen the dining halls during September, subject to the approval of the health authorities. However, it is currently not clear whether there will be enough seating for everyone. Many would like to eat outside the office—also together with colleagues. But please note that you are not allowed to eat in the university hall or in public corridors, pathways, stairs, lifts, and stairways. Weather permitting, please find places outside the buildings or, after consulting with your superiors, use meeting rooms or large offices in your working areas. You must, however, observe the rules of distance. We trust you will understand the reasons for this.

Please remember to keep a distance of 1.5 m and to wear a mouth-and-nose covering in the building. Hopefully, we will then be able to prevent infections in the university.

The updated organizational decision can be found here.

Stay safe and healthy.

Best regards,

Professor Dr.-Ing. Gerhard Sagerer

Dr Stephan Becker, chancellor