Coronavirus: Current Information of the Executive Board

The Executive Board would like to provide you with an overview of current information on novel coronavirus, actions to take regarding the respiratory illness it causes (Covid-19), and precautions and policies in effect or which may be instituted at Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences in the future.

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New COVID regulations (2 April 2022)

The new Federal Infection Protection Act cleared the way for relaxations. Since then, only a so-called basic protection applies nationwide, whereby the state parliaments could decide on further specifications.

In North Rhine-Westphalia, the new Corona Prevention Ordinance (CoronaSchVO, valid since 3 April 2022, in German) prescribes the mask obligation or the 3G regulation only in narrowly defined areas (e.g. for medical or nursing facilities and public transport). The previously existing general regulations no longer apply.

For Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences, this means that the regulations of the hygiene framework valid since 21 March 2022 are no longer mandatory. However, the university recommends that students continue to adhere to the regulations set out there on their own responsibility, especially with regard to wearing a mask. The Ministry of Culture and Science of North Rhine-Westphalia has also issued a corresponding recommendation: "Even though a general obligation to wear a mask is not provided for in the Federal Infection Protection Act, the state and the higher education institutions recommend that students, lecturers and university employees wear a mask covering their mouth and nose while indoors at the higher education institutions." (https://www.mkw.nrw/hsspiss22)

Recommendations of the Occupational Safety team of Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences:

Occupational safety continues to recommend wearing a medical mask in buildings and enclosed spaces; from a health protection perspective, the use of an FFP2 mask is strongly recommended, as this provides self-protection against infection.

Furthermore, occupational health and safety continues to recommend the use of regular testing opportunities in order to detect chains of infection at an early stage and to avoid further infections through isolation. It is advisable to only visit the university in a healthy condition.

Occupational Health and Safety continues to advocate adherence to the AHA+L+C rule to ensure safe coexistence on campus:

  • Keep your distance
  • Observe hygiene
  • Wear a mask (recommendation: at least medical mask, but better FFP2 mask)
  • Ventilate regularly
  • Corona warning app

 

Update of measures in the course of the Corona pandemic (22 March 2022)

Due to the new decision situation by the Federal Government since 18 March 2022 and the associated implementation by the Länder, the Executive Board has decided the following on the basis of the recommendations of the Corona Task Force of Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences:



Amendment of the hygiene framework

The hygiene framework will be amended in accordance with the recommendations of the occupational safety. The changes relate in particular to access to buildings (3G proof) and the wearing of a medical mask in buildings and closed rooms.



Adjustment of testing services on the campuses

Due to the adaptation of the Infection Protection Act (IfSG), employers are now only obliged to provide employees with a testing opportunity once a week. The university is already fulfilling this obligation by issuing test kits to employees. However, as part of its role model function, the university can continue to offer employees one testing opportunity on each of the two campuses.

Obligation to work from home was withdrawn

The amendments to the Infection Protection Act (IfSG) mean that since 20 March 2022, employers are entitled to bring their employees back from working at home, provided that there are no company or individual agreements made with the employees to the contrary. In addition, the monitoring and documentation obligations for employers associated with the 3G obligation will no longer apply.

 

3G status of employees (24 November 2021)

On 18 November 2021, the Bundestag amended the Infection Prevention Act (Infektionsschutzgesetz) to include a wide range of new provisions that apply to all German states. The new law, which enters into force today, 24 November 2021, introduces a catalogue of measures intended to fight the coronavirus pandemic with immediate effect.

One significant change concerns the 3G/GGG rule (vaccinated, recovered, tested). Employers are now obligated by law to verify the 3G status of employees. If employees refuse to provide 3G proof, they must expect consequences under labor law.

Additionally, employers are obligated once again to offer office employees (or those with comparable work) work-from-home options. In particular, employers must offer the option to work from home to all employees who do not have an “essential, work-related reason” for being in the workplace. In the context of HSRW, this applies to all office employees without service obligations on campus. The Executive Board has decided that, in cases of doubt, line managers will decide whether a particular employee qualifies for an exception to this rule.

 

3G in the workplace (22 November 2021)

In the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, federal and state governments voted to institute new measures: in reaction to the still very dynamic nature of the pandemic, policy makers have instituted GGG (tested, vaccinated, recovered) in the workplace and GG (vaccinated, recovered) in certain public places in an effort to break the fourth wave of infections. No new restrictions have been instituted for universities as of yet, but this may change in the coming days. At the moment, however, we assume that the constitutional right to education will remain protected, meaning partial in-person teaching based on existing planning concepts should remain valid.

The Executive Board has spent a considerable amount of time over the past two weeks on the unfolding situation in Germany and taken recommendations of our Coronavirus Taskforce under consideration. The Hygiene Framework of Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences remains valid, with the only necessary change being the period of validity for tests. The Coronavirus Protection Ordinance, as amended on 10 November 2021, now stipulates the following:

  • Tests are now valid for 24 hours only (previously: 48 hours).

Employees responsible for GGG verification checks were informed of this change and have begun checking accordingly. Given the escalating nature of the pandemic at the moment, the university would like to increase the focus on mask wearing:

  • Appropriate masks must be worn while in campus buildings, and are also strongly recommended while seated. If the permitted room capacity means that a distance of at least 1.5 m cannot be maintained, then masks must be worn. Only speakers or lecturers while teaching a course are exempted.

New requirements for university employees are expected soon, as the amended Infection Prevention Act (Infektionsschutzgesetz) will enter into force this Wednesday and introduce GGG in the workplace. However, as the exact implementation of these rules depends on other regulatory frameworks (including the Coronavirus Protection Ordinance) and we are still waiting on word of changes here, it is too early to provide details.

From an epidemiological point of view, a combination of immunisation (vaccination or recovery after a SARS-CoV-2 infection) and regular testing is the surest way out of the pandemic. Accordingly, we are planning to distribute test kits to all employees. Unsupervised tests do not replace legally required supervised tests for unvaccinated/non-recovered individuals. They are only intended to act as an additional early warning system for identifying possible infections.

The Occupational Safety team is also currently arranging new vaccination dates (for first, second or third vaccinations) in the near future on or near campus. The university will notify employees of these dates as soon as they become available.

With regard to teaching: we are striving to ensure that all current in-person teaching remains possible. Initial planning for the upcoming examination phase is currently underway, but it is too early to announce details here, too, as the legal situation is not yet clear.

 

Random GGG-verification and obtaining wristbands (6 October 2021)

The latest version of the Coronavirus Protection Ordinance from the Ministry of Labour, Health and Social Affairs of North Rhine-Westphalia entered into force on 1 October 2021. Notably, it simplifies the GGG verification process for universities. While universities are still required to verify the GGG status of everyone attending an event on campus, the verification process itself can now be done via spot checks.

Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences has updated its GGG verification guidelines accordingly. In other words, building access will remain restricted, but HSRW will be verifying the GGG-status of arriving students randomly.

Building access will be restricted as follows:

Campus Kleve:

  • Buildings 1, 2a, 3, 5 and 11: direct access via the main entrance
  • Buildings 2+3: access via building 3
  • Buildings 6-9: access via building 5
  • Buildings 12-13: access via building 11
  • Attention: Access to building 10 is blocked due to water damage!

Kamp-Lintfort Campus:

  • Building 1: direct access via the main entrance
  • Buildings 2 and 3: access via building 2

 

Wristbands will help simplify the verification process even further for immunised students and staff, and can be obtained at the following places and times:

Kleve Campus:

On Wednesday, 6 October 2021, in the test centre in building 5a from 07:00 to 13:00; afterwards during the operating hours of the test centre:

  • Mondays: 07:00 to 10:00
  • Wednesdays: 07:00 to 10:00 
  • Fridays: 07:00 to 10:00

Kamp-Lintfort Campus:

On Friday, 8 October 2021, in the test centre/access point for the Audimax from 07:00 to 10:00; afterwards during the operating hours of the test centre on the ground floor of the Audimax

  • Mondays: 07:00 to 10:00
  • Wednesdays: 07:00 to 10:00
  • Fridays: 07:00 to 10:00

The wristbands allow access to the university buildings until February 28, 2022 by simply showing them. These ribbons serve as 3G proof when entering the building. However, random admission controls will continue to take place. For this, the vaccination and identity documents must always be carried with you and shown when requested.

Kicking off lectures and implementing GGG-based verification and restricted access to buildings (24 September 2021)

With Freshers’ Week starting on Monday, the university finally was able to welcome new students, some even in person. The online kick-off event, but also the Music Nights in Kleve and Kamp-Lintfort, the campus tours, faculty events and the AStA sport events – all of which took place on campus – once again brought us groups of laughing, smiling young people Students are finally returning to HSRW after a long hiatus due to the pandemic.

As the winter semester is a bit of a “transitional semester”, the Executive Board expects it (and its first weeks in particular) to be quite challenging and require flexibility from everyone involved. Naturally, all efforts point to the singular goal of enabling more in-person education, ultimately making the campuses once again places of face-to-face teaching, learning, research and transfer. Together, and with significant effort, we can kick off the winter semester and lay the groundwork for a summer semester fully in-person again.

For the winter semester HSRW administration has implemented the “GGG rule” (from the German abbreviation for “vaccinated, recovered, tested”) for all indoor events held on campus, as required by the NRW government.

Teachers and/or other responsible staff must verify the GGG status of students before every indoor event on campus. However, the Executive Board wishes to provide the best possible support to our teaching staff and will ensure that the verification process is organised as simply and straight-forward as possible. Thus, a new GGG-based access restriction and verification concept has been enacted at Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences. In addition, we have drafted official instructions for HSRW staff to explain the details of this concept.

To ensure full legal compliance with GGG-based access restrictions and verification, the Executive Board has implemented three key solutions:

Fast-track verification (wristbands)

All HSRW students and staff can request a security wristband with the HSRW logo if they are fully immunised against Covid-19 (either through a full vaccination course, recovered status, or recovered in connection with Covid-19 vaccination). Students can obtain wristbands via a central registration system in the campus test centres (Kleve: building 5a; Kamp-Lintfort: building 4). Staff can obtain wrist bands from the person to whom they must report their GGG status (refer to the official instructions from the president and chancellor dated 22 September 2021). Security wristbands allow you to participate in all in-person events without displaying proof of GGG status each time.

Restricted access to buildings where in-person events are occurring

Access to buildings being used for in-person teaching and examinations is restricted to those with proper GGG status only. There are no exceptions.

Central access points

Central access points will be set up in front of buildings with restricted access to verify GGG status. These serve to restrict access to specific parts of buildings (which are connected by walkways) so that verification at the door to the classroom is not necessary.  As this will require many personnel to accomplish, teams from across the entire university will assign employees to work these access points.





Winter semester 2021/22: A partial return to campus (24 August 2021)

All universities in North Rhine-Westphalia are planning to offer more in-person teaching in the coming winter semester than in the past year and a half, and Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences is no exception. Students – and life in general – will start returning to campus again.

We can already say with certainty, however, that winter semester 2021-22 will not see a full return to in-person teaching. More than half of our lectures and courses will remain online or offered via hybrid teaching due to the pandemic. This applies in particular to larger events and lectures involving many students.

At the same time, in-person teaching will be possible once again for smaller courses that rely heavily on interaction and exchange, for example labs, projects etc. In other words, some courses will be online and others, where necessary and feasible, will be in person.

But don’t worry: if you can’t make it to Kleve or Kamp-Lintfort due to travel restrictions, health concerns or other reasons, we have a solution. You’ll still be able to participate in an online semester without falling behind in your studies. (To avoid misunderstandings, an additional note, 20.10.2021: This does not mean that every course is offered in digital or hybrid form. Depending on the study programme, selected courses are offered either online or in-person.)

Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences won’t be able to offer as many in-person courses as it would like in winter semester 2021-22. But learning and exchange in small groups will be possible. Our University Library and other service teams, as well as study areas, will also reopen to students. Thus we recommend that all students begin returning to their campus in Kleve or Kamp-Lintfort for the winter semester.

Background

Unfortunately, the coronavirus pandemic is still preventing us at Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences from offering our full range of courses in-person in winter semester 2021-2022. Reasons include:

  • The dynamic nature of the pandemic, demonstrated perhaps best by the emergence of the delta variant
  • A lack of room for normal-sized groups while still maintaining recommended social distancing
  • A lack of information on vaccination progress among teachers and students
  • International students who have received a Covid-19 vaccine that is not recognised by the Paul Ehrlich Institute
  • Uncertainty due to travel and visa restrictions for international students

Decision-making Factors

Currently enrolled students have already been informed by their faculties that many courses will be offered online or via hybrid teaching, while a select few will be offered in-person. The factors behind these decisions vary greatly by degree programme. Planning is still ongoing and more detailed information on the upcoming winter semester will be published as soon as possible.

Advisory for Students

All students are requested to consider the following advice:

  • Please get vaccinated against Covid-19. For international students: Please choose a vaccine that is recognised by the Paul Ehrlich Institute: This includes vaccines from BioNTech/Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson and Moderna (www.pei.de)
  • If you are feeling ill, please isolate at home.
  • Remember to socially distance, wash your hands thoroughly, and wear a proper mask while in public.
  • Make use of available Covid-19 testing options.
  • Please also use the official Corona Warn App for easier contact tracing: Corona Warn App

 

Updates to the Hygiene Framework of Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences based on recent changes to the Coronavirus Protection Ordinance and the General Ruling on In-Person Teaching and Examinations at Universities in North Rhine-Westphalia of the Ministry of Labour, Health and Social Affairs. (14 June 2021)

Weekly incidence rates continue to fall, schools have returned to face-to-face teaching, many everyday restrictions have been lifted and the rest may soon follow. More in-person opportunities are also becoming possible at NRW universities as well.

In light of these new developments, the University Rectors’ Conference (HRK) met on 10 June to discuss perspectives for the coming winter semester. “Given the significant drop in infection rates and the recent end of the priority-based system for Covid-19 vaccine distribution, we are all hopeful to see a gradual return to normal at our universities,” said the president of the HRK, Professor Dr Peter-André Alt. “Universities are keen to take advantage of new in-person teaching options quickly and to the fullest extent possible. However, they must continue to respect their obligations towards both students and teachers and account for the still-uncertain course of this pandemic in their planning.”

For Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences (HSRW), these positive trends also mean new opportunities for a careful easing of restrictions and new openings. The summer semester and the coming examination phase will still be conducted as planned. At the same time, however, smaller on-campus gatherings, meetings and social contact for students and staff will soon be possible again. The HSRW Hygiene Framework is currently being updated to reflect these new developments.

 

Adjusting pandemic guidelines to account for the new Germany-wide “emergency brake lockdowns” (recent amendment to Infection Prevention Act), valid until further notice (28 April 2021)

Background

Section 28b (3), a recent addition to the Infection Prevention Act (Infektionsschutzgesetz), which aims to protect the population in the event of an epidemic situation of national significance, introduced new “emergency brake lockdowns” that affect univer-sity operations as well.

The provisions for universities are identical to those for schools. However, they do not properly account for important differences and special aspects of higher education compared to schooling. The law in its current form ignores specifics, challenges and possibilities inherent to teaching in higher education during the pandemic and jeopard-ises everything that universities have accomplished thus far. A strict, blanket prohibi-tion of all forms of in-person teaching based on a 7-day incidence rate of 165 is a detriment to a considerable number of students.

Accordingly, the State Rectors’ Conference (LRK), the University Rectors’ Conference (HRK) and the Ministers of Science Conference (KMW) of the German states have come together to vehemently demand that the law be adapted to better account for universities.

In this vein, and in accordance with the views of the LRK, HRK and the KWM, the Executive Board of Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences has issued the following

Decision

Based on the interpretation of the KWM, the provisions set forth in Section 28b (3) of the Infection Prevention Act shall be interpreted as follows for Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences:

  1. “Research activities, activities in laboratories and similar facilities” as well as all practice-oriented vocational training and related activities in a degree programme are not considered “classroom instruction”.
  2. Sentence 4 of Section 28b (3) provides for certain exceptions for Abschlussklassen, or senior classes. The term Abschlussklassen, as with other terms used in the law, was taken from the realm of education. Therefore, we shall apply the same exceptions for senior classes provided by Section 28b (3) sentence 4 of the Infection Prevention Act to HSRW students who have nearly completed the graduation requirements for their degree programme.

In accordance with the still-valid Coronavirus Protection Ordinance of 19 April 2021 (Section 6 (1)), in-person teaching at universities remains permitted in exceptional cases and where considered essential.

 

Operating guidelines for Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences, valid until further notice (01 April 2021)

The third semester in the coronavirus pandemic has begun. The time for the redeeming steps has not yet come to return back to normalcy so that patience and caution are still required.

Nevertheless, testing and vaccines have introduced new possibilities in the fight against SARS-CoV-2 that give good reason to look to the future with renewed optimism.

Federal and state governments of Germany are working on a new, unified coronavirus strategy incorporating not only vaccines, but also new rapid tests and home tests. How/whether these new possibilities can play a pivotal role in a sound reopening strategy is a topic of heated public debate at the moment. It is also a topic of focus for the University Rectors’ and Chancellors’ Conferences as well.

Work-from-home and online teaching

The newest amendments to the Coronavirus Protection Ordinance (CoronaSchVO) dated 5 March 2021 (entry into force on 29 March 2021) have not brought about any changes for universities in North Rhine-Westphalia. All previous rules and guidelines affecting Rhine-Waal University will continue to apply under this newest version of the CoronaSchVO. The university’s Executive Board assumes at the moment, based on the CoronaSchVO and the university’s Hygiene Framework, that in-person instruction is still permissible in specific, justified cases, i.e. where absolutely essential due to the infeasibility of a virtual alternative.

All decision-makers in the faculties, administrative departments, staff units and central organisational units are called upon to ensure that their staff’s tasks and responsibilities can be performed primarily via telecommuting / from home. In turn, employees themselves are called upon to make use of telecommuting as much as possible. Please only visit campus for essential work-related purposes.

Rapid tests

University employees who, due to the nature of their work, must work on campus are eligible for rapid coronavirus tests on their campus during working hours and upon request.

This offer is intended to contribute to the ongoing fight against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. In addition, Rhine-Waal University has decided to offer this testing option as a health service to its employees. However, testing should be considered a supplementary measure: it does not replace hygienic precautions such as safe distancing, the use of a medical-grade mask in public, regular hand washing and airing out of closed spaces. (For more information (in German) about rapid tests, please see: https://www.bundesgesundheitsministerium.de/coronatest/faq-schnelltests.html)

Mandatory mask wearing

We would like to announce that stricter guidelines based on the Hygiene Framework of Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences, valid from 1 October 2020, are now in effect: masks worn on campus must now adhere to a higher safety standard, i.e. they must be medical-grade masks pursuant to the CoronaSchVO. (“Medical-grade mask” means in this context a disposable surgical mask or any masks rated FFP2 or better without an exhalation valve). In other words, the term “medical-grade mask” should now be understood for any mask or mask-wearing requirement mentioned in the Hygiene Framework. An updated Hygiene Framework can be found here.

Future outlook

We hope that infection rates will allow us to bring back more in-person teaching for all students in the winter semester while still adhering to the requirements of health authorities. With this in mind, the Executive Board is currently involved in considerable planning and coordination efforts with other NRW universities to develop and jointly implement new testing and vaccination strategies, re-opening scenarios and other measures for returning to our accustomed sense of academic normalcy.

As the University Rectors’ Conference (HRK) has put it: “Universities in Germany see testing options as a potential addition to their existing hygiene frameworks and as an opportunity to systematically return to in-person teaching starting with small, clearly defined groups of participants. However, this strategy hinges not only on falling infection rates in Germany, but also on the availability of necessary financial and logistical resources at universities for its implementation.”

Key to our success – and the success of the current lecture period despite the complicated situation we now find ourselves in – will be a targeted re-opening of specific teaching spaces both during the lecture period and the examination phase.

However, even with new strategies we cannot rule out the possibility of more drastic contact restrictions if infection rates continue to rise over the coming weeks. Worsening infection rates may even force us to return to core staffing operations as in March 2020. This move would prohibit any and all in-person teaching or on-campus events, regardless of the number of participants or whether indoors or outdoors, and force all teaching, research and other non-critical university operations to return to an online format.

The university’s Executive Board is in regular contact with decision-makers in politics and at other universities in North Rhine-Westphalia. The current discussion priorities are rapid tests and home tests, as well as the potential use of digital contact tracing. As soon as further changes become apparent, internal university agreements and decisions will be made as to how the Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences should position itself.

 

Amended Coronavirus Protection Ordinance: Guidelines for universities remain in effect (9 March 2021)

On 9 March 2021, the state government of North Rhine-Westphalia updated the Coronavirus Protection Ordinance (German). All previously-valid guidelines for universities remain in effect. Accordingly, in-person teaching is permitted on a case-by-case basis if essential and proper hygiene precautions are ensured. In addition, teachers must use suitably large rooms and/or alternative forms of teaching (hybrid or alternating between in-person and distance learning, for example).

 

Planning considerations for summer semester 2021

Currently, the summer semester is set to begin on 1 March and end on 31 August. The lecture period (including the examination phase) will fall between 29 March and 23 July 2021.

At the moment, we must assume that the current pandemic conditions will largely continue through all of summer semester 2021 and that most of the populace will not have been vaccinated yet. We should not expect a loosening of restrictions at the start of the semester, so we must again prepare for a flexible online semester, with online and hybrid teaching, according to the Hygiene Framework.

While it appears that there may be more options for in-person teaching (under special circumstances, naturally) in summer semester 2021 than in winter semester 2020-2021, we should remain flexible and still expect the vast majority of teaching to occur online/digitally.

The experience of the past two semesters has allowed the faculties and teachers to continually build and improve upon their organisational and digital teaching concepts. The Executive Board hopes that these concepts will also lead to a renewed teaching-learning dialogue with students by making the course preparation process more manageable. Finally, the Executive Board would also like to encourage all students and teachers to contribute to internal dialogues on improving teaching approaches under pandemic conditions.

 

Operating guidelines for Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences, valid until further notice (05 March 2021)

The challenges of the winter semester have greatly impacted the past weeks and the examination phases are just around the corner. At the same time, state and federal ministers have been meeting at regular intervals to coordinate new measures, enact new regulations, and integrate them into state law. Again and again, the dynamic nature of this pandemic seems to take hold of our public and private lives, forcing us to both act and react.

All decisions in this pandemic have been motivated by our responsibilities towards all students and staff. The ability for students to complete their degree and the health and safety of everyone at HSRW are two of the most valuable.

With the newly amended NRW Coronavirus Protection Ordinance, which enters into force on Friday, 05 March 2021, all rules and guidelines implemented at HSRW in past weeks remain in effect; the new Ordinance takes into account the importance of protecting health, but also the imperative need for in-person examinations and examination preparation. Of course, digital examination formats should be prioritised and efforts should ensure the ability of all students to participate.

At the moment, the Executive Board expect that in-person examinations will remain permissible on a case-by-case basis. Though this bears great responsibility and planning, efforts will be supported by both the Coronavirus Protection Ordinance and the Hygiene Framework. 

Team leaders in the faculties, administrative departments, staff units and central organisational units should continue ensuring that their team’s tasks and responsibilities are performed primarily via telecommuting / from home. In turn, employees are called upon to make use of telecommuting as much as possible. Please only visit campus for essential work-related purposes.

 

Operating guidelines for Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences, valid until further notice (11 January 2021)

In a meeting held on 7 January 2021, the Executive Board met to discuss the current state of the pandemic. This discussion took into account the most recent decisions of the Conference of Minister Presidents, the various measures that have been implemented throughout Germany, as well as deliberations from the University Chancellors’ Conference and the Rectors’ Conference.

After carefully weighing the various interests at play as well as the steps needed to ensure both the health and safety of everyone at Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences and continued academic operations (examinations in particular), the Executive Board has decided upon the following:

  1. First, we would like to emphasise once again the importance of following the Hygiene Framework as well as all guidelines for the winter semester currently in effect.
  2. Teachers and examiners are urgently requested to offer digital examinations whenever and wherever possible.
  3. As before, examinations and teaching preparation for them may be offered in person only when absolutely necessary.
  4. Accordingly, in-person examinations scheduled by the faculties for the upcoming winter semester examination phase may continue as planned.
  5. For the exclusive purpose of ensuring proper examination preparation and in accordance with current health and legal guidelines, campus libraries will reopen on 11 January 2021. However, library services will be restricted to picking up ordered media and returning borrowed media with as little person-to-person contact as possible to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Team leaders in the faculties, administrative departments, staff units and central organisational units should continue ensuring that their team’s tasks and responsibilities are performed primarily via telecommuting / from home. In turn, employees are called upon to make use of telecommuting as much as possible. Visits to campus should only occur for essential work-related purposes.

The points above shall remain in effect until further notice, provided no additional restrictions are enacted in the meantime by responsible government authorities (e.g. NRW Ministry of Culture and Science, NRW Ministry of Labour, Health and Social Affairs, county health authorities in Kleve and Wesel).

Should additional restrictions be implemented in the next days and weeks which prohibit in-person examinations, the Executive Board still considers digital examinations to be the best solution. If digital examinations are infeasible in certain cases, an alternative solution may include delaying the examination phase until the start of summer semester 2021 (29 March to 11 April 2021), resulting in a correspondingly shorter lecture period (12 April to 23 July 2021). The regularly scheduled examination phase to conclude the summer semester (12 to 23 July 2021) should initially remain unaffected.

The Executive Board would also like to inform all members of our University of new restrictions upon arrival in Germany from high-risk countries:

“Mandatory tests for SARS-CoV-2 shall be required for all new arrivals to Germany originating in a high-risk country. This is in addition to the current 10-day quarantine requirement for all new arrivals, which may be shortened accordingly after a negative test administered no earlier than the fifth day of quarantine (‘two-test strategy’).

Tests administered within 48 hours of arrival or immediately upon arrival in Germany comply with this new requirement. The model ordinance for quarantine shall be revised accordingly and implemented by the federal states of Germany in their corresponding ordinances from 11 January 2021 onwards.

In addition to the mandatory testing requirement in place since August 2020, the German federal government shall implement separate testing guidelines on the basis of the 3rd Civil Protection Act for new arrivals from special, high-risk countries designated as such due to the prevalence of virus mutations or where incidence rates are particularly high. Both state and federal governments would like to expressly mention once again that all non-essential travel to high-risk countries should be avoided and that travellers arriving in Germany are subject to special notification obligations in addition to mandatory testing and quarantine requirements.” (source: Conference of Minister Presidents)

 

Updated operating guidelines for Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences, valid from 16 December 2020 (until further notice; review planned for early January)

The ever-changing nature of the pandemic once again requires flexible and responsible action from us all. Very recently, the Coronavirus Protection Ordinance (CorSchVO) of North Rhine-Westphalia has been updated with further guidelines for the operation of universities and other education institutes. The Executive Board of Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences has conferred with the Coronavirus Task Force on these new guidelines.

As you were notified by email cosigned by the chancellor and president in early December, only teaching which is considered absolutely essential and in compliance with the Hygiene Framework is currently permitted on campus. The vast majority of teaching has been held online since the start of the semester, as was planned with the flexible online semester. This allowed Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences to remain in compliance with the Coronavirus Protection Ordinance at all times.

The updated Ordinance (valid from 16 December 2020) still contains provisions permitting teaching and examinations at universities and schools in the healthcare sector pursuant to separate agreements in accordance with Section 28 (1) of the Protection against Infection Act (Infektionsschutzgesetz). However, in-person teaching is no longer permitted. In-person examinations and associated preparation are only permitted if they cannot be delayed until after 10 January 2021 for legal or factual reasons, or if a delay can be considered unreasonable or intolerable for the affected students. Practical vocational training is only permissible in accordance with applicable guidelines for the sector in which it occurs.

With these changes in mind, the Executive Board would like to once again emphasise the importance of following the Hygiene Framework as well as the guidelines established for the current winter semester. In addition, the following rules now apply as well:

  1. only absolutely essential in-person examinations and associated preparation are permitted on campus and only if they cannot be delayed until after 10 January 2021 for legal or factual reasons, or if a delay could be considered unreasonable or intolerable for the affected students;
  2. That the library shall remain closed to the public through the holidays as well as from 4-10 January 2021 (digital service will remain available, however). The library is planned to reopen to the public from 11 January 2021, particularly for exam preparation purposes, but subject to the health guidelines in place at that time.

Team leaders in the faculties, administrative departments, staff units and central organisational units are called upon to ensure that their internal tasks and responsibilities can be managed primarily through telecommuting / home office. In turn, employees are called upon to make use of telecommuting as much as possible. Visits to campus should only occur for essential work-related purposes.

These new rules shall remain in effect until further notice, but at least until 10 January 2021, and will be reviewed in early January 2021. However, due to the current trajectory of the pandemic, we must assume that they will remain in effect past this date, or require additional adjustment.

Expanded rules regarding masks

Due to rapidly increasing case numbers, the Executive Board has expanded rules regarding masks on campus in accordance with the Protection from Coronavirus Ordinance (CoronaSchVO) from 30 October 2020. From 3 November onwards, all students, staff and guests are required to wear a mask (covering both mouth and nose) at all times on campus, not just in specific situations. This requirement, valid until further notice, applies to all in-person teaching, for speakers and audiences in other on-campus events, in meetings, and in all rooms, facilities and waiting areas in front of buildings.

Exceptions to this requirement are only permissible if minimum social distancing can be assured between persons, in accordance with Section 3 (4) CoronaSchVO (applies to teaching situations) and Section 3 (2) CoronaSchVO (applies to office spaces).

Flexible online semester

That is why we have planned a “flexible online semester” for winter semester 2020-2021, one which also provides a degree of variable options to the faculties. These options range from select in-person activities on campus, to hybrid teaching, to remote teaching and learning. Current hygiene guidelines permit in-person activities on campus in certain cases, for example for practicals, examinations or voluntary curricular offers. You have planned the winter semester with great care and not lost sight of the fact that in-person teaching should remain an exception for times when it is absolutely essential.

The rest of the Hygiene Framework continues to apply. With regard to the possible pandemic scenarios illustrated there, I would like to stress that these also consider the possibility of additional restrictions from health authorities. These scenarios are meant to give insight into what might await us in the future. However, the implementation of new, stricter restrictions at HSRW will not occur until official instructions have come down through health authorities / the responsible government ministries. Only when we have received official instructions, will we react (as was the case in March of this year). The purpose of the Hygiene Framework was to be prepared as best we could should lockdowns return.

Updated Hygiene Framework for Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences

A return to normal operations in winter semester is highly unlikely. The amount and type of in-person teaching arrangements varies greatly at universities throughout Germany, as they depend largely on the composition of students and different resources required, in particular facility capacities and available support personnel.

Planning for and implementation of the winter semester 2020-2021 must take into account the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and make full use of the many insights and experiences we have gathered thus far. As a whole, the winter semester must be implemented without large groups of people on campus in order to ensure proper social distancing and adherence to hygienic guidelines.

The updated Hygiene Framework contains both mandatory guidelines and helpful recommendations offering the best possible protection to prevent or slow the spread of SARS-CoV-2 at Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences. They describe the necessary precautions which must be taken in a pandemic to ensure the health and safety of all members of our University.

Hygiene guidelines 

On 3 June 2020 the Executive Board enacted new hygiene guidelines (currently only in German) to facilitate the return to partial on-campus presence for students and staff in certain necessary cases. These guidelines describe all hygienic precautions which must be taken in order to ensure the health and safety of all members of our University. They are intended to complement, not replace, legislation and other legal guidelines currently in force in Germany. Plans for returning to partial on-campus presence must be developed internally in the faculties, central facilities, administration and other departments at the University and submitted to the Executive Board for final approval. This is to ensure compliance with the legal requirements of the health authorities.

Before you begin planning, please consider the following:

  • The semester is to be conducted as successfully as possible.
  • Online forms of instruction and assessment have priority.
  •  Practical requirements for courses should be scheduled for the end of the summer semester 2020 lecture period or as far into the subsequent lecture-free period as possible.

Plans must be both reasonable and feasible to carry out. Moreover, the actual necessity of on-campus presence should be critically examined in each instance.

Together we are responsible for ensuring that these new guidelines are upheld. Our shared goal is to navigate the ongoing crisis safely and successfully.

Regulations to offset the negative academic effects of the coronavirus epidemic

Recently, the state government of North Rhine-Westphalia enacted new legislation giving universities more flexibility to address the negative effects of the coronavirus crisis. In the days since, the Executive Board has developed new regulations specifically for Rhine-Waal University based on this legislative framework. The resulting document, entitled “Regulations to offset academic adversities caused by the coronavirus epidemic (SARS-CoV-2)”, was developed together with the University’s working group for digital education and, over numerous sessions, with the Faculty Conference as representative body of the faculties. This document combines the wide-ranging provisions enacted by the government with specific policies for our institution to ensure room for flexible decision-making.

This strategy is intended to not only safeguard the digital courses and concepts which have already begun, but also to give decision makers the flexibility to react to changing circumstances without the need for additional amendments. This flexibility was enacted on Friday, 8 May 2020 via publication in the Official Notices and entered into force the next day. The decision if and when to initiate these flexible policies rests solely with the Executive Board.

As the digital summer semester 2020 is already underway, the passages in these regulations put added emphasis on distance learning. This was also done to encourage continued motivation and respect for these ongoing efforts for the duration of the pandemic. Despite its digital focus, these regulations were formulated in such a way the University can shift to forms of instruction as the situation allows and provide the faculties with more room for their own decision-making processes. Final authority for the decision to return to on-campus instruction rests with the Executive Board, which is endowed by the constitution with the fundamental responsibility of ensuring academic operations – and thus that the teaching and examination obligations of our institution are fulfilled – in normal times and in times of crisis.

Core staffing measures

Emergency measures were implemented at Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences early into the coronavirus outbreak in Germany in order to protect the health and safety students and staff. For staff, this also meant a shift to a flexible range of telework options. This decision was made by the Executive Board on 17 March 2020 and was valid through 19 April 2020.

From 20 April onwards Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences will begin a careful shift from emergency staffing measures to core staffing measures. However, on-campus presence should still be kept to a minimum. Nevertheless, we must begin to enable greater access to office spaces, laboratories and university equipment in order to implement new distance learning concepts, for research and in order to ensure a successful semester. All university-related events and gatherings of people, whether external or internal, indoors or outdoors and regardless of the number of participants, remain cancelled until further notice. Recommended hygiene precautions should continue to be followed as well.

“We want to continue making sound contributions to the fight against the coronavirus, and moving from emergency staffing to core staffing is a part of this ongoing effort. The decision is in line with government plans for gradually loosening restrictions and positions our operations in the right place for the coming weeks. We would like to give special thanks to all members of Rhine-Waal University who have contributed and shaped the past weeks and all those who will help shape the weeks to come so that we as a university can continue operating and develop new forms of teaching and learning,” stressed Dr Oliver Locker-Grütjen, President.

The FAQ you can find here.

Task force Corona

The Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences has set up an internal task force for coronavirus to observe the situation and react quickly to any new developments. This task force will meet several times a week in order to quickly react to any new developments to the coronavirus situation. It will also be in contact with experts from the faculties, central facilities for advice as needed and the public health services. There is also a close coordination with other Universities of North Rhine-Westphalia.

As part of ongoing efforts to stop the continued spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the NRW Ministry of Science and Education decided yesterday to delay the start of the summer semester lecture period until 20 April 2020.

Summer Semester

As part of ongoing efforts to stop the continued spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the NRW Ministry of Science and Education decided yesterday to delay the start of the summer semester lecture period until 20 April 2020.

The Executive Board of Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences welcomes this decision and will begin planning for the new semester together with the faculties and central staff units over the coming days and weeks. An immediate consequence of this decision is that all courses scheduled for before the lecture period (workshops or block seminars, for example) must be cancelled. More information on the possible effects of this decision on examinations, internships, semesters abroad etc. will follow as soon as possible.

Hygiene

The first step taken by this task force was to increase awareness of effective personal hygiene to reduce the spread of viruses. This lead to the posting of info signs and hand sanitizer dispensers throughout the university.

At the same time, the University of Applied Sciences strongly recommend that you practice these simple hygiene precautions, which can help prevent the spread of viruses to yourself and others:

  • Regularly and thoroughly wash your hands with soap for at least 20 seconds
  • Avoid touching your eyes, ears, nose and mouth
  • Sneeze and cough into your elbow, never your hands
  • Avoid shaking hands
  • Keep a distance of approx. 1 m from others
  • If you are feeling ill, do not leave your home and avoid contact with others, including family and flatmates. Avoid eating with others in your household and keep to separate rooms as much as possible. Ventilate rooms thoroughly and often by fully opening your windows for a period of time.

Recommendations

The Executive Board of the The Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences recommends to all members of the university that they closely follow the current information, travel and safety advice and monitor the situation.

  • The Federal Foreign Office provides travel and safety advice (German only).
  • The Federal Ministry of Health provides information (in German only).
  • The Robert Koch Institute provides current information (in German only) and a list of frequently asked questions (FAQs).
  • The Federal Centre for Health Education provides answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) about the novel Coronavirus.
  • Current information about the coronavirus can be found on the site of the Kreis Kleve (you can find it here) and in the current press release. (in German only)
  • Current information about Kreis Wesel can be found here. (in German only)
  • Current information about Stadt Kleve can be found here. (in German only)
  • Current information about Stadt Kamp-Lintfort can be found here. (in German only)

Further information from the Federal Ministry of Health and the Robert Koch Institute can be found in the download area.

Special information offer by the library 

A comprehensive overview of current corona research can be found on the pages of the library

General information       

The university continues to refer to the recommendations and assessments of the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) and the health ministries regarding the handling of the coronavirus: https://www.rki.de/DE/Content/InfAZ/N/Neuartiges_Coronavirus/Risikogebie...

  • Asymptomatic persons who have not been in a high-risk area in Germany or abroad (as defined by the RKI) within the past 14 days nor in contact with a person confirmed to have covid-19 are considered healthy and not at risk.
  • Symptomless persons who were recently in a high-risk area in Germany or abroad (RKI) and/or in contact with a person confirmed to have covid-19 should contact their local public health services and, as a precaution, remain home to limit contact with other persons for a period of 14 days (from the date of arrival in Germany or date of contact with the infected persons).

Public health services for Kleve county can be reached at 02821-85-311, Mondays to Fridays, from 8:00 a.m. to 11 a.m. (see also: https://www.kreis-kleve.de/de/fachbereich5/corona-virus/).

Public health services for Wesel county / Kamp-Lintfort can be reached at 0281-207-0 (see also: https://www.kreis-wesel.de/de/dienstleistungen/infektionskrankheiten-meldung-information-und-beratung/)

  • Any person who is currently exhibiting flu-like symptoms or has been in close proximity with any infected persons should remain at home and contact their doctor. Please call your doctor’s office and speak to staff first—do not simply visit during consultation hours.

Finally, a word regarding “fake news”: rumours and speculation surrounding coronavirus are quick to spread. Please approach everything you see or hear with a level head and a critical eye. Get your information from the experts directly, for example the World Health Organization: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019. Do not treat any people or groups with suspicion. There is no cause for special safety precautions when speaking with people from affected areas, nor to make any demands of them. Current risk assessments of German health agencies are clear that there is no need for panic or unconventional measures among the public.

Further information are regularly published on the university's homepage.