Corona-Update: Information for students

Dear Students,

Ahead of us lies another semester which we must master under the corona pandemic conditions. The current infection statistics and the associated restrictions on public life support our decision to also make the winter semester primarily digital. In this way, even in the partial lockdown, it is possible to offer you the few but essential face-to-face formats for practical teaching units and for first semester students, as planned. Nevertheless, in accordance with the Corona Ordinance of the State of Schleswig-Holstein for the Universities of 31.10.2020, we must impose additional rules on you, which we will explain below.

We would like to accompany the following information about your studies in the winter semester with an urgent appeal to consistently comply with all infection protection measures - on the CAU campus, but above all in private! In order for us all to remain healthy this semester, and avoid a complete lockdown like in the spring, it is essential that we at the university also make our contribution to curbing the pandemic, strictly in accordance with the guideline "as little attendance on campus as possible". A new module in OpenOlat will be available as from Monday for contact data acquisition, for which you must first register.

Due to the current regulations of the state of Schleswig-Holstein to slow the spread of the coronavirus, wearing a face mask is mandatory on the university premises (all indoor areas and the outdoor areas in the immediate vicinity of the university buildings). This now also applies during teaching events, even when you are seated. For your own protection, and in the interests of all, you must also maintain the minimum social distance of 1.5m and comply with the well-known hygiene measures (regular hand washing, coughing and sneezing etiquette as well as wearing of masks). Ventilation must be carried out regularly during teaching events and examinations, if this does not happen automatically via ventilation systems. Please be prepared for temporarily lower room temperatures.

If you feel unwell and are unsure whether you are allowed to participate in an examination or teaching event, please use the sniffles plan as a guideline and pay attention to the "instruction” section.

Health Instruction

We would like to point out that the measures listed above must be strictly observed on the university premises.

In particular, you must not enter the university campus or any CAU building if you are suffering from a respiratory illness which cannot be classified simply as a slight cold or which can clearly be related to illnesses other than a COVID-19 infection.

If you are uncertain, please have your symptoms checked by a doctor. Contact your GP by phone first. For further questions, please contact the newly appointed CAU contact person for students as soon as possible: Sandra Elstner, selstner@uv.uni-kiel.de.

The CAU has appointed this contact person to assist new and returning students with their general questions on topics arising from the new academic situation created by the coronavirus pandemic. If you have general questions about studying in corona times, or about the associated challenges, you are welcome to contact Ms Sandra Elstner via selstner@uv.uni-kiel.de or at 0431 880-5931. You can find further information at www.qe.uni-kiel.de/de/beratung-studium-corona.

Libraries

Kiel University Library (UB) remains open for you from Mondays to Saturdays. However, due to the new state regulations, the service and working areas are restricted to the following uses:

• The use of the individual working spaces is only possible with prior online registration, and only for the preparation of term papers, final theses, habilitations or dissertations.
• It is still possible to order print media from the open-access areas and stacks to the self-service area for self-checkout.
• The service desk remains open, including for returns, and the electronic semester equipment remains available for teachers.

Please have a look at the CAU corona website to find out about the opening times and services which are not offered during the partial lockdown.

The faculties and institutes provide information on restrictions in the services of the specialist libraries on their websites.

Examinations

Due to the ongoing pandemic conditions, the examination periods for the winter semester 2020/21 and the summer semester 2021 for Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programmes had to be rescheduled differently to the previously announced times. You can find more information at: www.uni-kiel.de/en/coronavirus/information/for-students#c41679

We will keep you constantly informed of the latest developments at www.uni-kiel.de/en/corona.

Despite all these difficulties, I wish you a good start to the semester, and every success in your various teaching events!

Prof. Dr. Markus Hundt
Vice President for studying & teaching, continuing professional development