Go to eugreenalliance
Search

Denna nyhet är äldre än 6 månader och är kanske inte aktuell längre.

Corona: Online teaching and locked entrances

2020-11-26 

All teaching is now to be conducted online and members of staff are encouraged to work from home, whenever possible.

In response to the increases in the infection rate of COVID-19, the stricter recommendations from the Public Health Agency of Sweden for the Gävleborg region, as well as the Swedish government’s new restrictions regarding public gatherings, the Vice-Chancellor has decided to update the guidelines for University operations and teaching for the rest of the autumn semester.

These updated guidelines should come into effect as soon as possible. The measures taken apply until 17 January 2021, unless a new decision is made.

Only staff and students have access to our campus

The University campus is now open only for staff and students. As of Monday 23 November, all entrances at the University are locked. The Library entrances are also locked. Staff and students must use their HiG cards to enter.

Updated guidelines for University of Gävle:

  • All teaching should primarily be conducted online.
  • Necessary face-to-face meetings on campus can be conducted, for example if a certain type of room or equipment is required, or for quality assurance of an examination. Heads of faculty make the decision.
  • If course components need to be carried out on campus, everyone must follow recommendations about keeping a safe distance and other pieces of advice to ensure to limit the spread of the virus.
  • After consultation with the head of faculty, examiners can decide to change examination formats to heed coronavirus-related restrictions.
  • Central coordination of campus-based course components, aimed to avoid crowds on campus to limit the spread of COVID-19, will be carried out in consultation with heads of faculty.
  • A limited number of written hall examinations can be carried out on campus, if current restrictions and recommendations are followed.
  • The Division of Educational Support can decide that a student belonging to a risk group requires an adapted room for a written examination.

As a result of the new decision, and due to current circumstances, the University management encourages the public, students and staff to follow all recommendations listed below:

  • Contact the University via phone, e-mail or chats. Avoid visits in person whenever possible.
  • Students are encouraged to study at home as much as possible.
  • University staff are to work from home as much as possible, but the needs of the organisation and members of staff’s work environment must be taken into account.

“We are concerned about the increases in the infection rate in our region and in Sweden, and our contribution to limit the spread of COVID-19 is the combination of measures that we have taken the decision to carry out,” says Vice-Chancellor Ylva Fältholm. “We have attempted to find a viable solution for us that meets the intention in the authorities’ decision.”

Consider alternative examination formats

“As the University has switched to online teaching, it is now important to consider alternative examination formats. Written hall examinations may be carried out on campus, but only when this is required to ensure a fair examination or for quality assurance, and current restrictions and recommendations must be followed,” says Maria Strand, head of the Division of Educational Support.

Decision on spring semester may be revised

At the beginning of November, the Vice-Chancellor made a decision on teaching at the University in the spring semester of 2021. This decision may require a revision unless the infection rate drops and the authorities issue new recommendations.

The current decision states that courses and programmes at the University will be taught in the format previously announced, but with adaptations to the pandemic. Online courses and programmes will be conducted online, with few or no campus meetings.

“Two months remain before the spring semester will start and predicting what the situation will be like then is of course hard,” says Vice-Chancellor Ylva Fältholm. “We may have to revise the decision about our teaching. However, our ambition is to attempt to conduct our courses and programmes in the teaching format previously announced.

More information


  • What happens if a student has symptoms or falls ill?
    If a student is diagnosed with COVID-19, the individual will be given medical advice by the health care centre. If the University learns that a student who has participated in teaching or examination on campus has contracted COVID-19, the University Coordination Committee will contact students and teachers who may have been in close contact with that student via e-mail. This e-mail will provide information about what to do next.

    If several students in the same group have contracted COVID-19 (a cluster), the University will contact the region medical officer at Region Gävleborg who will decide what measures that need to be taken.

    Lecturers and course coordinators who are asked questions by students considering themselves to belong to a risk group can refer them the Student Centre, studentcentrum@hig.se. The Division of Educational Support will take decisions, arrange practical matters and respond to the students’ questions. We follow the National Board of Health and Welfare’s definition of “risk group.”

    As always, students and staff must stay at home if they have symptoms of an infection and maintain a safe distance on campus.
  • What rules apply if a member of staff falls ill?
    If a member of staff is diagnosed with COVID-19, the individual should follow medical advice. Region Gävleborg conducts the contact tracing process and they attempt to be as thorough as they can. Contact your line manager who will inform the University Coordination Committee via mail. covid19@hig.se.

    The University Coordination Committee assists in the contact tracing process by sending emails to all members of staff who may have been exposed to the virus. The University Coordination Committee regularly informs the regional medical officer in Region Gävleborg who in turn evaluates the situation and suggests measures, if any need to be taken.

    Do not return to work until you have been symptom-free for two days. As always, stay at home if you have symptoms of an infection and maintain a safe distance on campus and when you visit public places.
  • What is the infection rate on campus?
    The University Coordination Committe for COVID-19 will be informed if individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 decide to inform us or if they are encouraged to inform us by the health care services. We are informed by the individual who has contracted COVID-19, by managers or by student associations. So far, a few students and members of staff have contracted the virus, according to our information. In the cases known to us, the transmission of COVID-19 has not been related to contacts here on campus.

    The University is in contact with the regional medical officer in Region Gävleborg to receive advice regarding virus transmission issues.
  • What are the current University opening hours?
    All entrances at the University campus are locked as of Monday 23 November. Staff and students use their HiG cards to enter. Regular opening hours apply.
    University opening hours
    It-support and Learning center
    Library

 TEXT: Tommy Löfgren

Published by: Veronica Liljeroth Page responsible: Anders Munck Updated: 2020-11-26
Högskolan i Gävle
www.hig.se
Box 801 76 GÄVLE
026-64 85 00 (växel)