Coronavirus - what to do?

Hochschule Düsseldorf University of Applied Sciences

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Overview Information for International Students FAQ HSD Health Protection General Information

Prof. Pasing_Labor Form & Struktur

Visualisation SARS-CoV-2

The current spread of the coronavirus requires new measures. The protection of students and staff members is our top priority. The Board of Management has therefore made fundamental decisions in line with instructions from the official authorities. We continue to work intensively on all levels to make sure that you will not suffer any disadvantages in your studies due to the current situation in the context of the coronavirus. / Last updated: 3 June 2020

For information purposes and as guidelines, we recommend factual and sensibly worded information provided by official organisations such as the Robert Koch Institute (in German and English), the German Federal Centre for Health Education (BZgA) (in German only) or the NHS (in English).

Information on the announcement of eased restrictionsCurrent

The announcement of eased restrictions on state level may have raised the expectation that HSD would reopen on Monday, 11 May 2020.

However, most of the courses in the summer semester will continue on a digital basis and only a few faculties begin to offer some classes on campus with a maximum of 20 participants. All participants of classes taking place on campus need to comply with the necessary regulations on minimum distance and hygiene and we recommend wearing a mask, scarf or similar at HSD (for details see section Health Protection).

We expect more detailed regulations from the government of North Rhine-Westphalia for universities within the next days. However, we do not expect any fundamental changes. Based on these more detailed state regulations, we aim to discuss and, where necessary, plan further steps within the coming 2–3 weeks.

Only very few on-campus sessions which are absolutely necessary and cannot be conducted in a digital format will start on Monday, 11 May 2020, in small groups at the Faculty of Mechanical and Process Engineering as well as the Faculty of Media. Should one of your classes take place on campus, you will receive an invitation from your faculty in advance.

The University Library has reopened. Opening hours are temprarily limited: Mon–Fri 09:00–15:00, Sat/Sun closed.

Access to HSD buildings

You can access HSD buildings only via one entrance per building. This entrance is marked accordingly.

Before you enter, you need to show your student ID card to our security staff and specify the name of the course you want to attend, so that they can check if you are allowed to enter. The faculties will provide lists for each course naming the students eligible to attend.

Please make sure to arrive on time, but not too much in advance to avoid queues. Then go directly to the room where your class takes place. Please leave the building immediately once class is over.

Access to parking area

You can use the underground parking area. However, you cannot enter the building directly from the underground parking area. (Only staff members who have a key are allowed to use those doors. Students need to enter the building via the main entrance on ground level.) To enter the parking area, you also have to show your student ID card and specify the name of the course you want to attend.

Please pay particular attention to the regulations on minimum distance and hygiene necessary to protect all of us and wear a mask, scarf or similar at HSD.

Further information on the summer semester 2020

Teaching weeks

Postponed beginning: 20 April 2020. The end of the teaching weeks remains unchanged: 17 July 2020. The teaching staff adapt course contents accordingly.

Courses, practical trainings and examinations

HSD has adopted regulations to counteract the impact of the pandemic on your studies (Ordnung zur Kompensation der Folgen der Coronavirus-SARS-CoV-2-Epidemie für Studium und Lehre of 23 April 2020 – document in German only). These regulations allow the faculties to deviate from existing regulations so that you can successfully continue your studies under the current condition (e.g. to offer courses and examinations in different formats, postpone examinations or waive certain prerequisites).

For the time being, most courses and examinations have to be conducted on a digital basis. From 11 May onwards, some sessions or examinations may take place on campus, if they are absolutely necessary and cannot be conducted in a digital format. However, we will need to be very strict in our decisions on whether or not to grant an exceptional permission to conduct a session or examination on campus. The protection of students and staff members is our top priority and we are legally obliged to meet all necessary health and safety requirements.

The corona regulations increase the individual normal programme length by one semester. This applies to all students who are enrolled at HSD for the summer semester 2020 (and have not requested leave of absence for this semester) as well as all cross-registered students as defined in the higher education act.

Your faculty will keep you posted on any relevant changes concerning your studies.

Access, library and other services

Access to HSD buildings for students

is limited to the exceptionally permitted on-campus sessions or examinations and the building(s) in which they take place,
is only possible via the respective main entrance or via the underground parking area,
is only possible Monday to Friday 7:00–20:00 for the purpose mentioned above,
requires that you register in an attendance list (to be able to track chains of infection if necessary) and
is subject to compliance with the legally prescribed protective and hygienic measures.

The University Library has reopened. Opening hours are temprarily limited: Mon–Fri 9:00–15:00, Sat/Sun closed (for updates check the library website). All other advice and support is provided by phone, via e-mail or online. We aim to reopen further facilities and provide service in person as soon as the legal frameworks allow us to do so.

Excursion

Until further notice, no excursions can take place.

External internships

External internships may take place, if the respective internship provider does not decide otherwise. The Examination Boards decide on further approaches and proceedings

Updates

Since we expect changes on very short notice, please check this website and your student e-mail account regularly for updates.

Minimising physical contact

Campus closed for the public

For the time being, the general public does not have access to HSD buildings. This includes dining hall, Alter Schlachthof – Memorial Site, Campus IT Service Desk, Student Support Centre (SSC) services, Centre for Training and Competence Development (ZWEK), Faculty Student Committee and AStA (student union) rooms etc.

No childcare

In line with the instructions of the authorities, we cannot provide the usual emergency childcare until further notice.

People returning from risk areas cannot enter campus

According to the latest regulation of the state government of 22 March 2020 (in German only), anyone returning from a risk area (as defined by the Robert Koch Institute) may not return to campus within 14 days after their return. This measure was taken to prevent new infections with the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. It will be particularly relevant for our students and guests once HSD buildings reopen for them.