Information for teachers and students on the further implementation of courses and examinations in the winter semester 2021/22

Dear university members,
Dear colleagues, dear professors and lecturers, dear students,

As already announced on January 5, the Presidential Board has discussed various options for the further organization of courses and examinations in the winter semester with the deans and deans of studies, the heads of the institutions and departments, and the representatives of the Staff Council and students. Against the background of the importance of face-to-face teaching for quality studies on the one hand and the currently increasing number of infections, especially due to the Omicron variant of the coronavirus, on the other hand, the Presidential Board has passed the following resolution after extensive consultation, which is valid until the end of the winter semester 2021/2022:

1. In view of the current sharp rise in the number of infections and the expected increase in the number of quarantine cases, the Presidential Board gives priority to infection and health protection to the extent that instructors and examiners can and should use alternative formats for courses and examinations during the remainder of the winter semester 2021/22, insofar as this is didactically justifiable.
    
2. However, instructors and examiners may continue to conduct courses and examinations in full attendance in accordance with the applicable framework examination regulations - in particular if this is necessary for didactic reasons. The prerequisite is the continuous use of FFP2 masks, even if the participants have taken a seat, as well as compliance with all other regulations of the hygiene guidelines of Leuphana, in particular on ventilation and possible distances. Lectures should continue to be transmitted in hybrid form to enable students who are not present to at least participate passively.
    
3. With regard to the implementation of the courses, the Presidential Board asks all instructors to consider against this background whether your courses should be carried out in the further course of the winter semester in the alternative implementation method deposited and announced in myStudy in accordance with the Corona Annexes to the Framework Examination Regulations or continue to be carried out in attendance. Please inform your students about your decision in a timely manner.
    
4. With regard to the conduct of the examinations, the Presidential Board asks all examiners to also consider whether the examinations should be conducted in alternative formats, insofar as this is justifiable in terms of content. As far as it is didactically or content-wise necessary, however, it remains possible to conduct examinations in presence - even if the corresponding course should have been conducted online. In this case, too, the continuous use of FFP2 masks is a prerequisite, regardless of possible distances, even if the participants have taken a seat, as well as compliance with all other regulations of the hygiene guidelines of Leuphana. We kindly ask you to inform all students registered for the examination and the responsible dean's offices in writing of your decision regarding the form of conducting the examination by January 21, 2022 at the latest.
    
5. Due to the currently increasing incidence of infections, we must increasingly expect quarantine obligations or quarantine orders for the examination period, depending on decisions by the health authorities. If students are unable to take part in examinations due to such a quarantine obligation or quarantine order, the regular procedure for sick leave or inability to take examinations applies to the students concerned. For more information, please refer to the information provided by Student Services at: https://www.leuphana.de/fileadmin/user_upload/services/studierendenservice/informationen/Infos_Attest_C_GS.pdf.

With the decisions made in this way, we want to facilitate a responsible course that takes into account the importance of face-to-face teaching and the fundamental right of lecturers to be able to decide independently on the content and didactic implementation of courses and examinations within the framework of the freedom of research and teaching, as well as the responsibility for the health protection of all university members.

If instructors have any questions regarding the implementation of your courses and examinations, please contact the dean of studies responsible for your courses directly. Students should contact the instructor responsible for their course or examination directly. The staff members responsible for your course of study in the Student Services Department will also be happy to provide you with information on the conduct of examinations.

For further general questions, you can continue to consult our Corona portal at www.leuphana.de/portale/coronavirus or contact the central address cv-info@leuphana.de. Immunization appointments continue to be available without an appointment every Tuesday in the Central Building cafeteria. Please continue to notify the University of confirmed Corona infections at cv-kontaktnachverfolgung@leuphana.de.

We continue to thank you expressly for your continued support and understanding of the necessary measures. We all hope that we will soon be able to return to regular and comprehensive performance of our university operations in presence.

With kind regards

Sascha Spoun
President

Christian Brei
Executive Vice President

Erich Hörl
Vice President College

Simone Abels
Vice President Graduate School

Jörg Terhechte
Vice President Professional School

Susanne Leeb
Vice President Research