More students allowed back on campus

“The intention is to give the students good study facilities before their exams”, says Rector Sunniva Whittaker.

Students allowed back on campus from 18 May are:

• Master's students (two-year and five-year programmes) who complete their master's degree during the spring (600-700 students)
• International degree students (around 40 students)

Students who are allowed back on campus will get information by an e-mail.

These come in addition to the students who have already accessed campus because they need equipment to complete their studies. Employees and students who are in risk groups or have household members in risk groups cannot enter campus.

Infection prevention and access control

The doors on campus will remain locked. Students must register so that UiA can know who is in the building at all times in case contact tracing is needed. A system is being set up for door opening and quick registration using the student card.

The admission time will be from 09:00 to 12:00 at the main entrance of each campus.

On Campus Grimstad, students will have access to Gata – the open common area that runs across the main building. There is enough space here to find a quiet spot to study.

On Campus Kristiansand, the study spaces in the University Library will be open. If they fill up, there are spaces in the hall – Vilhelm Krags hall – that can be used.

Infection prevention course

Everyone who gets access to campus must complete an online infection prevention course, like other universities.

Students will take the infection prevention course in Canvas, and it will be available during the week. UiA is developing a solution for employees to take the course.

“It is a prerequisite that those who enter campus, both students and staff, adhere to the general infection prevention guidelines. If you are ill, stay home. When on campus, keep one meter away from others, practice cough hygiene and wash your hands frequently to reduce the risk of infection”, says university director Seunn Smith-Tønnessen.

For employees, infection control guidelines are being prepared. There will be guidelines for how meeting organisers should leave the venue after meetings, how people should disinfect printers and coffee machines and a number of other practical matters in the workplace.

Staff on campus

At UiA, the same guidelines for infection control apply as for other places of work. This means that employees who have good reasons and the permission of the faculty director / department head, can return to campus. Research fellows and postdocs will be prioritised. This is valid from Monday 18 May.

“We expect that the one-meter rule will apply through 2020. That means that even the largest lecture hall can only take a fraction of the capacity. However, physical presence on campus will still be important for UiA. There will be more information about the autumn next week”, says Rector Whittaker.

The fear that UiA might suddenly be without professional expertise in individual areas because the entire staff is home with coronavirus (COVID-19), is the reason why working from home and virtual meetings will still be the reality for employees in the time to come.

Exchange students

International exchange students will be offered social gatherings outdoors before going home. They have decided that they do not need study spaces.

UiA has decided not to send students on exchange to partner institutions outside of Europe next semester.

Universities and university colleges follow the recommendations from Universities Norway (UHR). Whether UiA will allow exchange to Europe will become clear later, after national meetings and after the Ministry of Foreign Affairs releases the new travel advice on Friday 15 May.