Dear students,
After three semesters dominated by online teaching, there is a strong desire among students and teaching staff to return to being physically present at the university. The new ordinance of the State of Thuringia makes it possible for us to meet again on campus, to study and do research together.
In the winter semester, the general 1.5-metre social distancing rule is no longer a requirement for face-to-face teaching. Wherever possible, this minimum distance must nevertheless be observed. Medical or FFP2/KN95-/N95-/KF94-/KF95 masks must still be worn in all university buildings if the distance of 1.5 metres cannot be maintained. Contact tracking with QRoniton will also continue.
In addition, all students must still have been vaccinated or tested or have recovered from COVID-19 in order to have access to on-site courses and examinations of the University of Jena. In German this is referred to as the “3-G Principle”, for “geimpft/genesen/getestet”.
3-G verification
The security service that already operates at the University of Jena will carry out random 3-G checks to verify the vaccinated/tested/recovered status of people on campus (see letter from the Head of Administration and Finance of 26 August 2021). In practical courses and seminars with manageable numbers of around 20 students, lecturers are free to carry out 3-G checks themselves. If you do not have documentation to prove your status, you will not be permitted to attend the course or seminar. To take part in a study or field trip, you must provide the leader of the trip with proof of vaccination/test/recovery in advance.
Switch to more on-site teaching
The lifting of the social distancing rule enables us to offer more face-to-face teaching in the 2021/2022 winter semester than previously planned. However, there will be a maximum number of 125 participants. There will need to be a new room allocation process in order to make the necessary rooms ready. This means that you will only be able to draw up your timetable for the winter semester based on reliable days and times from 25 September 2021. Because room allocation can only be completed on 15 October 2021 and has to be carried out in the Friedolin live system, no reliable information on rooms is possible before 16 October 2021. Please take this into account in your planning.
There will continue to be online and hybrid courses, if these complement or enrich the teaching, or if the number of participants exceeds 125.
A successful on-site winter semester assumes high vaccination coverage among students and staff, as well as a joint effort to minimise the risks of COVID-19 infection on the university campus. We assume that vaccination coverage is already high. At the same time, in view of renewed rises in incidence rates, we appeal to those who are not vaccinated by choice to go and get the vaccination before the semester starts.
We look forward to welcoming you to the campus in October and wish you all the best in the meantime.
Best wishes
Prof. Dr Walter Rosenthal
President of the Friedrich Schiller University of Jena
Prof. Dr. Kim Siebenhüner
Vice-President for Learning and Teaching of Friedrich Schiller University Jena
image: Anne Günther / University of Jena