Corona: Online teaching and locked entrances

In response to the increases in the infection rate of COVID-19, the stricter guidelines and 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 will be locked. The Library entrances will also be locked. Staff and students must use their HiG cards.

Updated guidelines for University of Gävle:

• All teaching should primarily be conducted online.
• Face-to-face meetings on campus can be conducted if necessary, 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 that teaching and examination can be carried out safely and not contribute to the spread of the virus.
• After consultation with heads 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 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 when this is required to ensure a fair examination or for quality assurance, if current restrictions and recommendations are 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.