Dear Bauhaus-Universität Weimar employees and students,

today the Robert Koch-Institute raised its risk assessment for Germany to »high«. As a university, we are currently in a serious situation.

In order to prevent the further spread of the virus and protect all of us, the following binding regulations have been set:

• For the time being, the start of the summer semester has been provisionally postponed until 4 May 2020. This decision was made by the Landespräsidentenkonferenz (Conference of State Presidents). Courses requiring attendance are suspended immediately. There are no exceptions to this regulation.

• Written examinations may not take place and will be rescheduled once the summer semester has begun. Oral examinations are to take place digitally if possible. Due dates and deadlines for final examinations and term papers are, in general, extended for the closure period.

• University facilities such as workshops, the check-out services in the University Library, sports facilities, the Language Centre, student workrooms, and laboratories are now closed. If you would like to pick up any materials or work left in any of these locations, check your faculty's webpage.

• If you are not yet in Weimar, we strongly advise that you postpone your arrival until the start date for the summer semester is certain.

• The university is making every effort to avoid any disadvantages or damage that may be caused by these regulations.
  
  
• All office hours are suspended. Contact to university employees can be made via e-mail or telephone.

• Please refer to the Studentenwerk Thüringen webpage for questions regarding housing and BaföG regulations: www.stw-thueringen.de This page also provides a list of appropriate contact persons regarding these issues.

Any students who are currently abroad or who had planned to go abroad have been notified separately.

The Bauhaus-Universität Weimar is taking these preventative steps and acting according to our responsibility for our members and will not be waiting for the authorities to implement them.

The rapid spread of the coronavirus, along with the severe progression of the virus, requires cooperation and responsible behaviour. It is crucial that everyone complies with the given regulations and recommendations. (www.rki.de, www.BzgA.de, www.stadt.weimar.de/aktuell/coronavirus-en).

Please be aware that the length of these restrictions, the further operation of the university, and the consequences of this situation cannot be predicted with certainty due to the sheer number of unanswered questions.

Inquiries regarding when the semester will begin and how the semester will be structured cannot be answered at this time. We are happy to take any of your questions, comments, or suggestions regarding study matters at studium[at]uni-weimar.de.

We are doing our best to find practical and efficient solutions. Technical concepts for online work are the way.  We do ask, however, for your understanding, since there is currently enormous demand and such a short-term arrangement cannot be guaranteed.

We will inform you via our coronavirus website of any concrete dates or instructions as soon as we receive them. We recommend that you consult this site regularly: www.uni-weimar.de/en/coronavirus.

We strictly advise university members about the mandatory drastic reduction of all social contacts outside of your own household. We do understand that many people are concerned about the course of these developments. Please be assured that we, within the Board of Governance and within the University Task Force are in direct communication with all university units and are constantly working on the best possible regulations for our university.

Look after yourselves and one another and stay healthy!

Our thoughts are with all those who have already been affected, their families, and those waiting for test results. We wish to thank all those who are acting in solidarity and preventing the spread of the virus by staying in home quarantine.

On behalf of the Board of Governance

Prof. Dr. Winfried Speitkamp
President