Dear students,

in a few days' time, on 2 November 2020, the academic programme for the 2020/2021 winter semester will finally start. During the introductory week, first-semester students have already filled the campus with life again and we look forward to welcoming you back to the campus, the seminar rooms and the lecture halls this semester.

In order for us to manage the semester together as effectively as possible despite the pandemic, we depend not only on infection prevention measures but also on your solidarity in daily life. Please pay attention to the rules (social distancing, hand hygiene, everyday mask wearing) and reduce contact as much as possible. We know how difficult this may be in the daily life of a university student, but this is the only way to prevent a further increase in the number of infected people. Unfortunately, the risk of infection is highest during meetings and celebrations - which usually take place in closed rooms in autumn and winter. Avoid any such event if possible and try to keep track of when and with whom you have met. To this end, please also note that there is a complete ban on alcohol on the campus of Bauhaus-Universität Weimar between 11 pm and 6 am.

To ensure that the semester can be successfully filled with as much presence as possible under the current conditions, there are a number of changes we have had to make to everyday student life: from now on, wearing a face mask in the corridors and hallways of the buildings of Bauhaus-Universität Weimar will be just another part of the academic programme, as will social distancing and regular ventilation.

Another new feature is that you have to register for each course on site, either on paper or, once the Thoska card readers have been installed, also electronically with your Thoska. This is necessary to ensure prompt contact tracing in case of any infections arising. Your data will be stored in sealed envelopes or electronically encrypted for four weeks and then erased. In case of an infection, it is absolutely necessary that you inform us about this by sending an email to gesundheit[at]uni-weimar.de. Subsequently, we will send you the information on the events you have attended to the Public Health Department. The Public Health Department will decide on any quarantine measures or tests.

We kindly ask you to check via the BISON portal (www.uni-weimar.de/bison) whether your personal data - such as your residential address in Weimar and availability by phone - are up to date. This is of great importance to ensure contact tracing in the event of an incident. We would like to thank you all very much for complying with these measures!

We have compiled the most important information on how to behave in buildings and on the campus of Bauhaus-Universität Weimar in a pandemic-proof manner. Please find them attached to this email as well as on display in the university buildings and posters in seminar rooms and lecture halls. You can find all measures in detail in the framework hygiene plan: www.uni-weimar.de/pandemic-hygiene-plan

As the social distancing rules imply that fewer people can fit into a room at the same time, not all events are on-site. Some events will be conducted remotely, as was already the case in the summer semester. You can check the format of your course in the course catalogue: www.uni-weimar.de/vlv or speak directly to the respective teacher.

We are confident that the various measures and the joint efforts made by all of us will make for a successful semester. In addition, the use of the Corona Warn App can be a useful contribution to containing the spread of infection: www.coronawarnapp.de.

During the semester, we will keep you informed about all important innovations on our Corona topic page - we have answered the most frequently asked questions in an FAQ for you: https://www.uni-weimar.de/en/university/structure/central-university-facilities/service-center-for-security-management/information-regarding-coronavirus/

In addition, the Campus.Office is open again from Tuesday to Thursday, 10 am to 2 pm, for any questions and concerns about academic matters. You can reach the Campus.Office by phone at +49 (0) 3643 – 58 23 23 from Monday to Friday between 10 am and 12 pm as well as between 1 pm and 3 pm or you can send an email to studium[at]uni-weimar.de.

Please also see the website of the city of Weimar: https://stadt.weimar.de/aktuell/coronavirus/ (in German only)

City of Weimar Hotline: +49 (0) 3643 - 762 555

MON through THU: 9 am to 2 pm; FRI: 9 am to 1 pm; on SAT and SUN: see the general medical emergency service (info below)

General medical emergency service:

On the weekends, in case of a suspected infection please refer to the general medical emergency service  at +49 (0) 116 117.

More information:

www.uni-weimar.de/wintersemester2020

www.uni-weimar.de/en/university/structure/central-university-facilities/service-center-for-security-management/information-regarding-coronavirus/news/detail/titel/pandemic-regulations-in-university-buildings-and-on-campus/

If the infection situation changes and further protective measures are still necessary, we will inform you accordingly. For this reason, please check your emails regularly.

Last, but not least, we would like to wish you a great start to the 2020 winter semester, and please look after yourself and others!

For the Board of Governance

Winfried Speitkamp