Access forms can be downloaded here. In response to the coronavirus pandemic, Bielefeld University has developed sophisticated hygiene concepts for its restricted operation mode and coordinated these with the local health authority. Nonetheless, in view of the current situation, teachers are advised to reduce contact by doing less on-site teaching and switching to digital services instead. The situation will be particularly challenging for first-semester students, and this is where we need your help. (Amendment of 13.03. For students who are unable to work at home due to domestic stress, we are trying to find individual solutions in cases of hardship. We are talking to the Studierendenwerk about this. The lecture period ends on February 12th, 2021. Current measures to protect against infection and regulations governing workplace organization are to be observed. The Central Lending Desk will be closed from Monday, 23 March 2020. are no longer possible. In many cases, students have (significantly) more written assignments, which in turn have to be responded to and graded by instructors. According to the latest available information from the KMK, it will probably be October 26, 2020 for all other students with a corresponding extension of the semester into February 2021. Please note that the Unicard will only be sent to you if you have never had a card from Bielefeld University before. Monday to Friday: 10.00 to 16.00 hrs Trust-based working hours offers a great degree of flexibility, and we ask that you take advantage of this. Personal advice will only be provided electronically (by email, chat, or telephone). In every case, the examinee must be clearly identified (e.g. However, credit points will be given as far possible for alternative study courses and exams. You can update your contact data by first logging in to the self-managed application and status portal. The decision of how to distribute the workforce between home office and on-site presence is made by supervisors in consultation with their employees. For lectures, seminars, and other practice-based courses offered in presence, the number of seats in lecture halls and seminar rooms has been significantly reduced in order to maintain social distancing. Sportbund Bielefeld August-Bebel-Str.57 D-33602 Bielefeld Tel. For these and other topics related to learning, writing, presenting, self-organization and study during the online semester, students can find support and advice at the Peer Learning service. To date, the general goal has been to allow approximately half of all staff members in service and administration to be present on site. In-person exams are also generally not permitted. Any necessary adjustments to our organizational decree will then be made on this basis. Therefore, Bielefeld University is taking further measures. It is not yet possible to say how far the situation may change during the course of the semester and allow us to recommence attendance courses. All university sports events will be cancelled for the time being. Despite these challenges, we wish you a successful semester and thank you again for your cooperation and commitment. However, it is still necessary to place this on a legal basis—the university will be addressing this in the next few days. First of all: We find ourselves in a predicament: on the one hand, we have to take as far-reaching measures as possible to reduce the risk of transmission from the point of view of society as a whole; on the other hand, we must ensure that the university can continue to function as well as possible. Those who do not have a UniCard, have forgotten it, or do not wish to use it must go to the entrance of the main building or Building X and fill in an access form with the relevant contact details (name, address, e-mail address, telephone number, time of entry) or hand in an appropriately completed access form. After great deliberation, we have come to the decision that, for the time being, our planning for the 2020/2021 Winter Semester will not change. If you have a positive COVID-19 test result and have previously attended an in-person course at the university, you must immediately inform your instructor and send an email notifying the university of your positive test result to coronavirus@uni-bielefeld.de. The university library will be open from 16–23 December 2020 and again from 4–8 January 2021, but only for loans and returns absolutely needed in connection to examinations. laboratory internships), examinations and work for final examinations in laboratories. the Federal Minister of Education has launched a bridging aid in the form of loan from the KfW Bank, which is interest-free in the start-up phase. Bielefeld. They can also still be reached online or by telephone. Until 30 September 2020, courses will be held exclusively online or in the form of ‘distance learning’. If the plans we have made cannot be carried out after all, a great deal of flexibility will again be requested of you. These persons may need to be informed or contacted. Research for Bachelor’s/Master’s theses or other research projects in laboratory working groups can be conducted on site. Your questions and concerns can be dealt with only by e-mail or telephone. Those who do not have a UniCard, have forgotten it, or do not wish to use it must go to the entrance of the main building or Building X and fill in an access form with the relevant contact details (name, address, e-mail address, telephone number, time of entry) or hand in an appropriately completed access form. We are also currently ruling out basic restrictions for students from both districts. Bielefeld University. Internships, experiments, field trips, or visits to archives should be replaced by equivalent, contact-free arrangements if possible. Unfortunately, we are still waiting for a start date to accept emergency funding applications. This number is stored on the device with a time stamp and transferred once a day to a password-protected directory. The registration procedure for entering university buildings is necessary in the event that the university or sub-areas within the university  becomes a hot spot  and there is an increased and simultaneous occurrence of cases of infection. Because of the dynamic development in the spread of the coronavirus, the Rectorate has adopted further precautionary measures. This affects you directly, and you quite understandably have many justified questions. Prof. Dr Birgit Lütje-Klose, Vice-rector for Studies and Teaching. The hygiene and safety measures that were developed for in-person instruction as well as presence-based examinations have already proven to be effective in the past weeks, and these also meet the demands of the current situation. For technical and administrative staff, the principle of working from home still applies. In der Stadt Bielefeld gibt es acht Corona-Tote. We regret that we have to share this information with you at such short notice, and hope for your understanding. Continuing to manage all upcoming tasks to at least the same level, if not even above and beyond, obviously also leads to (self-)overloading on a large scale. The previous procedure for collecting data in seminar rooms and at the learning locations will be retained independently of this. Some of the reasons for this oft-perceived overload have been identified in both instructor and student evaluations of the summer semester. Those affected can contact this address: coronavirus@uni-bielefeld.de Only if we work together will we be successful in getting through these challenging times. In the portal for first-semester students, there is a link titled that provides a list of opportunities for getting to know others (www.uni-bielefeld.de/start-ins-studium). We ask for your understanding when services cannot be provided in the usual form. On-site events should be resumed as soon as safely possible; perhaps later in the semester, but perhaps not until winter or later. The following now applies: those who wish to work at the university may do so again. Furthermore, we ask for your understanding that from now on and until further notice personal visits to the service units (e.g. In the coming semester, we shall only be able to offer you very restricted courses. Business trips should be avoided unless absolutely necessary. Currently, BAföG does not contain any regulations that extend the maximum period of funding by one semester across the board (equivalent to the extension of the individual standard period of study resulting from the Coronavirus Protection Ordinance for Higher Education). However, the rules of distance and hygiene must then be observed. We are not yet able to responsibly manage large groups of people in our buildings due to the particular physical constraints of university facilities. ): Die Corona-Gesellschaft. At the same time, the standard study course length is to be extended by one semester for currently enrolled students. According to Book V of the German Social Code (SGB), students must be insured or prove that they are exempt from compulsory health insurance. Möglichkeit der Corona-Testung auch für Praktikantinnen und Praktikanten. The Ministry has announced that it will issue further regulations on the organization of courses and examinations during the course of next week. The university management is very aware that many members of the university—not only you as students but also the teaching and administrative staff—are severely affected by the pandemic. The universities of North Rhine-Westphalia have been advocating this strongly, and we assume that we shall soon receive corresponding decisions. The beginning of the teaching period of the summer semester has been moved to April 20, 2020 without any extension going beyond the end of the summer semester. Mayor Pit Clausen has currently ruled out a lockdown for Bielefeld as well as special measures for people from the districts of Gütersloh and Warendorf. If the situation continues to worsen, or if we are confronted with the fact that people on campus are getting infected despite our hygiene and safety measures, we will of course revisit our planning and revise it at short notice if needed. The government of North Rhine-Westphalia might also issue new regulations that could impact our operations. Until then, attendance courses and written examinations have been cancelled and oral examinations can be held only in cases of hardship. However, the Studierendenwerk starts making special plans for its services next week. On campus, a minimum of 1,5 meters distance between individuals must be strictly maintained. Important: Only books that are not available electronically can be borrowed. The State Rectors’ Conference has advocated for this strongly, and we assume that we shall soon receive a corresponding decision from the state and the federal government. Special regulations apply with immediate effect to anyone who is medically certified as having a health risk, as well as for individuals who care for family members. Despite all the challenges, we wish you a continued good lecture period in this special semester and we shall inform you about all further measures and regulations in a timely manner. Nevertheless, the additional burden on instructors – as well as on staff in the various administrative departments of the university (including the rectorate) – cannot be denied. You will all gain individual experience with these tools, and we would like you to tell us about them so that we can gather these experiences together. Three of our international researchers take you on a short video trip through the university and the city with its mix of old and new as well as urban culture and nature. Some student work spaces are again available in the university, and the university library and central services are gradually expanding their opening hours and offerings. Important information for you: The state government has postponed the start of the semester, cancelled attendance courses and examinations until 19 April 2020, and is allowing oral examinations only in cases of hardship. It will be announcing these plans separately. The creation of knowledge and its transfer to society is part of the public cultural heritage and therefore a central goal of the University of Münster. As of today, the following applies: The state has postponed the start of the semester to April 20. We assume that it will not be possible for you to attend the university in person during the summer semester. Osnabrück University offers international employees a tailor-made support service that helps them settle in this relatively small, but lively city and find their way through any initial paperwork. In the case of final papers, an e-mail with the final paper, which corresponds fully with the printed version, must be sent to the responsible examination office as well as to the examiners. The increased workload resulting from the switch to digital teaching formats - especially for teachers with high teaching loads - can be countered by dividing and offering larger learning groups in parallel. The government of North Rhine-Westphalia might also issue new regulations that could impact our operations. These workspaces are located in the Main University Building (Hauptgebäude), where in the Gallery (floors 1 and 2) of the University Hall (Unihalle), a total of 236 work spaces have been reconfigured to allow for 1.5 meters of distancing from neighbors, thus making them suitable for use. Handwritten registration at the entrance is time-consuming and should not be expected of students and employees. Anreise- und Kontaktinformationen der Universität Bielefeld. Stay healthy. However, we ask you to follow the appeal of the state government and, if possible, not to leave the districts. On the one hand, we assume responsibility for society as a whole and take the most far-reaching measures possible to try and reduce the risk of transmitting the virus. Therefore, access is possible only after registration. The data privacy policy and building access form can be downloaded here at www.uni-bielefeld.de/registrierung-corona. As soon as the major decisions have been made, we shall be able to address your individual questions. The framework for the delivery of courses is the state regulation to deliver teaching in online/distance learning formats during the summer semester (and possibly also for the following winter semester). Regelungen der Universität Bielefeld für den Universitätsbetrieb während der Corona-Pandemie Organisationsverfügung vom 23.03.2020 Aktualisierte Fassung vom 30.11.20, gültig ab 01.12.2020. Nevertheless, students can be funded for an appropriate period of time beyond the maximum funding period, provided that the pandemic has caused unavoidable delays to their studies. We are aware that this change will pose considerable challenges for you—both organizationally and didactically—and we would like to thank you expressly for your commitment to providing our students with good seminars and courses even during this time when they are unable to attend in person. At the same time, however, our understanding of coronavirus is improving and we can use this as a basis for selectively easing restrictions—also at our university. Informationen zu Studium und Lehre im Zusammenhang mit dem, Winter semester 2020/21 mostly as an online semester, Teaching events, coursework and examination requirements for study, Information on BIS (Bielefeld Information System) relating to the electronic course catalogue (eKVV) and other systems for students, Access to the buildings, learning at the University, virtual use of PC rooms, Submission of documents and coursework and examination papers/theses, Successful study and organisation during the online semester. Let us take this opportunity to develop new digital teaching formats in the coming semester and test them systematically. In the student survey, many of you expressed that the biggest problem is the lack of contact with your fellow students. The other buildings will now also be equipped with scanners and/or QR codes, thus eliminating the need for daily decentralized recording of presence by supervisors in all areas. Teaching will have to continue in a predominantly digital format. The experience we have gained will also make it possible to make adjustments to our policies. How can I keep motivated? We also ask that you leave the area if the number of available workspaces are all occupied. The message from Chancellor Angela Merkel and the Minister Presidents of the federal states was clear: wherever possible, employers should allow their employees to work from Home Office. An unusual and challenging semester is now behind us. We would also like to remind you that you are not allowed to eat or drink in the University Hall, or in public spaces of university buildings (with the exception of the cafeteria). Students and prospective students are asked to refrain from visiting the service units in person until further notice and to use e-mail and telephone for their questions and advice. Research for Bachelor’s/Master’s theses or other research projects in laboratory working groups can once again be conducted on site. Basically, we would like to point out once again that a distance of 1.5 m must be maintained and a mouth-and-nose cover must be worn in the university building. Dear ladies and gentlemen, Dear colleagues. This is something we already successfully put into place for the university earlier this year. Persons from the district of Gütersloh are asked, unless it is absolutely necessary, not to re-enter the university until the lockdown is lifted, unless they can show a negative corona test. in the current examination period: For students, we consider for example permitted courses in attendance (e.g. They make it possible to conduct teaching and practical courses for up to 25 people in seminar rooms and up to 50 people in lecture halls. Developments are still dynamic, requiring constant adjustments from the university. In addition to online lectures, so-called “mixed” formats are also possible for small or medium-sized lectures, which combine classroom presence and online elements. We cannot rule out the possibility that this may also have further consequences for us—going beyond the regulations regarding onsite teaching. Use the chat function and other digital means to communicate among yourselves. In addition, other forms of ‘distance learning’ can also be implemented. On Wednesday evening, the heads of government of the Länder agreed with the Federal Chancellor to extend the partial lockdown. Practice-oriented courses can also be held in-person (including lab courses, art workshops, and other practice-based courses such as teaching and research seminars for Master’s students, in-depth methodological courses for Bachelor’s students, hands-on material-based courses, debate seminars, and, as applicable, preparatory and accompanying seminars for students doing internship semesters). Leider muss diese Begrüßung dieses Jahr aufgrund des Coronavirus allerdings verschoben werden und fällt anders aus als ursprünglich geplant. Oral examinations and written examinations for up to 25 persons can also be held digitally with the Zoom video conference system. On 17 March, the university responded to a decree issued by the state government by announcing a general cancellation of all examinations and tests both written and oral. The following continues to apply: researchers are allowed to work from home or on-site in university facilities. We know that many members of our university community yearn for more “normalcy.” The situation, however, remains precarious, as evidenced by the “Tönnies” case, where an outbreak recently sickened over 700 workers at a meat-packing plant in Rheda-Wiedenbrück. After great deliberation, we have come to the conclusion that, for the time being, our planning for the 2020/2021 Winter Semester will not change. Die Zahl der verstorbenen Menschen in Bielefeld mit Corona steigt auf 64. Am Mittwoch werden fünf weitere Todesfälle gemeldet. Meet “in real life” to follow lectures together or work on assignments in small groups. We are in exchange with the city of Bielefeld. We thank you very much for your engagement and your willingness to facilitate social interaction with your students in addition to teaching course content and providing them with excellent support – whether in person or digitally. The same applies to the access forms. Researchers, teachers, and administrative staff are not working on campus unless it is absolutely necessary. Sometimes you may have to wait to register—especially when trams arrive. During this time the work is done from the home office. © copyright Learning how to use digital tools requires time and a great deal of organizational input. Please use this service. The standard workplace for staff in the service units is the home office. Examinations with significantly more than 5 persons (medium examination format) can be held in designated lecture halls and centrally managed seminar rooms. In recent days, we have informed you regularly about developments and provided information on study courses and teaching during the Corona crisis on our homepage at https://uni-bielefeld.de/themen/coronavirus/studium-und-lehre/. At the same time, we must ensure the safety and health of our students and staff. Here we explain, At present, the most important information about the "digital summer semester" is currently being sent out by email. If this is not possible in individual cases, staff members will be on call. There are some areas in which this is not completely possible (e.g. We will gladly answer all other questions about the electronic course catalogue (eKVV). Therefore, binding hygiene protection concepts have also been drawn up in coordination with the local health authority for holding oral and written examinations in person. However, there are also areas in which working from home is only partially possible. It may only become necessary to link the registered ID numbers with contact details (name, address, telephone number, and e-mail address) of the relevant persons if a case of coronavirus occurs in one of the university buildings. It acts as a focal point for academics who enjoy the profound exchange regarding Data Science and the new challenges, ideas, and solutions in that field. In addition to this, possibilities for splitting required courses at the expense of electives in the teaching portfolio or employing additional instructors were introduced. This regulation applies to events that are open to people who are not studying or working at the university (e.g. It is not yet possible to say how far the situation may change during the semester and allow us to recommence attendance courses. The corona epidemic poses considerable challenges for society as a whole and also for the university. As of today, the following applies: The state has postponed the start of the semester to April 20. I ask for your understanding when all your concerns cannot be dealt with as quickly as usual. On the basis of statements made by parents, generous deadline extensions have already been granted. Zellbiolog*innen der Universität Bielefeld haben nun mit mehreren Kooperationspartnern in einer Studie ein Verfahren entwickelt, das rund zehnmal schneller ein Ergebnis liefert. The ‘Ordinance on the management of the challenges posed to higher education by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 crisis (Corona Epidemic University Ordinance)’, which came into force on 17 April, has introduced regulations that affect higher education directly.