The Federal Council has announced that universities will again be allowed to hold courses with up to 50 participants as of April 19, 2021. A capacity limit of one third of the room will apply, as well as masking and spacing requirements. In order for all parties involved to prepare for this step, we will implement the new regulation of the Federal Council at the University of Basel from Monday, April 26, 2021.

In this opening step, the health of students and lecturers has top priority. For this reason, the following guidelines apply to the return to face-to-face classes:

• Face-to-face classes are only available if a room is already listed in the course catalog under "Dates and Rooms" from 26.04.2021 on. Events that have been announced as online for the entire semester will therefore remain online.
   
• The University of Basel strives to offer face-to-face events hybrid (live broadcast) or additionally in recorded form if required. The aim is to ensure that students who are in quarantine, belong to a risk group or are prevented from attending due to directly preceding or following online events can also participate. If this is not possible, the course should be continued online until the end of the semester. Lecturers are encouraged to work with students to find a mutually agreeable solution for the mode of delivery.
   
• On the campus of the University of Basel, the same protective measures and space numbers apply as communicated in fall 2020 and posted on the doors: A mask must be worn in the buildings and rooms. This also applies to students and lecturers during classes. It is mandatory that the protective distances be observed.
   
• In any case, the examinations will be implemented as announced.

The courses of the spring semester 2021 will take place online at least until April 26th. Some exceptions apply, such as for approved internships, which will be held in presence.

Courses that will be held online until April 26 or for the entire FS 21 have the following entry in the course catalogue for dates and rooms: "DAY, DATE, TIME - Online presence -".

Courses that have been digitally recorded for FS 21 and can be accessed at any time have no entries for day, time and room. In addition, this asynchronous execution can be indicated in the "Remarks" field.

Courses that are planned for FS 21 as classroom teaching courses in a room have one entry per individual date for the building and the room in which they are held under Dates and Rooms, after April 26, 2021.

Lecturers may decide to continue their teaching online, even if the course was announced in presence. In this case, lecturers are asked to notify the Course Coordination in a timely manner.

The lecturers have been asked to enter in the course catalogue under "Remarks" whether the course will also be offered as a hybrid course upon return to classroom teaching. "Hybrid" means that the course can also be attended in online presence as an alternative to presence in the room.

In the "Remarks" field it is also noted whether the online presence course is recorded and made available for later viewing.

As from Monday, April 19, the learning rooms in the Kollegienhaus on Petersplatz will be accessible to students again. The decentralized learning rooms should also be reopened soon - as far as organizationally possible. Details can be found on the websites of the faculties and departments.

Since 1 March 2021, work spaces in the reading rooms and study areas of the University Main Library and the Library of the Faculty of Law can be reserved online. This should make the use of available spaces clearer and easier to plan. In addition, thanks to seating reservations, large gatherings of people looking for a work space can be prevented and contact tracing will be ensured. 

Further details such as the terms of use and links to the platforms can be found on the UB website.

Information on learning spaces that are available in compliance with Corona hygiene measures is provided to students via the students' union (skuba).

• The guide entitled From ADAM to Zoom provides students with information about digital tools and infrastructure at the University of Basel.
   
• Since the fall semester 2020, students are covered by the university’s full Zoom license and can organize Zoom meetings themselves. This is intended to facilitate digital collaboration in small and medium-sized groups, as well as foster exchange and networking among students.
   
• Students also continue to have access to SWITCHmeet for this purpose.
   
• The Edutools website provides an overview of digital tools at the University of Basel.

In cooperation with the deans of studies, the legal services and the representative for data protection officer, the Vice President’s Office for Education has developed Guidelines for the use of webcams during classes and examinations, which was approved by the President's board on March 9, 2021.

The lecturers and deans of studies provide information on how the examinations will be conducted. Examinations that are carried out on site follow a safety concept for in-classroom examinations which has been approved by the Department of Health. Questions regarding examinations can be directed to the respective lecturers.

The new measures will not affect exams that are already scheduled. These can take place on the scheduled dates at the designated locations.

• We advise all members of the University to install the Swiss Covid app and urge them to follow the recommendations of the FOPH, both at the university and in their private life.
   
• All teaching staff and students are advised to consult the relevant central and faculty web pages on a regular basis.

More tips

Covid-19 special offers for advantageous (temporary) hotel accommodation for students can be found here.