Although the number of corona infections is currently rising sharply, we are in phase one in the Netherlands: dark green. This means that the universities are open as usual, but that the well-known basic rules are being enforced: wash hands, stay home if you have complaints, sneeze in your elbow, ventilate well and don’t forget the booster shot.
Green
It becomes a little more exciting when the government (which determines) initiates phase two (green), although corona is still treated as a normal flu epidemic and the measures are intended to prevent the virus from spreading further. At that time, the university expects all Maastricht students and employees with symptoms (such as coughing, sniffling, elevation, headache) to test themselves before coming to UM. Everyone can get two free self-tests every week at the reception of their faculty or service center.
If you test positive, stay home (of course). That could be a problem for students who do not meet their attendance requirement as a result, it was stated during an Education and Research committee meeting of the University Council. There is a chance that they will still come to the tutorial group with complaints. Indeed, we cannot completely prevent that, admitted Rector Pamela Habibovic. She did point out, however, that students who miss too many meetings due to corona – not all faculties have an attendance obligation, by the way – can report to the study advisor for a solution.
Orange
With code orange, walking routes will be introduced within the UM buildings, wearing a face mask is mandatory for those who walk around, everyone is advised to test themselves preventively, and working from home is again the advice. In addition, online education will be reintroduced where necessary (and online participation now counts towards the attendance requirement), although ‘in person-teachingthe premise.
Faculties themselves decide what to do. For example, education at the Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences will be almost completely online with code orange because there are not enough spaces in which people can keep 1.5 meters away. Exams scheduled in the Mecc will continue as usual. The Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience opts for hybrid education as much as possible, while the Faculty of Science and Engineering states that the entire education – practicals, lab sessions, tutorial groups, exams – will remain on campus as much as possible. Lectures are online.
Rood
In the final phase, red, the measures are even stricter: contact moments on campus will decrease further, but UM will do everything it can, according to the memorandum from the Executive Board, to ensure as much as possible through smart scheduling and longer opening hours. to allow education to take place on campus and to keep the range of study places as wide as possible, just like the sports facilities. This is to maintain as much as possible the social role of education, which came under strong pressure during the previous outbreaks with all the negative consequences for students (loneliness, stress, fear, motivation dip).
The plan will be discussed in the plenary meeting of the University Council next week.