Closure and Ban on Entering the University Sports Facilities Extended
As a result of the current federal-state decision, all sports facilities will remain closed until at least January 31, 2021. All facilities of the University Sports Center (HSZ) are affected by the closure without exception. The ban on entering the facilities still applies for the specified period, the HSZ confirms.
“Although the restrictions have unfortunately been extended, everyone can continue to keep fit with our virtual offerings!” explains Peter Lynen, head of the HSZ.
The HSZ offerings mean you can either start your day off with some exercise, get moving on your lunchbreak, or participate in a wide variety of individual courses in the evening. All courses are free of charge and broadcast live via Zoom.
The HSZ would like to point out that the Service Point is currently only available by telephone, email, or by appointment. The timing of the reopening of the sports facilities and the resumption of sports operations will depend on future developments and will be communicated on the HSZ website at short notice.
All measures taken for the closure are based on the ordinances of the Federal Ministry of Health, the requirements of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, and the crisis management teams of Städteregion Aachen and RWTH Aachen University.
All Dining Halls Still Closed
Studierendenwerk Aachen has announced that, due to the Corona Protection Ordinance of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, all of their dining halls, cafeterias, and coffee bars will continue to stay closed until further notice. This also applies to the administration area at Pontwall, which will only be accessible by telephone and email.
The Studierendenwerk Infopoint at Pontwall 3 will be open daily from 11 am to 12 noon. During this time, the machines to top up BlueCards, FH cards, and student guest cards can also be used.
Survey on Students’ Mental Health
As part of a project seminar at the RWTH Health Psychology Teaching and Research Area, psychology students are conducting a survey on students’ mental health. The questionnaire is divided into three key topics: Experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic, using Instagram, and using health trackers and apps. Interest is explicitly directed at users and non-users. So students can participate in the survey regardless of whether they use Instagram and/or health trackers and apps. The survey takes about 25 to 35 minutes to complete.
Here is the link to the survey, which is in German:
https://www.soscisurvey.de/psych_gesundheit_studierende/
Feel free to forward the link to other students.
Standard Period of Study Also Increased for Winter Semester
The individual standard period of study has been extended by one semester for all students enrolled in the winter semester. This rule already applied for the previous summer semester. In addition, the free attempt regulation for all exam attempts is now an opt-out rule, meaning the respective rectorate of a university must actively oppose a free attempt regulation if they do not agree with it, otherwise the regulation applies automatically. The RWTH Rectorate has already decided to continue the full free attempt regulation for the winter semester 20/21. The regulation states that if a student fails an exam, it will not count as a failed attempt as the candidate took the exam and did not attempt to cheat in any way. Compared to the summer semester, the only change in the winter semester is that it will no longer be possible to withdraw from exams immediately before an exam, rather students must withdraw by at least 24 hours before the exam this time around.
The extension of the standard period of study for students who were enrolled at RWTH in summer semester 2020 and winter semester 20/21 means that BAföG entitlement will also be extended by one semester. However, this only applies to those whose funding entitlement only expires on or after the end of February 2021.
Updated Regulations on Travelers Returning from Abroad – Netherlands Designate Germany as a Risk Area
The state of North Rhine-Westphalia has updated the regulations of the Corona Einreiseverordnung (Coronavirus Entry Ordinance).
For travelers returning from a risk area, the requirements of the Federal Ministry of Health regarding the reporting obligation still apply.
In addition, travelers must be tested within 24 hours of their return at the latest.
The special regulations for travelers from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republic of South Africa regarding mandatory testing and a quarantine order also continue to apply.
Exemptions to these regulations apply to cross-border commuters who are not subject to mandatory testing. In case of doubt, please contact the responsible health department.
Individuals who are subject to testing are prohibited from entering RWTH until the (negative) test result is announced.
The Netherlands have designated Germany as a risk area. Travelers entering the Netherlands from Germany must immediately enter a ten-day quarantine. Exemptions for cross-border commuters (for example employees or students of RWTH) apply.
Students who need a certificate should contact the Registrar’s Office. Employees should contact the respective divisions of the human resources department.
Useful links:
Closure and Ban on Entering the Sports Facilities
As a consequence of the new Coronavirus Protection Ordinance (Coronaschutzverordnung), all sports facilities at the University Sports Center (HSZ) will be closed from December 16, 2020, to at least January 10, 2021. “We regret that we have had to impose these restrictions, but these measures support the efforts to drastically reduce the rate of infection. Despite these restrictions, everyone can continue to keep fit with our virtual offerings!” explains Peter Lynen, director of the HSZ.
All facilities of the University Sports Center are affected by the closure with absolutely no exceptions. At the same time, a ban on entering the facilities will apply for the specified period. The reopening of the sports facilities and the resumption of sports operations will depend on future developments and will be communicated on the HSZ website at short notice.
The HSZ is offering on-demand and live workouts for everyone. The workouts will pause over the Christmas Break from December 18. The next round of “Digital Workouts Live” will then resume on January 6, 2021. The varied offerings can be booked from January 5. All participants will then be able to start their day in a sporty way again with the “Early Bird”, get moving at lunchtime, or take part in a wide variety of individual course offerings in the evening. All offerings remain free of charge and will be broadcast live via Zoom.
The HSZ would like to point out that the Service Point is currently only available by telephone, email, or upon prior appointment. All measures taken to close the center are based on the instructions of the Federal Ministry of Health, the requirements of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, and the Crisis Management Teams of the Aachen city region and RWTH Aachen University.
Dining Halls Closed From Wednesday
The Crisis Management Team of Studierendenwerk has decided that as of tomorrow, Wednesday, December 16, all dining halls, cafeterias, and coffee bars will be closed until further notice. This also applies to the administration area at Pontwall, which will only be accessible by telephone and email.
The Studierendenwerk Infopoint at Pontwall 3 will be open for students daily from 11 am to 12 noon, up to and including December 22. However, students should refrain from showing up in person, unless they have an urgent case.
The Crisis Management Team will decide how operations will continue in the new year in January, taking into account the current situation.
Further Offers for Service Operations and Vacation Arrangements During Lockdown (December 16, 2020 to January 8, 2021)
In order to reduce the need for transportation to and from the workplace as much as possible, we have created the following offers or arrangements. Read the rest of this entry »
Updated Regulations on Travel
Due to the updated legal specifications and out of concern for all University members, University Management, in consultation with the Crisis Management Team of RWTH Aachen University, has updated the following regulations regarding travel. In principle, the following still applies: As soon as anyone exhibits COVID-19 symptoms, they are expressly prohibited from entering the RWTH premises. In addition, the following regulations apply to travel to risk areas at present.
Quarantine Ordinance of the Federal State of NRW
The federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia has published a quarantine regulation, which, among other things, is intended to relieve the burden on the local health authorities. Aachen Städteregion has announced that: Read the rest of this entry »