Due to the increase in the number of confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection cases in Poland, Rector of the University of Silesia, in consultation with the Team for monitoring the University operation during COVID-19 epidemic, has decided to implement at the University of Silesia Security Level 2, as referred to and described in Ordinance of the Rector of the University of Silesia no. 179 of 16 October 2020. The University will operate in accordance with the rules of Security Level 2 from 19 October until revoked.
‘I am asking the academic community members to comply with the arrangements related to the implemented security level and sanitary regime as defined by the Chief Sanitary Inspector. It is also particularly essential to follow the social distance rules, control your health condition, as well as report any cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection or suspected infection. I strongly request that the employees of units responsible for the implementation of security measures effective at level 2 monitor the status of security on an ongoing basis’, wrote Prof. Ryszard Koziołek, Rector of the University of Silesia, in the letter to the academic community of the University of Silesia.
Security Level 2 (marked in orange colour) has introduced a number of changes in the University operation. The most important include:
- organisation of classes remotely; only the classes which the Dean of the Faculty considers to be necessary and possible to organise with sanitary safety can be carried out on-site,
- closing of the University buildings for third parties, with the exception of the students participating in on-site classes and individually invited guests,
- introduction of remote work for most employees, with simultaneous work performance in the premises of the University of Silesia within the scope necessary to maintain work in particular units,
- suspended organisation of academic events,
- suspended mobility of employees and students (e.g. ban on business trips and academic exchange programmes),
- ban on visits in student residence halls (dorms) and ban on movement of inhabitants between student residence halls and teacher residence halls.
Detailed information about the introduced solutions can be found on: www.us.edu.pl/uczelnia/status-zabezpieczen-covid-19/poziom-2.
Questions and answers to the most important issues related to the introduction of Security Level 2
STUDENT/DOCTORAL STUDENT
1. What classes will be conducted on-site?
Only the classes which the Dean of the Faculty considers to be necessary and possible to organise with sanitary safety can be carried out on-site.
2. Can I send documents to the Dean’s Office electronically?
Yes – contact with Dean’s Offices will be fully remote. The only exception are the formal issues which require documentation to be delivered in paper form based on separate provisions (e.g. statutory provisions). On-site contact will be possible in exceptional situations, subject to strict sanitary regime.
3. Can I still live in a student residence hall (dorm)?
Yes. It is important to keep strict sanitary regime and report any alarming symptoms. You should also remember about the ban on movement of students between student residence halls/teacher residence halls, as well as about keeping social distance and maximum limitation of the number of individuals staying in one place.
4. Can I use research infrastructure for the purpose of carrying out my diploma thesis?
Access to equipment to implement the practical part of diploma theses is possible, but limited to necessary minimum. Students’ stay in laboratories is reduced to minimum. Individuals who want to use infrastructure have to register. Detailed rules of using research infrastructure are available on the following website: www.us.edu.pl/universities/status-zabezpieczen-covid-19/poziom-2 in the section on the operation of research, teaching and artistic infrastructure.
5. What should I do in the situation when I was confirmed to be coronavirus positive, I have symptoms characteristic for COVID-19, I had contact with someone who is infected or has infection symptoms?
On the website www.us.edu.pl/universities/status-zabezpieczen-covid-19 you will find detailed instructions concerning the behaviour procedures, divided into three categories: students and doctoral students, inhabitants of student residence halls, employees.
EMPLOYEE
1. Will all employees work remotely?
On Security Level 2 most work is performed remotely. However, it should be remembered that the supervisor may decide that specific individuals have to perform work on-site to ensure the continuity of operation of particular departments of the University.
2. What documentation is required to begin remote work?
An employee should receive a remote work request from their supervisor. Template of remote work request is available on: www.us.edu.pl/uczelnia/status-zabezpieczen-covid-19.
3. What is the procedure for offering medical tests to employees, who can have them and in what situations?
Details on proceeding in the situation of suspected coronavirus infection are described here: www.nfz.gov.pl/. There are also infographics with diagnostic procedures (.pdf file available at the bottom of the website). The University has limited measures to refer its employees to medical tests for the presence of SARS-CoV-2. The priority is for the individuals with clear symptoms indicating the virus presence. In such case please contact Feliks Żogała (Health and Safety Inspector) by e-mail: feliks.zogala@us.edu.pl. You should immediately notify about the test results Health and Safety Inspector and your immediate supervisor. Do not work on-site until receiving the test result.
4. What are the guidelines concerning remote work on Security Level 2?
When you work, please remember that:
- direct contacts between employees at work should be reduced to minimum,
- affairs should be handled by e-mail,
- any correspondence addressed to relevant units should be delivered through General Office; unit employees are obliged to pick correspondence from the General Office,
- documents different than financial, which require signature, shall be sent as scans (.pdf) or photos (.jpg) until revoked; please ensure that the required signatures and stamps are clear.
5. How is it possible to use research, educational and artistic infrastructure?
Access to equipment is possible only for the purpose of implementation of research projects, support and maintenance of devices. In laboratory premises there are specified permitted limits of individuals staying in rooms at the same time. It is mandatory to register the individuals staying in laboratories, and any work shall take place subject to sanitary regime. Detailed rules of using infrastructure are available on the following website: www.us.edu.pl/universities/status-zabezpieczen-covid-19/poziom-2 in the section on the operation of research, teaching and artistic infrastructure.
6. What is the procedure for conducting doctoral defenses and habilitation committees?
Doctoral defenses and habilitation committees shall take place in the room intended specifically for this purpose at the Faculty of Social Sciences (Katowice, ul. Bankowa 11, room 212). In order to arrange the date of doctoral defense or habilitation committtee, please contact the IT department by e-mail: wideokonferencje@us.edu.pl Defense of doctoral dissertations and habilitation committees shall be carried out using the University Video Conference System with physical presence in the room of the doctoral student or habilitation candidate, chair of the committee, thesis supervisor, secretary and IT employee, subject to sanitary regime. The other committee members can take part in defense of doctoral dissertations and habilitation committees using the University Video Conference System, whereas those who are interested as audience can participate via live transmission on YouTube with the possibility to ask questions and comment in writing on YouTube. Vorting during a defense of doctoral dissertation or habilitation committee takes place using the University Voting System. If possible from the technical perspective, defense of doctoral dissertation or habilitation committee can take place in a different room located in one of the buildings of the University of Silesia in Katowice. Chair of the Scientific Board can give their consent for remote participation of a doctoral student, habilitation candidate or supervisor instead of their physical presence.
Detailed information about COVID-19 security level 2 can be found on: www.us.edu.pl/uczelnia/status-zabezpieczen-covid-19/poziom-2.
