New Rules - Little Change [22.12.21]
2G, full control instead of random checks, mandatory masking during exams: As of this week, stricter rules also apply to teaching on campus. This poses a major challenge for many universities. At the University of Hohenheim, on the other hand, a system has been in place since the start of the semester that goes beyond the requirements of the Corona Ordinance. Major changes were therefore not necessary.
Milena Kugel is in her 6th semester of Education for Business and Economics. At the moment, she is also working 11 hours a week as a hygiene assistant on campus.
"Our most important task is the admission control before the courses," explained Milena. "In addition, we prepare the lecture halls, so for example, we refill disinfectant and Kleenex wipes, check the seat numbers and distance markings, etc. But we also help in other places, e.g., we pack quick tests for employees."
In total, the University of Hohenheim employs 62 hygiene assistants. The majority of these are temporary student workers. This is a model that Chancellor Dr. Katrin Scheffer believes has clearly proven itself in practice:
"The feedback we receive from lecturers is extremely positive. From their point of view, the student hygiene assistants make a significant contribution to ensuring that the courses can run smoothly on site. Other universities have relied on external security services. However, they find it extremely difficult to find sufficient personnel. Still others have the lecturers themselves carry out some of the checks," reported the Chancellor.
Students show a sense of responsibility
Milena Kugel describes the atmosphere on site as relaxed. Everyone is now used to the procedures. She has not yet encountered students who refuse to undergo checks or wear a mask.
"I have the impression that the students on site really all behave very responsibly. Many are just happy to be able to study on campus again at all," Milena said. "Of course, it took a while at first for everything to settle in. We as hygiene assistants are also happy to help with any questions. The university provides comprehensive information via emails, the homepage, and social media, but sometimes it's easier to explain things from student to student."
The practical test has been passed
At the beginning of this week, the state once again tightened up the rules for studying: in most courses, 2G now applies instead of 3G (exception: practical courses and exams). In addition, spot checks alone are no longer sufficient from now on. Universities must instead ensure a complete check of all students.
"As is so often the case, universities were left with virtually no time for planning between political decisions and implementation," said Chancellor Katrin Scheffer. "Universities that had previously relied solely on random checks were in trouble. We're therefore very pleased that we designed our system to be robust from the start, so that only slight adjustments were necessary now."
Expeditious full check thanks to Health Pass
The currently required full control of students was already ensured at the University of Hohenheim in the past by the so-called "Health Pass." This is a laminated paper card with name, validity period, and student number. Before each course, all participants must present this card to the hygiene assistants.
Students, on the other hand, only have to show the original vaccination or convalescence certificate once when the Health Pass is issued. This saves time during the admission checks. In the case of vaccinated students, the Health Pass remains valid until the end of the semester. For those who have recovered, it expires a maximum of 6 months after the date of recovery.
In the past, non-immunized students could obtain a Health Pass with a 48-hour expiration date upon presentation of a current test. However, due to the new 2G rule, tested students are now unable to attend most courses.
In-depth random checks with a system
In order to ensure that the Health Pass is not used by strangers, the hygiene assistants carry out in-depth spot checks on at least 5% of all students and lecturers who take part in attendance events each week. In addition to the Hohenheim Health Pass, a photo identity card (ID) must also be presented.
A sophisticated lottery procedure decides in which courses such unannounced checks are carried out. This was developed by Prof. Dr. Hans-Peter Piepho from the Department of Biostatistics.
"The lottery procedure ensures that students and lecturers in all courses are checked with roughly the same probability, regardless of whether it is a large or small course. For very large lectures, only some of the participants can be asked for their ID at any given time due to time constraints. That's why several batches are thrown into the pot for such courses," Scheffer explained.
2G means restrictions for approx. 2-5 % of students
Approximately 500 spot checks are carried out in this way each week. So far, no violations have been detected.
An evaluation of the random checks also enables the university to estimate how many students will experience concrete restrictions as a result of the switch to 2G. According to this, about 2-5% of the students have submitted a test in the last few weeks in order to participate in the face-to-face courses. From now on, they will have to make do with the online courses. Only for internships, e.g. in the lab, is 3G is still valid.
For vaccinated (approx. 92-97%) or recovered (approx. 1-3%), on the other hand, the switch to 2G does not change anything.
Freezing students
But it's not just the policy; the onset of winter also has an impact on lecture hall operations. Wherever there are no automatic ventilation systems, regular ventilation is mandatory. The pace for this is set by so-called CO2 traffic lights, which measure the CO2 content in the room air. In some places, this causes annoyance - especially where air circulation is not good and extensive ventilation is therefore practiced to prevent the CO2 traffic lights from switching to red.
"There are individual rooms where we rely almost on continuous ventilation. We are aware that with the current temperatures, this is seen by many as an imposition. We are therefore checking once again whether we can possibly take such rooms completely out of the planning. Sometimes there are also technical problems with the CO2 traffic lights. We are therefore currently recalibrating the devices. If they suspect that a particular CO2 traffic light is reacting too sensitively or incorrectly, lecturers can also contact the hygiene assistants directly, who will check this in coordination with occupational health and safety," said Scheffer.
University director continues to support face-to-face teaching
Since last week, staff members who are not involved in teaching have been required to work from home again, provided that their job permits this. That raises the question of whether courses should continue to be taught on-site at all, given rising incidences.
"Ultimately, that's a question that depends on the legal requirements," said Chancellor Katrin Scheffer. However, she says the university's directors still consider face-to-face teaching to be very important and safe.
"We take the current developments very seriously and also understand if individual students make the decision for themselves personally to increasingly take advantage of online offerings, for example because they have a long journey by public transport. However, we remain convinced of our hygiene concept on campus. The pandemic has shown us how important personal exchange on site is for students. That's why I think it's right that politicians have decided to restrict contacts elsewhere first, for example by renewing the requirement to work from home. Similar to schools, a comprehensive lockdown should only be a last resort at universities," Scheffer said.
Text: Leonhardmair / Translation: Neudorfer
