Winter Semester on Campus [15.09.21]
Campus life again at last: In the winter semester, students at the University of Hohenheim will be offered the most comprehensive and attractive range of classroom teaching possible. This was decided by the Senate in July. In all courses on campus, 3G and masks are compulsory. But how much face-to-face teaching will actually be possible? What is the current status of the plans? And what questions are still open? The Online Courier talked about this with Chancellor Dr. Katrin Scheffer and the Vice President for Academic Affairs, Prof. Dr. Korinna Huber.
In Part 1 of the interview, Dr. Katrin Scheffer and Prof. Dr. Julia Fritz-Steuber reported on the end of the obligation to work from home and hygiene rules in the workplace:
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Ms. Scheffer, Ms. Huber, can you be more specific about the proportion of classroom teaching in the winter semester?
Scheffer: We will be able to make a precise statement in September. The decisive factor is how many people we can actually admit to the individual lecture halls. It will certainly not be enough for 100% attendance in all courses due to the spacing rules, because even before Corona our rooms were already fully occupied.
The new Corona ordinance on study operations has already set the basic course. But there are still some unanswered questions that can have a very big impact.
Huber: Depending on the conditions on site and the regulations then in force, we can fill between 20% and 60% of the seats in the individual lecture halls.
However, the proportion of classroom attendance in the various courses will probably continue to differ considerably, because there are practical laboratory courses, for example, that can only take place in a classroom setting, whereas large lectures also work quite well online. At the moment, we hope that students will be able to spend on average at least one third of the time they would otherwise spend in lectures on campus.
What does the maximum number of people per lecture hall depend on in individual cases?
Huber: The Corona Ordinance on Studies leaves us with two options for each course:
Either we stick with the 1.5 m spacing rule that has applied up to now. Then we can only occupy about every fifth seat.
Or we ensure systematic control of the so-called 3G rule. This means that all participants must prove that they have either tested negative, are fully vaccinated or have recovered from the virus. In this case, we can reduce the minimum distance - and occupy more places.
However, this is only permitted in rooms with very good ventilation and in combination with mandatory masks. In addition, we have to register such "courses that do not adhere to the minimum distance regulations" in advance with the health department.
How extensively will the University of Hohenheim make use of this option?
Scheffer: As a first step, we are currently checking which lecture halls meet the requirements for this.
To this end, the occupational safety expert is carrying out CO2 measurements in many lecture halls. This means that the rooms are first completely filled with CO2 gas. Windows are then opened or the ventilation system is switched on and measurements are taken to determine how quickly the CO2 content in the air drops.
In this way, we can provide very reliable information on the quality of the ventilation options.
At the same time, CO2 sensors are installed in the rooms to serve as technical support in everyday life. They measure the proportion of used breathing air and give a signal when it is time to ventilate again. In lecture halls with ventilation systems, the sensors are merely an additional control.
Will the university then apply for a reduction in the minimum distance for all lecture halls with good ventilation?
Huber: Unfortunately, that is not possible. That's because we still have to record the contact data of all participants in all courses. However, in events with several hundred participants, this is extremely time-consuming and tedious, especially in combination with 3G control, which is why we have decided against very large courses. For this reason, we will probably stick with the 1.5 m spacing in the Audimax, for example, despite the excellent ventilation system.
Scheffer: One of the unanswered questions at the moment is also how exactly 3G control has to take place. We are lobbying the state for a random sampling solution. Of course, that would reduce the effort considerably - and we could also reduce the minimum distance in more lecture halls.
Of course, the samples would have to be sufficiently strict and collected according to scientific criteria. Fortunately, we can draw on top-class in-house expertise in these matters. Prof. Dr. Hans-Peter Piepho from the Biostatistics department is currently helping us to draw up a concept.
The state has agreed to examine our proposals. It would be conceivable to implement it possibly within the framework of a model project, which could perhaps later be transferred to other events in the cultural sector.
The President's Office has decided that 3G is mandatory in all courses. But according to the Corona ordinance, this is actually only mandatory for events that can't adhere to the minimum distance regulations, isn't it?
Huber: Yes, but it's important to us that we have a uniform rule for all courses and don't end up with a confusing patchwork. If different access requirements apply to every course, it would be difficult to communicate this to students and lecturers.
Furthermore, it cannot be ruled out that politicians will tighten up the 3G requirements again if the number of cases continues to rise. However, we would like to make the regulations at Hohenheim so robust that we have to make as few adjustments as possible. The Senate has also spoken out in favor of this.
In practical terms, this means that the 3G obligation applies to all courses. But in events with a 1.5 m minimum distance, we don't have to systematically check.
How could the 3G verification for students and lecturers work in concrete terms?
Huber: Here, too, we are still waiting for political decisions.
Our favored option would be a central validation station on campus that distributes, for example, something like green cards with an expiration date that can then simply be shown during checks.
Scheffer: According to the Corona ordinance, two tests per week are sufficient. For vaccinated or convalescent patients, the expiration date of the green cards could theoretically be set even further back. However, this also touches on data protection issues, since depending on the expiration date, it may be possible to draw conclusions about vaccination status.
From the point of view of the university director and also the other universities, though, this would be justifiable in view of the current situation. This simple procedure would save us considerable costs and enable us to offer more classroom teaching for our students. However, the state must make this trade-off. The Ministry of Science is talking intensively with the State Data Protection Commissioner about this, and the state is considering appropriate regulations.
A central testing station on campus is also planned?
Scheffer: Yes, the pharmacy at the Garbe will set up a rapid test station in the Euroforum. However, Minister Bauer has already pointed out that citizen tests will probably no longer be free of charge in the fall.
So anyone who wants to avoid regular testing should urgently consider vaccination. Every vaccinated person contributes to even greater safety and simpler procedures on campus. That's why we are currently also participating in the "Together for Vaccination" campaign on our Instagram channel, for example.
Can you estimate how many students have already been vaccinated?
Scheffer: The university administration is not allowed to ask students about this for data protection reasons. The situation is different for scientific studies, where anonymity is guaranteed.
The Department of Nutritional Psychology included an additional question on vaccination status in the course of a recent nutritional science survey. A good 850 students at the University of Hohenheim took part by the end of July. A good 45% said they were fully vaccinated, and another third had received their first vaccination. Only one in five reported that they had not yet been vaccinated.
The data are still an interim result. However, the figures are roughly in line with comparable surveys at other universities.
Will it still be possible to study completely online in the winter semester?
Huber: Unlike in the past, our focus in the winter semester is clearly on face-to-face teaching. However, this can mean, for example, that in hybrid lectures you follow part of the course in the lecture hall, but also part of it online.
A purely online semester is possible in principle. However, those who opt for this may have to contend with a limited number of options in the elective or elective module area and will largely only be provided with asynchronous accompanying documentation in the compulsory area as well.
There is also no guarantee that every desired course can be taken purely digitally. However, for international students who are not allowed to enter, it should be ensured that they can continue their studies.
In general, I would like to expressly encourage students to take advantage of the face-to-face offerings. After all, it is only on campus that you can really experience all the facets that are part of a course of study.
The planned hybrid model will also demand a lot from the lecturers. What support is there for them?
Scheffer: The institutes will receive additional funding for the winter semester that can be used flexibly as needed, e.g., for new media technology such as wireless microphones or for additional student assistants to help as lecture hall assistants, for example, with ventilation and technology or to provide online materials.
The control of 3G verification is generally done centrally and does not have to be organized by the lecturers.
Huber: The Office for University Didactics continues to provide support in the didactic design of hybrid courses and digital elements. I would like to thank the KIM for its excellent technical support. This is also where the lecture hall assistants are trained to use the technology safely for hybrid teaching. Lecturers can also find support via the "Fast digital" page.
I myself continue to try to inform lecturers as promptly as possible about all developments and am always ready to work together to find solutions when problems arise.
We will report back, thank you very much for the interview!
Interview: Leonhardmair / Translation: Neudorfer
