University of Silesia in Katowice

The translation was prepared by the International Development Office of the University of Silesia

Annex to Ordinance no. 29 of the Rector of the University of Silesia of 12 March 2020

Ordinance no. 28 of the Rector of the University of Silesia in Katowice of 12 March 2020 on countering the spread of SARS-CoV-2 virus

(uniform text)

Pursuant to Art. 23 Par. 1 and Art. 50 Par. 1 of the Higher Education and Science Act of 20 July 2018 (uniform text of the Journal of Laws of 2020 Item 85 with further amendments), Act of 2 March 2020 concerning specific solutions related to preventing, counteracting and combating COVID-19, other infectious diseases and related crisis situations (Journal of Laws of 2020 Item 374), as well as Regulation of the Minister of Science and Higher Education of 11 March 2020 concerning temporary restriction in the operation of certain institutions of science and higher education system related to preventing, counteracting and combating COVID-19 (Journal of Laws of 2020, Item 405), I hereby order as follows:

Section 1

1. All lectures and classes for students, doctoral students and post-graduate students are cancelled. During the period of suspension, lectures and classes may be carried out using distance learning methods and techniques, regardless of whether such methods and techniques were originally provided for in the curriculum.
2. To the extent possible, office hours and individual consultations should be conducted remotely. Direct meetings should only take place in exceptional cases. The employees shall make every effort to enable students to handle their affairs remotely. In case it is necessary to organise a meeting, all appropriate precautions should be taken.
3. Exams, defense of diploma theses, meetings of committees (including doctoral and habilitation committees) can only take place in accordance with the rules established by the Dean and in line with the appropriate safety measures.

Section 2

1. The Dean will inform the students and doctoral students about the offer, forms and rules of distance learning until 22 March 2020.
2. Classes conducted in this manner will be taken into account when decisions about the organisation of making up for the interruption in the teaching activities at the University of Silesia are made once the epidemic threat has ceased.
3. Subject to Par. 1 and 2, any classes which were not conducted in the period of suspension of teaching activities at the University of Silesia will be carried out during the extended semester. At the time of such semester extension, the schedule of classes may be changed.

Section 3

1. The university administration, in agreement with Deans of Faculties, will ensure that any issues related to the course of studies, which required personal presence in the Dean’s Office, in particular requests for extension of the examination session, settlement of semester or approval of the diploma thesis subject, will be handled remotely.
2. In case when it is necessary to record a grade in the student record book or USOS system, the Dean’s Office will help record such grade by contacting the relevant examiner, based either on the grades entered in the USOS system, or a scan/photo of the relevant signature in the student record book sent by e-mail.
3. (repealed)

Section 4

1. The Library of the University of Silesia is operated in line with the announcements of the Director of the Library of the University of Silesia published on the website of the Library of the University of Silesia.
2. All use of sports facilities and infrastructure of the University of Silesia is suspended.

Section 5

1. Any conferences and events organised by the University of Silesia in Katowice, whether on-site or off-site, as well as any conferences, trainings and other events organised by third parties in the University’s premises are cancelled.
2. All foreign travel of employees, doctoral students and students is suspended.
3. All arrivals from abroad to the University of Silesia are suspended,
4. Registration of new residents in student residence halls and other residential premises of the University is suspended. Any visits of external guests in these premises are prohibited.

Section 6

1. It is recommended to reduce to minimum direct contact between employees at work, as well as to use e-mail and telephone for communication.
2. All employees, students and doctoral students shall inform their immediate superior or relevant Dean’s Office about the suspected SARS-CoV-2 virus infection.

Section 7

1. The immediate superior may instruct the employee to perform their work specified in the employment contract away from the regular place of work (to work remotely) for a defined period of time.
2. Such instruction may be given particularly in case of circumstances which indicate that the employee may be infected with SARS-CoV-2 virus.
3. The immediate superior shall decide to instruct the employee to perform their work remotely, as well as agree on the scope and duration of remote work with the employee. Such period of time shall not exceed 14 calendar days at once.

Section 8

The detailed rules for excusing absence from work of an employee taking care of a child of up to eight years of age in the case when the nursery, children’s club, kindergarten or school which the child attends is closed, as well as the rules for obtaining cash benefits in this regard are specified in the Announcement of the Chancellor of the University of Silesia of 11 March 2020.

Section 9

To the extent that it is not contrary to the generally applicable legal regulations, the Rector may:

1. issue an individual decision to derogate from the rules specified in the above provisions under particularly justified circumstances;
2. repeal or amend the application of extraordinary solutions provided for in this Regulation, communicating the relevant announcement to members of the University community.

Section 10

The University of Silesia in Katowice will make every effort to enable students, doctoral students and post-graduate students to carry out their curriculum and obtain credits in a manner that will affect them in the least degree, despite the emergency situation and safety precautions taken.

Section 11

The Ordinance shall enter into force on the date of signature and be effective until it is repealed by the Rector of the University of Silesia, with the reservation that Section 2 Par. 2 shall enter into force on 16 March 2020, and until this date all exams, defense of diploma theses, meetings of committees (including doctoral and habilitation committees) shall take place on the previously agreed dates under the existing rules.

RECTOR
Prof. Andrzej Kowalczyk

Ordinance no. 29

of the Rector of the University of Silesia in Katowice of 13 March 2020 amending the Ordinance on countering the spread of SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Pursuant to Art. 23 Par. 1 and Art. 50 Par. 1 of the Higher Education and Science Act of 20 July 2018 (uniform text of the Journal of Laws of 2020 Item 85 with further amendments), Act of 2 March 2020 concerning specific solutions related to preventing, counteracting and combating COVID-19, other infectious diseases and related crisis situations (Journal of Laws of 2020 Item 374), as well as Regulation of the Minister of Science and Higher Education of 11 March 2020 concerning temporary restriction in the operation of certain institutions of science and higher education system related to preventing, counteracting and combating COVID-19 (Journal of Laws of 2020, Item 405), I hereby order as follows:

Section 1

The following amendment is made in Ordinance no. 28 of the Rector of the University of Silesia in Katowice of 12 March 2020 on countering the spread of SARS-CoV-2 virus:

• Section 3 Par. 3 is repealed. 

Section 2

The uniform text of the Ordinance referred to in Section 1 is amended as set out in Annex to this Ordinance.

Section 3

The Ordinance shall enter into force on the date of signature.

RECTOR

Prof. Andrzej Kowalczyk