Below are answers to student FAQ related to the introduction of COVID-19 security level 2 at the University of Silesia.
Only the lending library is open. There is currently no possibility to use the library collections on-site. Orders for books from the free access zone can be places 24 hours a day via the electronic catalogue. The book drop is open 24 hours a day.
The electronic sources to which the library bought access are available from home computers to all students and employees of the University of Silesia via HAN system. The exception is a number of legal databases which, due to the license agreements, are available only in the Law Library, but for all interested parties. The only condition to use databases on computers located outside the University of Silesia network is to have an active account in the library system (Prolib Integro).
To enter the selected database, please choose the link (marked as HAN UŚ) located on the website of the Centre for Scientific Information and Academic Library in the „E-Sources” tab. Each database has its individual link: you can find them in descriptions of particular databases, as well as in the alphabetical order or by field. After clicking the appropriate link, the logging window will appear. Enter your login (PESEL or library card number) and password used in the electronic catalogue.
The readers – employees, students, doctoral students and postgraduate students at the University of Silesia and University of Economics who do not have an account in the Centre for Scientific Information and Academic Library and want to use electronic sources at home (in the case of the University of Silesia) or use the service of electronic order and download of digital copies of materials (in the case of the University of Silesia and University of Economics) can open the account remotely via the online registration form. Details of the service can be found on: www.ciniba.edu.pl.
New rules for safe use of cabins during the „orange” alert will soon be published on www.ciniba.edu.pl.
All student IDs, doctoral student IDs, as well as academic IDs remain valid throughout the period of restriction or suspension of the University operation and for 60 days after the end of this period. Therefore, it is not necessary to come to the University in person in order to extend the ID card validity.
First-year students can come to Dean’s Offices upon previous contact by e-mail or phone in order to pick their student ID or student record book. Contact details are available on: https://us.edu.pl/student/zdalny-kontakt-z-dziekanatami-spnjo-oraz-cwfis.
There is no obligation to document the course of studies in the student record book, because the course of studies is documented in USOS. Therefore, it is not necessary to come urgently to collect your student record book.
Of course, they can stay abroad.
Section 6 Item 19 of the Rules and Regulations of studies at the University of Silesia says: “(In particular, student has the right to) record the content of classes in the form of audio recording within the permitted use as defined by copyright laws”. Source: www.bip.us.edu.pl.
Attention: image recording requires the approval of the teacher and other visible participants of classes.
It is currently forbidden to visit student residence halls and teacher residence halls, as well as to move between specific student residence halls (dorms)/teacher residence halls. It is not forbidden to leave the student residence hall/teacher residence hall where you live, or to return there (this does not apply to person in quarantine). In line with the call “let’s stay at home” (including student residence hall/teacher residence hall), each resident should consider the risk for themselves and others, which results from such movement.
The remote form of conducting classes cannot be considered as “worse” in terms of the learning outcomes. Basically we prefer the on-site form of classes. However, this does not result from the fact that distance classes provide students with less knowledge or skills. This is rather because common, physical presence in one place allows us to establish deeper relations and create a stronger academic community.
A majority of costs incurred by the University in connection with education are personal costs – related to hiring employees. The employees were not released of their usual duties towards the students due to the pandemic condition. In the situation that we have been facing since March, teachers still conduct classes in the same working time, whereas administration employees continue to help carry out the course of education. The forms of contact have changed, but the scope of work to be performed at the University is still the same.
The new situation has also forced the implementation of solutions to enable remote work, including to ensure that every student can use these tools. Therefore, general reduction of tuition fees does not seem to be justified, because it is only the form of services on the part of the University, and not the scope that has changed.
As a principle, classes conducted remotely are classes of the same quality as classes conducted on-site. In the course of remote classes, all learning outcomes assumed in curriculums for particular study programmes are carried out – the University has not released teachers from any duties in this respect. Thanks to this, future diplomas will have the same value as the ones that were issued before 2020.
At the time of growing epidemic and related restrictions, please do not come to collect your diploma from the Dean’s Office. It is recommended to establish the e-mail contact (data are available on: www.us.edu.pl/student/zdalny-kontakt-z-dziekanatami-spnjo-oraz-cwfis). If there is a need to obtain a scanned diploma, your Dean’s Office will send it by e-mail. In very special cases, as soon as the graduate provides a justified application (scan/photo of the signed letter), the original diploma will be sent to the specified address by registered letter with acknowledgment of receipt.
Physical education classes are conducted remotely. Details about conducting classes are determined by the teacher in consultation with the group. Due to the fact that some students from the second recruitment have not logged on to classes, the possibility of logging has been extended until the end of October. Moreover, the students who have already logged in can relog and choose the suitable group for them until the end of October.
Additionally, classes of sports sections of the University Sports Association are conducted, organised subject to sanitary regime for particular sports disciplines and as defined for the introduced security level. These sports classes are voluntary. Students-competitors participate in trainings and competitions, representing our University. In the case when a student withdraws from such classes, they can move to theory classes by informing the teacher at any time.
It is not possible to keep your place in a student residence hall (dorm) without paying the relevant fees. Obviously, after the formal check-out and leaving the room, you no longer pay for the student residence hall (dorm), but you can only return to your previous place if it has not been given to another person in the meantime.
