Free coffee, tea, muffins and brownies in Aurora. Photo Guy Ackermans Period 4 starts on Monday, 14 February. While some education was moved back onto the campus halfway through period 3, campus education will once again be the standard this coming period.
Thus write dean of education Arnold Bregt and rector magnificus Arthur Mol in an email that was recently sent to all the course coordinators. The message in short: WUR aims to offer students campus education, supplemented with online elements that genuinely provide something additional to regular lectures. Mol and Bregt say that campus education fosters social connections between students and makes the learning process more interactive.
During the first week of classes in period 4, free muffins, coffee and tea will be served in the education buildings, Mol and Bregt announced in an email directed at students. To make the start more enjoyable, but also to encourage students who may feel hesitation, ‘to return to the campus and to stimulate social interaction.’
Facemask rules eased
Covid-measures still apply on the campus. Facemasks will remain mandatory for the time being, but the mask may be removed when seated at a study desk and 1,5 meter away from others. Over the past weeks, medical-grade facemasks were compulsory for everyone at all times, with an exception for teachers during their teaching duties. This led to much confusion. Students and staff may obtain medical-grade facemasks at the front desk of the buildings.
Field trips are permitted again as of Monday, with a maximum of 75 participants. Students on a field trip must wear a facemask when indoors at all times, and outdoors when a 1.5-metre distance cannot be observed. Moreover, special field trip-vests must be worn.
Online education for students in quarantine
The infection rate among students is high, so teachers have been requested to offer students in quarantine alternatives to follow education from home. Courses need not be completely hybrid, as this frequently means an extra burden for the teachers. ‘We do not expect the online alternatives to offer the same learning experience as campus education’, Mol and Bregt state in their message.
Many courses contain compulsory activities, which students in quarantine are unable to attend. Still, Mol and Bregt do not recommend making these activities ‘optional’ so that students who are not in quarantine will still come to the campus.
Exams
The exam policy remains unaltered. Exams are to be sat on the campus, with an alternative exam being offered for students who are in quarantine. This policy will remain in effect at least until the end of period 6.
