Further steps regarding the summer semester 2020

On Wednesday 8th April, the German Chancellor and the Minister Presidents of the German federal states agreed on a continuation of the contact ban combined with initial steps to relax existing restrictions.

In light of this, we would like to inform you about our approach, as far as this is possible at the moment. The areas of studies and teaching, as well as research will be looked at separately.

On the whole, it remains our collective responsibility to keep contact with others to a minimum. The measures decided upon in mid-March (the suspension of on-site lectures, campus closures and a contact ban) have contributed significantly towards a marked slowing down of the rate at which the virus spreads. Nevertheless the number of daily new infections is currently around the same as the number of daily recoveries.

Any action taken in accordance with the following guidelines must be done so whilst continuing to adhere to the measures of keeping contact with others to a bare minimum; respecting social distancing if contact is unavoidable (minimum of 2 metres) and following hygiene rules. Within the narrow confines in which we are reopening the university buildings, we rely on everyone taking responsibility to only visit the university when necessary and to keep time spent there to an absolute minimum while respecting social distancing.

Teaching during the summer semester 2020 will be carried out digitally. On-site teaching is not planned for the duration of the regular lecture period ending on 26th June. The examination period from 2nd – 23rd July remains unchanged.

The organisation of exams will be decided upon along with the faculties, taking the relevant conditions at the respective time into consideration.

The following statements refer only to exams (Prüfungsleistungen) and prerequisites for exams (Prüfungsvorleistungen) which are subject to assessment before the regular examination period:

PR/LR: In the case of courses which entail an assessment in the form of a presentation (Referat – R) before the regular examination period, this can be done in written form. (home assignments, research papers, seminar papers, proseminar papers ) A presentation does not necessarily have to be part of the assessment. There are therefore two options:

1. If an oral presentation is waived, the written version will be treated equally.
2.If an oral presentation should not be waived, this may take place in the form of a video conference or a presentation with audio commentary. If a video conference is to be held bilaterally (examiner/examinee), an exam proctor must also be present for transparency and plausibility reasons. This person is also responsible for the examination protocol and notes of any (technical) examination interruptions that may occur.

The decision on which assessment option is to be taken lies with the examiner.

LM/PM: for courses that require an assessment by means of an oral examination (M) before the regular examination period: this must be done by way of an online exam via video conference. The rules of the SPO-AT (especially regarding the exam proctor and protocol writing) continue to apply unchanged.
Combined examinations (LKBK, LKBM, LKBR): for courses that require an assessment before the regular examination period: this must be done by way of a presentation (Referat -R), practical work (Praktischer Arbeit-PA), an oral exam (mündliche Prüfung-M), a draft (Entwurf-E) or laboratory work (Laborarbeit-L). It is not possible to take an exam before the regular examination period.
Courses which are assessed with laboratory work (Laborarbeit-L) or a draft (Entwurf-E) and are obliged to use facilities at the HHN may do so in compliance with the special safety measures within section 2, para. 1, sentence 2 of Corona VO (in the version of 17th April 2020), after submitting a request to the rector`s office.
The form of a colloquium is initially based on what was originally intended. Was it planned as a bilateral exchange or should it be a round table with several participants? As a rule, a colloquium can take place within the framework of a video conference or an audio presentation. If a video conference is held bilaterally (examiner/examinee), an exam proctor must also be present for transparency and plausibility reasons. This person is also responsible for the examination protocol and notes of any (technical) examination interruptions that may occur.

In general, it should be noted that assessment which requires communication with students may only be done via video conference. A handbook on this will be issued. So far we haven’t had any questions regarding this matter, but if a student does not own a computer or have sufficient internet capacity, this matter should be addressed via the course of study. Access to a PC pool is then possible.

A further interruption to research is in many cases only possible with considerable drawbacks. Scientific work, and its associated completion, is delayed, as are public and private third-party funded projects.

Therefore, research activities that require access to laboratories and equipment will be allowed again as of the 4th May, subject to specific rules. It must be ensured that only one person is present in the laboratory at any one time. If the presence of two people is required due to safety reasons, appropriate safeguards are to be defined and the Pro-Rector for Research should be informed accordingly.

These rules apply until further notice. We continually adapt these measures to the regularly reviewed versions of the Corona VO and other framework regulations. At the same time, we involve the respective experts (safety specialists and medical officers) as well as the deans, and student and staff representatives. Please refer to the homepage (www.hs-heilbronn.de/corona and www.hs-heilbronn.de/notbetrieb) for further information.