Follow-up announcement by Charles University's Rector Tomáš Zima (13/03/2020)
This a follow-up announcement by Charles University in response to the Czech government’s state of emergency declaration on Thursday, March 12, 2020, to counter the growing coronavirus threat. Please read carefully.
Studies
Currently there are no plans to alter the schedule of the 2019/2020 academic year. However, if extraordinary measures remain in place longer, changes will be taken to extend classes and the exam period to extend into June and July 2020. We are gauging what constitutes a standard study period (with regards to mandatory fees) and are preparing changes to internal regulations – should they prove necessary.
The Rector’s Sports Day (scheduled for 6 May 2020) has been cancelled to allow more time for teaching (if classes resume).
Foreign trips
All Charles University students and staff are currently forbidden from travelling abroad, effective immediately and until further notice.
Erasmus
Students returning from – or having travelled through – high-risk areas abroad are required to self-isolate for 14 days and to not come into contact with teachers, other university staff or fellow students. University faculties can modify this requirement in the case of medical students who want to volunteer to help during the crisis, providing they are not returning from a high-risk country where mandatory self-isolation/quarantine is required by the government under the state of emergency resolution.
Faculty deans will ensure that students returning from abroad will have the opportunity to complete the spring semester in the academic year of 2019/2020 so as to continue in their studies next year unhindered. In such cases, block study, or e-courses at partner universities abroad where students are already enrolled can count towards students’ successful completion of the semester.
The Foreign Relations office at the Charles University rectorate has contacted all foreign students studying at Charles University and informed them about developments. For now, foreign students on Erasmus exchange programmes are not required to return to their native countries.
Foreign students at Charles University wishing to end their stay early, may apply the “Act of God” clause, which will allow them to draw their stipend from the day of arrival to the day of early departure. There is also the possibility, being discussed with the national bureau for the Erasmus programme in the Czech Republic, the Centre for International Cooperation in Education (DZS), for foreign students to be exempt from returning funds already spent, for example, on accommodation.
Foreign students already studying at Charles University or setting out, are required to respect the same requirements as all other students (described in the rector’s announcement of 10 March 2020).
Other forms of mobility
It will be negotiated that any students who qualified for mobility programmes on offer (Fond mobility, POINT, inter-university contracts, other) who have missed the opportunity to go abroad, will be able to do so at a later date, after the state of emergency is lifted and conditions are suitable again.
Students already abroad under such mobility programmes are recommended to get in touch and remain in contact with the closest local representative office of the Czech Republic and to carefully consider the situation. We leave it up to these students to rationally weight the risks of staying versus returning home (including the mandatory quarantine period) as well as potential risk represented for family members, partners, etc.)
Students who qualified for funding in internal university competitions but were unable to move ahead with their project because of current circumstances will be given priority and top the list next semester or next year once conditions are suitable. Students who began projects but were unable to complete them and already spent some funds, will not be required to return those to the university.
Charles University is ready to try and help any students and staff currently in the United Stated or other countries that have enacted travel bans with Europe, should they request it.
Foreign full-degree students
In the case of foreign full-degree students, the situation is different as some of them can be expected to wish to return to their home countries. Charles University undertakes to provide all help and assistance required to enable foreign students to leave for their home countries. At the same time, however, those students who decide to travel to their home countries have to consider whether and when they will be able or allowed to return to the Czech Republic, especially in the event that the lectures are resumed.
Refectories
The following refectories remain open:
- Menza Albertov
- Menza Kajetánka
- Menza Sport
- Menza Na Kotli (Hradec Králové)
- Menza Šafránkův pavilon (Plzeň)
- Výdejna HTF
- Výdejna kavárna “U Rotlevů“
- Výdejna Jinonice including “bufet”– shortened opening hours - from 8:00 – 14:00
- Výdejna Hvězda
- Bufet UHK (Hradec Králové)
- Výdejna Lidická (Plzeň)
- Bufet a výdejna LF (Plzeň)
- Provoz Cateringu na menze Právnická
- Bufet RUK – shortened hours 8:00 – 14:00
- Snídárna na koleji Komenského
- Kavárna „U Rotlevů“ – standard opening hours 8:00 – 20:00
From March 16, 2020, the following sites will be closed until further notice
- Menza Právnická
- Menza Arnošta z Pardubic
- Menza Budeč
- Bufet Právnická
- Studentský klub Celetná - SKC
Charles University ID cards
ID pick-up sites at the Faculty of Law and the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics were shut down on March 12.
Pick-up centres in Celetná Street and in Hradec Králové remain open but with modified opening hours: from 10h00 to 14h00. The site in Pilsen is operating without changes.
CU Point chill out zone
The chill out zone at CU Point (Celetná 13, Prague 1) will be closed from March 16 until further notice. Services offered by CU Point for students, applicants, staff, and graduates remain unaffected.
Information service:
Carolinum Advisory Services
Carolinum Advisory Services are continuing unimpeded.
Hostivař Sports Centre
Hostivař Sports Centre is closed from March 13, 2020 until further notice. All planned events at the centre are hereby cancelled. Compensation for cancelled events will be discussed with the relevant parties next week.
Training Centres
The following training centres will be closed until further notice beginning on March 16, 2020.
- VS Patejdlova bouda
- VS Pec pod Sněžkou (chata VAK)
- VS Albeř
- VS Horní Poříčí
- VS Dobronice
All events planned at the sites named are hereby cancelled, whether training, pedagogical, recreational or otherwise. Booked and paid reservations, including pre-paid meals, will be refunded in full.
March 13, 13h00, Prague
An announcement from Rector Tomáš Zima (12/03/2020)
Dear deans, directors, and colleagues,
I am sending this announcement following the Czech government’s decision to declare a state of emergency on Thursday, March 12, 2020, beginning at 14h00 and to last 30 days, a response to the health crisis caused by the spread of the coronavirus (usnesení vlády České republiky č. 69/2020 Sb., ze dne 12. 3. 2020, kterým byl v souladu s čl. 5 a 6 ústavního zákona č. 110/1998 Sb., o bezpečnosti České republiky).
Studies
Importantly, the conditions set within the state of emergency will not impact measures adopted by Charles University earlier this week concerning pedagogical, scientific and research activities. All three will continue uninterrupted – the only thing that is changing is the form of education and other activities.
In response to your questions, let me emphasise that individual forms of teaching and education, such as consultations, individual laboratory work, and so on, are not affected. Likewise, individual and state exams will also continue. In terms of the state of emergency, care must be taken not to exceed a ban forbidding groups of more than 30 people meeting.
Deans of Charles University faculties may agree to exceptions for students or staff who volunteer to help in the face of the crisis. Currently, the university and the Health Ministry of the Czech Republic are negotiating the possibility of 5th and 6th year university medical students helping health care services during this period.
Students and staff abroad
Charles University is focussing on students and staff who are currently abroad for study or work reasons (including students and staff in the United States). The university will make an announcement about developments on Friday.
Dormitories and refectories
Dormitories remain unaffected but with lower demand or need, output at refectories will be lessened beginning next week. The university will release more details on Friday.
If you have any questions, please address those to Charles University’s crisis team at emergency@cuni.cz
We are continuing to monitor developments and will inform you without delay about new steps should the situation change.
Allow me to extend my thanks to all of you for your efforts, cooperation and calm and rational approach. Together, we will get through this difficult period.
Best regards,
Rector Tomáš Zima
March 12, 2020, 17h00, in Prague