Vice Rector update on Return to Campus

Dear Students,

Following the letter from the President, Rector and Director General of the University, I would like bring to your attention additional information regarding the back-to-campus guidelines.

Main Guidelines

The University is preparing for a gradual return to learning on campus in accordance with the Green Tag format. First-year students as well as students in international programs will be the first to return to studying on campus after the Passover vacation. Academic Units may allow additional courses to take place on campus depending on the availability of classrooms equipped for distance learning. Academic Units may also hold courses in regular classrooms, not equipped for distance learning, as long as they comply with Green Tag directives and secure the consent of all students in the course.

For now, certain activities will continue to take place on campus according to the Purple Tag format -- practical instruction, teaching labs, workshops, library services, and more (see below).

In the next few days, Faculties and Academic Units will post the list of courses that will take place on campus as well as their location.

Green and Purple Tag Directives

Green Tag – According to Health Ministry regulations (detailed below), vaccinated students or students recovering from Covid, in possession of a Green Tag, may study on campus and participate in all learning activities.

Needless to say, all lecturers and students --both vaccinated or recovering from Covid-- studying on campus within the Green Tag format are required to wear a face mask.

Arrival of students on campus in accordance with Green Tag directives – Students arriving to study on campus will be issued an entry permit on the University website. After identifying themselves, students will upload a scanned image or photo of the Green Tag in their possession in order to obtain the University entry permit. A link to the site and additional instructions will be sent at a later date.

Purple Tag – Students who have not been vaccinated and / or are recovering from Covid will be able to join activities within the Purple Tag format --practical instruction, teaching labs, workshops, libraries, and one-on-one teaching-- and will have to leave campus upon completion of these activities.

Class Occupancy, according to each tag

Green Tag:

An empty seat must be left between students in classrooms and study halls.  In other learning spaces, occupancy may not exceed 75% of the maximum capacity of the hall or classroom, or more than 300 people in one space (following the social distancing restrictions). According to the Green Tag, only students who register beforehand will be allowed to enter classrooms. Registration will be on the Moodle course site and will close as soon as maximum occupancy is reached. Detailed instructions will be sent later.

Purple Tag: Gatherings of no more than 20 people are allowed in closed spaces, and up to 50 in open spaces.

Signs will be posted in all spaces within the Green Tag format. With the renewal of learning in the campus proctors will make sure that rules and order are observed. There will also be random spot checks.

Learning Spaces – Faculties will provide learning spaces for students to attend Zoom lessons that take place after or in between use of these classrooms, in compliance with guidelines and regulations.

I would like to stress that while we expect students to return to classes on campus, we will not enforce or check attendance in these classes. Attendance on Zoom remains compulsory in all courses where it is required. In any case, these lessons and the required materials will be made available t0 those students who are unable to come to campus.

End of Semester Exams - We aim to hold end of semester exams in the classrooms (Detailed instructions will be sent later by the faculties).

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Student Union for their cooperation with us on behalf of all students.

Finally, I would urge all those students who have not been vaccinated to do so as soon as possible, for the sake of their own health and wellbeing.

I wish you a quick return to your studies, good health, and Chag Sameach to you and your families,

Best Regards,

Pro. Eyal Zisser

Vice Rector