Letter from the acting rector to the university community

30/10/2020

Dear members of the university community,

As you already know, in light of the negative evolution of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Government of Catalonia recently announced a set of public health measures aimed at containing the epidemic outbreak in Catalonia, which also affect several university activities.

On 28 October and under the framework of the Interuniversity Council of Catalonia, our government and our 12 public universities agreed that, during the month of November, priority would be given to online learning and that practical sessions and evaluations were free to continue face-to-face as long as all protection measures included in each university's Contingency Plan and Action Protocol were followed. In this sense, the council reiterated the safety of university spaces and that the decrease of on-site lectures was to help reduce any related activities, such as travelling to and from university and interactions among students. With this new agreement, Catalonia's university system once again wishes to demonstrate its commitment to society in the difficult circumstances arising from this pandemic.

In accordance with the aforementioned and with point 13 of the Resolution SLT2/2700/2020, of 29 October, the UAB teaching centres will adapt their lessons to an online teaching model, with the exception of practical sessions and evaluations.

Students who must travel to the university on Fridays for on-site activities will be given the corresponding proof of travel document.

The UAB's Instruction 16 was also recently published, in which the UAB's Contingency Plan and Action Protocol was adapted to set down the criteria for the application of measures included in RESOLUTION SLT/2700/2020, of 29 October, by which the special measures in public health are extended to contain the epidemic outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in the territory of Catalonia. This affects the following aspects:

University services will continue to be offered under the following considerations:

1. In accordance with point 11 of Resolution SLT/2700/2020, all cafés and restaurants located on the UAB campus will remain closed.
2. The Physical Activities Service (SAF) will remain closed.
3. All study halls will remain closed.
4. Public transport on campus (busses) will continue to function as usual.
5. Library Services will only be available for loans.
6. There will be the same amount of on-site presence among UAB administration and services staff, with different shifts if possible, with the aim of guaranteeing the maintenance of the following activities and services:

• Basic services (farms, stables, security and protection services).
• Logistics Support and Information Point, to guarantee that buildings are open and to provide support to teaching areas in which lectures or research are taking place.
• Healthcare Assistance Services.
• General Register Office. 

7. On-site presence will be guaranteed in activities where it is required and particularly in the following cases:

• Academic administration services: 1 day per week, with reduced opening hours, for student registry tasks and on-site attention by appointment.
• Library loan services.
• Prevention services.
• The monitoring of works, maintenance and logistics services.
• The activities required to guarantee continuity of services (payroll, IT services, etc.).
• Experimentation-related activities.
• On-site practical sessions (laboratory, IT support services, audiovisual technicians, television studios, interpreting cabins, etc.).

For the duration of the measures set down in Resolution SLT/2700/2020, and whenever permitting, UAB personnel will have the right to work remotely from home five days a week, as long as this does not interfere with the normal functioning of the services they provide.

Whenever possible, administration and services staff providing on-site services will be able to do a continuous work shift, without the need to interrupt their shift for lunch, and with compulsory presence being now from 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

When a proof of travel document is needed in order to reach the UAB campus or return home, all PAS and PDI members can request this document at the following link: Travel certificate.

Once again, I would like to thank the entire university community for its commitment to following and fulfilling the safety measures we have adapted and remind you of our responsibility as individuals: let us always remember to wear a mask, wash our hands often and keep a safe distance from others. LET'S TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER AT THE UAB!

I send you all a warm embrace!

Margarita Arboix

Acting Rector of the UAB

This information is related to the following SDG

• Peace, justice and strong institutions
• Quality education