FAQ COVID-19 and Message from the Rector – 27th April
Dear Colleagues and Dear Students,
this long period, spent mainly at home, leaves a sense of bewilderment towards what is not well understood, but also, and unfortunately, a personal tragedy for more than one of us. The prospect of a recovery in May should be viewed with balanced optimism. Especially in Lombardy, a region so hard hit, caution is needed. But it is equally true that the prevalence of a crippling fear would have devastating effects both from a psychological point of view and from an economic and employment point of view.
It is therefore necessary that our choices allow a gradual recovery but, at the same time, avoid that too many people can attend the same spaces at the same time, not only in the University, but also on public transport and in the city.
For this reason, we have decided to exclude any form of face-to-face teaching until the end of June, as well as degree and profit exams that will continue to be online. Most likely, this suspension will also be confirmed for the month of July.
Vice versa, controlled and safe access to laboratories and other spaces dedicated to research will be allowed.
Although it never stopped, our research has slowed down and, above all, it has been focusing on aspects related to the emergency from Covid-19.
In this regard, I would like to underline how the phase we are experiencing has once again proved that there cannot be progress in the medical field, but also in technological and humanistic-social ones, without deep roots in basic research. For example, the development of effective tests for the detection of anti-bodies, on which much is focused, benefits from fundamental research strands related to other pathologies. This should be remembered first of all to ourselves and then to public decision-makers for a renewed policy in support of the sciences and the university.
Since the resumption of May, always in full compliance with the security measures, holders of grants or research grants and PhD students will be able to access the university again under the guidance of their respective tutors. Students who carry out experiments for the final thesis will follow, but only later. The lending service for books in the library will then restart with the already tested “contactless” methodology. Professors will be able to attend the workshops or similar spaces for which they are responsible, but not to return permanently to their offices, but only temporarily for needs connected with the provision of online teaching. The Crisis Task Force is completing the guidelines which will contain the indications for the safe access and attendance procedures. The Pro-Rector for Research will shortly send a specific message.
The technical-administrative staff and language expert collaborators will continue with the prevailing remote working methods, which have proved more effective than expected, given the modest use that was usually made of them in public administration. In this regard, I renew my gratitude for the generosity and professionalism shown in these difficult days. The opportunity to continue on the path of dematerialisation and administrative facilitation should not be wasted and indeed we will continue convinced. We will continue to guarantee essential administrative services, with a partial increase expected from the controlled restart of laboratory activities. In any case, the personnel involved will be the minimum necessary to carry out the departmental research activities. The recovery for technical-administrative staff will take place in absolute compliance with the new government provisions, expected shortly. As soon as possible, specific information will be sent.
The need to suspend face-to-face activities has found our university capable of reacting quickly, guaranteeing complete functionality, including the performance of the various exam tests, including written ones. Of all this we must be grateful to the entire academic body of Pavia.
However, there could not have been a clearer occasion to ascertain how much the direct teacher-student exchange, the interpersonal relationship between students, possible only in the presence, are irreplaceable for not only educational but also human growth. I reaffirm, with conviction, the desire to resume face-to-face activities in the next academic year, as soon as the health security conditions allow it.
The uncertainty on the course of the epidemic leads us to consider, however, that online activities will guarantee inclusiveness towards all our students, in particular if coming from another province or region, who could be not allowed to move from there. Therefore, the first semester of the next academic year will take place in a mixed form, both online and in presence, and innovative ways are being studied to propose to our student community and to future students.
On the occasion of the inauguration of the 2019-2020 academic year, I had the opportunity to underline a concept that is particularly dear to me and I still feel it close, even if that day seems far away. In this period, in fact, it is often repeated, and perhaps with a little rhetoric, that a completely different society awaits us. I don’t know if this will be true, but I hope that this diversity can also mean that national and local governments, present and future, seriously think about the future of young people who have been guilty forgotten.
Best wishes.
Francesco Svelto
Rector of the University of Pavia
1) IS THE UNIVERSITY CLOSED?
The University of Pavia is open, but, until new decisions, face-to-face teaching is suspended and all public meetings are postponed. Distance teaching began on Monday 2 March, with online lessons and exams.
2) ARE OFFICES OPEN?
The offices are operational and the staff at work, through telematic means (with the exception of a few essential services for which there is a very small group of staff present in the University). All offices are accessible only by phone or email.. Offices usually open to receive persons, however, are accessible only by phone or email. Particularly useful for students there are the Direct Line with the Student Office and the Direct Line with EDISU.
3.1) ARE LIBRARIES AND MUSEUMS OPEN?
On the basis of Ordinance 514 of the Lombardy Region, the University Museums are closed until April 15 as well as the Archives (Historical Archives and Manuscript Center) are closed to the public.
Libraries have suspended the special plan for “contactless” services, but still offer some remote services, in particular a list of bibliographic resources available online has been published.
3.2) ARE CANTEENS OPEN?
Yes, but not all and only for lunch.
The canteens open are: Fraccaro (from Monday to Saturday), Cravino (every day including Sunday), Central Canteen – ground floor (from Monday to Friday). Staggering measures of the entrances are adopted in order to avoid crowd.
From 10 March 2020, at the Canteen Fraccaro and Cravino, students can pick up, in the time slot dedicated to lunch, a second takeaway meal, to be eaten for dinner. The registration of the second meal can be done by badging for a second time the canteen card at lunch.
Students who are guests of an EDiSU College can collect the second takeaway meal for the evening free of charge. This second meal is delivered without badging again the card, but by registration on a special self-declaration form of hospitality in the EdiSU College.
4) ARE THE CLASSROOMS AND OTHER SPACES TO STUDY OPEN?
No: in order to avoid crowded places, the study rooms and the internal spaces of the University libraries are not accessible. It is indeed essential to stay at home, except for special and motivated needs.
5) HOW DO THE DISTANCE LESSONS WORK?
All courses are delivered remotely. Professors generally upload the lesson to Kiro in audio (podcast) or video format, with the possible support of slides and other teaching materials. The University has created a tutorial aimed at students and lecturer, to explain how the platform works.
Teachers who use applications other than Kiro (eg Zoom, Skype, Teams, …) tell it to their students.
In addition, the University recently made available KiroLive: a platform for live streaming lessons, directly supported by the “Educational Innovation and Digital Communication Service”.
6.1) HOW DO ORAL EXAMS WORK?
Oral exams are taking place remotely (generally via Skype, Google Hangouts or Microsoft Teams), without requiring the physical presence students. The examination may require the presentation of an identification document. The discussion of the written task may also take place remotely, also by telephone, in order to allow the vote to be recorded.
In all cases, it will be necessary to be enrolled in the appeal through your own reserved area, as usual. The professor will contact the students to provide all the necessary information to take the test.
On resuming face-to-face activities, the University might open the facilities also on Saturdays, to limit the inconvenience and recover the tests that cannot be taken electronically. To schedule the dates of face-to-face exams, professors will in any case take appropriate precautions to allow Jewish candidates, who request it, to take the exam on another day than Saturday.
6.2) WILL THE WRITTEN EXAMS BE CARRIED OUT?
All written exams, postponed until today, will be recovered in the period March 28 – April 24. Some written exams will be converted into oral form and the others will take place electronically. Within a few days, guidelines will be published for students to carry out written exams electronically.
7.1) HOW ARE GRADUATION EXAMS CARRIED OUT?
They take place remotely (e.g. via Skype).
The Commission members participate in the session by connecting separately remotely; the connection methods and time are communicated to the graduating student.
The University is considering the possibility of organizing proclamation ceremonies, at the resumption of educational activities.
The University has established that the submission of the graduation application, the thesis and all other necessary documents must be carried out online, through the reserved area of each student.
7.2) WILL IT BE POSSIBLE TO GRADUATE IN APRIL? AND IN JUNE?
If the departments have a graduation session scheduled for April, this will normally be kept and will take place on the date indicated.
However, considering that art. 101 of the legislative decree 18/2020 has extended the deadline to graduate on 15 June 2020, departments will be asked to organize an extraordinary graduation session close to this date.
8) WHAT ABOUT THE ENABLING DEGREE EXAMS AND STATE EXAMS?
As a result of art. 102 of the legislative decree 18/2020, graduating in Medicine and Surgery – Class LM / 41 – enables the exercise of the profession of doctor-surgeon. To exercise the profession, however, it is necessary to have obtained a positive assessment of the practical-evaluation internship and to be enrolled in the Order of Doctors.
9) WHAT HAPPENS TO POST DEGREE ACTIVITIES?
The provisions for the suspension of teaching activities also apply to postgraduate activities. The PF24 courses are offered out online.
10) ARE THE INTERNSHIPS SUSPENDED?
Yes: all internships (curricular, extra-curricular and professionalized) are suspended until a date to be decided, as they can be assimilated to teaching activities. In particular, the suspension of the internships of the health professions (including those carried out with General Practitioners) and of sport sciences is also motivated by the fact that these could take place in environments at risk of contagion.
The above indications do not apply when the internship is carried out using remote telematic methods. For the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, the University is creating virtual simulators to allow online exercises.
Specializing doctor are, instead, considered as workers and comply with the decisions communicated by the Directors of the Schools. Trainees must always be guaranteed adequate personal safety and hygiene conditions, including the prescribed Personal Protective Equipment.
11) CAN GRADUATING (THESISTS) STUDENTS, PHD STUDENTS, SCHOLARSHIP AND RESEARCH ASSISTANTS, PERFORM THEIR ACTIVITIES AT THE UNIVERSITY?
Graduating students (even if they are writing the final thesis) are students and, therefore, their activity in the presence is fully suspended until April 3. For this reason, a graduating student cannot until that date carry out the internship of a thesis in the laboratory or a consultation activity in libraries.
Based on the evolution of the epidemic, this prohibition currently applies also to activities in the presence of all the unstructured staff of the University: PhD students, fellows and research fellows who, therefore, will not be able to access facilities such as laboratories, libraries and studies in the offices of the University of Pavia.
Graduating students (even if they are writing the final thesis) are students and, therefore, their activity in presence is fully suspended. For this reason, a graduating student cannot carry out the internship of a thesis in the laboratory or a consultation activity within the libraries, or attend any other space of the University until new dispositions.
This ban also currently applies to activities in presence of all the University’s unstructured staff: PhD students, fellows and research fellows who, therefore, will not be able to access laboratories, libraries and any other space in the University.
Moreover, on the basis of Ordinance 514 of the Lombardy Region, the presence in the University of structured personnel (teachers and officers), until 15 April 2020, is limited to a small group of workers for the performance of a few essential services and the protection of property and security.
12.1) IS IT POSSIBILE TO GO ABROAD WITH ERASMUS PROGRAM?
No: all international incoming and outgoing mobilities that should have started in these days are blocked until further notice.
12.2) WHAT SHOULD DO A STUDENT WHO IS ABROAD?
Students abroad are recommended to scrupulously follow the prevention and safety prescriptions indicated by local institutions. We also suggest that you register on “Where are you in the world” (here) and follow the situation on “Viaggiare Sicuri” page where the contact details of the Italian consular authorities, who can be contacted to assess the possibility of returning in Italy, are available. It is also recommended to consult the CRUI website page dedicated “Covid-19. Updates for Universities” (www.crui.it/covid-19.html) which is constantly updated with links to official information.
For Erasmus students, it will be possible to request the National Agency, through methods that will be communicated at a later stage, requesting the application of the “force majeure” clause, in order to obtain the refund for the costs of all those mobility that are canceled due to the emergency situation and to the measures of the competent authorities.
The University of Pavia will reintegrate students who stop mobility into the courses of their original study plan without any penalty.
13) WHEN IS THE DEADLINE TO PAY THE THIRD INSTALLMENT OF UNIVERSITY FEE AND OF OTHER FEES?
The University of Pavia has extended the expiration of the 3rd installment of the University fee for 2019/20 academic year for both Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree programs to the 30th of May 2020.
For students who are going to request a 75% fee exemption, the deadline for applying for the next academic year is temporary suspended (the deadline will be determined by a subsequent provision).
The next Board of Directors will propose to extend until the 30th of May 2020 the terms for the payment of the second installment for the PF24 Post Degree courses and to the Specialization School for the legal professions.
14) WHAT TRAVELS ARE AUTHORIZED?
Only those ones motivated by reasons of necessity and urgency can be authorized, and where the exclusive use of your vehicle is possible, and the hygiene and safety requirements of the Government Decree of 8 March 2020 are guaranteed. They cannot be authorized missions in which the use of public transport is to be used.
15) HOW DO STUDENTS CAN TALK TO PROFESSORS?
Remotely (for example via Skype or telephone). The student will agree with the professor the modalities by e-mail.
16) IS THE HELP-DESK FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS STILL OPEN AT THE QUESTURA?
No, following government regulations, the counter is closed until April 15. In order to ensure the service, however, you can contact the HelpDesk staff by writing to permesso.soggiorno@unipv.it and attaching the passport with a study visa or residence permit (in case of renewal).
All appointments set by the post office will be postponed and students will receive a text message with a new appointment at Questura.
Following the communication of 27/03/2020 from the Questura of Pavia, the permits of stay expiring between 31 January 2020 and 15 April 2020 shall remain valid until 15 June 2020.
Therefore, non-eu citizens in possession of an expiring residence permit can apply for renewal after 15 June 2020.
17) ARE THERE INTERVENTIONS TO SUPPORT THE PSYCHO-PHYSICAL WELLBEING OF EMPLOYEES AND STUDENTS?
CUS Pavia and the Laboratory of Adapted Physical Activities (LAMA) together with the Degree Course in Sport Sciences have realized two series of videos that allow you to perform physical activity at home.
Other activities are going to be prepared and will be available soon.
18) HOW TO PREVENT HEALTH PROBLEMS POSSIBLY CAUSED BY AN EXTENDED USE OF VIDEO TERMINALS?
Sitting for hours at a desk and watching a monitor can hide health pitfalls! To prevent problems, these simple rules are recommended:
Frequent breaks, of at least 5 minutes every hour. Walking and stretching your legs during breaks: you can also do it at home, while listening to a podcast lesson.
Slightly move the screen backwards and position yourself at a distance between 50 and 70 cm.
Pay attention to the lighting of the room and avoid placing the screen in front of or behind a window because this can create light reflections.
- Choose a comfortable chair, sit correctly, with the knees preferably at the same level as the hips.
- Place the keyboard at a distance of 10-15 cm from the edge of the table and try to work keeping the elbows at a right angle
- Drink enough and avoid too high temperatures.
- Ventilate the room for at least 10 minutes every 2 hours.
- Wet the ocular surface with specific eye drops, with particular attention for those who wear contact lenses.
For more information, you can visit this page.
Here some useful links with official information from the Italian Goverment in English language:
FAQ
Decree of the Italian Prime Minister of March 11, 2020
Decree of the Italian Prime Minister of March 9, 2020
Decree of the Italian Prime Minister of March 8, 2020