New from 25th November

The start of the spring semester at the University of Lucerne will be digital. Up until the Easter break, all courses will take place digitally. If the epidemiological situation permits, courses in the second half of the semester, i.e. from 12th April 2021, will generally be offered in hybrid mode. The decision on whether to switch from purely digital to hybrid teaching will be made in March 2021.

The way in which other activities such as continuing education, courses, conferences, meetings or internal and public events will be carried out, will be decided in mid-January 2021.

New from 16th November

As already in spring, applications for corona-related disadvantage compensation and corona-related subsequent leave applications can be submitted in the autumn semester. For details, see "Information for Students".

New from 12th November

On the 12th of November, the protection concept was updated. The main changes are as follows:

Written and oral examinations in the fall semester 2020 will be conducted digitally. This is the only way to include all students, to create planning security and to minimize epidemiological risks.

Employees are requested to inform anyone who is inside the Uni/PH building without an oronasal face mask about the obligation to wear a mask, and to report any refusal to wear a mask to the competent authority.

New from 29th October

Following the decisions of the Federal Council on 28 October, the protection concept of the University of Lucerne must be slightly adapted. The main changes are:

• An oronasal face mask must be worn in front of the entrances to the University/PH building (Frohburgstrasse, Pausenplatz 2nd floor, etc.). As already stated in the previous protection concept, the ban on crowds of more than 15 people must be observed.
• Access to the three large lecture halls 1, 9 and 10 is now restricted to a maximum of 50 people

On 28 October, the University Sports HSCL also adapted its protection concept. A comprehensive obligation to war oronasal face masks still applies. In addition, the maximum group size in each sports programme is limited to 15 persons and training sessions involving physical contact cannot be offered at present. HSCL news release (in German)

New from 24th / 26th / 28th October

Now that the corona situation has worsened further with no rapid improvement in sight, the University of Lucerne has again updated the COVID-19 protection concept as of 24 October. The main changes are:

• courses will take place in purely digital form from the 28th October 2020;
• Employees are encouraged to work from home, exceptions are only made when absolutely necessary.
• The only exceptions from the obligation to wear an oronasal face mask are:
  - people in individual offices,
  - people in multi-person offices when they are alone in the office,
  - lecturers, as long as they are alone in the lecture hall during the lessons, and
  - under certain conditions, persons with a medical certificate (for details, see protection concept).
• meetings and discussions are always conducted digitally;
• conferences, colloquia, events will take place purely digitally from 28th October onwards;
• events by third parties and with the participation of third parties will take place purely digitally from 28th October onwards;
• continuing education events will take place purely digitally from 28th October; there is a possibility for an exemption to be granted for events that take place up until the 31st October.

Furthermore, the adjustments that came into force at the beginning of last week continue to apply:

• Food may only be consumed in the cafeteria or in the offices and only whilst sitting down. Drinks may only be consumed sitting down. The oronasal face mask must be worn until seated and may only be removed for consumption. After consumption, the oronasal face mask must be put on again immediately.
• There are to be no aperitifs, coffee breaks, lunch breaks or Christmas celebrations etc. that are not covered by gastronomy protection concepts..
• In front of the entrances to the Uni/PH building (Frohburgstrasse, Pausenplatz 2. OG, etc.), the ban on crowds of more than 15 people must be observed.

As the number of cases increases, the risk of becoming infected oneself or coming into contact with infected persons or having to go into quarantine increases. The protection concept maintains the following:

Employees, students, lecturers, visitors

• remain at home if: symptoms of the disease appear and go into quarantine for 10 days if they have been less than 1.5 metres away from an infected person for at least 15 minutes without a protective mask or protective glass; if they have been instructed to do so by cantonal authorities; if they have received a corresponding notification via the SwissCovid App; or if they have entered Switzerland from a risk area according to the FOPH list. List of countries and further information (FOPH);
• who have symptoms and are unsure how to behave are advised to complete the coronavirus check of the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) and follow the instructions. Online tool (FOPH). If uncertainty persists, it is advisable to consult a doctor.
• make use of the voluntarily installable SwissCovid App and follow the instructions if the app reports that you may have had contact with the virus. Further information (FOPH)
• contact the cantonal medical service for questions about quarantine regulations.

Furthermore, the personal protection measures listed in the appendix to the protection concept and separately on the website www.unilu.ch/en/safecorona must be observed.

University Sports HSCL

As of Monday, 26 October 2020, the University Sports HSCL is adapting its protection concept. Oronasal face masks are now compulsory in all sports facilities.

Corona virus: Rules of conduct and protection concepts HSCL (in German)

The measures are an integral part of the protection concept (Appendix A) and are binding for employees and visitors.

1. Hand hygiene

Employees, students, lecturers and visitors:

• must clean hands regularly with soap and water or with disinfectant on arrival,
• must clean hands with soap and water or with disinfectant before and after: each session, each over-the-counter meeting, each lesson in a lecture hall, seminar room or meeting room, after reading newspapers and other published brochures
• must avoid touching the surfaces of objects.

2. Keep your distance and wear an oronasal face mask

Employees, students, lecturers and visitors:

• maintain the defined basic distance to other persons,
• wear an oronasal face mask on the premises of the University of Lucerne (see exceptions in chapter 2.2 of the protection concept or listed under "General obligation to wear an oronasal face mask"),
• refrain from shaking hands and other forms of physical contact,
• set up their workplaces in such a way that the basic distance is adhered to,
• observe the minimum distance also in the common rooms,
• limit their contact with students and visitors to a minimum,
• restrict access for consultation hours,
• pay attention to the basic distance in over-the-counter situations and - where this is not possible - use a plexiglass screen,
• avoid the use of the lift,
• observe the personnel guidance measures, e.g. in the stairwell, waiting areas, toilet facilities.

3. Working remotely

• Whenever possible, employees work from home.

4. Ventilation

• offices are well ventilated several times a day.
• classroooms are optimally ventilated by technical ventilation: the windows remain closed.
• the classrooms have separate systems for fresh air and extracted air. Thanks to this structural building requirement, the spread of viruses via the ventilation system can be excluded.

5. Protection of ‘at risk’ persons

All members of the university make the protection of ‘at risk’ persons a priority and take the initiative if they see any room for improvement.

A general obligation to wear oronasal face masks has been in force on all premises of the University of Lucerne since mid August. In the protection concept, the obligation to wear oronasal face masks is specified and exceptions are defined.  

The decision to make masks mandatory was made against the background of an increased number of cases and the realization that Corona will not disappear so quickly. The corona virus is transmitted by close contact, via aerosols and droplets and from hands and can be asymptomatic, so that an infection is not always noticed. Many people, narrow rooms and poor ventilation are factors that increase the risk of infection. Wearing an oronasal protective mask has been shown to reduce the risk of infection.

This step is intended to increase protection and safety for everyone and at the same time create trust. Even with protective masks, the minimum distance of 1.5 meters must be maintained at all times - if possible.

Masks must also be worn in the canteen and foyer. The oronasal face mask must be worn until seated and may only be removed for consumption. After consumption, the oronasal face mask must be put on again immediately.

The obligation to wear an oronasal face mask for the mouth and nose is excluded for the following persons/circumstances:

• persons who are exempt from the obligation to wear a mask by means of a medical certificate, whereby these persons may only stay on the premises of the university in exceptional cases and only if absolutely necessary. To obtain exceptional permission to enter and stay, an application must be submitted to the head of the Corona working group (Prof. Markus Ries) and a statement from the designated person responsible for health issues in the Corona working group (Dr. Christian Schirlo) must be enclosed.
• persons who work in individual offices and lecturers as long as they are alone in the lecture hall during lessons;
• persons working in multi-person offices, when they are alone in the office.

How to behave if you experience any symptoms and the quarantine rules are defined in chapter 3.1 of the protection concept. Employees, students, lecturers, visitors must therefore stay at home if symptoms of the disease appear and go into quarantine for 10 days if they have been less than 1.5 metres away from an infected person for at least 15 minutes without a protective mask or protective glass, - if they have been instructed to do so by cantonal authorities, if they have received a corresponding notification via the SwissCovid App or if they have entered Switzerland from a risk area according to the FOPH list. List of countries and further information (FOPH)

For people who have symptoms and are unsure how to behave, the FOPH has provided an online tool.

If uncertainty persists, it is advisable to consult a doctor.

For questions about quarantine regulations, the cantonal medical service is responsible in each respective canton.

SwissCovid App and Contact Tracing

Contact tracing is used to find close contacts of persons infected with the coronavirus. The SwissCovid App supports this: It determines if we have had contact with an infected person. This enables us to stop transmission chains. The University of Lucerne recommends employees, students, lecturers and visitors to use the app. Further information (FOPH)

Coronavirus check

For people who have symptoms and are unsure how to behave, the FOPH has provided an online tool. After answering various questions, the user receives a recommendation for action from the FOPH. The University of Lucerne recommends that employees, students, lecturers and visitors with symptoms carry out the online check. Online tool (FOPH)

From Wednesday, 28th October onwards, all courses will only be available in digital form.

The software "Zoom" will be used for the implementation of courses. Information and instructions can be found via: www.unilu.ch/en/go-hybrid

The start of the spring semester at the University of Lucerne will be digital. Up until the Easter break, all courses will take place digitally. If the epidemiological situation permits, courses in the second half of the semester, i.e. from 12th April 2021, will generally be offered in hybrid mode. The decision on whether to switch from purely digital to hybrid teaching will be made in March 2021.

Written and oral examinations in the fall semester 2020 will be conducted digitally. This is the only way to include all students, to create planning security and to minimize epidemiological risks. The details of the organization of the exams – including measures to make it more difficult to abuse and cheat – are up to the faculties. They will inform you in due course. 

Recently some students have once again been called to serve in the military, civil defense or civilian service. Several cantons are also recruiting people with medical or nursing training for medical assistance service. In addition, although schools and day nurseries remain open, in individual cases corona-related extended care obligations may arise in the event of isolation, quarantine or care of sick persons. For these students, the possibility of corona-related compensation for disadvantages has been revived. The modalities of the compensation of disadvantages are regulated by the respective faculties. Affected students should contact their course directors or the faculty student advisory services. In the case of a corona-related official duties, the course director or the faculty student advisory service will check the entitlement to compensation for disadvantages. In the case of corona-related care responsibilities, the entitlement to compensation for disadvantages will be checked by the Office for Equal Opportunities. In both cases, the measures for compensating the disadvantages will be regulated by the faculties or the department.

In mid-September it was foreseeable that both university and public life would remain restricted in the fall semester 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. However, at the time of the deadline for submitting an ordinary application for leave of absence (mid-September) it was not yet known that the epidemiological situation would deteriorate and we would be forced to switch from hybrid to purely digital teaching and to digital examinations. If, despite the possibility of compensation for corona-related disadvantages, students come to the conclusion that they do not wish to complete the fall term 2020 under the given circumstances but rather consider taking leave of absence, corona-related requests for leave of absence can be submitted to the deans of the respective faculties or to the head of department by 30 November. If such applications are approved, the tuition fees already paid for the fall term 2020 will be transferred to the spring term 2021. Students on leave of absence remain enrolled, but are not allowed to attend courses, gain academic credits or take examinations.

For doctoral students, PostDocs and incoming students there is now a new counselling offer: in order to help you get through these difficult times we are dedicated to helping you with personal, emotional and psychological concerns. Should you like to get such help – completely free of charge - please get in touch with counsellingremove-this.@remove-this.unilu.ch for strictly confidential counselling. As a trained and practicing psychologist, the person in charge has a longstanding, specialised experience in counselling students and academics. Remote, individual sessions over the internet are offered in English, French or Italian.

For further topics see "General Information"

Orders for protection material for the phase after June 8 are placed by faculty managers and heads of department.

Meetings, discussions etc. always take place digitally.

Working remotely

Employees are encouraged to work from home, exceptions are only made when absolutely necessary. Of course, work from home must be carried out in consultation with the supervisor.

Working from home is governed by the existing regulations as per the information sheet dated 24th January 2017, and superiors are called upon to approve home office requests. However, operations must be maintained and a contact person per team must be available.

Further information on the topic of home office (in German)

Regulations on working hours and keeping timesheets

The special regulation on working hours and time sheets was discontinued at the end of July 2020. This means that the actual working time must now be recorded. Under the special regulation, employees were able to enter their planned working hours even if they were unable to do so due to corona-related care tasks or too little work.

Further information on the regulation of working hours and timesheets (in German)

Employees who are ill, have tested positive for coronavirus or show typical symptoms (especially fever and/or cough) report immediately to their supervisor and stay at home. They are entitled to continued payment of their wages. The same applies to employees who have had close contact with a person who is ill with coronavirus and who therefore have to go into quarantine due to the order of the responsible cantonal authorities (contact tracing) or who go into self-isolation due to a report of the SwissCovid App. If possible, home office services are provided. There is no entitlement to continued payment of salary if no home office is possible and the quarantine was the result of a trip to a risk area, after whose return a quarantine must be followed in accordance with federal regulations.

Quarantine obligation for travellers from certain areas

Since 6 July 2020, quarantine obligations have been imposed on travellers from certain areas. The obligation applies for 10 days after entry. List of countries and further information (FOPH)

The "Zoom" software is used for lectures and meetings. Information and instructions can be found via www.unilu.ch/zoom.

An offer of support is organised for lecturers with regard to the implementation of hybrid teaching. Further information is available at www.unilu.ch/hybrid.

The currently valid protection concept for the University of Lucerne came into force on 12th November.

The library, canteen, student shop and university sports have their own protection concepts approved by the university.

Admission to the Uni/PH building is free for all. There will be no access checks;

On all premises of the University of Lucerne (Uni/PH building and ancillary locations) and at all times:

• the minimum distance of 1.5 metres - if possible - must be observed;
• the hygiene regulations according to Appendix A must be observed;
• an oronasal face mask must be worn, regardless of whether the minimum distance can be maintained (Exceptions apply to persons in individual offices; persons in multi-person offices if they are alone in the office; lecturers, as long as they are alone in the lecture hall during the course, and under certain conditions persons with a medical certificate);
• the maximum occupancy rates of the lecture halls, according to Appendix B, must be observed.

People who enter the building without an oronasal face mask or who are not wearing a mask will be immediately expelled from the building,  and they will be banned from the building if they do so again. Excepted are persons who have been granted an exemption.

There are to be no aperitifs, coffee breaks, lunch breaks or Christmas celebrations etc., that are not covered by gastronomy protection concepts.

In front of the entrances to the Uni/PH building (Frohburgstrasse, Pausenplatz 2. OG, etc.), the ban on crowds of more than 15 people must be observed and an oronasal face mask must be worn.

The library, canteen, student shop and university sports have their own protection concepts, approved by the university, which must be observed when entering their premises.

The Lucerne University of Education, which is also located in the building, regulates access to its rooms in its own protection concept.

The opening hours of the Uni/PH building are:

Further Information

Information on ventilation in the Uni/PH building

Since 8 June, the Lucerne Central and University Library (ZHB Luzern)’s location in the Uni/PH building has been open to a limited extent for the lending and consultation of books that cannot be borrowed. The protective measures include limiting access by means of a "drop off counter". Since 29 June, 300 study places have been available.

Masks must be worn in the public areas of the library.

Opening hours

Monday to Friday from 7.30 to 21.30
Saturday from 7.45 to 15.30

Lending

The open access holdings are accessible. Borrowable media can be borrowed at the self-service check-out counter or at the regular counter. Newspapers are available again.

Media can be ordered from the library catalogue iluplus and sent by post to your home address for CHF 12 per item or collected free of charge at the locations Sempacherstrasse, Pädagogisches Medienzentrum Luzern or Kooperative Speicherbibliothek Büron and the HSLU libraries.

Return

Media can be returned during opening hours. Media can also be returned by mail or returned to other locations of the Lucerne IDS libraries.

Reminder fees

For late returns, fees will now be charged again.

Copy

Two copy machines and a book scanner are available to the public.

Copy orders

Since 29 June, scan orders have again been subject to a fee, even for university members. The price is Fr. 5 per article/chapter and per 20 pages started. Due to copyright law, only excerpts from copyrighted works and not entire works may be copied and sent. Sending copies by post remains subject to a fee (Fr. 5.- per article/chapter and per 20 pages started).

Electronic media

The range of electronic media will continue to be available around the clock via www.zhbluzern.ch/recherche/e-medien.

Learning places

There are 300 workplaces available in the library. The docotoral students’ room is limited for doctoral students and students working on their master theses.

Group work rooms

The group work rooms are open.

The start of the spring semester at the University of Lucerne will be digital. Up until the Easter break, all courses will take place digitally. If the epidemiological situation permits, courses in the second half of the semester, i.e. from 12th April 2021, will generally be offered in hybrid mode. The decision on whether to switch from purely digital to hybrid teaching will be made in March 2021.

The way in which other activities such as continuing education, courses, conferences, meetings or internal and public events will be carried out, will be decided in mid-January 2021.

Contact details for university members (i.e. students, staff and lecturers) with questions specific to the university: safecoronaremove-this.@remove-this.unilu.ch.

The Psychological Advice Centre of the University of Lucerne, the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HSLU) and the University of Teacher Education (PHLU) offers students, lecturers and employees support, advice and assistance in specific stressful situations and with problems connected to university study or everyday professional life. The advice is free of charge and confidential. There is the option to choose between personal conversation, online consultation or telephone conversation. More information (Website Psychological Advice Centre, in German)

The university chaplaincy is also available to provide advice in difficult situations.

The University of Lucerne is continuously monitoring the situation and is assessing the situation based on information provided by the responsible federal and cantonal authorities. We are also adhering to all instructions given by these authorities. University management has taken the necessary provisions to be able to react effectively to the situation. A task force was set up to monitor and assess the situation on a continuous basis.

Official information from the authorities: 

Federal Office of Public Health

Canton of Lucerne