The university begins new academic year amid
coronovirus pandemic. In order to maximize safety of employees, students and
graduate students, university operational headquarter developed preventive
measures. Dmitry Son, Deputy Vice-Rector for Social Affairs told about
introduced rules on campus, what is done in order to minimize risk of
infection.
Back to offline
– The university plans to resume classes offline in
September. The story of coronavirus, unfortunately, has not yet been completed.
What actions are being taken to protect students and employees of TSU?
– Indeed, the university is preparing to accept
students, so in fact throughout the summer there was work on a set of
preventive measures, the task of which is to minimize the possibility of
infection and make staying on the TSU campus safe. This applies to both
educational buildings and dormitories. When developing preventive measures, the
university was guided by the recommendations of the Ministry of Education and
Science of the Russian Federation and the regional operational headquarter to
counter the spread of coronavirus.
It was decided to start the educational process in
classroom in the format of mixed training: to hold lectures online, since this
does not reduce the quality of assimilation of material, and seminars and
practices – offline. Some classes, for example, for chemists, biologists,
geologists, require a full-time presence in laboratories, it is impossible to
make them to a "distant."
The schedule is designed so that there are no
unnecessary contacts between students. Only audiences and laboratories with an
area exceeding 50 sq.m. will be used for seminars and workshops. As a rule, the
group enters this room, three classes are held, after which people leave the
audience and during a long break processing is carried out using special means.
For this purpose, the university entered into additional contracts with
cleaning companies. In addition, ventilation must be carried out. Most likely,
the groups’ leaders will be responsible for this.
Each classroom will be equipped with a closed type
ultraviolet bactericidal irradiator. The university purchased 430 such devices.
They are allowed to be used in the presence of people. Irradiators of this type
do not harm humans, but they act devastatingly on viruses and bacteria.
– Minister of Science and Higher Education Valery
Falkov in his speeches repeatedly pointed out that educational institutions
should provide students with masks. How will this be realized at TSU?
– Students, graduate students and teachers will be
given six reusable masks per month. The calculation is made on the basis that
every two to three hours the mask needs to be changed. I would like students to
take the proposed precautions with full responsibility. The university is now
taking unprecedented measures to make the campus safe. Therefore, students
should also take care of themselves and others and not ignore wearing a mask.
Thermometry will be mandatory at the entrance. This
will be done by 250 volunteers. In dormitories thermometry is provided twice a
day. In addition, preventive hand treatment is mandatory. Each laboratory and
audience will have a sanitizer. Teachers will remind to use it.
– Dmitry Vissarionovich, both students and employees
have a question: is it possible to take off the mask during the class?
– The teacher, who is at a distance of 1.5-2 meters or
more from the students and has to talk a lot during the class, can be without a
mask. For security reasons, students need to stay in masks, except for creative
activities (for example, vocal lessons) and physical education. If possible, it
will take place outside.
– How will the food system be organized for students
attending classes in educational buildings? Will canteens and buffets work?
– Only takeaway trade is provided for now. As soon as
the restrictions related to the work of catering stations are lifted in Tomsk,
they will begin to work for visitors. But in this case, the necessary preventive
measures related to seating of visitors, table processing will be applied.
Time dictates new rules
– What additional technical possibilities will the
university create for students?
– In the dormitories of TSU, the Scientific Library
and the main building (dance hall) there will be places for collective use,
where you can take a tablet or laptop, headset for a while, to listen to the
desired course or lecture. There will be about 30 such places.
– Are there any aids to help students and teachers?
– Yes, a series of such materials is being prepared by
the TSU information policy department. For example, a video showing how to wear
a mask correctly, printed materials, and brochures. All this information will
be distributed through TSU websites and university groups on social networks.
– Is there a two-week isolation for foreign citizens
who will come to study at TSU?
– I is
obligatory for students who arrive in the country from the territory of other
states. A coronavirus test should be done on the 10th-11th day. Students who
come from regions included the "red" zone according to the
epidemiological situation can join the same group. The list of such regions is
determined by Rospotrebnadzor.
According to preliminary estimates, about 2,000 people
in TSU – citizens of near and far abroad – are subject to two weeks of
isolation at TSU. Food and medical supervision will be organized for all these
children. In addition, if a sick student or graduate student living in a
dormitory is identified, two weeks of isolation and testing for coronavirus are
also provided for people who were in contact with him.
– Dmitry Vissarionovich, how should students and
teachers behave when signs of SARS appear?
– First of all, it is necessary to contact your clinic
and call a doctor or call a hotline organized by the Department of Health of
the Tomsk Region, the number is 516-616, it works around the clock. Its experts will explain what to do.
– If the student or graduate student falls ill and
misses a number of classes, will the conditions be created for the person to
catch up?
– Yes, certainly. It will be necessary to contact your
faculty, and the question of how to close the gaps in classes and knowledge
will be resolved individually.
– Another question that naturally arises – about
teachers of category 65 +. What protection measures are there for them?
– Teachers whose age is 65 years and older, as well as
those who have serious chronic diseases, are given only a remote mode of
operation. In a pandemic situation, it is necessary to protect each employee
and student of the university, so TSU will make every effort to minimize the
risk of infection.
Prepared by the TSU press service