SUIT’s Post-Covid-19 Re-Opening Policy-2020

SUIT’s Post-Covid-19 Re-Opening Policy-2020

SUMMARY:

SUIT’s Post-Covid-19 Re-Opening Policy-2020 covers essential aspects for re-opening of the University. The policy aims to mitigate risk for all while providing the opportunity to resume educational activities.

The following three key mitigation strategies are devised to implement the required SoPs:

1.  Staged/phased re-opening of the University staggering cohorting of students and standard infra-structure guidance with emphasis on provision of wash and ventilation facilities.

2.      Ensuring SoPs of social distancing, hand washing and face covering.

3.      Implementation of Covid-19 symptoms screening and continuous monitoring in the University.

OBJECTIVES:

·         To decide about the departments/programs that are to be started on the Campus in a phased and staggered manner.

·       To provide necessary guidelines to the Departments/Sections of the University for re-opening in the context of ongoing Covid-19 Pandemic while ensuring all possible pre-cautions to minimize the risk of spread of infection.

RATIONALE:

The University had to discontinue the delivery of in-person education which has negative ramifications at the individual and societal levels and carries an immense potential to increase the existing disparities between different socio-economic strata of the society with far-reaching consequences. The on-campus environment is important, because it:

a.       provides educational instruction in a rather conducive environment;

b.      supports the development of social and emotional skills;

c.       creates a safe environment for learning; and

d.      facilitates physical activity.

MITIGATION STRATEGIES:

In compliance with the decision of the Government of Pakistan regarding re-opening of educational institutes from 15^th September, 2020 and in order to devise mitigation strategies; a meeting of all the Deans, HoDs and Sectional Heads of the University was held on 8^th September, 2020.

During the meeting the following decisions were taken in light of the guidelines provided by the   (i) Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, Government of Pakistan, (ii) HEC, Islamabad, and (iii) Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Peshawar:

a)      The faculty/staff members will be able to attend the University from 15^th September, 2020.

b)      Scholars from the PhD/MS/M.Phil (list appended as Annex-A) will be allowed to attend the University from 21^st September, 2020.  The departments will be required to prepare their own schedule as well as the bifurcation of the classes as per the HEC instructions.

c)      Students of the final semester undergraduate programs (list appended as Annex-B) will be allowed to attend the University from 21^st September, 2020.

                          i.            For such students, the Online Classes will continue till 20^th September, 2020.

                        ii.            From 21^st September onwards, Saturday will also be utilized for lab work/projects/practicals of the final semester      students till start of Spring-2020 Final Exam.

                      iii.           All the Departments are to prepare timetables for lab work to cover the backlog. 

                      iv.           Time tables for on Campus classes should also be prepared in such a manner to ensure minimum presence on Campus. The Departments may consider conduct of theory classes from Monday to Wednesday and labs on Thursday to Saturday. In case a Class is divided into two sections, the classes and labs can be arranged on alternating basis.

                        v.             All Lab Engineers/Lab Staff to ensure their presence on week days as well as on Saturdays, if required by the department.

                      vi.           Leave Application from Lab Engineers/Lab Staff will be entertained only for leave without pay for the duration 21^st September till end of the Final Exam.

                    vii.           Final Examination of Spring-2020 Semester will be held at Campus in October, 2020.

                  viii.          To avoid students’ gathering, the Departments will ensure to design papers of shorter duration (preferably 2 hours) and to arrange multiple shifts to conduct the examinations. Date sheets are to be prepared / circulated in advance, so that students should know their time slot much before the conduct of the papers.

                      ix.            Transport facility will be available only to those faculty/staff members and students who are already on the transport list and have paid their transport charges.

                        x.            Hostel wardens will be advised to clean/sanitize their hostels before re-opening and to follow the prescribed SoPs.

d)      Online classes for students from other semesters will continue till completion of the Spring 2020 semester.  Their final examination will also be conducted online.

e)      Assessment of the Lab Courses will be conducted only for the cognitive domain.  Once on-campus activity is resumed, the students will be required to perform the experiments and their psychomotor and affective domain assessment will be conducted subsequently.  The students will be awarded I grade till evaluation of psychomotor and affective domains.

f)       Pending examinations of the reappearing students (Fall 2019 semester) are to be planned and executed on campus after 21^st September, 2020.

The meeting also devised the following general guidelines as safety/preventive measures:

·         All Water Tanks to be cleaned/Sanitized with Chlorine and refilled.

·         Classrooms/Corridors to be cleaned with chlorine on regular basis as well as the door knobs and railings on daily basis.

·         Wearing Face Mask will be must for all entrants.

·         Thermal Guns to be provided/used at Entry Points.

·         Liquid soap to be provided at all hand washing points. 

·         Proper ventilation in classrooms/labs/offices to be ensured. 

·         Promotion of necessary pre-cautions through banners/placards to be displayed at prominent places.

·         Display of precautionary videos through TV/Multi Media Screens. 

·         To ensure restricted entry through specially designed cards which must be displayed all the time.

·         To avoid unnecessary gathering.

·         Ailing students/staff members to be barred from attending the University.

·         Security Staff to be deployed at full strength.

·         To ensure availability of Ambulance throughout the working hours.

·         Circulation/display of Emergency/necessary Telephone numbers.

·         Transport to be plied at half strength.

·         All the Cafeteria staff to be screened and report submitted to the Registrar Office.

From the students/staff/individuals’ point of view, the meeting also formulated the following SoPs which are to be displayed at prominent places:

·         To wear Mask.

·         To maintain social distancing.

·         To wash hands frequently with soap for 20 seconds.

·         To use hand sanitizer.

·         To maintain respiratory etiquettes.

·         To cover nose/mouth while sneezing/coughing.

·         To stay at home, when feeling unwell, with permission and subsequent proof.

·         To avoid unnecessary gatherings.

·         To avoid grouped meal/food in cafeteria/offices.

·         To clean and disinfect touched objects frequently.

·         To discard used tissue papers/masks properly.

·         To avoid crowded places including transport.

·         To avoid group activities.

·         To use gloves while utilizing library/lab.

·         To use designated entrances and exits.

·         To contact following in case of any emergency

DESIGNATED AUTHORITY:

In order to monitor the pre-cautionary measures, Prof. Dr. M.A. Baseer, Head, Department of Mechanical Engineering is appointed as Designated Authority.

FOCAL PERSON:

In order to assist the Designated Authority and to co-monitor the pre-cautionary measures, Engr. Akif Shah, Assistant Registrar (Students Affairs) is designated as Focal Person.

Graduate Programs to be started on Campus with Effect From Monday, 21 Sep, 2020

Undergraduate Programs to resume on Campus with Effect From Monday, 21 Sep, 2020

Final Semester Students only