Coronavirus crisis: New master plan for ETH Zurich

Most teaching will be online, except for courses which require the use of infrastructure on site. Wearing face masks will now be compulsory across the entire campus. The number of participants in events is also limited to 50 people. These are the most important new measures contained in the master plan approved by the Executive Board, which comes into force on Monday 2 November. The tighter restrictions are in response to the new measures introduced by the Federal Council last Wednesday.

The new master plan essentially keeps to the same path already followed by ETH and imposes more stringent rules with immediate effect. For example, the Executive Board once again urges all ETH members to work and study from home wherever possible. The only exceptions are for experimental research and for teaching events with an experimental component. “The current situation is highly critical. It is essential for all of us to make sure we can continue to meet our core mandate in the areas of teaching, research and knowledge transfer,” says Vice President Ueli Weidmann, who leads the ETH Covid-19 task force.

Some teaching activity can be on site

A week ago ETH Zurich already pre-empted the Federal Council’s decision to switch all teaching online (see ETH News 23 October: ETH Zurich to suspend most classroom teaching). “But we are relieved that teaching events which require the use of infrastructure on site can still go ahead,” comments ETH Rector Sarah Springman in response to the Federal Council’s decision. “We can also continue to allow students access to laboratories for their Bachelor’s and Master’s theses, and semester projects,” Springman says. What’s more, the new master plan will allow semester exams to be held on site. This gives all students the opportunity to fully complete their term studies despite the switch to online teaching.

The Rector will send an email to doctoral students with detailed information on the implementation of the new measures. By Monday 2 November, all those concerned will know which events will continue to take place in the classroom and how the individual timetables will look for students. “Given the huge scale of the changover, we hope everyone will appreciate that it may take a little longer to update all the details in the course catalogue,” Springman cautions.

Student workplaces available for the time being

Student workplaces will still be available on campus so that students can combine classroom events with online teaching. These places are also intended for students whose living situation prevents them from studying and working at home, or for students suffering from social isolation. “The switch to online teaching once again makes us very conscious of the mental health of our students,” says the Rector. In view of this, the Executive Board has decided to keep university buildings open in principle. To keep student services running, the various desks and other contact points, such as Student Services and Academic Services, will remain open, although with slightly different opening times. The Rector urges all students to strictly follow the rules on physical distancing and hygiene at all times, otherwise the Executive Board will be forced to close all university buildings with immediate effect.

General obligation to wear face masks

The obligation to wear face masks indoors has now been extended to include outdoor areas on all ETH sites. In addition, all staff now have to wear a face mask in the workplace as well. The only exception is when someone is working in a room on their own.

Limited catering facilities

Remote working is the recommended option, so all staff should work from home wherever possible. The only exclusion is for experimental research and for spin-off companies based on campus, as well as teaching events and student activity with an experimental component.

Remote working and online teaching inevitably mean a sharp reduction in catering facilities. This not only affects the number of facilities open, but also their opening hours. Current information can be found on the Gastronomy website. The Executive Board appeals to all ETH members who have to work on site to reduce their visits to catering facilities as much as possible. Under the new restrictions, no more than four persons can sit at the same table. In addition, visitors who do not have a connection to the university will no longer be served in ETH catering facilities unless they are personal guests of ETH members.

Events and ASVZ sport activities

Under the new Federal Council restrictions, the maximum number of participants at ETH events is limited to 50 people. Here too, the Executive Board urges organisers to exercise extreme caution. Permission will no longer be granted for public events, or those organised by ETH partners. Catering for events is only possible within university catering facilities, with guests seated at tables to consume food and drink. Drinks receptions where participants are standing are not allowed.

The new Federal Council decision has a significant impact on the sport activities provided by ASVZ. Up-to-date information – including the relevant safety precautions – can be found on the external pageASVZ websitecall_made.

Libraries and exhibitions are not affected by the decision of the Federal Council, so the respective ETH facilities remain open.

Town hall meeting at 11 a.m. on Thursday, 5 November

“With the new master plan, we have made use of every available opportunity to maintain operations despite the tight constraints,” says Ueli Weidmann, “But we appreciate that they impose severe restrictions on all ETH members.” Unfortunately, the most effective measure to prevent the virus from spreading continues to be reducing the amount of contact to the absolute minimum, both inside and outside the university.

Given the difficult weeks – and possibly even months – that lie ahead of us, the Executive Board is inviting all staff and students to a town hall meeting next Thursday, 5 November at 11 a.m. An invitation will be sent via email on Monday.