30.7.2020

Dear all

The Rector's Council, after authorization of the Senate, decided in yesterday's session to determine the way of conducting the courses for the Fall Semester 2020-21.  The meeting was attended by the members of the PS, the head of YSFM, the heads of the Network for the Promotion and Development of Learning and colleague Christos Rodosthenous.

The courses will be offered based on the schedule that has already been prepared and published, in the designated rooms, days and hours.

Due to the need to implement distancing measures, the capacity of each room / laboratory can not exceed 50% of the standard seats.  For example, a classroom of 64 seats cannot accommodate more than 32 students.

Courses in which the enrolled students do not exceed 50% of the normal capacity of the designated room / laboratory, will be offered in full physical presence according to the schedule.

Courses in which the enrolled students exceed 50% of the normal capacity of the designated room / laboratory, will be offered with a combination of physical and distance learning (blended learning), as follows:

• The audience (enrolled students) will be divided into two equal groups, in alphabetical order (Group 1: Surnames from A-M, Group 2: Surnames from N-Ω).  Each group will attend with physical presence each lesson / workshop on a weekly basis, in the designated space, day / hour, however in half duration. The other team will attend the other half of the course.
• The "lost" teaching / learning time should be "covered" in each lesson / laboratory by adding a distance teaching / learning activity, lasting about 60 minutes, common to both groups.  Distance activity does not involve extra lecturing, but the use of alternative forms of teaching / learning.
• This activity will be clearly defined (day / hour) in the syllabus.  Its content will be determined by each teacher, in the context of the adjustment that is necessary to be made in relation to the course in full physical presence.  Each teacher has the flexibility and responsibility to decide how to organize his / her lesson based on the above parameters.

Student Services, in collaboration with the Presidents of the Departments and on the basis of social distancing measures, will determine until August 7, 2020 the courses that will be offered with full physical presence and the courses that will be offered with blended learning.  At the same time, in the time schedule, in consultation with each teacher, one hour will be added for each lesson in which distance learning will be planned.

Τhe mid-term and final examinations, if the conditions with the pandemic remain as they are today, will be sought to be carried out in person, on the basis of the distancing measures mentioned above.  Similar arrangements will be made for the final exams.  However, there is the possibility to carry out distance examinations, if the teachers so wish, in consultation with their Department.

The Learning Enhancement and Development Network will offer a number of distance learning activities to academic students on issues related to distance learning.  A relevant announcement will be sent by the Coordinators of the Network in the near future.

The Rector's Council expresses the certainty that our University, together with academics, students and administrative staff, will respond with adequacy and quality to the challenges before us, having as first concern the health and safety of the entire university community.

On behalf of the Rector's Council