Winter semester 2022/2023- information for students and faculty

After studies and teaching have essentially taken place virtually over the past two years, the University has returned to face-to-face teaching in the summer semester. When designing their courses, teachers will be able to use the advantages of all formats – attendance, digital, hybrid. The experiences of the past semesters can help generate innovation and further develop learning and teaching. For information on educational concepts and tools for enhancing classroom teaching with virtual offers, please see: https://portal.uni-koeln.de/digital-education/lehren-und-lernen.

A few hygiene and infection protection regulations for teaching, examinations, libraries, and other areas outside of purely professional practice are compiled in a ‘Hygiene Concept for Attendance Studies’ (Ger.).

As a general rule, it is recommended to wear at least a medical mask in all indoor rooms at the university.

FAQ

I am a student and cannot take part in a classroom course/examination in the winter semester of 2022/2023 for proven health reasons. How can I still continue my studies?

If you are unable to participate in a classroom course for health reasons – e.g., because a vaccination only provides limited protection for you or is not possible for health reasons, or an infection that can never be ruled out even with safety precautions poses a higher health risk – we ask you to contact your lecturers in good time in order to agree on an individual solution. If you cannot take part in an examination in attendance for demonstrable health reasons, please contact the relevant examination office and your lecturer as early as possible.

I am a professor/lecturer and cannot teach face-to-face in the winter semester 2022/2023 for proven health reasons. How can I still teach?

I am a professor/lecturer and I have been contacted by students who, for demonstrable health reasons, will not be able to attend my face-to-face course in the winter semester of 2022/2023. How can I react?

We have asked students who cannot attend a face-to-face course for health reasons to contact their instructors. We ask that you find individual solutions in these cases and, for example, allow virtual participation in a course or compensatory services, if possible. If students are unable to attend an attendance examination for health reasons, they are asked to contact the examination offices as early as possible in addition to their instructors.

Does the free shot regulation still apply?

How are virtual examinations handled in future?

Are there workstations on campus?

In which format do my teaching events take place?

What regulations apply to students during examinations?

If you, as an examination candidate, are suffering from an illness (e.g. COVID-19) and are unable to sit the examination, the general regulations on withdrawing from examinations due to illness apply to you.
If you have tested positive for Corona, you can currently request a medical certificate by phone and submit this to withdraw from your examination, observing the usual withdrawal deadlines. An official, positive test result (antigen test or PCR test, but not self-test) is also currently recognized by the examination offices of our university in order to prove (in compliance with the usual withdrawal deadlines) an important reason entitling you to withdraw from the examination. These regulations are valid until 31 March 2023.

We sincerely request, if you test positive for Corona, that you consider withdrawing from the examination for the protection of others. This is insofar as it is still possible according to the examination regulations. Alternatively, please check if you may withdraw from the examination and take the next examination date as described above.

Please note that other, separate regulations apply to examinations at the University Hospital. Kindly familiarize yourself with them in good time.

Important information pages

Central corona information website

Please check the university’s central information website on the coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) every day for currently applying regulations.

Digital Education

The central information site on digital teaching and learning explains the available tools, support, and advice. The site is aimed primarily at teachers, but also offers students an insight into the many possibilities.

Workstations for students

A list by Faculties (Ger.) containing the normally available student work stations (some of which can be booked.)

Homepage of Cologne University and City Library

Information on the gradual opening of the USB, the regulations for lending services, references to digitally available teaching material and much more can be found on the homepage of the University and City Library.

IT support offered by the Helpdesk of the Regional Computer Centre (RRZK)

The RRZK is happy to help with account, computer or network problems such as VPN and.

Counselling and support services for students

Information of the Faculties and the Centre for Teacher Education

On the Information pages of the Faculties about the coronavirus and the pages of the examination offices you will find up-to-date information on the effects and changes in teaching and examinations. Please get the latest information from these pages!

Student Guidance and Counselling Service

The Student Guidance and Counselling Service provides digital information for first-semester students, instructions on how to create a timetable, tips on studying during the corona crisis, and of course contact persons to whom you can turn if you have any questions.

AStA and Studierendenwerk

The counselling centre of the Kölner Studierendenwerk with its psychological learning and social counselling is an important contact point. The counselling service currently takes place mainly by telephone, as a video chat or in individual cases also in presence (3G rule). Current announcements and information from the student council (AStA) can be found on its homepage.

Offers of the Unisport

Offers for a home workout and fitness courses at home can be found on the homepages of Hochschulsport and Unisport.

Mental health in the digital semester – psychosocial counselling

Students face special and particularly great challenges this semester – especially those who are starting their studies, who came to Cologne from another city or perhaps another country, or those who wanted to complete their studies this semester but are now uncertain whether this is even possible. Other students are wondering how things will go on at all. Increased demands and fears about the future – combined with already existing burdens – can put anyone off balance. Here are some counselling services the University of Cologne offers.

The Psychosocial Counselling Centre of Studierendenwerk Köln is an important contact point. The counselling service is currently available by phone, email, or in an online chat.

The Servicezentrum Inklusion at the university has compiled a series of tips (tips on coping with everyday life, dealing with anxiety and stress, etc.).
Nightline Cologne, the advice and counselling hotline by students for students, can be reached during the lecture period on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays between 9 p.m. and midnight at 0800-4703500 (calls are free of charge).

In crisis or emergency situations, the outpatient departments of the psychiatric clinics can be reached at all times. An overview of the clinics and their reach of service in the city of Cologne can be found here.

You also have the opportunity to seek advice at the Clinic and Polyclinic for Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy at Cologne University Hospital.

Further useful tips:

The German Society for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Psychosomatics and Neurology (DGPPN) offers concrete recommendations for how to cope with the situation, which can be easily implemented.

Further useful tips for coping with everyday life are provided by Deutsches Studentenwerk in Berlin.
The Professional Association of German Psychologists has set up a corona hotline for people who are psychologically stressed by the current circumstances. Daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., 0800-777 22 44 (calls are free of charge).

The helpline ‘Violence against women’ offers chat, online and also telephone counselling: 08000-116 016 (calls are free of charge)
In situations of acute danger, please call the emergency service on 112 or the police on 110.
University sports offers in the digital semester

Students with children

Students with children can find support offers and contact persons here.

Guide to Inclusion

Guide to studying with a disability, chronic or mental illness (Ger.).

ProfessionalCenter

On the homepage of the ProfessionalCenter you will find information on the (digital) range of events, which includes competence training for studies and work, a variety of practical projects, information on Studium Integrale and other support services such as learning coaching.

UNIVERSITÄT ZU KÖLN

Studium & Lehre