COVID-19: contingency measures at UC
Rector's Order 55/2020 of 2 April
Following the guidelines of the Health Directorate General and the Order nr. 2836-A/2020 of 2 March aiming to contain the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, the Rector’s Order nr. 38/2020 of 9 March approved a set of preventive measures within this context, namely the interruption of all face-to-face academic activities at the University of Coimbra and their replacement by digital methods thus promoting distance learning for a period of at least 15 consecutive days.
The Rector’s Order nr. 41/2020 prolonged the effects of the Rector’s Order nr. 38/2020 until 9 April with a view to re-evaluate the foreseen measures considering the evolution of the epidemics.
As a result, with the support of the whole academic community, the University of Coimbra made every effort to create the necessary conditions to adapt itself to this new reality and ensure that all students can have access to distance education.
Taking into consideration the guidelines issued by the Health Directorate General and the continuation of the state of emergency it is not predictable that the necessary conditions will be met, until the end of the current academic year, to resume the face-to-face education activities. Furthermore, due to the current uncertainties, we must prioritize the emotional stability of the whole academic community and the need to treat all national and international students equally. For that reason, we must plan the rest of the current academic year on a timely manner.
Therefore, I determine:
1. The interruption of all face-to-face education activities at the University of Coimbra and their replacement by digital methods thus promoting distance learning until the end of the academic year 2019/2020;
2. The full transition to digital modes of student assessment;
3. The continuation of the established academic calendar for the current academic year, approved by the Rector’s Order nr. 19/2019 of 7 February. The only exception refers to the class interruption related to the student festivity “Queima das Fitas”. As it was postponed, there will be classes during the days that were allocated to this festivity.
Coimbra, 2 April 2020
The Rector, Amílcar Falcão
