HoD News - 27 May 2020

Dear colleagues,

Following the reopening of the Danish society which includes Aarhus University, the faculty management team at Aarhus BSS has decided that we will work towards opening up campus for employees starting on Tuesday 2 June 2020. Until then, only those with an approved purpose can enter campus facilities.

At AUs  corona web site you can now find the newly published rules and guidelines in connection with the reopening regarding access to offices, meeting rooms and common facilities, teaching and exam activities etc.

An intensive effort has now been initiated to prepare the work place for our return. The planning locally at Campus Fuglesangs Allé includes employee involvement via the local liaison committee (LSU) and the occupational health and safety representatives (arbejdsmiljørepræsentanter). A meeting with the different parties has been scheduled later this week.

Meanwhile, Aarhus BSS Building Services is working on getting the premises ready for use from Tuesday 2 June.

Among other things, Building Services is responsible for ensuring:

  • That the premises have sufficient protective equipment such as hand disinfectants, disinfectants and paper for cleaning as well as paper towels
  • That posters with the guidelines laid down by the authorities (the authorities’ five overall tips for avoiding infection) are hung up and that the meeting room capacity is assessed.
  • That all contact points are properly cleaned - such as door handles, offices, kitchen facilities, toilet facilities, meeting rooms and common space areas.

It has been decided that employees can access the buildings with their access card, but that students cannot access the buildings unless they are taking part in scheduled oral examinations or selected courses.

Many questions are likely to arise as we plan our return to the department, and I know that many of you have looked forward to returning while others may have some concerns. I encourage you all to familiarise yourselves with the joint AU rules and guidelines in connection with the reopening. We will keep you updated as new information becomes available. If you have questions, please contact your nearest leader or Anne Charlotte la Cour.

Even though the university is now reopening in accordance with the strict rules and regulations, I do not expect you all to immediately return to your office full time. Unless your nearest leader asks you to do otherwise, I suggest that you continue to work some days from home during the week until the situation has normalized; please attempt to spread those days evenly across the week.

I am looking forward to seeing you soon.

Best regards,

Niels Haldrup