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Division 8.1 – Academic Employees and Assistants

Division 8.2 – Technical and Administrative Employees

Travel and visits from abroad

The legal requirements relating to travel are being continuously updated. Currently, only the Coronaeinreiseverordnung (CoronaEinrVO for short, Coronavirus Entry Ordinance in English) of the German Ministry of Health applies in North-Rhine Westphalia. The Ordinance contains specifications on reporting, testing, and self-isolation obligations when entering Germany from abroad. In addition to risk areas, the Ordinance also designates current areas with high infection rates and areas in which virus variants are present. Further information is available on the website of the Robert Koch Institute.

The following still applies as a basic principle: As soon as an individual exhibits COVID-19 symptoms, they are banned from entering the RWTH premises with immediate effect. Business and private travel is strongly discouraged for all individuals. If, however, a business trip is absolutely necessary and cannot be postponed, this must be dicussed with Division 8.3 in advance. The Crisis Management Team and University Management request that the individual finds out about the classification of the travel destination and the currently applicable reporting, testing, and isolation obligations there well ahead of time. Division 8.3 is happy to advise employees on this matter.

Exemptions for cross-border commuters and individuals entering the country from a risk area for urgent work-related reasons or because of their training or studies continue to apply. In case of doubt, employees should contact the responsible health department. Individuals who are subject to mandatory testing are not allowed to enter the RWTH premises until they have received (negative) test results.

If a certificate is required for absolutely necessary and urgent travel to an employee’s country of origin, the following departments will be happy to help:

• Division 2.1 for students
• Human resources departments for employees
• Division 2.2 for guests, visitors, service providers, etc.

RKI risk areas
CoronaEinreiseV – BMG

Until further notice

Duty to report infections of University members

Cases of infection of University members are immediately to be reported to the University Medical Center at +49 0241 80 94444 ("Hochschulärztliche Einrichtung")

Until further notice

Contact tracing

The immense workload the municipal health departments are dealing with now due to the large number of recent coronavirus infections has resulted, in many cases, in delays in the departments’ contact tracing efforts. For this reason, all RWTH members who have been classified as category 1 contact persons are not permitted to enter the RWTH premises for the duration of the usual quarantine period. All RWTH employees concerned shall work from home during this period. If you are uncertain about whether you may be classified as a category 1 contact person, the University Medical Center will be happy to advise you in this regard. Furthermore, you should also get in touch with the local health department.

Important Note for Employees and Students Living in the District of Heinsberg:
The local health department no longer issues quarantine orders for category 1 contact persons in all cases. If there is reliable information, however, that employees and students are to be classified as category 1 contact persons, they are not permitted to enter the RWTH premises for the usual quarantine period. All employees concerned are asked to work from home office during this period.
If there are any uncertainties regarding the classification as a category 1 contact person, the University Medical Center will be happy to advise you.

Quarantäneverordnung NRW

Until further notice

Work from home

• Since December 16, 2020 all employees who can work from home must do so.

• Exceptions to this rule may only be granted for good reasons, in particular for activities that secure the infrastructure of RWTH or for experiments in the university institutions. The respective managers are responsible for objectively and closely interpreting this regulation and ultimately deciding how to implement it.

• If employees have questions regarding the organization of working hours and childcare, the human resources departments will be happy to help.

Home Office Guide (de)

Until further notice

Study and reading rooms

The central study spaces and reading rooms (those operated by the University Library or the Central University Administration) will gradually reopen from June 9, 2021. You can find the spaces available here on a daily basis. Workspaces must be booked online in advance like last year.

Until further notice

University Library

The University Library and the Medical Library are open for the loan of all items for RWTH members and returns for all users from March 15, 2021 without prior appointment. Access is limited to two individuals at any one time – please note that this may lead to longer waiting times. The libraries are open Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 4:30pm.

Further information is available here.

Special restrictions on in-person advising services

In principle, in-person advising services can be available again as long as the special hygiene measures are observed. We strongly recommend contacting the respective service point by phone or email beforehand to find out what the measures and conditions are and to then arrange an appointment if possible.

Until further notice

Written exams

Regulations for written exams are based on the incidence level determined in Städtregion Aachen and, if applicable, at the state level. An overview of the respective applicable regulations can be found here.

The currently valid regulations for individual exam formats are available in the Guidelines in the Area of Teaching.

Until further notice

Work meetings

Work meetings may only be held in person if absolutely necessary and only absolutely necessary participants may attend. All attendees must wear their masks (FFP2 or medical masks) and adhere to the known hygiene regulations throughout. In addition, contact tracing must be ensured (data sheet). Individuals who are required to attend necessary, official meetings are to be offered Coronavirus self-tests on a regular basis via their university institution. Please note that currently most employees are obligated to work from home.

The current applicable minimum distance between individuals must be maintained during all activities. If this is not possible, the activity may only be carried out under application of compensation measures previously agreed with Occupational Safety.

Please also refer to the guidelines on how to conduct job interviews (de).

Until further notice

General events

The rectorate, the deans of academic affairs, the chairpersons of the examination boards and the crisis management team have decided to put special regulations in place for hosting events. These have been communicated in our concept for reopening the university.

Such events include, in particular:

• Lectures, courses, tutorials
• Oral and written exams, and exams held in ZuseLab
• Excursions
• Internships, lab courses and practical training
• Work meetings
• Events hosted by third parties

You can find more information and specific regulations for internships and lab courses as well as excursions here:

• Guidelines in the Area of Teaching , see Lab Courses and Practical Training
• Guidelines on Holding Excursions

University Sports

Please refer to the University Sports website for detailed information.

Until further notice