Groups affected

The following groups of students can request digital alternatives to on-site exams and on-site courses.

• COVID-19-related reasons:
  • Students who have a medical COVID-19 risk certificate according to section 735 of the Austrian general social security act (Allgemeines Sozialversicherungsgesetz, ASVG), which was issued after 1 April 2020.
  • Students who have to self-isolate (are in quarantine) by way of official order due to COVID-19 at the date of the exam/partial achievement;
  • Students having childcare obligations who cannot participate on site due to the closure of schools or kindergartens, etc. due to COVID-19 on the date of the exam/partial achievement;
• With regard to war in Ukraine:
  Students who are subject to legal or factual travel restrictions due to the war in Ukraine and can therefore not participate on site.

How to proceed?

The affected student contacts the examiner/lecturer directly. The following website contains information about the procedure https://studieren.univie.ac.at/en/studying-exams/studying-on-site/risk-groups-quarantine-entry-restriction/.

When?

• Students have to notify you immediately, but not later than seven days before the examination date/date of the completion of the partial achievement if there are foreseeable reasons that prevent them from participating on site.
• If the reason for non-attendance was unforeseeable, this notification can be made no later than three days before the exam date/date of the completion of the partial achievement (e.g. if tested positive for COVID-19 or due to closure of the childcare facility).
• You are allowed to reject requests at short notice (see below).

Do students have to present a proof?

Students have to credibly demonstrate that they meet the requirements (member of the group specified in the regulation, impossibility to participate on site). If examiners/lecturers or the director of studies have doubts, they can request students to provide proof.

What decision do I have to make then?

First, you assess whether a deviating digital alternative mode or a substitute achievement and a quality-based performance assessment is possible based on the learning outcomes. 

Adaptations are, in particular:

• take-home exam
• online participation in the course or
• oral exam in a digital format instead of a written exam on site.

If you are unsure or an adaptation is not possible in your opinion, please discuss the situation with the respective directorate of studies.

What are the next steps?

Yes, an adaptation is possible:

• If possible, you adapt the course of action of the exam/partial achievement to a deviating digital alternative mode or to a suitable substitute achievement in these individual cases. Other students cannot derive a right from this rule only applicable to a justified individual case.
• The adapted exam/partial achievement takes place closely to the original date of the completion of the partial achievement/exam date (e.g. to be prepared for the new conditions).

No, adaptations are not possible due to the learning outcomes/quality assurance or notification at short notice

• If you in agreement with the director of studies find that an adaptation to a deviating digital mode is not possible and the exam/partial achievement thus must be held on site.
• Inform the student together about the reasons and give the students the right to de-register from the exam/course with continuous assessment.”

This rule applies until 31 October 2022.

Regardless of this special rule, students with impairments are still entitled to request an alternative mode of assessment. See https://barrierefreielehre.univie.ac.at/

How many persons are allowed in a course room? What can I do in advance? You can find all relevant information on the intranet under Exceeding the capacity of the lecture hall.

Please find below a list of arguments that you can use in case of discussions between employees and students regarding the current COVID-19 regulations (from 1 March onwards: mandatory use of FFP2 face masks):

• “These rules provide greater protection for all persons on site. Even though absolute safety cannot be guaranteed, these rules substantially minimise the risk of infection.”
• “The rules of the University of Vienna are defined in consultation with academics. Also in the current phase, there is still the risk of sitting together with an infected person in larger rooms. Especially in consideration of the upcoming exams/assessments we want to minimise avoidable risks.”
• “This (i.e. directly in front of the lecture hall/seminar room) is not the place for discussions. You can submit your written complaints at any time (to the e-mail address of the relevant directorate of studies (SPL)).”
• “The University of Vienna has communicated clearly that only persons who adhere to these rules can participate in on-site courses/exams. Further information is available at studying.univie.ac.at/en.”
• “Rules are not negotiated here/now/among us but are generally stipulated in legislation and regulations. I am responsible for holding this course/exam in accordance with the applicable rules. It is not for me to decide on the regulations and the legitimacy of the applicable regulations. Please send your complaint to slw.leitung@univie.ac.at.”
• “Based on the statutory authorisation in the second Austrian COVID-19 higher education act (C-HG), the Rectorate has enacted a regulation after hearing the chairs of the Senate, the University Board and the representatives of the Austrian National Union of Students at the University of Vienna. You can find the current regulation in the University Gazette.”

End the discussion in a kind but determined manner and point out that the course/exam has to start now. In case of disruption attempts, etc. please contact the security team (+43-1-4277-777).

Student Spaces, reading rooms, etc. are essential study spaces for students. Therefore, the University aims to take appropriate prevention measures also in these areas.

The SSCs organise their customer service in such a way that a wide range of administrative steps can be carried out online.

In all these areas, the use of FFP2 face masks is mandatory. 

The University strives to enable courses in Austria and abroad based on anticipatory and careful planning according to the curriculum. Despite the current comprehensive easing of COVID-19 measures, we recommend preparing for different scenarios that might affect you as the responsible lecturer as well as individual or several participants. These include

• COVID-19 infections or self-isolation imposed by the authorities
• Other serious diseases
• Accidents and other risks
• Other circumstances beyond your control, such as closure of travel routes, hotels and/or field trip destinations
• Termination of the field trip due to other important reasons

Therefore, a high level of personal responsibility and considerate behaviour is expected from all persons involved. All participating students have to be informed in a transparent way about the procedure, the expectations and the risks involved.

Upon presentation of an implementation plan, the directorate of studies (SPL) approves field trips, excavations and similar courses that have to take place for subject-related reasons. Furthermore, the related business trip has to be approved.

Steps for lecturers:

• If you are planning such a type of course, please use the briefing document to describe the didactic concept of the course (or use relevant information on u:find). Go through the listed points and assess whether it is realistic that the course can be implemented. Take initial notes directly in the document (draft planning).
• Then, contact the directorate of studies (SPL). Discuss with the SPL if you can start to plan the course in detail. The assessment of the benefits, risks and efforts involved in holding the course is important to the University. During this stage, the superior responsible for approving the business trip should also be contacted.
• In the briefing document, summarise all information that you and your students need for a successful implementation of the field trip. In particular, provide links to applicable regulations at the destination region, applicable rules at the accommodation and at the institutions that you will visit, etc. (detailed planning).
• The SPL decides whether your course can be implemented based on this document.
• As part of a preparatory meeting, you brief the participants on the implementation plan. Only students who demonstrably confirm that they have read and understood this document are allowed to participate.
• In case of doubt, please contact your SPL if problems occur during the course. We provide help and advice regarding any decisions.

Download

When do I have to assess courses with continuous assessment if written contributions are submitted after the deadline?

The lecturer of the course with continuous assessment is entitled to allow the submission of a written contribution to courses 

• held in the winter semester until the following 30 April, and
• to courses held in the summer semester until the following 30 September. 

When entering the grades, teachers are asked to consider that the date of assessment must not be more than 4 weeks before the date on which they enter the grades (maximum duration of the assessment period). Otherwise, the entry is considered not assessed within the stipulated period which leads to the financial disadvantage of the Faculty.

The date of assessment for courses with continuous assessment must be between 30 June and 30 September for courses in the summer semester.

The date of assessment for courses with continuous assessment must be between 30 January and 30 April for courses in the winter semester.

You can use lecture halls for holding online courses (e.g. for using u:stream). Please also inform your SSC and your SPL to ensure that the room booking is adjusted accordingly.

Information about the equipment in the course room is available in the room information tool on u:space (you must be logged in). You can find the following up-to-date information about the rooms in this tool:

• Location and allocation,
• Default room capacity
• Number of available seats for courses and exams
• Information about the technical equipment

When do I have to assess courses with continuous assessment if written contributions are submitted after the deadline?

The lecturer of the course with continuous assessment is entitled to allow the submission of a written contribution to courses held in the winter semester until the following 30 April, and to courses held in the summer semester until the following 30 September. When entering the grades, teachers are asked to consider that the date of assessment must not be more than 4 weeks before the date on which they enter the grades (maximum duration of the assessment period). Otherwise, the entry is considered not assessed within the stipulated period which leads to the financial disadvantage of the Faculty.

The date of assessment for courses with continuous assessment must be between 30 January and 30 April for courses in the winter semester.

The date of assessment for courses with continuous assessment must be between 30 June and 30 September for courses in the summer semester.

• Be transparent on u:find about the way you are implementing the course.
• Please label changes to the course of action that may be necessary at short notice with “Update” and the date when you changed the information. Do not delete previous information for reasons of transparency.
• Optional: Provide information to the course participants also by e-mail via the u:space teacher interface. If you decide to use this channel, please use it throughout the entire duration of the course.
• Please provide study material on Moodle and use the video conferencing and collaboration tools available there.
• Draw students’ attention to the website studying.univie.ac.at/info (where students can find the latest COVID-19 regulations) at the beginning of the course on site and in announcements.
• If students who have a confirmed COVID-19 infection were on site attending courses or exams, please refer them to the website studying.univie.ac.at/info where they can find a form to notify the University.
• Report any special incidents to your directorate of studies (SPL) and your superior.
• In case of an emergency or in unsafe situations, please call +43-1-4277-777 (security team).
• If anyone experiences symptoms: see the general regulations for notification (first call 1450, then notify the University).

• Please think about the way of holding the next course unit in advance (in case you are in quarantine and asymptomatic or have to self-isolate as a contact).
• If you develop symptoms of or have contracted COVID-19, please follow the instructions for employees.
• Never go to work when you are sick.

Face masks mainly protect others. 

Persons having a medical certificate:

Persons who have presented a medical certificate confirming that it is not possible for them to wear a face mask are allowed to enter the public areas and laboratories of the University. Check whether the student has a medical certificate when they enter the course room. The security team may carry out random checks in the public areas of the University as well.

Persons not having a medical certificate: 

• The person is asked to leave the public interior space or laboratory.
• If the person still refuses to wear a face mask or leave the room, please call the security team at +43-1-4277-777.

Further information (in German): https://www.sozialministerium.at/Informationen-zum-Coronavirus/Coronavirus---Haeufig-gestellte-Fragen/FAQ--Mechanische-Schutzvorrichtung-(MNS).html 

Tips and tricks as well as support offers for making your courses (more) accessible can be found on the website of the Accessible Studying Team (in German).

You can subscribe for the quarterly newsletter of the Accessible Studying Team on their website.

Here you'll find the related information:

https://bibliothek.univie.ac.at/en/faq-covid19.html