UNS — Entering the 7th week of the face-to-face learning process (PTM), Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta has succeeded in maintaining its campus free of Covid-19. Until Tuesday (19/10/2021), through periodic supervision by the Vice-Dean 1 in each faculty and school, there is no report of a student infected by SARS-CoV-2 and no new Covid-19 cluster.
This report was shared by the Rector of UNS, Prof. Jamal Wiwoho, in the lunch break meeting with journalists in RM Pecel Madiun dan Dawet Ayu Laris Manis on Tuesday (19/10/2021). Prof. Jamal stated that UNS’s success in preventing its students from getting infected with SARS-CoV-2 is the effectiveness of conditional and gradual principles emphasized by UNS far before opening PTM.
The conditional principle means that students participating in the PTM must be vaccinated against Covid-19 at least the first shop, live in the Solo region, have a permit from parents, and do not have comorbidity or congenital disease. The gradual principle means that UNS limits the capacity of the classroom to 30% of its normal capacity.
“Because UNS students from Solo and surrounding regions are mostly have been vaccinated against Covid-19 with two doses. And we also use the hybrid learning method, so there are (students) learning from home and in the classroom,” Prof. Jamal explained.
To the fellow journalist, the Rector stated that currently, UNS had opened the opportunity for last year’s students to have an undergraduate thesis, master thesis, and dissertation defense offline. But Prof. Jamal reminded that the offline defense should be held gradually because he does not want a large number of students on the campus to minimize the risk of the Covid-19 cluster.
Increasing Student Quota for PTM
On occasion, Prof. Jamal also shared that once the Restriction for Community Activities (PPKM) level of Surakarta is lowered from level 3 to 2 or from level 2 to 1, UNS will consider increasing the quota for students who are allowed to attend PTM. Because since the reopening of PTM on Monday (6/9/2021), UNS only allows 30% of students to attend class in the classroom.
“And we also limit in one day only two courses taught,” Prof. Jamal added.
This means that students who do not meet the criteria to attend PTM and live outside Solo are still attending class online.
“PPKM level 3 with 30%. Then for PPKM, level 2 (the quota) could increase. If to level 1, the participants can be increased again. And this is what we are considered,” Prof. Jamal said. Humas UNS
Reporter: Y.C.A. Sanjaya
Editor: Dwi Hastuti