Anticipating the Corona Outbreak, the UNS Rector Issues a Circular

UNS – Anticipating the spread of Coronavirus (Covid-19), Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta through a Circular Number: 1480 /UN27/HK /2020 Regarding Early Precautions, Preparedness, and Anticipatory Measures to Prevent the Spread of Covid-19 Infection in UNS, therefore UNS taking precautionary measures to change the lecturing method from classroom meeting to be online.

There are six points presented in the circular that aims to anticipate the spread of Covid-19, as follows:

1. Remind and encourage all lecturers, students, and academic support staff to practice and cultivate a Clean and Healthy Lifestyle in line with the guidelines provided by the Minister of Health the Republic of Indonesia (Kemenkes RI);
2. Teaching and learning activities are keep going by implementing the following policies: (a) Starting on Monday, March 16, 2020, until Saturday, March 28, 2020, changing the classroom meeting lecture into an online lecture. The Chairman of the Institute for Educational Quality Development and Assurance (LPPMP) is requested to facilitate the supporting infrastructure needed for the lecture to be able to conduct the online lecture; (b) Practicum activities such as Laboratory practice, clinical practice, field practice, industrial practice, and other practices in the various industry can be carried-out by rescheduling the practice or by replacing the practice using other method and should be adjusted with the development of situation;
3. For any research or community service activity that involves data collecting and activity alongside the community, can be rescheduled and adjusted with the development of the situation;
4. All lecturers, students, and academic support staff need to postpone or reschedule the implementation of various activities that cause a large crowd and should be adjusted with the development of the situation;
5. All lecturers, students, and academic support staff need to postpone or reschedule abroad travel. The leader of the Faculties and Study Programs is requested to coordinate with international partner university to find the best possible solution as an academic and administrative consequence of this prohibition;
6. Recommend to all lecturers, students, and academic support staff to not taking unnecessary domestic travel.

The Rector of UNS, Prof. Jamal Wiwoho mentioned that this circular is issued because of the Official Statement from the World Health Organization (WHO) that the status of the Covid-19 infection from the Public Health Emergency of International Concern into Pandemic, and the Determination of Surakarta status as Extraordinary Events (Kejadian Luar Biasa-KLB) of Covid-19 on March 13, 2020. Besides the points presented above, the UNS campus remains to carry its activity as usual, while waiting for further development regarding the Covid-19 infection.

“Teaching and learning activity will continue, but starting on Monday, March 16, 2020, until Saturday, March 28, 2020, the lecture will be changed from classroom meeting into online learning. The leaders of the Institute for Educational Quality Development and Assurance (LPPMP) requested to provide the support needed by the lecturers to be able to carry out the online learning,” said Prof. Jamal to uns.ac.id, Saturday (14/3/2020).

“Moreover, the Rector of UNS also mentioned that the series of activity as a part of the 44^th Anniversary Celebration that invites a large crowd to be postponed. The event that will be postponed is the Puppet Show that initially planned to be held on March 21, 2020. As for the UNS Innovation Product Exhibition on 14-15 March 2020 is advised to get close early”, explain Prof. Jamal. Humas UNS