Green risk level at UiA for the rest of the year
Activities on campus will resume as normal in the spring semester. The autumn semester will continue as planned, even though the risk level has changed from yellow to green and all coronavirus restrictions have been lifted.
This article is more than two years old, and may contain outdated information.
Social distancing is history and normality has returned to campus. Here from the student canteen on Campus Kristiansand in 2019. (Archive photo)
UiA will build on the experiences of the pandemic and preserve the positive things about digital and student active teaching and assessment methods. This is something that is currently being assessed, to see if what we learned during the pandemic can benefit students and staff in later semesters.
However, should there be a coronavirus outbreak on one or both campuses, UiA's operational emergency preparedness team is ready for action on short notice.
We also ask you to respect that some people - both students and staff - still want to be careful and maintain some distance.
Students who are in risk groups can receive special needs accommodation and/or digital offers. Sick students or students with coronavirus symptoms should not come on campus. If a student is absent from mandatory lessons, he or she should contact their teacher or programme coordinator. Temporary regulations still apply, and they will still be able to sit their exams.
Hand sanitiser dispensers
UiA will keep the hand sanitiser stations as well as the posters reminding people to wash their hands, cough into their elbows and other general infection control advice.
There have been fewer cases of common cold and seasonal flu over the last year. This may be due to the fact that most people have adhered to the hygiene recommendations.
Since UiA wants students and staff to be healthy and to be on campus as much as possible, the hand sanitiser stations will remain, and you are encouraged to use them.
In-person and online teaching
Timetables remain unchanged. This means that there will be teaching on campus in most subjects. The difference is that the one-metre rule no longer applies, and auditoriums and classrooms can be filled. It has also been decided - as communicated earlier - that teaching that has been offered online will continue to be offered digitally throughout the semester.
The rectorate informed all faculty managements that the decision has been made to ensure students have predictability. The faculty management, and not the individual lecturer, may grant exceptions to offering a course online.
Coronavirus signs
Signs that indicate how many people are allowed in a room and stickers marking approved workplaces will gradually be removed. The QR codes will remain in place.
The QR codes remain in case there is a new wave of infection, and they can also be used for registering attendance.
Infection and testing
The government has decided that the person infected is the one who must inform their close contacts. See information from the Norwegian Directorate of Health.
For students and employees at UiA, this means that if you suspect you are infected you must stay at home, get tested and call the crisis team at UiA on 3814 2000. If your test is positive, the crisis team will help send an SMS to close contacts.
The test tents have been taken down on both campuses.
In Kristiansand, there are several options, including at Color Line at the harbour. Read more about coronavirus testing on Kristiansand municipality's website.
In Grimstad, you can call 909 18 945 to order a test. Read more about coronavirus testing on Grimstad municipality's website.
Vaccination
The vaccination centre in Kristiansand is located at Sørlandssenteret. (Photo: Børge Røssaak Nilsen, Kristiansand municipality)
Many young adults have not yet taken vaccination dose 2. The health authorities recommend that everyone who has taken vaccine dose 1 take dose 2 as soon as possible after 28 days have passed.
The only people exempt from vaccination are those who cannot be vaccinated due to medical reasons.
In Kristiansand, there is now drop-in vaccination every Wednesday at Sørlandssenteret (next to McDonalds). There are also some vaccination days at Rådhuskvartalet on the town square. For more information see Kristiansand municipality's website.
In Grimstad, you can register for vaccination online or by phone. Read about the options on Grimstad municipality's website.
Student activities, stands and events
Events organised by student societies can be carried out without any restrictions, except that those who have symptoms of illness must stay at home.
The same applies to events, seminars and conferences organised by employees. External events are on hold this semester, however.
UiA Help organise and give permission for stands in common areas. Student activities get priority. External exhibitors will only be allowed next year.