【COVID-19 Message】A Letter from the President Addressed to Teachers and Students of the University
Dear Fellow Teachers and Students of NTOU:
On May 17, 2021, I wrote a letter addressed thanking and appreciating my colleagues, teachers, students, and parents for their support and dedication to helping prevent and fight this COVID-19 pandemic. I acknowledge and appreciate these efforts and support from everyone making our NTOU campus safe until this day.
However, with the fast development of the pandemic in the country, our university is also affected by its widespread. We now have confirmed cases of infections, and it has immensely brought us enormous changes in our operations and has limited our physical interactions and presence. At this challenging moment of experiencing this overbearing pandemic situation, we fervently hope and wish that these infected NTOU students will soon recover.
I appeal to teachers and students to face these trying moments calmly. We assure everyone that the university administration is committed to working hard to develop and implement countermeasures to make our campus safe. Along with these efforts, the administration cannot do it alone; we genuinely need everyone’s cooperation and devotion to help us. Let us all fight with care and compassion, giving our best to prevent its spread!
In response to the pandemic-related measures, the University has always been cautious to abide by the highest standards and regulations set and required by our government. As an intervention to the confirmed cases of the campus, I would like to share the summary of the University’s latest preventive measures from 5th to 27th of May, 2021.
Academics. Online teaching has been adopted until the end of the semester, June 19, 2021. Graduating students are prioritized to use the laboratory. Staff and users of the facility are strictly required to wear a mask at all times. Also, social distancing between individuals must be maintained. Make sure to disinfect the laboratory before the next batch of students use it.
Accommodation. The University has made arrangements and assistance to students to take preventive measures in accordance with important regulations, the Environment and Safety Division already conducted disinfection of the afternoon of the 27th of May 2021 in the International Student Dormitory, Men’s 2nd Dormitory, 2nd Restaurant, and the Family Mart Convenience Store inside the campus. The Office of the International Affairs and advisers/professors must pay special attention to international students. Keep in touch and extend help to our international student community. In principle, the regular dorm accommodation will still be maintained. The Office of International Affairs will make appropriate arrangements in accordance with the recent regulations, in case unusual events affect the current accommodation arrangements. The campus dorm accommodation is extended to mid-July.
Examination. The following are the changes on the conduct of oral examinations for graduate dissertations:
- Oral examination for master and doctoral students for this semester is shifted online or by video. The entire presentation process will be recorded by the respective departments.
- The deadline for thesis submission is also extended to August 31, 2021. All students must complete the oral examination before August 24, 2021, to be qualified.
Faculty and Staff Work Arrangement. Starting May 31, 2021, two-thirds (2/3 or approximately 66%) of the administrative staff will be on a work-from-home arrangement. All first-level supervisors are authorized to decide and discuss this with the personnel on this work arrangement. There should proper distribution and rotation of working schedules, and working from home for two consecutive days is prohibited. Those working at home must fulfill their obligations even with this new arrangement. To avoid contact with individuals, electronic signatures can be integrated into online paperwork. For paper documents, you should leave the area as soon as possible once the purpose of submission has been served; there is no need to wait for approval.
Activity. The 2021 Graduation Ceremony will be held using video recording since all academic-related activities inside and outside the campus will be closed
Once again, I sincerely urge all teachers and students to follow the pandemic prevention guidelines set by the University following the government regulations. Please cooperate with these countermeasures. Pay attention to the official statements and advisories of the University on the latest developments of the pandemic. If you have issues or problems related to pandemic prevention, please call the campus notification hotline:
- Health Care Team: 02-24622192 ext. 1070-1073 (available from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM)
- Security Office: 02-24629976 during non-working hours
Let us all be united as a community, caring and encouraging each other as we face the challenges of this pandemic. When we work together, we can restore our healthy, safe, and vibrant academic environment at the soonest possible time.
I wish everyone to be safe and sound!
Sincerely,
President Tai-Wen Hsu
May 27, 2021