The measures the Dutch Cabinet announced this afternoon to further contain the Corona outbreak, being the advise to offer large-scale lectures online if possible, have been further specified in the letter to the House of Representatives. All Dutch universities are called upon to only provide distance learning at least until March 31.

The Executive Board says it will be using an education-free periode to make this possible. There will be no classes from Friday, March 13 through Friday, March 20. This means that from March 13 up to and including March 20 there will be no education for BSc or MSc students. Education will be restarted on Monday 23 March.

Teachers can contact ESA Teacher Support with practical questions. Other questions about online education can be discussed with the Dean and program director. Teachers can communicate with students via Canvas.

The Board understands that there are students with concerns about study delays. ‘Students who stay at home due to (minor) complaints or students who are unable to continue or complete their internship or study abroad: contact your academic advisor if you expect to have to stay at home for two weeks or more’, can be read in the statement. The Board also advises students to contact their academic advisor if they miss compulsory educational components or exams. They will look for solutions together, and will act with coulance.

Guarantee continuity

All employees, other than teachers, are expected to work from home where possible up to and including March 31. They have to do this in consultation with their supervisor. To prevent work from being halted and to ensure that teaching continues, the Board asks supervisors to set up shifts where possible and to make maximum use of telephony and skype.

Employees who stay at home due to (minor) complaints are asked to work at home as much as possible. Staff member who have educational obligations, have to inform the program director, so that the department concerned can adjust the planning in order to guarantee continuity as much as possible. If you are too sick to work, use the regular procedure to report you sick.

The university is working on increasing the capacity of the VPN connection. The Board expects to have realised sufficient extra capacity by Monday March 16, so that both students and staff can make full use of it.

The most recent information you can find on tue.nl/corona. There you can also find an extensive Q&A. Is your question not listed in the Q&A? Send a mail to info@remove-this.tue.nl (subject: coronavirus) or whatsapp 06 41683406.