Notice: University Of Ghana’s Strategy to Safely Resume On-Site Academic Work in the Midst of COVID-19

NOTICE:

UNIVERSITY OF GHANA’S STRATEGY TO SAFELY RESUME ON-SITE ACADEMIC WORK IN THE MIDST OF COVID-19

Following the President’s announcement that final year University students should resume on-site academic work on the various campuses, the University community is informed, as follows:

1.   Return of Final Year Students[1] to Campus

1. Arrangements are being made to receive registered final year studentswho may wish to relocate to campus to complete their online examinations, as well as those who were unable to participate in the University’s  Online Teaching and Learning Programme. Such students may move to campus with effect from 15^th June, 2020.

2. The University’s ongoing Online Teaching and Learning Programme for the second semester of the 2019/2020 academic year will progress as scheduled.  Following the end of teaching on Friday, 29^th May, 2020, examinations for students, scheduled to commence from 8^th June to 3^rdJuly, 2020, will proceed as planned.

3. The University will continue to remain closed to students who are not in their final year.

2.   Employees at Work

1. As a consequence of (1) above, ALL Units/offices are to make arrangements to provide services every working day of the week.  The services are to be provided in a manner that will serve the needs of our students,  internal and external publics, as well as protect the health and safety of employees.

2. All employees are required to wear face masks at work. Units of the University should use petty cash to buy hand sanitizers and masks for the use of employees, until such time that these are supplied by the University.

3. Heads of Unit must put in place the necessary arrangements, accordingly. Management will support the following:

•          Introduction of flexible working arrangements which require adjusted core working hours to suit the needs of staff, including delayed opening hours and early closing hours;

•          Maintenance of skeleton staff on rotation basis, where possible;

•          Compression of working week, where staff may work longer hours on a number of days per week and take time-off on the remaining days of the week;

•          Introduction of off-site work which allows work to be done from home or other locations through the use of ICT (internet, video conferencing, etc).

4. All preventive and precautionary measures to ensure the health and safety of all members of the community, as earlier announced, must be adhered to and all protocols followed.

5. Members of the University community are to keep social distancing, maintaining a distance of at least two metres (6 feet) from others and adhere to infection prevention measures at all times.

6. Members of the University Community are to use technology to facilitate meetings and other activities as much as possible.

Other Arrangements

1. The University Basic Schools and the BabyNest Creche on the Legon Campus are to remain closed down until further notice, except for JHS final year students, who are expected to return to school on 29^th June 2020.
2. Restrictions on social gatherings, religious services, conferences, and sporting activities on the University campuses will continue to be in force, in line with the President’s instructions.
3. Events: All international and national events slated to take place on UG campuses are still suspended and may be re-scheduled.
4. External Travel: All international travel (of all employees and students) has been put on hold until further notice.
5. External Visitors: The University has suspended the hosting of international visitors until further notice.
6. All tours to the University are suspended until further notice.
7. Provision of services on campus, including financial and catering services, are expected to continue.

Management would like to reiterate the following:

• The University wishes to assure staff, students, parents, guardians and all stakeholders that the safety and well-being of all members of the community is our utmost priority.

• The University Hospital is still open to provide general healthcare to all members of the University community.

• Meanwhile, members of the University community are advised to take the necessary precautionary measures outlined in University notices and information on COVID-19. We owe this responsibility to ourselves, our families and other members of the community.

• Any employee or student who develops a fever, cough, cold or sore throat should isolate himself or herself till it clears.

• Everyone is encouraged to check his/her temperature daily (morning and evening). Members of the community should call the University of Ghana Hospital for advice if they develop a fever (temperature above 37.4°C), or a cough/cold persists for more than five (5) days or gets worse.

University of Ghana Hospital: 059 555 1971 / 059 395 5913

Mercy Haizel-Ashia

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