Dear students and colleagues,
Leibniz University Hannover is one of the few universities in Lower Saxony that has resumed on-campus learning at a level of almost 100%. This has been possible by successfully implementing hygiene measures as well as the 3G rule across the university. Overall, compliance with the 3G rule is mostly monitored without difficulties - the processes work quite well. I would like to thank all of you for contributing to this through your actions, as well as all those involved in monitoring compliance, which is often not entirely simple.
In order to support students and members of staff, we have established a test centre on the lower ground floor of the main university building, which will be available at least until 22 December. Moreover, we intend to install a regional vaccination centre on the cafeteria premises. If this can be realised, we will provide detailed information on the location and opening hours. We already offer vaccinations at Leibniz University Hannover on a regular basis, further information can be found on our corona website.
In light of the increasing number of infections, the Presidential Board has received several concerned enquiries regarding on-campus learning. However, many also worry that we might return to online learning too hastily and suspend on-campus learning. We take all of these concerns very seriously and consider it our task to reassess the situation regularly.
Rest assured that we frequently discuss and monitor the situation very carefully. At the moment, the Hannover region is a "green area", which means there is no alert level. In national comparison, incidence rates are quite low. Fortunately, the number of confirmed infections in the context of learning and administration at our university is very small; numbers are in the lower double figures. Therefore, we will rely on our existing precautionary measures (vaccinations, testing, 3G rule, hygiene measures), which evidently work quite well, and maintain on-campus learning.
Apart from that, I would like to inform you that access to events of a public nature (such as readings, receptions, conferences etc.) at Leibniz University Hannover with invitations issued from 12 November, will be restricted to vaccinated or recovered persons (2G rule). This does not apply if invitations to the respective event have been sent out before 12 November. In anticipation of the question: Naturally, the 3G rule still applies for all lectures and courses.
Finally, I would like to urge all of you: Please support us in our endeavour to maintain on-campus learning at Leibniz University Hannover by acting cautiously! In particular, this means complying with the 3G or 2G rule, wearing face masks as well as exercising caution during events and meetings. LUH access wristbands enable us to facilitate on-campus learning more smoothly. Making improper use of this tool not only puts fellow students and colleagues at our university at risk, but also members of especially vulnerable groups, and will therefore be reported.
Monitoring compliance at the entrances of our university is not easy. Please also contribute to a relaxed interaction in this context and an appreciative atmosphere at Leibniz University Hannover. Thank you for your cooperation!
Working together will enable us to conduct this winter semester in a safe and healthy environment with many positive experiences!
Kind regards,
Prof. Dr. Volker Epping
President
