Rector’s announcement SGGW

Dear Sirs,  

Students, PhD students, SGGW Employees! 

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the whole world and for almost 2 years it has been dictating the terms to us all. Our new normality, recommended by scientists, is as follows: masks, disinfection and distance. As people professionally associated with science, we believe in its method and effects, which is determined by the vaccination level of our academic community – more than 70% are fully vaccinated.  All those who want to return to stability, to classes in person, to the world we knew before the pandemic hit, I strongly encourage: Let’s get vaccinated! There are several thousand vaccination points in Poland, and the nearest one is on the SGGW campus. 

Today we start the last week of the winter semester, and the classes are conducted in a hybrid manner. Until now, we have tried to organize the classes and lectures within the walls of the university, following the sanitary regime, and only in some exceptional circumstances classes have been replaced by a distance learning.  

However, alarming data on the number of new SARS-CoV-2 infections, make us change the organization of classes and examination sessions at SGGW. For the sake of students, doctoral students and SGGW employees’ health, I recommend the remote formula as the basic form of organizing lectures and classes at the SGGW, whereas any stationary classes should be organized only in case when practical learning outcomes requires direct contact with an academic teacher or specialized laboratory equipment.  

Likewise, in case of exams and other forms of assessment, I recommend using remote communication tools to verify the learning outcomes pursuant to the study programs. The final decision on that matter is subject to the Dean, taking into account the situation at a particular Faculty.  All detailed recommendations may be found in the announcement of the Vice-Rector for Didactics.  

For our common safety and care, I call on to follow the rules: let’s wear masks, disinfect hands, and keep the distance. Even more, we should follow the same standards during the examination session, and a well-deserved rest – during the winter holiday. 

The same hybrid solutions are also applicable for SGGW administrative employees who along with the heads of their units, should arrange the best form of work to minimize the risk of infections. 

Our future depends on our shared responsibility and determination; vaccinations and respecting the rules will help us return to the desired normality sooner, and the campus will burst with life again. 

Prof. dr hab. Michał Zasada 
Rector of SGGW