COVID-19 POLICY
(Page updated on 8th November, 2020)
Preamble
1. Fall 2020 Semester has commenced from Monday 26th October 2020. Due to the pandemic situation HEC and CIEC have given guidelines to all HEIs/DAIs for resumption of academic activities on their campuses. In the light of these guidelines, DSU has formulated a policy for the conduct of Fall 2020 semester. However, same may be reviewed/revised depending on the evolving situation (HEC COVID-19 Policy and CIEC).
2. The COVID-19 Policy of DHA Suffa University is based on following themes:
a. We have to learn to live with COVID-19 for the time being and possibly for the foreseeable future.
b. Pakistan has been able to avoid major damage to the Economy through “Smart Lockdown” Policy rather than Complete Lockdown.
c. Education is amongst the few sectors which have not fully resumed its activity, whereas economy needs workforce.
d. Universities need to be opened to students as soon as possible for provision of high-end employees (with quality education) with all possible / pragmatic COVID-19 protocols.
e. Safety of the Students, Faculty and Staff should remain supreme/top priority during all activities at the University Premises / Campuses as well as Transportation.
f. The success of the implementation of COVID-19 policy will depend on unflinching cooperation by all stakeholders i.e., Students, Parents, Faculty and Staff. This support comprises of full commitment to the following broad directives;
i. Use of Facial Mask while on campus.
ii. Observing Social Distancing as per the national directives and as notified on premises.
iii. Voluntary Declaration/Isolation/Staying Home even on suspicion of having being infected with COVID-19.
iv. Following Instructions and Directives religiously and with a patriotic resolve.
Preconditions for Reopening / Returning to University
3. All the returning students have to submit a Health Declaration which states that they are in good health (or, whether they have any health condition), and whether they have undergone any COVID-19 testing and/or treatment during the closure period. All students desiring access to the campus premises will be facilitated by the Designated Authority.
4. All members of the campus community, including faculty, staff, and students, are expected to adhere to the Guidelines in order to protect the health of its students, faculty, and staff.
Reopening in Phases/ Invitation to Students/ Arrival Protocol
5. The University has planned to call on-campus;
a. First semester Students
b. Students having lab courses to fulfil their psychomotor skill development
c. Students of selected core and mathematics domain courses
d. Final year students requiring advisory for design and make final year projects
e. Graduate Students in staggered times such as evening hours
All these students are being welcomed on campus while ensuring strength of the students on campus does not exceed 50% of total student strength at any time of the day.
6. To further minimize footfall on campus, students are being given the liberty to opt for online learning if their course can be taught online without compromising on quality. Such arrangements can be seen in the program timetables available to the students.
7. The University also has due consideration for students that have difficulty in studying online due to lack of internet and/or power at their homes. The departments will welcome these students on campus to avail the facility to attend lectures on campus computing platforms available in department labs, library and through free WiFi throughout the campus premises. Needless to say that these students will have to abide by the COVID-19 SOPs and also provide the Health Declaration to avail access to campus.
8. Students studying online will also have the option to come to campus for a Q&A session with their teachers once a week after appointment and information to the Designated Authority. For students attending classes on campus, classrooms have been prepared such that social distancing protocols are met.
9. COVID-19 SOPs /Protocol must be observed by all stake holders in letter and spirit. To ensure their effective and complete policy implementation on the premises, a Control, Command and Coordination Cell as well as an Implementation Committee have been established by DHA Suffa University.
10. DSU has launched its first Hostel facility at the DCK Campus from Fall 2020 semester after popular demand. The accommodation space and amenities within also require SOPs for safe living which are being prepared at the onset and will be appended here as well.
11. An upgrade in the DHA Suffa University COVID-19 Policy for opening its doors to students of other semesters and allowing higher student density per hour on campus will depend on the improvement in COVID-19 parameters and resulting directives from the Government/ HEC/ CIEC.
Teaching Arrangements
12. Teaching for new and returning undergraduates will begin as planned from 26th October 2020. Different plans are in place for students of different departments. Keeping in view the HEC directives, particularly the density thresholds relative to campus spaces and infrastructure, and success in implementing the safety protocols, only a subset of students can be accommodated on campus because of safety consideration.
13. Teaching Modes: The University has turned to a multiplicity of approaches for imparting education to students. These include various combinations of Face-to-Face and Distance learning modes, including Blended and Hybrid learning. The choice of options depends on three major considerations:
a. Some courses can be taught Online without any compromise in quality of delivery and content delivered. This will the diversity of synchronous and asynchronous student engagement, which was the norm in Spring 2020 semester this year.
b. Some courses need Blended learning, including some students on campus as expected through a possibility of diverse mix between students consenting and not consenting for campus learning.
c. Some courses have to be taught or demonstrated on campus, e.g., laboratory and practical work.
14. Class Composition: Some of the classes will be held face-to-face, as in the pre-COVID era. However, in some cases, a Hybrid learning mode will be followed in which some students will be sitting in class while others will be following the class through online video conferencing platforms such as Zoom, MS Teams which were effectively used in Spring 2020 semester. The student mix in a class on campus will be dependent on the consent response of students in that class.
15. Class Size: Social distancing requirements have implications for the physical space needed to run a face-to-face class. Therefore, the entire class size has been split into half to ensure the implementation of COVID-19 SOPs. The University classrooms have a standard maximum capacity of 60 students which will now have to be reduced to 30 students. This means double space is needed on campus, i.e. 2 classrooms to run a class of 60 which took one classroom in pre-COVID times. The University COVID-19 policy dictates that students having on-campus classes at any time of the day must be halved by every department. Therefore, physical classrooms become available to fulfil the double space need on campus through proper scheduling of classes.
Note
16. In case of any difficulty in comprehending the implementation of the COVID-19 Policy, the relevant bodies have been mandated by the Vice Chancellor to execute their functions. They should be consulted through the head of department or student advisor designated by the department.
17. In case of any conflict, the University ruling through the relevant body will be considered and the final authority and jurisdiction will be with the Vice Chancellor, DHA Suffa University.
18. The University reserves the right to update / amend this policy without prior intimation to the University community in order to comply to the directives of the DHA/ HEC/ SHEC/ CIEC or the Government in order to remain compliant to the prevalent laws, rulings and directives.
COVID SOPs
COVID PRECAUTIONS
COVID UPDATES
EMERGENCY CONTACTS
WORKING HOURS & TIMETABLES
PROGRAMS
ACADEMIC CALENDAR
TRANSPORT
COUNSELING
ADMISSIONS
EXAMINATIONS
