The University Grants Commission (UGC), in order to ensure the safety of the students, has issued a list of post-COVID-19 guidelines for the reopening of colleges and universities across the country. The educational institutions were closed since March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown.
Colleges reopening guidelines issued by UGC
1. As per the guidelines released by the UGC, the Universities and college campuses will be functioning with 50% of students in attendance while the outside college activities will be restricted to prevent overcrowding.
2. The educational institutions will also have to make sure that before the reopening of any of the university campuses, the Central and concerned state governments must declare the area safe for reopening of the educational institutions.
3. Along with social distancing rules, the colleges are also expected to ensure that the students and staff members wear their masks at all times and that the campus is disinfected every day.
4. To make sure that the campuses are stress-free, the colleges and universities must mandate regular visits of a counsellor.
5. UGC has also asked educational institutions to set up helplines for mental health, psychological concerns, for the wellbeing of the students on the campus.
6. The guidelines also suggest smaller class sizes in the colleges in order to follow the COVID-19 social distancing rules.
7. Educational institutions across the country have also been advised to restrict activities including visits of outside experts on campuses, study tours, and field works.
8. The faculty, staff, and students of the universities and colleges are also advised to download the Aarogya Setu app.
9. Colleges and universities are also required to provide online study materials and access to e-resources to the students who prefer to study online at home.
10. Institutions have also been asked to make online teaching-learning arrangements for international students who are unable to join due to international travel restrictions and visa-related issues.
11. The UGC guidelines also stated that the faculty members should be trained for online-teaching-learning practices.
