Dear students
Dear members of the university community
In response to the tense situation in the hospitals, the Federal Council extended or made possible the COVID certificate requirement to numerous areas of public life at its meeting on 8 September. Against this background, the Canton of Fribourg has (also) decided (after consultation with its higher education institutions) to introduce a COVID certificate requirement for courses at tertiary level. The Rectorate welcomes this decision as currently the best way to ensure that on-site teaching can take place in the autumn semester under largely normal conditions and with the quality expected by all. At the same time, it is also aware of the difficulties that this decision entails for certain students and takes these into account as far as possible.
Implementation and control
Therefore, as of Monday, 20 September and with the start of the autumn semester – Getting Started is not yet affected – access to lectures at Bachelor's and Master's level will until further notice only be permitted for persons with a valid COVID certificate. Compliance with this rule will be monitored and violations will be sanctioned if necessary. Upon request, the certificate must be presented to the security staff as well as to the lecturers and assistants. The exact details can be found in the guidelines (English version to follow) on the corresponding website.
The COVID certificate provides documentary evidence that you have had a COVID-19 vaccination, have had and recovered from the disease or have tested negative. The certificate is provided in the Covid Cert app, in paper form or as a PDF document, each with a QR code.
Extended vaccination offers
In addition to the numerous vaccination opportunities already communicated, which can be found on the cantonal website, a mobile vaccination offer will be made available shortly after the start of the semester at the Miséricorde and Pérolles campuses. The Rectorate of the University of Fribourg strongly recommends that you take advantage of any vaccination offer (as far as still necessary) and thus contribute to the management of the crisis as well as to your health and that of other people.
Certificate requirement does not exclude anyone from studying
If you are not vaccinated or have not recovered but would still like to take part in on-site courses, you can do so by taking a negative test. However, it should be borne in mind that the two tests leading to a certificate are only valid for a very short period of time (PCR test: 72 hours, rapid antigen test: 48 hours from when the sample was taken) and the costs incurred will no longer be covered by the federal government as of 1 October. Those who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons may still attend classes with a doctor's certificate and mask.
It will also still be possible to study at university without a certificate. Teaching materials are provided and/or designated for all courses, so that it is in principle possible to complete the study programme at a distance, although neither the Rectorate nor the faculties can guarantee an equivalent quality or identity of the offerings in view of the special characteristics of face-to-face teaching.
The Rectorate thanks all concerned very much for your understanding and support of the new rules in this transitional phase and looks forward to a semester in presence mode as well as life on campus.
Yours sincerely
Astrid Epiney, Rector
/unifribourg
@unifr