Beaconhouse National University (BNU) COVID-Advisory

Following message by the Vice Chancellor was disseminated amongst the students at the time of the lockdown:

Dear Student,

I hope you and your loved ones are doing well and keeping safe.

In the wake of the global pandemic of COVID-19, before you and I would even take a note, our world has transformed. For better or worse, only time would tell but the irrefutable truth is that we are facing a phenomenon described as a ‘new normal’. Just as much as we wish to swiftly revert to our normal lives where we had a regular and in-person interaction; it’s hard to foresee how long it might take for us to safely return to that more desirable state where we engage with you in the physical sense and enjoy networking and interacting socially, while learning from each other’s experiences, knowledge and skills.

Notwithstanding the importance of classroom learning, as your education provider, we are also cognizant of our responsibilities towards you and wish not to slack on our commitments either with regards to the learning outcomes or the degree timelines. And without compromising on these commitments, we are resuming our academic activity in a format that although is new, yet not so unfamiliar to our times. It is important to note that we are not alone in adapting to these transitions (although temporarily) since many of our counterparts are resorting to online formats for academic delivery.

Online Teaching and Distance Learning have remained a norm and are become exceedingly popular both at home and abroad. These technology-enabled, tested and tried instructional methodologies include live lectures on platforms such as Google Hangouts and ZOOM, recorded video-lectures, online repositories of literature and resource-sharing, YouTube links on platforms such as Google Classroom besides Open Courseware. These techniques and variants of them shall be employed by your course instructors over the course of the remaining semester and will be conveniently accessible to you all via the internet.

While the world struggles to triumph over these turbulent times, I am certain you would find consolation in remaining connected to your academic undertakings and making progress through your lives despite all odds.

I pray for our quick and safe return to our normal lives as before, Ameen!

Best wishes,

Shahid Hafiz Kardar
Vice Chancellor

Following letter was issued to the students by the Registrar's office regarding the Phase-wise Resumption of On-Campus Teaching:

Dear Student,

We hope and pray that you and your loved ones are safe and healthy in these challenging times of COVID-19.

As you must be aware, the Government of Pakistan has allowed a phase-wise reopening of all educational institutions from 15th of September 2020. Accordingly, BNU, keeping in consideration your overall well-being, has decided to gradually resume its on-campus teaching activities from the Fall 2020 Semester commencing from 28th of September 2020.

In the first phase, each school will decide the courses which will be conducted on-campus for small batches of students. Generally, most theory modules and classes shall be held in the online teaching format, while most courses requiring studio/lab/practical work will be conducted at the campus. Your School/Department will share with you the list of courses along with the timetable and the format (on-campus and on-line) and the associated details that will be adopted for the delivery of these lectures.

Students will not be allowed to enter the University campus without facemask and will be expected to continue wearing it throughout their presence at the Campus.
Meanwhile, the university will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation in the country at large and within the city in particular. And if the pandemic remains well under control over the 4 to 6 week period, we will endeavor to shift all academic activities to a more desirable way of delivering face-to-face knowledge on the campus.

Hostel Arrangements:
Boys and Girls Hostels will begin operation from Saturday, 26th of September 2020. To ensure health and safety of all inmates, the following SOPs will have to be observed by all residents:

• Submit the result of a lab report of their Corona Virus test carried out 72 hours prior to their admission to the university hostel;
• No one will be allowed to leave the Campus, except in the event of an emergency;
• Wearing of face-masks will be mandatory in all shared spaces of the hostel and the university campus;
• Hostel residents will be expected to observe social distancing and best hygiene practices including washing/sanitizing their hands frequently.

Cafeteria:
The canteen operation of the University Cafeteria will be operational from 26th of September, 2020 only as a take-away facility.

University Transport:
University transport will be available as per requirement on payment of requisite transport fee to the outsourced contractor. The transporter will ensure implementation of sanitation and social distancing SOPs.
With prayers and best wishes for your best health and wellness during these testing times.

In order to ensure BNU community’s health and collective wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic, each student is expected to make the following commitments about their behavior by signing the Agreement as follows:

• I will abide by all government SOPs to stop the spread of COVID-19. I will also follow the University’s specific guidance on associated health measures as relevant for the circumstances I am in.
• I will undergo a test immediately if I experience COVID-like symptoms, and I will notify my School/Department Coordinator accordingly. I will follow all instructions in the regard, including in relation to self-isolation.
• I will practice effective hygiene methods to limit contact transmission, including regular thorough hand-washing with soap or the use of hand sanitizers
• I will adhere to the University’s policy on mandatory wearing of face coverings, which will include the requirement for face coverings to be worn for in-person teaching indoors and in any shared indoor spaces.
• If I live in University hostels, I will follow University guidelines on how I may interact with and share communal spaces with fellow hostel residents and staff. If I live in private residence, I will follow the relevant Government/Public Health guidance.
• I will fully cooperate with the University staff and show respect and consideration for the University community by adhering to social distancing requirements.
• I understand that COVID-19 is a public health issue and will cooperate fully with University staff and public health authorities, including participating fully in any contact tracing as requested.

In the uncertain and prolonged time of the pandemic, University is very much concerned for the mental health of the students. Students are encouraged to contact our counselor as per the following schedule:

• In person Counselling Sessions at Campus
  Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays
  10:00 AM- 4:00 PM
  First Floor, Room #215
  Sartaj Aziz Admin Block
• Online sessions via Zoom
  Mondays & Fridays
  9:30 AM - 4:00 pm

We, here at BNU, understand that staying focused and positive could be challenging in these trying times. Following are the tips to help our students and their parents to stay productive and make the most of their time during these trying times.

• Tips to Ensure Smooth Transition to Remote Learning
• Useful Tips for Using Social Media During Covid-19
• Tips to Manage Anxiety During Covid-19

In order to ensure BNU community’s health and collective wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic, each faculty/staff member is expected to make the following commitments about their behavior by signing the Agreement as follows:

• I will abide by all government SOPs to stop the spread of COVID-19. I will also follow the University’s specific guidance on associated health measures as relevant for the circumstances I am in.
• I will undergo a test immediately if I experience COVID-like symptoms, and I will notify my School/Department Dean/HoD accordingly. I will follow all instructions in the regard, including in relation to self-isolation.
• I will practice effective hygiene methods to limit contact transmission, including regular thorough hand-washing with soap or the use of hand sanitizers
• I will adhere to the University’s policy on mandatory wearing of face coverings, which will include the requirement for face coverings to be worn for in-person teaching indoors and in any shared indoor spaces.
• I will fully cooperate with the University administration and show respect and consideration for the University community by adhering to social distancing requirements.
• I understand that COVID-19 is a public health issue and will cooperate fully with University administration and public health authorities, including participating fully in any contact tracing as requested.

We are making health of everyone a priority and it is our foremost intention to avoid the spread of contagion of Coronavirus COVID-19.
Primary mode of the virus transmission is via breathing airborne infected droplets produced through talking, sneezing, coughing, breathing of an infected individual. Interacting with others at close distance especially without masks and eating together are activities bearing high risk and are to be avoided at all times. Sharing crockery can also pose a risk in case of a latent infection among any of the staff members.
The following guidelines have been developed to safeguard the health of everyone. We have tried our best to be mindful of employee convenience and practical considerations without compromising on minimum safeguards for interactional safety laid out by government authorities and health experts.

Guidelines for Department Heads

• As already being practiced, Heads may please continue to ensure minimal staffing on campus during the week, making use of rotational duties and reduced working hours as per nature of departmental deliverables. Tasks which can be done remotely must be assigned to be completed from home.
• Heads may take their respective staff in confidence that if anyone feels apprehensive or s/he or his/her family member has recently undergone or is undergoing or have had unprotected exposure to a person bearing Coronavirus symptoms, he may be relived from attendance at the University for a suitable time period of no less than 10 days. Or if they develop any one of these minor health conditions such as a headache, mild fever, sore throat, flu, cough, diarrhea, tiredness, eye infection, loss of smell and taste, they are required to intimate their Heads of the same and must be exempted from work. If any of the staff member is exhibiting such symptoms on premises, he must be asked to return home.
  Staff needs to take their Heads in complete confidence in complete confidence and good faith and ensure that on time of such or general relief of absence from the University, should ensure their availability during working hours to their seniors and colleagues.
• Heads are requested to ensure that their staff follows the staff guidelines provided below at all times for in the interest of safety and best hygiene practices and a protected working environment for all.
• Admin shall supply hand disinfectants/sanitizers for every operational office in each department. Box of masks and gloves shall be available for offices engaged in public dealing. Each staff is required to bring his/her own mask but in event of any visitor not wearing a mask, an official from the office must provide and require the person to wear the mask.
• Physical mail should be handled the next day upon arrival. However, SOPs regarding handling of external mail and couriered packages shall be at the discretion of the department depending on the nature and frequency of mail handling. The handlers are advised to use protective hand gloves while handling mail, packages and paperwork.
• To keep circulation of documents in minimal hands, wherever possible, photos or scanned images of documents may be with shared to concerned officials electronically.

Staff Guidelines

Please note these are a necessary condition of work and are to be considered standard workplace conduct. In addition to being workplace requirements, we expect everyone to behave responsibly in line with personal and social considerations for health.

• If any staff member develop even any one of these minor health conditions such as a headache, mild fever, sore throat, flu, cough, diarrhea, tiredness, eye infection, loss of smell and taste, they are strictly prohibited from in-person attendance. They must immediately intimate your Head about their health condition, even if any of these symptoms occur as early as on the morning before coming to office. Please note that a staff member would be sent home if found with any of the symptoms.
• Showing up for work with a health condition or concealing an ongoing health condition will be considered a gross violation and misconduct and strict disciplinary action will be taken against anyone found with the violation.
• Staff is required to wear a personal mask at all times.
  Non-compliance will be dealt with a strict verbal warning and repeated violation may lead to disciplinary action
• Staff may keep personal hand disinfectants or sanitizers as you may deem appropriate.
• Staff sitting in shared spaces and workstations are required to keep their masks at all times in addition to appropriate physical distancing.
• Do not visit anyone’s office unless absolutely necessary instead keep interaction via call and email. If you must visit an office, seek prior permission before going to a colleague’s office.
• Staff is expected to ensure minimal exposure with each other and is advised not to enter any one’s office without a mask.
• Do not shake hands or hug colleagues.
• Maintain a distance of at least 6 feet with colleagues while interacting.
• Please follow best hygiene practices while sneezing and coughing. Sneeze or cough into a tissue or into the sleeve of your elbow bend. Care must be taken to ensure the droplets are not spread in the air around nor on any surfaces. While wiping nose/mouth, take care not to touch any secretion with bare hands and dispose the tissue carefully deep into the trash.
• Supervise and disinfect office surfaces in personal use and items in common use or touch personally whenever required.
• Many people lower their mask partially or completely for breathing, talking or eating. Please note that while you may do so when in personal space, to regain breath, uncovering your nose may be self- hazardous.
  Lowering of the mask in presence of others poses a risk to others.
• Disinfect your hands before and after eating, drinking and handling your mask with water & soap with 20 seconds for completely eliminating contaminants. Sanitizer falls second as an effective method and can be used for handling work-related items.
• The water dispenser is a high use item, disinfect your hands before and after operating water dispensing machines for filling glasses or bottles. Take care not to touch your water bottle or glass with the nozzle of the water dispenser.
• Staff may have their lunch at their work desk. In case of dedicated lunch areas, staff may take turns in combined dedicated lunch areas, ensuring not to congregate at mealtimes.
• No food, drinks or cutlery shall handled by the office attendant.
• Staff can bring their own eating and drinking utensils and shall be responsible for cleaning them too. Since it not advised to share dishwashing scrub/liquid among multiple staff members, you may bring your own cleaning items once and store them in your office.
  You may choose to bring disposable cups, plates and cutlery that you should dispose of prior to leaving the office.
• No official/personal guests/visitors will be allowed without prior permission of the Head.

Administration

• Admin shall equip each operational office with bottles of hand disinfectant.
• Admin shall provide building entrances and offices dealing with public with hand disinfectant bottles for public which must be stationed for oncoming visitors.
• Admin shall provide a box of masks in offices dealing with public.
• Building Guard shall ensure that all employees and any visitors entering the building are wearing their masks.

Ensuring a safe and healthy environment for the employees, the HR department issued the following SOPs:

• If any employee develops minor health conditions associated with Coronavirus such as a headache, mild fever, sore throat, flu, cough, diarrhea, tiredness, eye infection, loss of smell and taste, they are relieved from in-person attendance.
  On development of such symptoms, an employee must consult a professional physician, undergo a test, taking their Dean/Head into confidence about their health condition, and isolate themselves at home if and as advised. Anyone who has had an exposure to an infected individual and develops symptoms is advised to follow the same.
• Employees are required to wear a personal face mask at all times.
  The mask may be lowered/doffed in personal space (office) for ease of breathing, but it must be kept on within a shared environment or in presence of others both as a personal caution and as social responsibility for the safety and ease of mind of others.
• Employees sitting in shared spaces and workstations are required to keep their masks on at all times in addition to appropriate physical distancing.
• Employees must not enter anyone’s office/cubicle without a mask.
• Appropriate physical distance needs to be maintained with colleagues while interacting.
• In case of dedicated lunch areas, employees may take turns in combined dedicated lunch areas, ensuring not to congregate at mealtimes.
• Proper hygiene may be observed while sneezing and coughing. Sneeze or cough into a tissue or into the sleeve at your elbow. Care must be taken to ensure the droplets are not spread in the air around nor on any surfaces. While wiping nose/mouth, take care not to touch any secretion with bare hands and carefully wrap and dispose off the used tissue properly into the trash.
• Hand hygiene may be followed by washing hands thoroughly with soap and water or through the use of hand sanitizer. Employees may keep personal hand disinfectants or sanitizers; these are also available at various public points in the University.
• Employees are advised to cooperate with University officials for temperature screening. They shall be required to visit the campus doctor if observed with a concerning health condition and subsequently required to isolate at home as and if required.
• Not wearing a mask, concealing a health condition, refusal to cooperate with University officials in following protocols for health screening and its subsequent management shall be considered violations of the health and safety guidelines.

Anyone committing a minor or inadvertent breach of the health safety code shall be initially reminded of the violation and supported in observing the rules. Repeated violations may incur a warning and may be accompanied with a penalty. Deliberate refusal or failure to follow the instructions would be recorded and treated henceforth as a disciplinary violation.

Deans and Heads are kindly requested to facilitate in ensuring compliance of their faculty and staff members in observing University health guidelines.

Lastly, together we can protect ourselves and others through the following key points given below as summary!

• Keep a mask on at all times especially when around others.
• In case of having to cough or sneeze, do so without spreading droplets in the air or on nearby surfaces. Dispose used tissue properly and maintain essential hand hygiene.
• Keep appropriate physical distance from others.
• Isolate at home if symptomatic or having undergone exposure to an infected individual.

Following up with the agenda discussed in the 139th MCM Meeting related to adopting the most befitting course of action for conducting the classes for Fall 2020, a special meeting of the MCM was held on Monday, September 28, 2020.

During the meeting it was finalized that the University shall adopt a hybrid teaching module whereby classes of all the courses requiring studio/lab/practical work would be held in the traditional on-campus setting whereas, classes of the theory courses would be run in the online teaching format. The arrangements/SOPs for safe re-opening of the university were also established in the meeting.

The 139th meeting of the Management Committee, Beaconhouse National University (BNU) was held on Thursday, 3rd September 2020 at BNU New Campus, Raiwind Road, Lahore.

The meeting was chaired by the Vice Chancellor and was attended by the Heads of Departments of all the schools and GM Quality Assurance.

One of the key agendas of the meeting was to finalize the Mode of Fall 2020 Semester's Classes - On-Campus or Online.

The Vice-Chancellor informed the members that the National Command and Control Centre (NCOC) in its meeting held on July 09, 2020, had decided that the final decision for the reopening of all educational institutes would be taken by the National Coordination Committee (NCC) after reviewing the health indicators in its forthcoming meeting scheduled to be held on 7th September 2020.

He hoped that given the steady decline in Covid-19 cases it was expected that the NCC would allow the Universities to reopen from 15th September 2020. Accordingly, BNU had taken all necessary steps for the safe reopening of its campus by ensuring implementation of SOPs.

He then sought members’ advice on BNU’s strategy if the Government allowed universities to reopen from 15th September. He sought their opinion on whether BNU should commence Fall 2020 semester in the traditional on-campus mode (with safety measures) or plan for partial opening of the campus and conduct studio/lab courses on campus while offering all theory courses online.

The Management Committee after detailed deliberations decided in principle to adopt a hybrid teaching module whereby classes of all the courses requiring studio/lab/practical work would be held in the traditional on-campus setting whereas, classes of the theory courses would be run in the online teaching format. Meanwhile, the university would continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation within the city in general and BNU in particular. And if the pandemic remained well under control over the 4 to 6-week period, BNU would endeavor to shift all academic activities to a more desirable way of delivering face-to-face knowledge on the campus.