Older updates concerning coronavirus

Following announcements made by the Dutch Cabinet during the press conference on August 6, the organization of TOP Week is in consultation with the City of Tilburg, Tilburg University, and other relevant organizations on the activities during Tilburg University’s welcome week. Any changes to the program will be communicated as soon as possible at the TOP Week website: www.top-week.nl/en. In addition, the University will also consult with all study, student, and sports associations on their introduction week activities. Information on this subject can be found on the websites of the associations concerned.

Extension opening hours buildings for employees per July 6

As of Monday, July 6, the opening hours of offices for employees will be further extended.

• Simon building                    08:30 - 20:30 hrs
• Dante building                    08:30 - 20:30 hrs
• Montesquieu building    08:30 - 20:30 hrs - The Montesquieu Learning  Center closes at 17:30 
• Koopmans building          08:30 - 20:30 hrs
• CUBE                                        08:30 - 17:00 hrs

Other buildings are open from 08:30 - 17:30 hrs. Contact security (+31 (0)13 - 466 3000) for presence after 17:30 hrs.

As a result of the relaxation of the corona measures announced on 24 June, 64 extra study places will be available on campus as of July 1. Please note that the number of study places is still relatively limited, so reservation is required.

You can reserve a study place by calling the Facility Service Desk at (+31) (0)13 - 466 3700 between 9:00 and 11:00 hrs. You can reserve a study place for the next working day. This place will then be available to you all day long. Upon arrival you need to report to the desk of the building where you have reserved a workspace (Library or Montesquieu) with your Tilburg University Card. 

If you come to the campus to study, please follow the advice of the RIVM:

• If you have any symptoms: get tested and stay at home until the results are known.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water.
• Cough and sneeze into your elbow.
• Use paper tissues to blow your nose and discard them after use.
• Do not shake hands.
• Stay 1.5 meters (2 arms lengths) away from other people.
• Work from home as much as possible.

The up-to-date situation with regard to the measures at Tilburg University and the planning for the new steps can be found on our special web page Tilburg University & corona. 

On June 24, the Government announced new easing measures concerning the corona crisis as of July 1. At Tilburg University, we are looking into the opportunities these measures are offering us, for opening up the campus and making physical meetings possible. The up-to-date situation with regard to the principles at Tilburg University and the planning for the new steps can be found on our special web page Tilburg University & corona.

In the context of these new governmental measures, the following actions are being taken at Tilburg University:

• Investigate how we can optimally use the easing of measures (also with regard to the use of public transport) for scheduling on campus education activities in the new academic year
• Investigate what is possible after July 1 with regard to meetings on campus
• Expand the number of study places on campus and introduce a reservation system
• Prepare further opening of the Sports Center

In line with the national protocol of the VSNU (Association of Universities in the Netherlands), the office buildings will open from July 1 for use up to a maximum of 20%. Opening hours of the buildings will be adjusted in accordance with the coming holiday period. The buildings will be open from 8:30 to 17:00 hrs.

Information on the elaboration of the these points will be published on this website as soon as possible.

Education in the academic year 2020-2021 will start on 31 August. Our campus has limited access due to the coronavirus. The government is monitoring closely how the coronavirus is developing, and will relax the intelligent lockdown measures step by step, as soon as circumstances permit.

We guarantee that we will offer ALL our education online for the first semester. However, in our opinion, physical proximity among the university community is an important part of academic education. Therefore, we strive to provide some small-scale classes (e.g., seminars) on campus if possible.

To help smooth the transition to higher education, priority will be given to first-year Bachelor’s students who are able to follow some components of their program on campus. These components will most likely be combined on 1 day per week. We encourage students to make use of this opportunity.  Should the corona measures announced by the government prevent you from coming to campus, online education options are available.

How many small-scale educational activities will also be available for new (pre-) master students and our current bachelor and (pre-) master students depends very much on the possibilities given to us by the Dutch government and the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment. These have a direct effect on our maximum capacity of the campus and public transport. These capacity calculations are currently being made.

More information can be found on our special web page Tilburg University & corona.

On May 19, the Government announced new relaxations of the corona measures. The universities have made agreements about the implementation, which have been recorded in the Protocol for Resuming Activities at Universities. This protocol sets out, among other things, the basic principles that universities adhere to when resuming activities and which activities have top priority in the coming weeks.

Because we all feel the need to see each other and because the social connection and contacts are so important, we at Tilburg University are also looking at what is possible within the set frameworks in the coming period. This perspective will be worked out in a Roadmap (Spoorboekje).

As of June 1 and June 15, Tilburg University has implemented relaxations on the basis of this Roadmap. There will be no switch to large-scale physical on-campus examinations and the current forms of (alternative) online examinations and associated examination schedules will be continued. However, there has been some increase in office spaces and study spaces for special target groups. This went well, and we have all shown that we can increasingly use the campus in a responsible, conscious, and safe manner.

As of July 1, the following expansions of measures are adopted, which will apply until September 1:

• Office buildings will reopen for use up to a maximum of 20% of the normal occupancy per floor, for necessary work and as far as 1.5 meters distance can be guaranteed.
• PhD defense ceremonies are allowed in the Auditorium with a maximum of 10 guests. No catering/reception.
• Reopening fitness and virtual lessons at the Sports Center (more information via the website of the Sports Center).
• Reopening of the 2nd phase of the horeca and retail (more information will follow).
• Teacher training courses (especially aimed at online education) are again allowed in groups of a maximum of 10 people.
• Meetings allowed for employees of up to 12 people on request in the Reitse Toren Building. A maximum of 10 rooms available as a pilot project (reservations via Webroombooking). Students cannot book rooms.

All relaxations are organized in accordance with the guidelines of the Government and the RIVM. Further information on how the above will work in practice can be found in the FAQs, which are updated on a daily basis.

The motto in these uncertain times remains: “On campus if you can, online because you can.”

To determine the impact of the coronavirus on foreign exchanges, the VSNU (Association of Universities in the Netherlands) has established a framework based on governmental guidelines. Within this framework, Tilburg University decides whether the exchange can proceed according to plan. The considerations are: a negative travel advice by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the decision of the partner university to cancel the exchange or in case a student withdraws from the exchange program.

Since students are not allowed to travel to countries with code red or orange, Tilburg University will check the status of destinations in EEA countries at the partner institution two weeks before the start of the academic year and, if necessary, cancel the travel. This assessment has now been carried out for destinations outside the EEA. Therefore, exchanges outside the EEA countries are canceled. The students involved have been informed.

All students have the right to withdraw from the exchange program at any time.

All students selected for an exchange in fall 2020 are offered alternative scenarios. Certain deadlines may apply to this. If students sign up for one of the alternatives, the student should withdraw from the exchange program for procedural reasons. The International Office will approach students for follow-up steps from 25 May.

For incoming exchange, the university plans to assess whether foreign exchange students can be welcomed on 1 July 2020, based on the framework conditions such as safety and sufficient on-campus education.

On May 19, 2020, the government announced corona easing measures. The Dutch universities have drawn up a Restart Protocol that outlines how they will implement these measures. The protocol includes restart principles as well as activities that are key priorities in the coming weeks.

Following these principles, Tilburg University will draw its own roadmap. We will take great care in doing so, because safeguarding the safety and health of our students and staff comes first. As we are social creatures in need of connectedness, we will of course also encourage social contacts and togetherness to the extent allowed by the easing measures.

On June 1, 2020, we will take the first step towards opening up our campus and in doing so we will adhere to the following principles:

• We will all continue to work from home as much as possible until and unless the government indicates otherwise.
• Office buildings will reopen up to 10% of normal occupancy per floor for necessary activities and insofar as a 1.5 meter distance can be guaranteed. Staff will be informed by management.
• Labs will reopen for restricted use in keeping with the guidelines. Lab coordinators will be consulted to work out details.
• Boards of study associations will be informed about conditions of use of offices in the Esplanade and Tias buildings.
• The catering in Esplanade will partly reopen and focuses on picking up lunch on order and food on reservation. The terrace will also open. All this within the guidelines that apply to the catering industry.
• The Auditorium will reopen for PhD defense ceremonies, with attendance being restricted to the PhD candidate, (co)promotors, the beadle, the chair, and an AV technician. The promotional committee members participate via videoconferencing and the audiences can watch a live stream.
• Outdoor work areas on campus will be extended for outdoor meetings. Participants must maintain a 1.5 meter distance.
• Events and social gatherings such as drinks parties remain prohibited. Conference & Event Support, formerly known as Conference Desk, will help organizers search for external venues.

For universities the easing measures also imply that as of June 15 they may resume offering on-campus education on a small scale. Large-scale on-campus examinations are out of the question and the current forms of alternative/online exams as well as the revised exam schedules remain in force.

• Extending on-campus study areas for special groups of students is being considered.
• Online on-campus exam options for special groups of students are being considered.

Additional information on the implementation will follow.

All easing measures will comply with the guidelines issued by the government and the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM). Information about the practical impact of the principles outlined above will follow.

Our motto in these uncertain times remains unchanged: ‘On campus if we can, online because we can’.

The VSNU (Association of Universities in the Netherlands) posted a corona-update today (Dutch only, English version will follow), that includes the joint guidelines on exchange. Tilburg University's policy, based on the national guidelines, will be further developed in the coming days and will be published on this website as soon as possible.

The corona crisis and the measures taken to prevent the further spread of the virus have deeply affected and influenced each of us in our daily lives. As education, research, and office work were no longer allowed to take place on campus and events and meetings were cancelled, our world has rapidly shrunk. In the meantime, we have been working in this new reality for several months now and are entering a new phase.

In the press conference on May 6, Prime Minister Rutte reported, “The ‘first outbreak phase’ of the coronavirus is behind us. We are now entering the phase of transition to the one-and-a-half-meter society.” The easing of a number of the measures in the form of a Railroad Timetable (Spoorboekje, Dutch only) was announced.

The VSNU and the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science are working together on a protocol that provides a framework for restarting activities in higher education, in accordance with the principles of the 1.5-meter society. Based on this protocol, Tilburg University will develop its own Spoorboekje with regard to opening up the campus and starting up activities. This perspective will be communicated via this website.

The most important principles here are to follow the national guidelines and the Spoorboekje and to guarantee the safety and health of our employees and students because, although everyone will be happy with easing the measures, it also brings uncertainty. And, no matter how much everyone longs for clarity, easing the measures will continue to be subject to the developments surrounding the virus and the resulting national policy. At the same time, in order to strengthen social cohesion, it is important to examine, within those frameworks, what scope there is for meeting each other on campus. That is what we will do.

Here are a few things we can already clarify. Fully in line with the announced easing of the measures of May 6 and organized according to the guidelines of the RIVM, the following changes:

May 18

• We offer limited study space in CUBE for special target groups of students. 

We offer limited study space to students who are in a distressing or unsustainable home situation due to special (family) circumstances. Students can register for this with reasons at studentsupport@tilburguniversity.edu. If you cannot bring your own laptop and need a PC, please mention this.

These are circumstances that you have already reported to a Dean of Students, see also study delay.

• Part of the outdoor sports facilities will be reopened. Associations will be informed about this. Members will be informed about the possibilities via the website.

May 25

• Library reopens for visitors (search/loan/return). Self-study remains closed. Look for the specific information in the FAQs.
• Offer of outdoor sports will be increased with group lessons (registration required). Members will be informed about the possibilities via the website.

Further information about the Tilburg University Spoorboekje and the period from June onward will follow in the week of May 18.

We stand together in this crisis. Take good care of yourself and watch out for each other!

Within the frameworks set by the RIVM (National Institute for Public Health and the Environment) and the government, Tilburg University is working on scenarios to allow its academic education to continue on campus as much as possible in the academic year 2020/2021. In our opinion, physical proximity among the university community is an important part of academic education.

Tilburg University takes the following as points of departure.

• We strive to provide as much small-scale classes (e.g., seminars) on campus as possible.
• Large-scale education (e.g., lectures) will take place online.
• For the time being, students can also take all classes online (international students, students who are ill, have flu-like symptoms, or cannot travel by public transport, etc.).
• We prioritize a safe and inclusive university community at all times, online and on campus.

As regards research, we are investigating the following options.

• Opportunities for academic research in labs.
• Opportunities for researchers to resume their work on campus.

The University will further elaborate these points of departure and publish the results here. In doing so, we also link up with the national approach adopted by the Dutch universities in response to the new government guidelines to gradually resume the usual education and research activities: On campus if we can, online because we can.

Since the corona measures are being relaxed, libraries can reopen. We hereby inform you that the University Library will continue its limited services until May 25. You can pick up books and materials for which you have received a notification e-mail on working days from 10:30 to 13:00 hrs. on the ground floor of Koopmans building (K7). You can also pick up your Tilburg University card if you have received an e-mail that your card is ready.

From Monday, May 25, services will again be provided from the Library building. From that day, services will be expanded in phases. The independent study facilities in the Library building will remain closed until further notice.

Online proctoring policy

The government's corona measures have a major impact on education at Tilburg University and on the way in which exams can be administered. An essential part of good education is sound testing, that fits in as closely as possible with the educational program and with the way in which students have prepared themselves so far, and that also includes anti-cheating measures. In recent weeks, therefore, an investigation has been carried out into whether and to what extent remote testing and invigilation are possible, whether it is useful to use alternative forms of examination for some courses, and whether it is justified and necessary in exceptional cases to opt for online invigilation using online proctoring.

In consultation with the chairs of the Examining Boards, the Tilburg University Executive Board has decided to use online proctoring for a limited number of examinations. This university-wide policy came about after careful consideration of the results of a test with an online examination using proctoring software, the concerns of students about their privacy and their possible study delay, and the legal obligation of the Examining Boards to guarantee the reliability and validity of the interim and final examinations.

The university had previously stated that online proctoring can only be used if no alternatives are available. This policy will be continued and has been further concretized as follows for the coming examination period starting on May 18, 2020.

• Online proctoring will only be used for key courses recognized as such by the Program Director with knowledge-oriented exams crucial for or close to the moment of graduation. Based on this criterion, each School assesses itself whether and which exams should be administered with proctoring, after having established that there are no alternatives that guarantee the value of the diploma and taking into account privacy concerns.
• The functionality of online proctoring, and thus the amount of data collected, is limited as much as possible. Update May 22: Tilburg University did not enable the option in Proctorio to analyze/signalize head and eye movements. Although video recordings are made during the examination, Proctorio does not record the corresponding head and eye movements for the purpose of detecting possible fraud. If, for example, you look away from the screen, Proctorio will not explicitly inform the proctor of Tilburg University about this.

  Moreover, the data will only be accessible to authorized Tilburg University proctors and will only be viewed and inspected to prevent fraud. After one month, the data will be destroyed.

• All students can use a mock exam to see if the proctoring software works on their hardware. In this way, students can ensure that adequate hardware is available for the actual examination. If a student does not have the proper hardware, we will try to find a solution to the best of our ability. However, we urge everyone to make sure that the limited resources that are available for this actually benefit students who really can't get the necessary hardware in any other way.
• Of course we act within the relevant legal frameworks, including privacy legislation. We will apply proctoring as little as possible and minimize the invasion of privacy by only applying the necessary functionalities that are relevant for safeguarding the value of your diploma. By applying this method, we can safeguard the value of the diploma and at the same time administering online exams to large groups of students. Nevertheless, individual students may object to the application of proctoring. For this group of students, an opt-out arrangement applies.

The Ministry of Education, Culture and Science and the Association of Universities in the Netherlands (VSNU) published new information for higher education today (information in Dutch only).

We are working on specific implementation for Tilburg University. Information on this will be published on this website.

In response to several questions that have arisen about online examinations, the Association of Universities in the Netherlands (VSNU) has issued a statement (in Dutch) and the rector magnificus Klaas Sijtsma has granted an interview to Univers.

On Tuesday, April 14, the Proctorio remote proctoring program was piloted at Tilburg University for off campus examinations for specific exams. After an exam has been taken, Proctorio can be used to establish whether fraud was committed during the exam. Proctorio was piloted at a trial examination of the Philosophy of Law B course, in which 368 students took part. The results were positive, just like at other universities. Therefore we have decided  to use Proctorio for specific examinations,

Students are obviously and understandably concerned about the impact of this form of remote examinations on their privacy.  Some students are critical and have questions, with good reason and we understand these concerns. In the meantime we have answered several questions from the parties in the University Council in an extra meeting.

Just as other universities, the corona crisis compels Tilburg University to organize education online and therefore the option of online examinations was explored adhering to two principles:

• The first one is that we wish to do all we can to prevent students from incurring undue delays in their progress towards completing their degree programs. This semester requires a large number of exams to take place, and if these cannot be held, it will lead to major problems with registration next year.
• The second principle is that we wish to safeguard the reliability of examinations and of degrees awarded by the University. Ruling out fraud is necessary to safeguard the value of exams and awarded degrees. In addition and throughout this process, we are working very closely together with the chairs of the Examination Boards of the Schools who monitor the regulations regarding education and examinations. We are working together with other Dutch universities, using their knowledge.

We wish to point out that we do not monitor exams through Proctorio while they are being taken; Proctorio generates a fraud estimate for each participating student after the exam has been taken, and this estimate enables us to investigate whether fraud was committed during the exam. The usual procedure via the Examination Board applies. The fraud indication could be, for example, that the proof of identity was incorrect or that there was someone else in the room. That would need further investigation. Student data are only available to proctors appointed by the university. These data will be automatically deleted after a programmable time period. To explore the options Proctorio offers, the pilot test was run with Proctorio at maximum settings. On this basis we make choices that minimize the invasion of privacy while maintaining the value of the diploma and preventing study delay.

Students watch online lectures from home and employees work from home as much as possible. Now that the government measures concerning working from home have been extended and the VSNU (Association of Universities in the Netherlands) has published guidelines relating to access to buildings, the Executive Board has decided to further limit the access to campus buildings for safety and sustainability reasons. From Wednesday April 8, only employees who have to work on campus will be able to do so, on floors 10, 11, and 12 in Koopmans building. They must have their supervisor's permission to work on campus. Borrowing books and materials from the Library continues to be possible. From April 8, students and staff will be able to pick up/return borrowed books and materials from the Library on weekdays from 10:30 to 13:00 hrs. on the ground floor of Koopmans building. Recording video lectures in lecture rooms can, of course, also go ahead as usual. Employees and student board members can still pick up things from their offices on weekdays between 9:00 and 11:00 hrs. 

More information about the limited access to buildings can be found in the Frequently Asked Questions.

The corona crisis and the measures taken to prevent further spread of the virus, have profoundly touched and affected each and every one of us in our daily lives. The government called on everybody to observe social distancing and the university has adapted itself in a few weeks time to digital education.

We are aware that these are difficult times for you and we are very grateful to all our students and employees, for their flexibility in dealing with this situation. We can also imagine that this sudden and surreal situation is hard and may cause, stress, and sadness: the corona crisis has an impact on us all.

Stay connected

With worldwide self-isolation and closures, we need to be in contact, stay connected and take care of each other more than ever. We would like to take this opportunity to draw your attention to the new web page about mental and physical health for both staff and students.

We have collected tips and advice to help you support and manage your wellbeing in this difficult period. What activities can you still undertake? How can you remain in contact with your study mates and colleagues? Are there any online events? And where can you go if you should not feel so good? If you need help, that is quite normal and there are possibilities for that.

We stand together in this crisis. Take care of yourself and look out for each other!

Following the new government instructions given on 31 March, Tilburg University is also extending the measures already taken up to and including April 28. This means that students and staff are requested to study and work at home. The educational activities take place at a distance until the end of the academic year. An overview of the measures taken by Tilburg University can be found in the earlier updates on this website and in the Frequently Asked Questions.

Mentally and physically fit during the corona outbreak

All of the Netherlands is affected by the coronavirus outbreak. It is an extraordinary situation, in which everybody will have to find a new rhythm. The measures recently introduced by the central government mean that all education by Tilburg University will be provided online until the end of this academic year. This means, for example, that you will no longer meet your fellow students during lectures or on our campus. We can imagine that this is a difficult and stressful time full of uncertainty. The new measures require a great deal of flexibility from everyone and you may feel that you are on your own.

Together or on your own

Many students are at home with family or live in digs with fellow students. There are also students who are far away from home and their families. We can imagine that this sudden and surreal situation is hard on them. Worry, stress, and sadness: the corona crisis has an impact on us all. We have collected tips and advice to help you support and manage your wellbeing in this difficult period.

What activities can you still undertake? How can you remain in contact with your study mates? Are there any online events? And where can you go if you should not feel so good? If you need help, that is quite normal and there are possibilities for that.

Need more help?

If you need more help after having read the tips and advice, you can always make an appointment with the student psychologists, a program coordinator, or a Dean of Students. You can also contact the Tilburg University social worker.

Looking after your mental health? Go to Student and Health during the corona crisis.

In line with the general measures taken by the central government, the Tilburg University Executive Board has decided to offer education online until the end of the academic year. This means that lectures and exams will take place online or in alternative ways. The exams will start from week 21 (May 18) and week 22 (May 25), depending on the study program, the examination schedule will follow. The way in which the exams are going to take place is something we are working on very hard right now. More information will follow as soon as possible.

We follow the new guidelines for meetings and events, these have all been cancelled until June 1. If, in the meantime, government regulations are adjusted, we will assess what activities – in addition to online lectures and exams – can take place on campus.

We realize that the situation created by the coronavirus (and the necessary measures against it) is very unpleasant for all our students. Not only does the situation cause a lot of practical inconvenience, it also raises questions for many students about the progress of education this academic year. Hereby, you will receive an update on the progress of the education, including examinations, in the coming period. The basic principle for this is to do as much as possible to prevent study delay and to complete the education before the end of the academic year.

Education

• The education will start as originally planned and scheduled, if necessary this education will be provided online (whereby the existing timetable is and remains the starting point).
• In order to create space to catch up on the examinations planned after March 12, the education in block 4 (or the rest of the semester) will be one week shorter.

Examinations

• All examinations scheduled after March 12 will be rescheduled from either May 18 or May 25 (this differs per program). A new exam schedule, based on those dates, will follow as soon as possible.
• Students will be informed later on the way in which the examinations will take place.
• Information about this and possible other changes regarding education and examinations will be communicated through Canvas.

It is good to know that in the background a lot of hard work is being done to support online education and to develop possibilities for remote assessments. We will inform students in good time about developments in this area.

The above guidelines apply from March 20, 2020 – 17:00 until further notice.

• Students who meet the BSA standard within the academic year 2019-2020 will receive a positive recommendation this academic year. 
• Students who do not meet the BSA standard of their study program because they have been delayed as a result of the national corona-related measures, will be granted a postponement. These students will have the opportunity to obtain a positive recommendation in the academic year 2020-2021.
• For students at Tilburg University, this means that students who are granted a postponement will receive a personal progress report at the end of the academic year. In this way, we ensure that we carefully advise students on the next step in their study career.

To make sure that we have an overview of who is on campus, access to buildings will be controlled from Friday morning, March 20, at 8:00 hrs. The buildings will remain accessible only to those who need to be able to enter as a matter of urgency.

For employees, this means that they can enter with their Tilburg University card; make sure you have your card with you. If you haven’t, you can get in under supervision of Security staff. You can reach Security via the telephone number posted on all main entrance doors. Please make sure that you have the key to your office with you, as well as identification.

We urgently request employees to work from home as much as possible and to coordinate this with their supervisor. Employees can come to the campus to work only for matters that cannot be done from home (e.g., teachers who need to record online classes or lectures), and if they observe the measures published by the central government on March 12.

All important information relation to working from home has been brought together on this page. Do you want to know more about how you can work at home effectively behind your laptop or PC and avoid pain in your neck or shoulders? Then take a look at this document.

Please note that the limited access to the campus does not apply to the lending of books/materials from the Library by students and staff. You can use the Library’s lending facilities on workdays between 10:00 and 14:00 hrs. You can enter the Library without a University card. All study places are closed, everywhere on the campus.

In the light of the guidelines of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ guidelines, Tilburg University urgently calls on all its Dutch students and staff abroad to return to the Netherlands. We do so because there are currently no areas where there is no risk of spreading corona and because of the increasing travel restrictions imposed by more and more countries.  The university will assist you where possible and try to minimize as much as possible the negative consequences of your having to return. It is necessary for students and staff to register and sign up on BijzonderebijstandBuitenland.nl

Together with the Dutch student or employee concerned who is currently staying abroad, we look into the situation and strive to find the best possible solution, in coordination with the supervisor and/or director.

Outgoing exchange students from Tilburg University are asked to contact the Study Abroad & Exchange Office.

International degree students can contact the education coordinator of their School.

Employees are requested to contact the Human Resources Division  via e-mail: hrpolicy@tilburguniversity.edu

Dear students and staff of Tilburg University,

These are exceptional times for the Netherlands and for our university. The coronavirus is now dominating our lives. In the past week, we have been compelled to take increasingly far-reaching measures in an effort to combat the spreading of the virus. In Brabant, the momentum was even higher than in the rest of the Netherlands. Since we have taken so many measures that deeply affect everything we do, colleagues have toiled long and hard to ensure the smooth operation of processes in research, education, and the support services. We are deeply grateful for the way in which everyone has collaborated to allow education activities to go ahead, facilities to be set up, and to continue working where this was not possible in other ways, and for your numerous other efforts!

The current situation is expected to last for weeks and will raise new questions for us each day. Our crisis team and our corona steering committee are working on them every day, as are so many of you. We know there are many questions about education, travel, working from home, et cetera. We are trying to answer them as well as we can and as quickly as we can. All questions and answers are on the website. That is the place where our communication efforts converge: it is the best place to go for information. Should you have questions or suggestions that we have not yet found an answer to, please contact our team via the website.

We also see that all kinds of initiatives are emerging to support people who are having a hard time. We are delighted to see how caring our community is for people who will really need our help at this time and in future weeks. In the coming weeks, we will also pay attention to the impact of this crisis in the medium term, for education and research, and for business operations. Behind the scenes, we are working hard on solutions, too.

Together we will be able to get through this difficult time. We hope that we will all do so in good health and, where this is not the case, that we will be able to support each other.

Take care and be well,

The Executive Board
Koen Becking
Klaas Sijtsma
Paulina Snijders 

We understand that the decision to close daycare centers and primary schools can have important consequences for many of our employees. In view of this exceptional situation, Tilburg University wants to be accommodating as regards the arrangements for emergency leave and special leave. We also appeal to you as employees to see what can be done by staggering or adapting your working times. If you can work only partly or not at all because you need to take care of your children, you will be given the opportunity to take 100% paid emergency and special leave for those hours until April 6, 2020. Please make arrangements with your supervisor on your work, your availability, any adjustments to your working hours and, if necessary, whether you will take the leave referred to above and, if so, when. You do not need to submit a leave request in the My Employee portal or via the HR Service Center.

The measures that were taken earlier and that can be found in earlier updates, have now been extended up to and including April 6, 2020.

Based on the new measures announced on March 15, the following new measures for Tilburg University enter into effect immediately.

• All catering establishments on campus will be closed.
• The study places in all buildings will be closed.
• PhD ceremonies will take place online as much as possible.
• Everyone is asked to maintain a distance of 1.5 meters from other people.
• For staff with school-age and young children who currently have no childcare options available, further guidelines will be published tomorrow. They can contact their supervisor to discuss solutions for the next few days.

Tilburg University advises its outgoing exchange students in red AND orange areas on the map to to consider returning to the Netherlands. All students who are currently residing in one of these specific regions will be informed by the Study Abroad & Exchange Office via email. In case students will have a study delay due to his or her forced return, the student will be eligible for Financial Support for Students (FOS) or in Dutch profileringsfonds under the current conditions.

Tilburg University students who are currently residing in other areas, and who want to come home due to the uncertain situation, regardless of the travel advice from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, are asked to contact the Study Abroad & Exchange Office for advice.

Our advice is to always carefully monitor the instructions from your host university and act accordingly. In addition, students are advised to register to the Dutch Ambassy in their host country

Should the travel advice of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs change or if we receive information that the situation has changed, we will inform the students who are in that particular region at that point and advise them.

All students who have been in one of the risk areas (red and orange on the map) are requested to stay at home 14 days after their return.

Risk areas (red and orange areas on the map) can be found on the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs website. Under ‘Reisadvies: kies uw bestemming’, enter the country that you want information on, in Dutch (use initial capital!) and click the blue button.

The Government decided today that educational activities are no longer allowed at universities and universities of applied sciences. The Executive Board has taken a number of measures that are effective immediately and apply up to and including March 31.

• All buildings close daily at 18:00 hours. The restaurant (mensa) is open until 19.00 for take-away meals. During weekends all buildings are closed.
• There will be no more lectures on location, only online. Lecturers can make use of livestream possibilities in the lecture halls.
• All examinations on location have been canceled. Tilburg University will let students know as soon as possible how it will deal with the consequences of canceling examinations.
• Students can continue to make use of the library's lending function and takeaway facilities at our restaurants. A limited number of self-study places are available.
• PhD defenses continue with fewer than 100 attendees.

• The measure on working from home will remain in force up to and including March 31. Staff are only allowed to be on campus if there is no other way and always with the permission of their supervisor.

These new measures, which have come on top of previous ones, have a major impact on our primary process, which we very much regret. It requires a lot of flexibility from both our staff and students. Government policy is necessary to counter the risk of the virus spreading.

Please check the update above for the most up-to-date information

In response to the new policy announced today by the government and RIVM to prevent further spread of the coronavirus, Tilburg University is taking the following measures. These, as well as all previous measures, will be in force at least until March 31. The new measures take effect immediately.

• All buildings close daily at 18:00 hours. The restaurant (mensa) is open until 19:00 hrs for take-away meals. During weekends all buildings are closed.
• Lectures for up to 100 students will continue as planned, possibly online. Lectures with more than 100 students can only (and where possible) be offered online.
• Examinations will continue but will be administered in groups of fewer than 100 candidates. The examinations already planned will take place according to the examination schedule. The measure of not more than 100 persons in an examination room will be taken into account.
• The Restaurant (mensa) is only available for take-away meals. The seating area is closed. Other takeaways such as Cobbenhagen, CUBE, Starbucks, and Albert Heijn-to-Go are open.
• The library remains open for borrowing, but the study areas will be closed.
• No more than 100 students will be admitted to the self-study areas in other places on the campus.
• PhD defenses will continue, as well as small events, but with a maximum of 100 guests.
• Students are invited to study at home, but if that is not possible, they are welcome on campus.

Following the newly announced governmental measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, the consequences for planned examinations and lectures will be mapped out as soon as possible and published on the website.

Tilburg University responds to the call of the health and other authorities to work at home, if possible, and online, in order to prevent the virus from further spreading. Working from home is mostly possible for the support staff and researchers. As far as education is concerned, the university, like all educational institutions, has an obligation to provide education.

The government's guidelines are that, also in this situation, the primary process of education must continue. Tilburg University complies with this guideline. Nevertheless, we can imagine that students and lecturers are worried. The RIVM issues guidelines for everyone: wash hands, do not shake hands with people and stay at home when you have health problems. If everyone adheres to these guidelines, together we can provide a safe educational environment.

For students who are unable to attend lectures because of health problems, we offer online opportunities to attend lectures.

In response to the call by the mayors of Noord-Brabant to all citizens to take responsibility in reducing social contacts, in order to limit the spread of the corona virus, the university made the following decisions:

• The university asks event organizers to critically consider whether or not to allow the event to go ahead. They can weigh up the number of participants, the necessity of the event and the risks of infection.
• The Executive Board of Tilburg University has decided to close the Sports Center from Wednesday, March 11, 2020 until Monday, March 16, 2020.

All previously taken measures remain in force.

In response to the call by the mayors of Noord-Brabant for all citizens to take personal responsibility in reducing social contacts and thus limit the spread of the virus, the university decided the following. The university asks event organisers to critically consider whether or not to allow the event to go ahead. They can weigh up the number of participants, the necessity of the event and the risks of infection. All measures, including those taken previously, remain in force until Monday.

Based on new government guidelines, Tilburg University is calling on its employees to work from home in the coming seven days wherever possible (up to and including Monday March 16). This concerns employees the nature of whose work permits this, for instance, office workers and researchers. If necessary they can consult by telephone. Working from home always happens in consultation with the supervisor/Managing Director of the relevant unit.

Lectures must continue as much as possible, so teachers and students will come to the university. Teachers should prepare to provide lectures online. The university will continue to be open in conformity with the instructions.

An employee of the support staff of the Tilburg School of Catholic Theology (TST) in Utrecht has been infected with the coronavirus. This has been confirmed by the Municipal Health Service (GGD) in Utrecht. The employee has been in contact with an acquaintance who had recently visited Northern Italy. The employee is currently in isolation at home. ‘Since the employee has not been at the university campus in Tilburg nor in the Bonifatiushuis building in Utrecht after he developed symptoms, there is no risk to employees and students,’ the GGD Utrecht has stated.

The employee became ill on Tuesday evening. On Wednesday, employees who had been in contact with him in the course of that Tuesday were requested to stay at home as a precaution. The workplace at the School where this person works has been thoroughly cleaned. The GGD Utrecht is now further investigating the contacts of the employee outside the university to prevent the virus from spreading further.

According to the regional GGD, educational and other activities in the building and on the campus can continue as usual since there has been no risk of infection. Tilburg University follows the advice of the GGD and the guidelines of the RIVM (National Institute for Public Health and Environmental Protection).

“The RIVM (National Institute for Public Health and Environmental Protection) advises inhabitants of the province of Noord-Brabant to minimize social contact if they have symptoms of a cold, coughing, or fever. This means: stay at home. For instance, work from home, do not visit other people or places where many people congregate. Should you have symptoms and still want to go out, try as much as possible to keep a distance from other people. This will reduce the risk of inadvertently spreading the virus. Call your doctor only if your symptoms get worse." 

Source: RIVM, March 6, 2020

We follow the RIVM’s advice. We request employees, students, and visitors not to come to the campus but to stay at home if they have minor symptoms, like a cold, coughing, or fever. Employees are requested to work from home and to report to their supervisor. Students with symptoms are requested not to come to campus, not even for lectures and exams. In that case, consult the Frequently Asked Questions below for how to proceed. 

Tilburg University is open. We are in close contact with the Municipal Health Service (GGD) and are following the guidelines of the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM). 

New Frequently Asked Questions (and answers) have been added at the bottom of the page.

In addition to the guideline for staff and students, potential visitors from high-risk areas (red and orange on the map) are requested not to visit the campus 14 days after their return. Events will take place in accordance with the guidelines of the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM).
The Executive Board requests event organizers to make this additional guideline known to potential visitors in a timely fashion. 

Until further notice, employees and students are not permitted to make business trips to the risk areas (red and orange on the map). Permission for any exceptions must be requested from the Executive Board via the Secretary of the University. 

All students and staff who have been in one of the risk areas (red and orange on the map) are requested to stay at home 14 days after their return.

Tilburg University is open. We are in close contact with the Municipal Health Service (GGD) and are following the guidelines of the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM). 

Another case of the coronavirus has been confirmed in Tilburg. The first concerns a man who now is in the Elisabeth-TweeSteden Hospital.