In the context of the public health emergency linked to the Coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak,  after the approval of the Prime Minister's Decrees dated 8 and 9 March, which extend  travel restrictions across the Italian country, the University is ensuring continuity via e-learning tools, namely via the Blackboard platform, and promoting an extensive use of agile work among their employees.
We invite you to continue following all the updates on www.unicatt.it and on your iCatt account
For further information, please contact: infocoronavirus@unicatt.it
 
Here below, please find the letter to the university community by the Rector Franco Anelli following the approval of the Prime Minister's Decree dated 8 March."

Dear professors, lecturers and technical/administrative staff. Dear students,

The new Prime Ministerial Decree 08.03.2020 was signed tonight. It establishes new measures to contain the spread of the COVID-19 virus throughout the country and provides for specific measures for the Lombardy Region and other provinces.
For these territories, the new Prime Ministerial Decree reiterates the suspension of all teaching and curricular activities until April 3, 2020, without prejudice to the possibility of carrying out distance learning activities. Courses for physicians in specialized training, specialised training courses in General Medicine and the activities of internships of the healthcare professions are excluded from this suspension.
Research activities and technical and administrative activities are not suspended.
In particular, it should be noted that the DPCM has not provided for the suspension of working activities and that commuting motivated by work requirements is possible. As a consequence, it is possible to reach your workplace regardless of the area of origin: in order to prove the need to move for work requirements, it is advisable to have a university identification badge. Although it is not necessary, upon request a certificate will be provided stating the workplace by the organization to which one belongs, or by the HR departments.

The University, in such difficult context, in agreement with the other Universities operating in the territories affected by the new Prime Ministerial Decree, intends to:

  • further expand agile working, compatibly with operational requirements;
  • encourage the use of leave periods, taking into account the recommendation of the Prime Ministerial Decree of 8 March 2020;
  • further enhance the use of telematics tools for all compatible activities;
  • limit the use of public services to situations of necessity.

To this end, specific provisions will subsequently be issued, also following opportune consultations with HR.
However, the services that ensure the functioning of distance learning activities in accordance with the procedures already communicated (lectures, exams and graduation sessions) must be guaranteed, and will be further defined and specified in agreement with the Faculty Deans.

Considering the length of the restrictive measures, it is necessary that all the University's professors and lecturers carry out the appropriate teaching activities via telematic systems. The response in this sense has already been widespread and significant, but it is essential to take steps to ensure that our students do not have any detrimental effects on their teaching path; for this reason everything necessary will be done to ensure the technical support needed.

I also reiterate the need for teachers to review, where necessary, the study syllabuses and the ways to prepare for the exam, and to indicate, in cases where the original syllabus presupposes students’ attendance, alternative tools of a bibliographic type (this is to meet the needs of those who, for whatever reason, are not in a position to effectively benefit from online teaching).

For the entire length of the period during which classroom attendance and curricular activities are suspended, the guidelines for the main activities of the university are as follows:

  • didactic activities (lectures, profit exams and graduation sessions) will be carried out exclusively via telematic systems. The Examination Boards will meet in person at the University's premises;
  • research, technical and administrative activities will be carried out in person at the University' s premises. All the University facilities, including the libraries, remain open to authorized users. Dissertations, internships and external internships, where permitted by the receiving organization, are authorized;
  • meetings of the collegiate bodies are held electronically;
  • study halls must remain closed;
  • all events open to the public are suspended;
  • all services which are essential for carrying out the University's main activities, as identified above, are provided.

We will proceed with subsequent communications to provide more operational details, constantly following the evolution of the situation and the indications of the Authorities.
These are severe measures, which exacerbate the limitations from which we have suffered in recent days, but the seriousness of the situation imposes them. Respecting them scrupulously is a duty to ourselves and to others and will allow us to overcome the crisis. In any case, the objectives of our university community will be to protect the health of all and to make every effort to prevent or contain as much as possible the repercussions on the regularity of study.
 
Best Wishes
The Rector