Payap University Announcement
Subject: Preventive Measures Related to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) #3
This is a follow-up to the Payap University announcement on the COVID-19 epidemic prevention measures issued on 25 February 2020 and the subsequent announcement (#2) issued on 3 March 2020.
COVID-19 has been designated as a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) which means that it has spread worldwide. Thailand has not been immune and expects to see more and more cases in the short and medium term. Payap University is acutely aware of this and is extremely concerned about the health and welfare of its faculty, staff, and students. Therefore, it is prudent that the university issue guidance to minimize the spread of the coronavirus. This includes protective measures intended to reduce the risk of exposure and infection. As Payap is a teaching university accustomed to close interaction between faculty and students, Payap wants to ensure that we do our best to both limit the risk of contracting COVID and still function as an institution of higher learning. This announcement is meant to provide further guidance to minimize both exposure and infection:
1. Sanitation
1.1 The Health Care Unit of the Student Development Office will educate and advise staff and students on the basics of self-care.
1.2 The university will provide soap and/or alcohol gel in the bathrooms and at the entrance of all buildings. Regular inspections will be conducted to ensure compliance. Maintenance personnel will ensure that trash cans with lids are provided for the disposal of used masks and other infected rubbish in all the buildings and will mark said containers as such.
1.3 Maintenance personnel will increase the frequency of cleaning of various areas using alcohol and/or antiseptic agents.
1.4 All personnel are requested to help to maintain cleanliness of all spaces including laboratories, classrooms, meeting rooms, and public areas. If possible, all personnel should do their best to ensure that all spaces are hygienic by using alcohol and/or antiseptic cleansers before and after use.
2. Teaching
2.1 All courses with 30 or more students should consider using online teaching and learning. But whether the instructor decides to conduct live teaching, or online teaching, or recorded video/audio, a decision should be reached as soon as possible. Regardless, the instructor must ensure the appropriate number of teaching hours and that the content, competencies, and learning outcomes as specified in TQF2 are adhered to.
2.2 All courses with less than 30 students, either online or classroom teaching would be acceptable. Instructors that intend to teach in a classroom setting should adhere to the principles of social distancing and personal distancing and other protective measures.
2.3 For courses that require hands-on learning, instructors should adapt their courses in a way which will minimize virus exposure while achieving all learning outcomes set forth in the TQF2.
Note: Payap University has prepared an online teaching support system for the use of all instructors. Instructors interested to learn more should contact the Office of Information Technology and Educational Innovation.
3. Examination
3.1 The standard requirement of 80 percent attendance as a condition to qualify for an exam is temporarily suspended. Instructors are authorized to determine a more suitable evaluation criteria appropriate for the situation.
3.2 Instructors may consider various forms of evaluation other than the standard classroom examination in a closed room. But the instructor must be able to effectively assess learning outcomes by utilizing other means, such as assignments, reports, online tests, take-home exams, and/or other options.
3.3 The instructor must clearly explain to students any changes made and the criteria used to assess students’ academic performance. This criterion should be explained both verbally and in writing.
4. Activities
4.1 All Payap personnel should avoid activities/projects with 50 or more participants. This is to minimize possible exposure to the virus.
4.2 For all activities with less than 50 participants, the organizer will prepare a COVID-19 infection prevention plan and present it to Payap University for consideration no less than five business days prior to the event. Once the activity has commenced and if it appears that unforeseen circumstances have led to an increase in risk of exposure to the participants, the activity must cease immediately and the organizer must notify the university promptly.