Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (UC): Face-to-face return to university

“University life requires the face-to-face activity of the entire community within the campus, since it is the only way to be able to carry out a broad and comprehensive university training experience,” says the rector of the Catholic University, Ignacio Sánchez, in a letter published by the newspaper El Mercurio and in which it highlights the importance of the collaboration of the university community in this effort to return to campus.

“After two years of pandemic and health restrictions that forced us to develop virtual and innovative methodologies to deliver quality teaching, many universities will fully resume their face-to-face activity in the coming weeks. Certainly, they will be able to fully experience university life again , with the necessary face-to-face, relationship and personal meeting of the entire community, is a desire for which we have been working tirelessly.

At UC, we initially focused on essential practical tasks and activities, later developing hybrid activities and other face-to-face activities with controlled capacity and strict sanitary measures. Since the beginning of the pandemic, we have stimulated teaching innovation, which has meant progress and learning that is projected into the future.

However, university life requires the face-to-face activity of the entire community within the campus, since it is the only way to be able to carry out a broad and comprehensive university training experience. This acquires greater relevance when considering undergraduate students, who are beginning their university life, with the challenges of socialization, inclusion, exploration of new realities, teamwork and appreciation of diversity.

“We require all the collaboration of the university community, in order to unite wills and advance in the permanent restoration of face-to-face activity on our university campuses. This is the great challenge of a university system that must continue to advance in quality, equity, inclusion and innovation” – Rector UC Ignacio Sánchez

In accordance with what we have informed our community a few months ago and that we have recently ratified, our University will reopen its doors to students on Tuesday, March 1, when we will receive the 2022 generation, with whom different face-to-face activities will be carried out. welcome in each of the faculties throughout the week. These activities will include the 2020 and 2021 generations, which have seen their face-to-face activities affected. As of Monday, March 7, all undergraduate and postgraduate students will begin their classes and teaching activities in person at all University campuses.

The constitution of the COVID UC Committee —which has been in operation for more than a year and a half—, with the presence of a broad representation of the university community, allowed us to have many face-to-face teaching activities last year —including taking exams on our campuses — and has facilitated self-care measures for community members to generate the safety and well-being conditions that face-to-face attendance requires. Due to the wide vaccination coverage of our community (close to 99%); to the ventilation conditions of our rooms; the permanent use of masks; hand hygiene and availability of alcohol gel; sanitary food measures; respect for physical distancing; and to admission and screening control policies —with daily declaration of symptoms online—,

We require the full collaboration of the university community, which includes the academic body, students, together with the professional and administrative team, in order to unite wills and advance in the permanent restoration of face-to-face activity on our university campuses. This is the great challenge of a university system that must continue advancing in quality, equity, inclusion and innovation. The country requires it to favor the growth and comprehensive development of our young people.

“Due to the wide vaccination coverage of our community (close to 99%); to the ventilation conditions of our rooms; to the permanent use of masks; hand hygiene and availability of alcohol gel; sanitary food measures; the respect for physical distancing; and the entry and screening control policies, we will be able to carry out a safe return”