Peking University, Jan. 31 2020: As part of our response to the still growing outbreak of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), Peking University has sent the following letters to our international faculty, staff and students. We encourage everyone to remain calm and focus on practicing proper hygiene during this difficult time.
A letter from the Office of International Relations
Dear Peking University international faculty and staff,
As you are aware, China is now dealing with a public health emergency caused by the outbreak of a new strain of coronavirus. Peking University (PKU) is participating in a nationwide effort to contain the spread of the virus and provide medical support to all those in China who are in need. We stand together with the Chinese people, and we stand together as members of this university community in our combined endeavor to protect the health of all who live in China. We are particularly concerned about your health and well-being and want you to know that we are ready to offer help and assistance to any of you who may require it.
In view of this unexpected and still evolving situation, we hope you will all take good care of yourselves. Please keep in mind that your health and safety is a priority for you and for us too, and this is the first step we should all take in order to be a part of our joint effort to confront this challenge. We will keep everyone informed about the latest developments in China and on our campus, and appreciate your kind cooperation in the following two aspects.
First, we urge all PKU international faculty and staff to strictly follow the instructions issued by the University regarding the current coronavirus emergency. PKU has decided to postpone the opening of the Spring semester. This is a critical and integral step to enforce the quarantine against the virus. Although we regret the disruption and inconvenience this may cause, we must nevertheless request that scholars who are now staying with your families and friends in and outside of China, please adjust your travel plans, spend a little more time with your loved ones and wait for our notification for the start of the Spring semester.
Those of you who are currently traveling within China or neighboring areas and have to return to Beijing, we suggest you should inform us before you return to Beijing and remain at home for 14 days as a self-quarantine.
Second, we urge all of our faculty and staff now in China to strictly follow the instructions issued by the government and its health authorities. Please be conscientious in taking all necessary steps for personal protection purposes: avoiding large crowds of people, wearing a mask properly and washing your hands frequently. If you suffer from symptoms such as cough, fever, etc., please notify us and seek medical assistance immediately.
The Central Government, Beijing City, and Peking University are all treating prevention and control of the coronavirus outbreak as a matter of top priority. For the time being, please be calm and reassured, because we have strong and effective mechanisms and means at every institutional level to handle the current crisis and to handle it well. If you need us, do not hesitate to contact our staff, and we will be there for you. There is no need for undue alarm, but just take common sense precautions and observe public health directives. Please keep in contact with us, so that we can alert you to any new developments in a timely and expeditious way.
To apprise us of your plans or to request assistance, please contact Ms. YU Haiyue, email address: yuhaiyue@pku.edu or telephone +86-185-1505-9390. It is of utmost importance that we can keep in touch with you. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
Best regards,
Office of International Relations, PKU
A letter from the International Students Division
Dear Peking University international students,
We hope everyone is safe and healthy!
This is the third letter sent from the International Students Division of Peking University. Previously, we sent a first letter, "Scientific Prevention, Healthy New Year: A Letter to International Students," and a second letter, "Survey on International Students of Peking University" to students through WeChat and email. We would like to express our gratitude towards students for actively cooperating with us during the early stages of the epidemic prevention and control, paying attention to the notices and surveys and providing information to us. This has not only provided important and reliable information for the epidemic prevention and control work on behalf of international students in Peking University, but also has given us valuable time in this battle against the virus.
As we all know, China is now coping with a public health emergency caused by the new coronavirus. Peking University has been actively participating in this national work by putting into place a "Peking University Novel Coronavirus Infection Pneumonia Epidemic Prevention and Control Plan," establishing a school-level prevention and control work leadership group and 14 special working groups, and actively participating and contributing to managing the spread of the virus and providing medical support to the people of Wuhan.
We understand that most of you may have already cancelled or postponed your trip back to school because of the sudden outbreak and may have been actively spreading awareness among your family and friends about proper scientific precaution methods and expressing your concern by forwarding relevant information.
In this unexpected and evolving situation, the International Students Division at Peking University requests everyone to take care of themselves, as your health and safety are a top priority for us while we address this challenge. We will try our best to keep everyone up to date regarding the situation on campus; meanwhile, we also call upon students to actively cooperate with the following two areas of work:
(1) In our latest letter to all of you, we informed you that Peking University has decided to postpone the 2020 spring semester, which is a key and necessary step to isolate and contain the virus. While we apologize for the confusion and inconvenience this may have caused, we must ask each student to make a decision not to return for the time being in order to ensure personal and public safety until PKU receives notice about what the new starting date of 2020 spring semester will be. If you are currently traveling in or around China and are already on your way back to Peking University, please contact us as soon as possible. (Contact information: Mr. Wo Yiming, mobile phone: 13051205132, email: woym@pku.edu.cn).
(2) In light of the current situation, we sincerely hope that all international students at Peking University will strictly abide by the instructions issued by the government and the health authorities and will take all necessary precautions: Avoid participating in activities at crowded places; and wear a mask correctly and wash hands using the scientifically approved method, using soap and running water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer frequently, especially after coughing or sneezing, after going to the bathroom and before meals, after handling animal waste, and each time you arrive at your residence. If you have been experiencing cough, fever or other symptoms, please inform us immediately and seek medical help. Peking University has set up a daily reporting system to collect all necessary information to monitor the situation and protect everyone. Therefore, if you have not yet completed the survey for international students of Peking University, we request you to kindly fill in the survey as soon as possible in order for us to understand the current situation better.
In addition, after Peking University issued the notice of postponing the beginning of the 2020 spring semester, on January 26, 2020, various departments of the university met to discuss and organize our tasks for the spring semester. We would like to draw your attention to the following:
Arrangements for current students and 2020 candidates
The graduate school of Peking University has released the latest update to the school spring semester working schedule, covering the second-round examination for admission of graduate student applicants, 2020 spring semester graduate student academic arrangements, and spring semester graduation- and degree granting-related work. We would like to request our international graduate students and 2020 applicants to give these matters your immediate attention. Moreover, if you have any questions, please contact your department's program coordinator immediately. You may also contact the graduate school department through email: pkugraduate@pku.edu.cn to make relevant academic arrangements in advance.
Peking University's Academic Affairs Department has also released overall arrangements for undergraduate teaching for the spring semester, covering course selection arrangements, teaching and management requirements during the postponed semester, etc. If you have any questions regarding your academic program, please feel free to contact the Academic Affairs Faculty for consultation, or contact the Academic Affairs Department at jwbzhb@pku.edu.cn.
Guidance for international students who wish to leave, remain in, or return to Beijing
Recently, there have been many international students who have expressed a desire to leave Beijing, or stay in Beijing, or return to Beijing. Accordingly, the International Students Division of Peking University provides the following guidance for students:
If you wish to leave Beijing —
You are allowed leave, provided that there are no abnormalities in your current vital signs (no fever, no coughing and similar other symptoms). Students who have been quarantined at a designated location may not leave during the quarantine period. Compliance with transportation departments as well as epidemic prevention and control and other related requirements is essential.
If, due to the relevant circumstances, you wish to leave Beijing for a long time, the student must first complete any pending formalities for changing school status (including asking for leave, suspension of schooling, resumption of schooling, suspending one's scholarship, etc.) before leaving Beijing, according to the relevant requirements.
If you wish to stay in Beijing —
Yes, you may stay in Beijing. At the same time, it is important to stay inside, in your lodgings, as much as possible, reducing your exposure to the outside. Please be responsible and pay attention to personal protection and comply with management regulations. If you are experiencing fever, dry cough, weakness, breathing difficulties and other symptoms, please go immediately to the designated fever clinic as well as reporting your status to the International Students Division (Ms. Huang Yumei, mobile phone: 13810614299) and your residence unit.
If you want to return to Beijing (return to PKU) —
In principle, students are requested to avoid returning to Beijing and the campus of PKU in advance of the school's announcement of a new semester start date. In case of individual circumstances requiring the student to return to the PKU campus, he or she must request permission to return by providing a signed copy of this informed consent letter (scan the QR code below to download the informed consent letter) and written explanation by email to Mr. Wo Yiming (woym@pku.edu.cn). Each request to return to campus will be decided on a case-by-case basis. If approval is granted to return to PKU's Beijing campus, those who return from Hubei will be quarantined at a designated place by the school as required.
Informed Consent Letter QR Code for students wishing to leave, remain in, or return to Beijing
Peking University Psychological Assistance Hotline
If you are experiencing any psychological problems, please call the 24-hourmental health assistance hotline of Peking University at 010-62760521.
Yanyuan Students Micro Assistant Platform
During this delay of the start of the semester, the Yanyuan Students Micro Assistant Platform will provide relevant information on infection protection, school gate control management, canteen timing, postgraduate study, career and overseas study, internet services and any information related to the beginning of the semester. Please pay attention to the information on this platform (scan the QR code).
Yanyuan Students Micro Assistant Platform QR Code
If you have any other questions, please feel free to contact us at study@pku.edu.cn right away. We will reply to your email as soon as we can.
The International Students Division of Peking University is always at your side! We believe that with our joint efforts, the epidemic will eventually pass; therefore, let us work together, combining our various efforts to contribute toward the prevention and control of this epidemic.
We await the arrival of spring and the blooming of flowers in the new semester! And we are looking forward to seeing everyone again on campus!
International Students Division, Office of International Relations, PKU
Edited by: Huang Weijian
Source: PKU Office of International Relations
