Important message from Vice President (Teaching and Learning)

Dear colleagues and students

The University is continuing to draw on expert medical knowledge in monitoring the coronavirus situation in Hong Kong. While all of us are eager to return to teaching and learning in early March, we realize that it is now unlikely that scheduled classes on campus will be able to resume so quickly. As long as there is risk of infection in a crowded classroom, we cannot deliver face-to-face teaching. I’m writing to inform you of how we envisage the remainder of the semester unfolding.

Please note that the teaching and assessment schedules for professional undergraduate programmes may differ from those described below, and will be announced separately by programme directors.

Undergraduate programmes

Important message from Task Force on Infectious Diseases

Dear colleagues,

The University has decided to resume business starting next Monday, February 3, 2020, with reduced level of services where required.

Balancing the current developments of the Novel Coronavirus and service needs, apart from emergency and essential services, departments will also resume provision of other services as far as possible, but could be on a reduced level if required.  Heads of Departments will consider staff arrangement to maintain necessary service as per the department’s situation and will communicate with their staff members separately.

We will continue to monitor and assess the situation daily, and will post updates to the University’s website, HKU App, HKU Portal and FaceBook page as appropriate and send bulk emails as necessary.

Your co-operation during this challenging time is much appreciated. Please stay vigilant and continue to make personal health your top priority.
Task Force on Infectious Diseases

Important message from the Vice-President and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Teaching & Learning)

Dear Staff and Students,

Hong Kong is going through a very challenging time due to the recent outbreak of Coronavirus in Mainland China. The University has been closely monitoring and reviewing the virus situation in Hong Kong. Having continuously received advice from medical experts, we now come to the view that we will need more time before allowing all campus teaching to resume.

Undergraduate programmes

We have decided that campus teaching for undergraduate programmes will be suspended for two weeks from Monday, February 17, 2020, and will resume on Monday, March 2, 2020 (except for a few special programmes for which detailed arrangements will be announced separately in due course).

As previously announced, we will conduct online teaching and learning for two weeks from February 3 to February 17. This is to ensure that students make a start on their second semester learning. Building on the week of face-to-face classes conducted in the week before Chinese New Year, these two weeks will generate an opportunity for teachers and students to lay down the foundations of their courses.

The University will then move into recess for two weeks from February 17 to March 2. In this period, students may undertake self-study based on the three weeks of teaching already undertaken in the semester. However, no formal teaching and learning activities will be scheduled.

We are currently exploring options for ensuring that proper and adequate teaching is provided in the remainder of the semester. Our core aim is to deliver for students the face-to-face experience that has always defined education at HKU.

We are considering many ways of restructuring the semester to generate additional time for campus teaching. We may conduct regular teaching activities during the March reading week (March 9-14). We may extend the semester to end on a later date. We may schedule classes in the evenings and on weekends. This of course has to be decided by consideration of many factors and dynamic change of virus situations.

Postgraduate Programmes

The Faculties or the programmes concerned will announce the teaching arrangements for taught postgraduate programmes in due course.

Research postgraduates should discuss their study plans with their supervisors.

Like many in the society, we are dealing with tremendous human health challenges. The situation is changing rapidly and we hope to work with you to provide best possible delivery for our safety, teaching and learning. We very much appreciate your understanding and cooperation. Please stay vigilant and continue to make personal health your top priority.

Professor Ian Holliday
Vice-President & Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Teaching & Learning)

(Posted on January 30, 2020)

Important message from Task Force on Infectious Diseases

To: All Staff

Health Screening of Staff Returning from Mainland China    

In view of the recent outbreak of Novel Coronavirus Infection in Mainland China and in order to safeguard the health of University members as well as to enable the University to provide appropriate assistance to affected individuals, staff members returning to Hong Kong from Mainland China are required to fill out an e-health screening form. 

If you are already in Hong Kong now, and you returned to Hong Kong on or after 10 January, 2020, you should fill out the form as soon as possible.  If you are still outside Hong Kong now, you should fill out the form as soon as possible after you have returned to Hong Kong.

Please go to the following link to complete the e-health screening form.
https://hku.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4MwToVNy67eMcQt 

Should you have any enquiries, please send an email to ncovstaff@hku.hk 

Thank you for helping the University to safeguard public health on campus!

Task Force on Infectious Diseases

(Posted on January 28, 2020)

Important message from President’s office

Self-Quarantine against Novel Coronavirus Infection and other infectious diseases after returning from Mainland China

Dear staff and students, 

If you are returning to Hong Kong from anywhere in Mainland China (not only Hubei Province), the University requests that you fill out an e-health screening form that will be sent to you in a separate email, and that you self-quarantine yourself by staying at, and working from, home for 14 days after your return to Hong Kong and before you come back to the campus. The main purpose of this is to ensure the safety of members of our university community and that of Hong Kong as a whole. 

The University is making arrangement and exploring various possible options to assist those students requiring self-quarantine but have difficulties with their current accommodation arrangements in halls of residence.

Regarding teaching and learning arrangement, the add/drop period for courses of undergraduate programmes will be extended to February 21.  Other aspects of teaching and learning measures, such as online teaching arrangements, would be announced in due course. 

We would like to take the opportunity to remind you to wear a surgical face mask when you go out and adopt good personal hygiene practices including washing your hands frequently and properly.

Task Force on Infectious Diseases

(Posted on January 28, 2020)

Important message from Task Force on Infectious Diseases

Special Work Arrangements after Chinese New Year Holidays   

Dear Colleagues,

In light of the latest developments of the novel coronavirus, the University has decided to implement special work arrangements after the Chinese New Year holidays (starting from January 29).  University offices will be closed to students, staff and the public until February 2, 2020.   Heads of relevant departments will arrange for core staff to work on campus as needed to provide emergency and essential services.  Other staff members shall work from home and are not required to return to the offices during this period.   Heads of Departments will communicate with their staff members separately.

During the period from January 29 to February 2, 2020, the Libraries, Learning Commons, University Health Service (UHS) clinics and sports facilities under the Centre for Sports and Exercise will be closed.   On-campus catering will continue on a reduced basis, for which separate announcement will be made.  The UHS will continue to support the University on matters related to the novel coronavirus.  Students and staff with questions on novel coronavirus infection may contact the UHS at 3917-2514 during office hours.

The University will continue to monitor and assess the situation, and keep the University community posted.

Task Force on Infectious Diseases

(Posted on January 28, 2020)

Important message from Vice-President (Teaching and Learning)

Online Teaching and Learning  

Dear colleagues

I’m writing to follow up on the President’s January 25 message announcing class suspension at HKU until February 17.

In this period we will again switch to online T&L. Where possible, we encourage instructors to use lecture capture and chat rooms to deliver course content. Teaching activities that cannot be delivered virtually will need to be postponed until after February 17.

The HKU Learning Management System Moodle is our central online learning resource for course teachers and their students.  Moodle supports teachers, course TAs, instructors and administrators to create flexible and engaging online learning content for supporting teaching.  Online support resources such as FAQs, user guides and short video tutorials to help teachers get started with Moodle are available:
? User Guides
? Online Tutorials
? Training Seminars

ITS has entered a campus license with Zoom, a video conferencing service, for use by staff and students for facilitating their work and studies.  Zoom conferencing can be used for online meetings, classes, interviews, etc. Details are available at  https://www.its.hku.hk/services/communication/conferencing/zoom, or the guidelines provided by Faculty of Education at the end of this email.

The Panopto - Lecture Capture Service (LCS) is based on a centrally managed video capture solution supported by the Panopto system. All 159 centrally timetabled classrooms and lecture theatres are Panopto ready.  More details are available on the LES website. 

Integration of Panopto and Moodle - Teachers who have Moodle courses can post pancasts for students to view more easily.  At fingertips, the link to a pancast can be inserted to a Moodle block of a teacher’s Moodle course for viewing limited to their students only.  The Panopto recorder software is pre-installed in the classroom PCs.  For personal PC or devices, under the campus license, teachers can download it from http://lecturecapture.hku.hk to install on their own devices.

For the abovementioned e-learning support provided by Information Technology Services (ITS), please visit http://moodle-support.hku.hk/resources, email ithelp@hku.hk, or call 3917 0123 in office hours.

To advise on online T&L options, TELI colleagues will offer individual online clinic sessions each working day from January 29 onwards. Teachers can contact Dr. Leon Lei or Dr. Tyrone Kwok for one-to-one consultation through Whatsapp Mobile app or Desktop app (https://web.whatsapp.com/). Their contact numbers are:-

Leon Lei: 9162 3384
Tyrone Kwok: 5964 8396

Leon and Tyrone will respond through text-based messages for basic inquiries. They will create one-to-one Zoom meeting for tool demonstrations when necessary. (How to join a Zoom meeting: https://youtu.be/vFhAEoCF7jg)

Below this message I’m resending for easy reference some information about online resources circulated to all colleagues in November 2019.

Renewed thanks to all. As ever, please drop me a line with queries.

Best wishes, Ian

Professor Ian Holliday
Vice-President (Teaching and Learning)
The University of Hong Kong

***

Extract from my email of November 15, 2019:

There is a good collection of e-resources (e-journals, e-books, etc) available for access online.  Visit Find@HKUL (http://find.lib.hku.hk) or the Electronic Resources (https://libguides.lib.hku.hk/az.php).  Teachers can set up a recommended resource list using ReadingList@HKUL (https://libguides.lib.hku.hk/readinglist).  Ask-a-Librarian (Email: libis@hku.hk) if you have questions.

A one-stop resource page to support both asynchronous and synchronous online learning can be found at the University’s Teaching and Learning website: https://tl.hku.hk/. Please check this page from time to time as we provide more updates over the next few days.

Some suggested online teaching and learning resources kindly provided by the Faculty of Education are listed below.

Synchronous: Hosting a live online meeting with students.
? Skype for Business. HKU has purchased Office 365, so we can have unlimited hours and sections of online meetings with students. This handout shows how to schedule an online meeting with students. However, students cannot review the meeting if they miss the online session. You may follow a procedure to record and play back a Skype for Business meeting. Of course, you can use alternative software (e.g. Screencast-o-Matic) to record the online meeting and upload to HKU Panopto.
? Zoom. 40 mins limit on group meetings with a maximum of 100 participants. Zoom does have a recording function to allow you to record the online meeting and upload to HKU Panopto. You can always create another online meeting after the 40 mins limit.

Asynchronous: Uploading pre-recorded videos to Moodle
? For recording. The following tools allow you to record your own teaching. 
o Panopto Recorder: After installing, please follow the step to record and upload your recordings.
o Office 365’s PowerPoint allows you to record your screen in PowerPoint then save your screen recording as a separate file from PowerPoint. Please update your office 365 if you do not have the recording function.
o Screencast-o-Matic : A free online screen capture tool. In case your lectures are not PowerPoint based and you would like to capture your computer screen.
o Use your own smartphone camera to record videos.
?  For uploading to HKU Panopto and Moodle:
o Upload video files with Panopto Unison
o Please remember to add a Panopto block in your Moodle course to allow your students to access it.
o If you prefer, upload your recording to a public streaming platform. e.g. Youtube, please remember to set the privacy to "unlisted".

Tips:
? Try a 1-2 minute test to check the video/audio quality before starting a full lecture recording.
? Use a standalone microphone attached to your laptop/PC or earphones with microphones for better audio quality.
? Keep the recording to a reasonable length or separate it into sections.

(Posted on January 27, 2020)

Important message from the President’s Office

Dear colleagues and students,

In light of the latest development of the Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak, classes at the University will be suspended after the Chinese New Year holidays and will resume Monday, February 17, 2020. Detailed arrangements about in-class examinations, online teaching and make-up classes will be announced in due course.

Non-local students who are in Hong Kong are advised to stay in Hong Kong during the period when classes are suspended. Those who are not in Hong Kong at present should consider not returning to Hong Kong at this point in time. Research postgraduates should discuss their study plans with their supervisors.

We have strengthened preventive measures as far as practicable across the University. However, students and colleagues, especially those in residential halls, should take proper precautions related to personal hygiene and prevention of transmission or infection. Please consult the advice and announcements provided by the University Health Service at http://www.uhs.hku.hk/phpedpr/novel_infectious_disease_of_PH_significance.php

In order to safeguard the health of all University members, and to be able to provide appropriate assistance to affected individuals, all students and colleagues returning from Mainland China must complete an online health screening form, which will be emailed to University members.

The campus will remain open, and office and research labs will continue to operate, but heads of units and supervisors should communicate clearly with colleagues about working arrangements and exercise discretion regarding staffing flexibility as necessary, including work at home arrangements for some colleagues.

Events on campus in the coming weeks, especially events involving a large number of participants, should be rescheduled or cancelled.

The University has established a Task Force on Infectious Diseases, chaired by Vice-President (IA) Professor Norman Tien, to continually monitor and assess the situation. We will post updates to the University’s FaceBook page, HKU App and HKU Portal and website as appropriate and send bulk emails as necessary.

Please stay vigilant and continue to make your personal health a top priority.

Professor Xiang Zhang
President and Vice-Chancellor

(Posted on January 25, 2020)

Important message from Task Force on Infectious Diseases

To: All Students

Health Screening of Students Returning from Mainland China

As you know, there is a recent outbreak of Novel Coronavirus Infection in Mainland China. In order to safeguard the health of all University members, and to be able to provide appropriate assistance to affected individuals, with immediate effect, you are required to fill out an e-health screening form if you return from Mainland China.

If you are already in Hong Kong now, and you returned to Hong Kong on or after 10 January, 2020, you should fill out the form as soon as possible. If you are still outside Hong Kong now, you should fill out the form as soon as you return to Hong Kong.

Please go to the following link to complete the e-health screening form. https://hku.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8hIRzB8cRwqbzV3

Should you have any enquiries, please send an email to ncov@hku.hk.

Thank you for helping the University to safeguard public health on campus!

Dr. MK Cheung
Task Force on Infectious Diseases

(Posted on January 24, 2020)

Important message from Professor Y.C. Richard Wong, Provost and Acting Executive Vice-President

Dear students and staff,

In light of the outbreak of Novel Coronavirus Infection in Mainland China and to ensure the health and safety of University members are accorded the highest priority, all outbound exchange programmes to the Mainland will be suspended until further notice. The Admissions and Academic Liaison Section (AAL) of the Registry will contact the students and Faculties concerned to discuss the possible alternative arrangements as necessary. In respect of Faculty-initiated exchange programmes to the Mainland, Deans will reach out to the affected students and work out alternative plans with them.

Professor Y.C. Richard Wong
Provost and Acting Executive Vice-President

(Posted on January 24, 2020)

Important message from Acting Executive Vice-President (Administration & Finance)

Dear students and colleagues,

As the Second Semester will begin on January 20, 2020 for most programmes, I would like to welcome you back to the campus. I would like to take the opportunity to also give you an update on transportation, campus access and catering service arrangements on the campus.

Following the re-opening of Exit C1 of MTR HKU Station earlier, I am pleased to inform you that, according to the MTRC, Exit A2 will be re-opened from January 20, 2020.  (As only 4 lifts will be operating from the Concourse to Upper University Street during the initial period, long queues may be expected during peak hours.)  In addition, the two-way escalators and lift connecting Exit C1 at Pokfulam Road to the footbridge leading to the Centennial Campus will resume operation from the same date, while Exit A1 will remain closed for the time being. 

As mentioned in my earlier email, certain campus access arrangements will remain in place. Cars and other vehicles will continue to be checked at the gates.  Students, staff and visitors on university-related business should have their valid UID cards or the relevant documents with them when coming onto campus, as authorised personnel may perform checks as needed.

Most of the campus catering outlets will be opened from January 20, 2020, while all catering outlets will resume normal operation from February 3, 2020.  Please click here for details of opening hours of each outlet.
 
Attempts have been made to bring University activities to normal in the Second Semester. Certain arrangements might however still cause some inconvenience, but I am sure that you would understand that these are necessary to help the University to preserve civility, safety and tranquility on its campus to enable it to conduct properly its research, teaching and learning and other academic activities. These arrangements will be constantly reviewed and adjusted as needed. 

Professor Y C Richard Wong
Acting Executive Vice-President (Administration & Finance)

(Posted on January 17, 2020)

Important message from Acting Executive Vice-President (Administration & Finance)

Dear students and colleagues,

I am pleased to inform you that we have received notice from the MTRC that Exit C1 of the MTR HKU Station will be re-opened from December 24, 2019. One of the government escalators connecting this Exit at Pokfulam Road to the footbridge leading to the Centennial Campus is now in operation.  The lifts connecting the footbridge and ground level of the Centennial Campus are also in operation.

The existing access arrangements at entrance/exit points of the University will be introduced similarly at the re-opened Exit C1.  You are therefore reminded to bring your valid UID cards (or the relevant documents) when coming onto the campus through all entrances.

Please stay informed of further updates about the access arrangements by clicking on the “Important Messages” notice.

Professor Terry Au
Acting Executive Vice-President (Administration & Finance)

(Posted on December 23, 2019)

Important message from Acting Executive Vice-President (Administration & Finance)

Dear students and colleagues,

Although most regular University operations have resumed, there continue to be safety and security concerns for the campus, so certain campus access arrangements will remain in place.

Effective from January 2, 2020, those entering the campus by car or other vehicles will continue to be required to show valid UID cards or the relevant documents at the gates.

Students, staff and visitors on university-related business should have their valid UID cards or the relevant documents with them when coming onto campus, as authorised personnel may perform checks as needed. Please also keep these with you at all times when you are on University premises.

We will constantly review and adjust these arrangements as necessary and will update you online at the University’s homepage.

Please stay informed of further announcements and the latest updates about campus services by clicking on the “Important Messages” notice there.

Once again, our apologies for the inconvenience caused and we appreciate your understanding.

Professor Richard Y C Wong
Acting Executive Vice-President (Administration & Finance)

(Posted on December 20, 2019)

Important message from Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor

Dear Students and Colleagues,

The normal operations of the University have in general been resumed. We have implemented heightened security measures currently to ensure safety of our campus. The University will continue to assess the latest development and make adjustment to the security measures as necessary.

We are confident that teaching and learning and other academic activities for the Second Semester of the academic year 2019/20 can commence in January 2020 as scheduled.

Teaching and learning in the Second Semester will begin on January 20, 2020 for most programmes, and on other dates for some programmes as previously announced.  (Please visit: https://www4.hku.hk/pubunit/calendar/2019-2020/1519-dates-of-semesters-2019-2020-in-tabular-form).

Professor Richard Y C Wong
Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor
The University of Hong Kong

(Posted on December 12, 2019)

Extension of deadline to indicate your assessment options

Dear students,

In my message dated November 19, the deadline to indicate your assessment options (letter grading, pass/fail grading, late drop) was set at 5pm today.

Unfortunately, the HKU IT system has been unstable today. Six Faculties have been affected: Architecture, Dentistry, Law, Medicine, Science, Social Sciences. The deadline for students from these six Faculties to indicate their assessment options is therefore extended to 9:30am tomorrow (December 7).

If you are a student from one of these six Faculties and are finding it difficult to indicate your choices on the system, you may fill in the form here and send it back to sisenrol@hku.hk .

There is no deadline extension for students from the other four Faculties, as they were not affected by the system instability today.

We are trying our best to fix the system, and we apologise for the inconvenience caused.

Best wishes, Ian

Professor Ian Holliday
Vice-President (Teaching and Learning)

(Posted on December 6, 2019)

Message from Professor Y C Richard Wong, Acting Executive Vice-President
(Administration & Finance)

Dear colleagues,

As you know, the campus is now open only to staff and students, so please remember to carry valid UID cards for entry onto campus and at all times while on University premises. This is applicable to all HKU premises, including the Main Campus, Centennial Campus, Sassoon Road Campus, all halls and residential colleges etc.

2. All staff and dependents holding a Staff ID Card and/or Facilities Access Card with a photo of the bearer may access the Main Campus and Centennial Campus via all manned entrance points. (Please see item 5(b) below for cards that do not have a photo.)

3. I also wish to update you with the following clarifications about the arrangements.

4. Official visitors

(a) Faculties, Departments and Units who have invited official visitors to the University should issue a letter on office letterhead to each visitor, bearing the following:

1. Name (must tally with their HKID card)
2. Reason for admission
3. Duration period for the visit
4. Name, rank and contact number of the responsible HKU administrator

(b) All visitors should enter the University at the West Gate, and present the invitation letter, in either printed or digital format, to the security staff there for verification against their HKID card/passport. There is no need to notify Security and Parking Unit in advance of any intended visit.

5. Other HKU members

Part-time/honorary/visiting staff members (and other staff members and dependents of staff members who do not have a staff card) may use one of the following means for identification:

(a) If you have a Facilities Access Card with a photo of the bearer

1. Those who have Facilities Access Cards with a photo of the bearer issued by the University Libraries and/or the Centre for Sports and Exercise may use such cards for identification purposes.
2. Dependents of staff members (who need to use services such as that of the UHS) may present Facilities Access Cards with a photo of the bearer for identification purposes.

(b) If your Facilities Access Card DOES NOT have a photo of the bearer

1. Those whose Facilities Access Cards DO NOT have a photo of the bearer should contact the issuing office for an official letter as indicated above in item 4(a); or
2. They may capture, from their "Personnel File" under their HKU Portal account, screenshots of the pages showing their personal information and employment record. The screenshots may be presented together with their HKID card/passport at the West Gate checkpoint for identity verification purposes.
3. Please note that entry to the Main/Centennial Campus using such identification can only be via the West Gate.

6. Should you have any enquiries please contact the Estates Office at 39172882 or estates@estates.hku.hk

7. Again, we apologise for the inconvenience caused and ask for your cooperation and understanding during these unconventional times.

Thank you for your attention.

Professor Y C Richard Wong
Acting Executive Vice-President (Administration & Finance)

(Posted on November 25, 2019)