Coronavirus – News - Vistula University

Updated 24.11.2021

Vistula Universities are switching to distance learning from Saturday, November the 27^th

Due to this difficult pandemic situation, Vistula Universities are switching to distance learning. This solution will apply to students and lecturers for two weeks – from Saturday, November the 27^th to December the 12^th.

During this time, the Universities will remain open. Administrative staff will work in a stationary. The Dean’s office, library, and other departments important to students, will be available.

At the same time, we would like to remind you that it is up to all of us to determine the further course of the pandemic. We can block it by limiting social contacts, and vaccinating against COVID-19. Vaccinations are free for both Poles and foreigners.

Currently each student has the possibility to register for free vaccination against COVID-19. Below you will find useful information and guidelines (in the document at the bottom of the page).

In connection with the worsening of epidemic situation, we would like to remind you of the obligation to comply with the following safety rules contained in the Orders of the Rectors of Vistula University and Vistula School of Hospitality:

– only a healthy person, without symptoms suggesting an infectious disease, who has not been in direct contact with somebody infected with COVID-19, is not under quarantine/home isolation, may enter the University;

– when entering the University premises, each person is obliged to disinfect the hands with liquid based on min. 70% alcohol, located at the entrance to the main hall and at the entrances from the underground garage;

– during your stay at the University, while moving along common areas and dealing with matters in various departments of the University, you must cover your mouth and nose with a mask (it is also recommended during classes), regularly wash and disinfect your hands, not use the lifts, unless it is necessary for health reasons (in this case, maximum 2 people can stay in the lift) and keep a safe distance from others;

– students’ stay at the University is limited only to visiting the library and to individual cases requiring direct contact between students and employees of the University. We remind you that there are still many things that can be done via e-mail, which we encourage;

– if the student notices symptoms of COVID-19 infection, he/she should stay at home and inform the medical services (general practitioner) about this fact. In case of being sent quarantine/home isolation, the student is obliged to immediately notify the University (m.jasinski@vistula.edu.pl and rektorat@vistula.edu.pl or rektorat.sgtih@vistula.edu.pl), enumerating the classes he personally attended in recent days.

Below is the necessary information and tips.

The coronavirus pandemic and its social and economic consequences can be very painful. We know that some of you are in a difficult life and financial situation.
Remember, you are not alone with your worries. Vistula will not leave you in the lurch. Our extensive system of scholarships and grants, which has been available since the beginning of the pandemic, will help you survive in this hard time. Each financial assistance inquiry is considered individually, none has been rejected so far. Do not delay. All information can be found at: https://www.vistula.edu.pl/en/students/scholarships.

Today, your safety and health are the most important for us. So stay home. Do not go out without need, because if you meet with others, you may contribute to the spreading of the coronavirus and the number of patients increases. There are not so many beds, respirators, doctors and nurses for everyone to receive help. Remember, staying at home saves the lives of others.
- Dean's office and other administration departments
  Caring for the health of students and University staff, the Dean’s Office of the Vistula Universities works in a limited mode of contact with students
  
  If necessary, a student should act according to the following scheme:
  - first, contact your supervisor by e-mail;
  - on the basis of an e-mail we determine, what your real needs are and how we are able to help you.
  Students who have not made an appointment in advance, will not be accepted and served.
  
  CURRENT CONTACTS FOR DEAN’S OFFICE STAFF RELATED TO YOUR PROGRAM OF STUDIES
  
  CONTACT TO YOUR DEAN
  
  The Library is now open from Monday to Saturday from 9 AM to 5 PM – more details HERE.
  
  The Bursar’s Office supports students only via e-mail: kwestura@vistula.edu.pl.
  
  Payments
  Please pay your fees to the appropriate bank account (PLN or EUR) or in the cash deposit machine at the University (PLN).
- Online learning - Platon
  
  Learning in ONLINE formula takes place on the PLATON platform.
  
  The address of the new platform is: https://platon.vistula.edu.pl.
  Access to the platform can also be obtained from the website of our University www.vistula.edu.pl.
  Login – password and login the same as for USOS.
  Instruction in PDF form – download here.
  Instructions in the form of a video – see here.
  
  You can report any questions, problems and doubts to the Digital Education Department: elearning@vistula.edu.pl,
  22 45 72 382.
- Financial support
  If the COVID -19 pandemic has significantly deteriorated the student’s financial situation, he or she may apply for financial benefit – (from the state budget) – in the form of INCENTIVE. You can apply for support (INCENTIVE) in the spring semester 2019/2020 many times, even if you have already benefited twice in the current academic year. The right to get INCENTIVE, after submitting a documented application (more https://www.vistula.edu.pl/en/students/scholarships) is as follows:
  1. All students, both domestic and foreign, who meet the basic conditions to apply for material assistance from the state budget.
  2. All foreign students, who started their studies in the academic year, 2019/2020 (all you need to do is provide standard support documentation).
  The application for the allowance should be submitted via the student’s web service.
  
  If the student is not sure whether he/she is entitled to the support, he can obtain individual information, describing his status, exactly, in the e-mail correspondence addressed to PATRYK KALETA p.kaleta@vistula.edu.pl
- If you are sick
  
  In accordance with the recommendations of the Chief Sanitary Inspector for universities in connection with the potential risk of coronavirus infection, we would like to inform you that in case of illness, suspected infection or contact with an infected person, you should immediately notify the sanitary-epidemiological station by phone, or report directly to the infectious ward or observation department contagious, where further medical procedure will be defined.
  
  Hotline 24/7: 800 190 590 int. 6
  
  Vistula emergency call: 501 556 557, mail: m.jasinski@vistula.edu.pl
  
  More information: www.pssewawa.pl
  
  More information and list of infectious wards: https://www.gov.pl/web/zdrowie/byles-w-chinach-i-zle-sie-czujesz-sprawdz-co-robic
- #studentaloneathome
  You don’t like having to stay at home or in the dorm, do you? You are tempted to meet buddies, go to friends for dinner or a party.
  
  However, this is a special time. Even if you feel great, you can still be infected with the coronavirus and spread it, putting the elderly and the sick people at risk. Be smart and responsible. Stay at home!
  
  You can use this time developing your competences and interests. You will find on the Internet, online courses from the world’s best universities. You can also learn foreign languages, read, discover the greatest museum collections, watch films, explore literature and even take care of your physical condition. On your smartphone, there are applications that will give you a lot of entertainment.
  
  Vistula Universities join the Student alone at home campaign, initiated by the Students’ Parliament of the Republic of Poland. The organization has prepared a list of interesting links for you: https://psrp.org.pl/student-sam-w-domu/. We have also added a few from us and short comments.
  
  Recommendations below:
  - MOOC – Massive Open Online Courses are free courses in various fields: https://www.mooc.org/
  - edX – the most reputable resource of courses developed, among others by MIT, Harvard University, Berkeley and Boston University: https://www.edx.org/
  - Khan Academy – ‘offers practice exercises, instructional videos, and a personalized learning dashboard’: https://www.khanacademy.org/
  - Learning at Harvard – and if someone dreamed of learning at Harvard, then they should check this offer:
  - Open Learning Initiative: https://www.extension.harvard.edu/open-learning-initiative
  - Harvard Online Courses (some of them are free): https://online-learning.harvard.edu/
  - MIT OpenCourseWare – ‘is a web-based publication of virtually all MIT course content’: https://ocw.mit.edu/courses/find-by-topic/
  - Coursera – a well-known versatile platform: https://www.coursera.org/
    A Guide on How to Sign up for Coursera Courses for Free: https://www.classcentral.com/report/coursera-signup-for-free/
  - OpenLearn – another platform with a wide range of courses to choose from: https://www.open.edu/openlearn/free-courses/full-catalogue
  - Google Digital Workshop – free courses in the field of digital skills, primarily broadly understood Internet marketing: https://learndigital.withgoogle.com/digitalgarage
  Language courses
  - Duolingo – ‘the most popular language-learning platform and the most downloaded education app in the world’: https://en.duolingo.com/
  - Deutsch zum Mitnehmen – ‘German to go’, a free German course prepared by Deutsche Welle: https://learngerman.dw.com/de/overview
  - Open Culture – ‘How to learn languages for free? This collection features lessons in 48 languages […] Download audio lessons to your computer or mp3 player and you’re good to go: http://www.openculture.com/freelanguagelessons
  - Babel – ‘a premium product, and our iOS and Android apps make our practical language lessons available wherever and whenever’: https://uk.babbel.com/
    ‘Registration with Babbel is completely free of charge and the first lesson in every course is free to try. (Depending on the language you choose, that’s 30-80 free lessons!)’
  Culture
  - Open Culture – 1.150 Free Movies; 700 Free Audio Books; 800 Free eBooks; Free Art & Images including collections from The Getty, The Rijksmuseum, Smithsonian, The Guggenheim, The National Gallery, Stanford University, British Library, Google Art Project, Getty Images, Guggenheim Art Books New York Public Library Maps, Museum of New Zealand, Rembrandt, Van Gogh, etc.; free music (mostly classical): http://www.openculture.com/
  - OperaVision [YouTube channel] – ‘curated selection of complete performances from leading European opera houses’: https://www.youtube.com/operavision
  Recommended applications for smartphones
  
  Applications are available on Android and/or iOS – check it out!
  
  Workouts
  - Down Dog – yoga [iOS, Android]: https://www.downdogapp.com/
  - Headspace – meditation [iOS, Android]: https://www.headspace.com/
  - Gixo – different types of training [Android]: https://www.gixo.com/fitness-app/
  - Daily Workouts Fitness Trainer – workouts for each day [iOS]: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/daily-workouts-fitness-trainer/id469068059
  Free time
  - Lumosity – mental development, logic games improving memory and reflexes, mindfulness exercise [iOS, Android]: https://www.lumosity.com/en/
  - Yousician – interactive piano, keyboard, ukulele and guitar learning [iOS, Android]: https://yousician.com/
  - Zooniverse – a website grouping civic science projects belonging to the Citizen Science Alliance. The projects concern scientific disciplines such as astronomy, ecology, climatology, humanities and other [iOS, Android]: https://www.zooniverse.org/
Coronavirus: information and recommendations: https://www.gov.pl/web/coronavirus
- Why did the University decide to close down for a month?
We are not closing down – we are changing our traditional classes to an online format. We are doing this because we care about the community, and want to prevent you from getting sick. We also follow all the instructions of the sanitary services in Poland. No one from the community should get coronavirus. If we receive such information, we are obliged to inform all of you.
- How exactly will the e-learning classes be conducted?
We will use the PLATON platform, on which all the classes will be available. You have received detailed instruction by e-mail on how to use it.
- Will the professors be able to cope with the new type of system and actually teach us?
Yes. Many of them have been using it for several years, for some courses already, the rest will be trained, and will get full administrative support.
- How does it affect the final year students? BA/MA Diploma deadlines, graduation, Diploma defence?
We are doing everything to minimise any influence. Everything can be done online, and we believe that prior to theses defences, the situation will have calmed down.
- Will I still be able to get my diploma this summer, if I get accepted for an MA to a different university, and I need to submit it in the summer?
Yes, at the moment, nothing changes.
- Should we stay in Warsaw, or is it better to travel somewhere else?
Warsaw, and other parts of Poland are, at the moment, safer than most of the other parts of Europe. However, do try to avoid public transport and crowded places.
- Were there any cases of the virus at our University?
No. If they were, we would be obliged by the sanitary services to inform you.
- Can I go back to my country for this month?
We cannot prohibit you from leaving Poland, but be aware that Polish sanitary service may not let you back.
- Is the library functioning?
Not in the traditional way. The regular library is closed until 2020.06.14. You can only use the online library. Readers – please ignore automatic information about penalty fees sent to your e-mails.
- Is it possible to make an appointment with an employee of the Dean’s Office?
The meeting should be the last resort for settling matters. Try other alternatives first if you can. We can probably handle your case without having to meet in person. So, initially, write an e-mail to your supervisor in the Dean’s Office. Addresses can be found at https://www.vistula.edu.pl/en/students/deans-office.
- How can I get a visa/residence card or work certificate?
At this time, most institutions accept electronic documents. Contact the supervisor from the Dean’s Office, and include the following information in the message: your album number, name, and type of document needed. The supervisor will prepare an appropriate document and send it back to your e-mail address. We can also send you documents by post, though it is a less secure solution for you than e-mail.
- Will I be able to return to Poland if I leave now?
It does not depend on us. The Polish government has partially closed the borders for most foreigners (for 10 days, but with the option of an extension). There is a risk that foreign students will not be able to return to Poland quickly.
- What actions do I need to take to resume my studies now?
Contact your supervisor at the Dean’s Office. The supervisor will guide you through the entire resumption procedure without you having to visit the University.
- How can I change the field of study/mode of study?
Contact your supervisor at the Dean’s Office. The supervisor will guide you through the entire procedure of changing the direction of your studies, without having to visit the University.

Free vaccinations of students against COVID-19

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Order of the Rector of Vistula University - 24.11.2021

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Order of the Rector of Vistula School of Hospitality - 24.11.2021

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Safety rules at the Vistula University during COVID-19 pandemic

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