Current information on the summer semester 2021 coming to an end and an outlook on the winter semester 21/22 can be found in the circular letter as of June 18, 2021. For staff and students of the Faculty of Medicine in facilities on the campus of the University Medical Center Dresden the regulations of the Crisis Management Team of the University Hospital take precedence.

Furthermore, the regulations for studies and examination procedures remain valid for the summer semester 2021:

• University-wide Regulations for Studies and Examination Procedures to Mitigate the Legal Uncertainties Caused by the Coronavirus, Fundamental Decisions of the Senate for the 2021 Summer semester

For details read the Rector's message as of 16^th March 2021.

The detailed regulations, valid from May 31, you can find here:

• Regulations for examinations in the 2021 summer semester

For more information read the Rector's message as of 5^th May 2021.

Obligation to wear a mask in closed facilities if the average infection rate surpasses 10 (except for in the workplace itself) or if the minimum distance of 1.5 m cannot be maintained. If keeping a safe distance is not possible, you are still obliged to wear a mask at work and outside.

Suitable mask types include medical face masks and masks KN95, N95, P2, DS2, CPA. If it is not possible to comply with the protective measures to avoid personal contact, appropriate masks may be provided centrally. If required, please contact Directorate 4, Unit 4.5 Safety at Work.

The legal bases for you as a teacher are §60a and §60c of the UrhG (German copyright law). You may reproduce and distribute up to 15 percent of a work for the purpose of non-commercial scientific research in compliance with the statutory provisions and make it accessible to a limited group of users. This overview shows which materials can be made electronically available for university courses. The legal bases for us as a library are §60b and §60e of the UrhG. Libraries may reproduce up to 10 percent of a published work as well as individual articles that have appeared in specialist or scientific journals for individual orders requested by users for non-commercial purposes.

If you need media and literature for your online courses that are only available in printed or physical form in the SLUB's collection, the SLUB would be happy to help you put together a digital course reserve collection.

If you upload files to OPAL, please pay attention to the following points:

• The OPAL course is password-protected and is only accessible to a limited number of students
• To the extent permitted, the files are only available for the academic work of the students for that semester.
• Students are advised that the transfer of files to third parties is not permitted; the copies are only to be used for their own private and academic work
• The files will be removed from the OPAL course after the allotted time has expired.

In order to facilitate your research in times of Corona, some publishers and database providers have extended access to their offers. You can find an overview of the extended range of electronic resources here.

The following tools can be used with the ZIH login:

• Video conference rooms for smaller groups (about 6 participants) can be created with Jitsi and secured by password.
• Chat rooms in Matrix with single or multiple persons allow text-based synchronous communication.
• In the online storage Cloud store, 2 GB storage space is available for students. Individual files or entire folders can be activated for download or shared editing for specific people. Versioning and commenting of files is possible.
• In the learning platform OPAL, working groups can be created and managed independently by students. They allow the cooperation of group members through tools like calendar, blog, forum, wiki and folders for file exchange. Further information can be found in the OPAL manual.

In order to ensure swift contact tracing, it is strongly recommended - in addition to the existing procedure in case of an infection - to use the Coronavirus warning app and the QR codes, that are displayed at the doors of the facilities. The registration of the staff working on campus using the ZIH tool is no longer required until further notice.

Irrespective of this rule, recording contacts via the Corona warning app or on paper is required for all events that take place on campus. Organizers can use this link to create their own code:
https://www.rki.de/DE/Content/InfAZ/N/Neuartiges_Coronavirus/WarnApp/Event-QR-Code.pdf.

The corona-related lockdown continues in many areas and is strenuous and exhausting. With the motto "TU-together", networking and support services will be made available here.

The PC pools may be used under certain conditions. One prerequisite is This a Coronavirus safety concept, which complies with the requirements of the current Coronavirus Protection Ordinance. Lecturers and users are responsible for cleaning the surfaces used by multiple people (disinfectant wipes must be provided by PC pool users). Please note the particular requirements and services (e.g. pool-dependent voluntary self-tests, reservations or provision of disinfection utensils), which are posted on local bulletin boards or published on the internet.

Further information on infection control can be found in the concept of measures during the coronavirus pandemic for the heads of TU Dresden's structural units.

In order to avoid the spread of viruses, the recirculating air coolers in the PC pools must be switched off or blocked. The Technical Control Center of TU Dresden (ext. 34614) is responsible for the implementation.  Health protection at TUD takes priority over comfort and thermal coziness.

The following TU Dresden regulations apply if the average infection rate is less than 35. In addition, the regulations of the current Saxon Corona Protection Ordinance apply and measures such as mandatory testing or greater restriction of room capacity come into effect.

Events on-campus such as graduation ceremonies, student events or similar held in the indoor and outdoor facilities are permitted with an attendance of maximum of 50 individuals if a hygiene concept is in place and contact tracing via the Coronavirus warning app or an analog list is guaranteed. If a distance of 1.5m cannot be maintained, masks are mandatory. Moreover, testing is also strongly recommended. Ensure compliance with distancing and hygiene rules.

Events such as academic conferences, symposia and (student) fairs as well as cultural events are permitted for members of TU Dresden and the partners of DRESDEN-concept e.V. on the campus of TU Dresden if a hygiene concept for the indoor or outdoor facilities is in place and contact tracing via the Coronavirus warning app or an analog list is guaranteed. If a distance of 1.5m cannot be maintained, masks are mandatory. Moreover, testing is also strongly recommended. Ensure compliance with distancing and hygiene rules. The specific room concepts of the interior rooms of TU Dresden must be observed and are decisive for the permissible number of participants.

On-site events by external organizers are subject to the approval of the University Executive Board.

Note: You need to apply for the facilities and spaces for the events in the usual way.

The Dresden University Sports Center (DHSZ) has organized a comprehensive online sports program for the summer semester with courses for health, fitness and strength. Detailed information (incl. schedules and fees) on all courses are available on the DHSZ website.

Thanks to steadily decreasing incidences, there are also sports courses in presence again. Current sports offers

Degree programme or subject-specific information is provided on the respective pages of the Schools, faculties, examination offices or central units.

On December 17, 2020, the Act on the Freedom of Higher Education in the Free State of Saxony (Sächsisches Hochschulfreiheitsgesetz, SächsHSFG) was expanded to include Section 114a. According to this, all enrolled students who are not on leave of absence will receive an individual standard period of study extension of one semester each for the 2020 summer semester and the 2020/2021 winter semester. You will automatically receive a certificate for each semester in your selma document folder by the end of the 2020/21 winter semester. With the extension of the standard period of study, all students are given the opportunity to extend their studies due to the ‘corona semester’. Nevertheless, if you apply for this (in writing), there is also the possibility that any non-credit already granted for the 2020 summer semester due to the pandemic will be cancelled.

Due to the extension of the standard period of study, the examination deadlines according to § 35 para. 4 SächsHSFG are postponed by up to 2 semesters in compliance with the standard period of study. This means that there is no longer any reason to submit a parallel application for non-credit for these semesters. Please note that an approved non-credit for the 2020 summer semester or the 2020/21 winter semester will not result in any further benefits for you that are not already covered by the individual extension of the standard period of study. Double concessions, e.g. concerning the above-mentioned examination deadlines and the postponement of fee charges in the case of a second or long-term course of study, are not permitted in accordance with § 114a SächsHSFG. Nevertheless, the possibility of applying for a non-credit according to § 20 para. 5 sentence 2 SächsHSFG, § 10 para. 2 Enrollment Regulations is not excluded. This will be formally reinstated in the selma portal as of April 1, 2021, for the 2020 summer semester and the 2020/21 winter semester. Before submitting your application, we generally recommend that you inquire with the relevant authorities about the effects of a non-credit and the associated resetting of the subject semester on the payment of BAföG, child benefits, scholarships, orphan's pensions, educational loans, etc.

Students who have taken a leave of absence from their studies in the 2020 summer semester and the 2020/21 winter semester have no disadvantages concerning their available study time and the collection of fees compared to students who have not taken a leave of absence. As a result of the leave of absence taken, the subject semester was not counted, which also means that the students in question have a maximum of 2 semesters longer for their studies. Fees for second or long-term studies are also suspended during the semester of leave of absence.  Please also note that leaves of absence in the 2020 summer semester and the 2020/21 winter semester are granted in addition to the 2 semesters of leave of absence possible under Section 12 (3) of the Matriculation Regulations. BAföG recipients: alone should inform themselves about the effects of a leave of absence at the BAföG office. If, after consultation with the BAföG office, you find that the leave of absence has negative effects in your specific case, please contact the SCS in this matter.

If you have any questions, please contact the Enrollment Office or the International Office (new Unit International Affairs) by email via the SCS. The responsible staff members will find a suitable solution for your specific situation together with you.

The upcoming summer semester 2021 will, in part, be organized digitally.

On-site teaching at TU Dresden will be limited in the 2020/2021 winter semester. Please register for your courses using the OPAL learning platform so that you can take advantage of the e-learning offers from your department. Please check whether enrolment via selma is necessary for your degree programme. You can find an overview of the degree programmes affected by this on the website "Exam and Course Management in selma". If you have any further questions about enrolment in selma, please contact your Academic Affairs Office or the ServiceCenterStudies.

Please also check TU Dresden’s homepage for up-to-date information valid for the entire university.

Applications for guest student can still be made. Before applying, interested parties should contact the respective lecturer to find out whether participation in the online course is possible. Since a guest login is required for later access to the course, the guest login can also be applied for. This can be done informally on the application form for guest students, adding your place of birth. The application form for guest students can be downloaded as a pdf document from the website. Please send the application form for guest students by email to the Centre for Continuing Education.

Lecturers and examiners are urged to convert their examinations into digital formats or to switch to alternative examination methods. (e.g. take-home exams, open-book exams, multiple-choice exams).

The Center for Interdisciplinary Learning and Teaching (ZiLL) supports examiners in the technical and content-related preparation as well as the implementation of examinations.

If it is unavoidable to conduct an examination on-site, examiners are obliged to create a corresponding hygiene concept and to ensure that the hygiene concept is implemented during the examination

For details read the Rector's message as of 8^th January 2021

• Festlegungen für den Prüfungsbetrieb für das Wintersemester 2020/2021 (23.11.2020)
• How examinations should be done: https://tu-dresden.de/studium/im-studium/ressourcen/dateien/corona_imstudium/2020-06-09_Festlegungen_Pruefungen_TUD_ENG.pdf?lang=en
• Hygiene Regulations for on-site examinations: https://tu-dresden.de/studium/im-studium/ressourcen/dateien/corona_imstudium/200610_Hygieneregel_Pruefungen_SoSe2020_ENG.pdf?lang=en
• The current status can be accessed here: Examinations/certificates

If you have any questions regarding upcoming exams (including the submission of final theses), please contact the Examination Office of your department directly. Please use the overview of all Examination Offices. Students in Teacher Training please contact the ZLSB directly.

Web meetings can be used. Details must be clarified with the examiners. The Examination Committee should be appropriately involved in the decision. In order to create transparency within the university, the meeting must be held publicly. The announcement of the defences, for example, can be made on the TUD website, whose address could be made known via the general distribution list. The details are decided upon in D7. TUD's Data Protection Officer (DSB) has given the following advice on this in previous inquiries: For reasons of data protection, no electronic recording should be made, but rather a conventional record should be kept.  The person to be examined must be informed about this before the examination begins. Furthermore, according to the Data Protection Officer, it must be ensured that the connection is encrypted. The requirements of the examination procedure and the examination regulations must also be complied with, despite the fact that the examination is conducted by video conference. The same applies to PhD proceedings. Aspects to be considered are public/non-public aspects of examinations, consultation on examination results with a closed circle of participants or proper appointment and participation of examiners and observers. These matters can also be resolved by video conferencing. From a technical point of view, the video conference must run smoothly; it must be ensured that the person connected via video conference can hear the examination discussions well, is clearly audible and cannot be distracted, etc. It must also be ensured as well as possible that the person to be examined has no opportunity for deceit throughout their examination performance. It must furthermore be ensured that the examiners are able to evaluate the examination performance completely and directly and thus independently.

Depending on the course, there are different types of internships (e.g. laboratory internships, internships in schools or in companies), so it is not possible to make a blanket statement on how to deal with  internships during the Corona pandemic. Please contact the person in your faculty, who ist responsible to coordinate the internships to adress possible modifications and changes in the implementation of the internship.

The Prorector for Education and International Affairs has issued regulations for the performance of examinations at the TU Dresden during the Corona Pandemic, dated May 4, 2020. These stipulate that "the examiners may also offer significantly different examination formats". For you, this means that you may have to submit a new or modified application for disadvantage compensation so that your impairment is also taken into account accordingly in the modified examination format.

It will advise you on
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Gesine Marquardt and Prof. Dr. Gerhard Weber
The representatives for students with disabilities and chronic illness.
www.tu-dresden.de/bfsb

Dipl.-Päd. Anja Winkler
Certified Peer Counselor (ISL)/Peer-to-Peer Advisor for prospective students, students and employees with disabilities/chronic illness  anja.winkler4@tu-dresden.de

Here you will find questions & answers in the context of the non-recognition of a semester in connection with examinations taken:

Question: Since the nonrecognition can only take place in the next semester: What happens to students whose standard period of study expires this semester?
Answer: Nothing happens to these students during the examination process, as the first relevant deadline does not apply until 4 semesters after the end of the standard period of study.  Then, however, a first fictitious failure of the final examination occurs, which the students can prevent by not taking the semester into account.

Question: Does nonrecognition also occur if only one examination has not been completed?
Answer: Yes, even then nonrecognition is possible.

Question: If you have completed all your exams and return one of them, is it still possible not to get credit?
Answer: Yes, even then non-accounting is possible.

Question: Do examinations lapse if the semester is not credited?
Answer: No

Question: Can all types of examination papers be returned?
Answer: Yes.

Question: Can grades be returned without explanation?
Answer: Yes, see Explanatory Note Number 4 to Senate Resolution https://tu-dresden.de/intern/studium-und-lehre/ressourcen/dateien/studiengangsangelegenheiten/webseite-pruefungsmanagement_ab-juli-2019/Ausfuehrungsbestimmungen_090620.pdf

Question: Will the return be noted on the certificate?
Answer: No.

Due to the Covid 19 pandemic, there are currently many restrictions on public life worldwide. This also affects areas that may be relevant to your planned application to TU Dresden for the summer semester 2021, such as the possibility to take language courses and language tests, to have documents certified or to send them by mail.

Please contact us via e-mail, if your questions are not yet answered in the FAQs of the International Office regarding the application process during Corona.

Currently, we receive many questions by exchange students that are not sure about their (planned) exchange studies at TU Dresden. We have compiled a list of FAQ for you; please contact us via email in case of any questions.

Some of the most frequent questions and answers have already been posted by the International Office. If you have any other queries regarding your current stay at TUD, please contact the International Office (AAA) via the ServiceCenterStudium.

You can find information on internships abroad on the website of the LEONARDO Office Saxony.

Until further notice, there will be no excursions/study trips in the summer semester 2021. For further information, e.g. on alternative dates, please contact the responsible person at your department.

Current information on BAföG can be found on the website of the Studentenwerk Dresden (Student Union).

You can apply to the BaföG office for an update if your parents' or spouse's income has decreased. If your studies are being delayed due to the corona pandemic, the Studentenwerk Dresden or the Students' Council (http://www.stura.tu-dresden.de/beratung) will advise you on options of a longer funding period.

The Association of Friends and Sponsors of TU Dresden (GFF) supports students who face financial challenges due to the corona pandemic. You can find information on how to apply here.

KfW Credit

The Federal Government supports students who have got into financial difficulties due to the corona pandemic with loans. Please refer to the KfW website for information on the possibility of a loan. The KfW loan is interest-free until 31^st March 2021 and open to all students residing in Germany.

An extension of the tenancy is possible also beyond the standard period of study: https://www.studentenwerk-dresden.de/wohnen/verlaengerung-mietvertrag.html. Student inquirers should contact the Studentenwerk directly.

The semester not being counted towards the total number of semesters can - like a leave of absence - have an impact on financial benefits to students. Before applying for the semester to be not counted, students are advised to consult with the relevant funding agencies. For BAföG beneficiaries, the semester not being counted does not have any positive effects on the duration of funding. The Studentenwerk or the Student Council will advise you on the possibilities of an extended funding period.

All details concearning the expanded digital services and the minimal contact lending service at: http://www.slubdd.de/corona.

At the moment, the TU Dresden service and consulting facilities do not offer personal office hours. However, all facilities can still be reached via email, telephone and in some cases via chat and telephone consultation hours.

Workshops are partly offered as webinars. Please inform yourself under Advice and Service about the current availability. If you have any questions about studying, please call +49 351 463 42000 or email the ServiceCenterStudies .

We will answer your questions or forward them to colleagues from the specialist departments. The TU Dresden, together with the Studentenwerk, offers its employees and students psychosocial, medical and organizational advice and support. For students: You can arrange a personal or telephone consultation by email. Please briefly describe your request and we will respond promptly with an appointment.

The TU Dresden Career Service will be offering a digital semester program from May.

The Studentenwerk Dresden offers advice, by phone, e-mail and  in person, on various topics related to your studies. Please find out about current office hours on the Studentenwerk website.

Semester of leave of absence

Pregnant women and students with children can apply to the Admissions Office for leave of absence from their studies for the period of maternity leave or the statutory parental leave. In accordance with the Federal Law on Parental Benefits and Parental Leave (BEEG), the Act on the Autonomy of Institutions of Higher Education in the Free State of Saxony (SächsHSFG) provides students with a total of six additional semesters of leave for childcare during the first three years of the child’s life. During a semester of leave, you may be entitled to unemployment benefit II (Arbeitslosengeld II). Advice is available at the Campusbüro Uni mit Kind. Students can find out what other options are currently available in the FAQ’s under the menu item "Enrollment and Re-registration".

LINK: https://tu-dresden.de/studium/im-studium/coronavirus#section-2-1

Part-time studies

At TU Dresden, it is currently possible to pursue part-time studies in all distance learning degree programs, as well as in many direct programs.

LINK: https://tu-dresden.de/studium/vor-dem-studium/studienangebot/teilzeit-und-fernstudium

Organisation of the 2021 summer semester

TU Dresden has defined the principles for the organization of the 2021 summer semester.

The university-wide regulations for studies and examination procedures to curtail the legal uncertainties caused by the COVID-19 crisis, basic resolutions of the Senate for the 2021 summer semester apply from April 10, 2021.

In these exceptional times, if you are a student with family responsibilities, you can count on the understanding of your lecturers / module supervisors if you have not been able to complete some of the assignments in the given time. Therefore, share your current challenges openly and cooperate to develop solutions that are suitable for both sides. If you require assistance in finding a solution, you can also contact the Campusbüro Uni mit Kind or Unit 9.3 Diversity Management, Coordinator for Family Friendliness at TU Dresden.

Extended compensation for disadvantages

Irrespective of the COVID-19 pandemic, the extended compensation for disadvantages - if this is anchored in the relevant examination regulations - can be applied for by contacting the Chairperson of the Examination Board.

§ 5 para. 4 of the sample examination regulations TUD - Types of graded academic work stipulates the following:

If the student can credibly demonstrate that they are not able to complete graded academic work as required due to taking care for their own children up to the age of 14, the Chairperson of the Examination Board shall allow the student to complete the work in an equivalent manner upon request. The Chairperson of the Examination Board decides how the graded academic work is to be produced in consultation with the responsible examiner at their own discretion. The Chairperson of the Examination Board shall decide on an appropriate measure to compensate for the disadvantages. Suitable measures to compensate for disadvantages are, for example, extended processing times, processing breaks, use of other media, use of other examination rooms within the university or another examination date. The same applies to preliminary graded work.

Further contact persons are the Examination Offices, the Equal Opportunities Officers of the faculties and the Faculty Students’ Councils. The Campusbüro Uni mit Kind will also be happy to support you in benefitting from the extended compensation for disadvantages.

LINK: https://tu-dresden.de/intern/studium-und-lehre/ressourcen/dateien/studiengangsangelegenheiten/doks/arbeitshilfen/MBPO63.pdf?lang=de

Maternity leave

The Model Examination Regulations of TU Dresden (cf. § 3 para. 4 Model Examination Regulations - Deadlines and dates) stipulate the following for deadlines in connection with the completion of the graduation examination:

During maternity leave, deadlines do not apply and the leave is not counted towards current deadlines. Regarding the claim for parental leave, please refer to § 12 para. 2 of the Enrollment Regulations of Technische Universität Dresden.

This does not correspond to the option of extended time allowance in connection with the compensation of disadvantages as described above.

LINK: https://tu-dresden.de/intern/studium-und-lehre/ressourcen/dateien/studiengangsangelegenheiten/doks/arbeitshilfen/MBPO63.pdf?lang=de

Municipal childcare

A return to regular operation in schools and daycare centers is possible if the incidence value is less than 50.

A continuous seven-day incidence value under 50 means that regular operations in schools and daycare centers are allowed again. This is stipulated in the new Corona Protection Ordinance, which is valid as of May 31 (Link: https://www.coronavirus.sachsen.de/download/SMS-Saechsische-Corona-Schutz-Verordnung-2021-05-26.pdf)

Regular operation for schools means that classroom teaching can take place once again for all pupils in all subjects, without the need to divide up the classes. In elementary schools, the focus can continue to be placed on the core subjects as the school sees fit, in order to teach the fundamentals. In daycare centers, regular classes can once again be held in accordance with the pedagogical concept.

Due to the Federal Infection Protection Act, those visiting the grounds and facilities of schools and daycare centers are still required to get themselves tested twice per week. All other relevant infection protection and hygiene measures, such as wearing mouth and nose protection, still remain in place.

On April 23, 2021, the amended Infection Protection Act came into effect. As a result, the binding nationwide COVID-19 circuit breaker measures apply without additional transposing measures in districts and cities of the Free State of Saxony that have 7-day incidences of more than 100 infections per 100,000 inhabitants on three consecutive days.

• At schools and universities, alternate classes become mandatory. If the 7-day incidence exceeds 165, only distance education is allowed, day care centers must be closed and may only provide emergency care.
• If the incidence is below 165, daycare centers and kindergartens, including special education daycare centers, can remain open in limited regular operation with fixed groups and caregivers. The same applies to after-school care centers. The day care facilities are in regular operation.
• Exemptions do only apply to students in special education schools and in graduating classes. These include 4^th graders at elementary schools. These children and youth can attend their schools even above the 165 incidence.

LINK: https://www.bundesgesundheitsministerium.de/fileadmin/Dateien/3_Downloads/Gesetze_und_Verordnungen/GuV/B/4_BevSchG_BGBL.pdf

Pursuant to the amended Saxon general decree, valid from April 24, 2021, from a 7-day incidence of more than 165, emergency childcare is possible for children of students in daycare centers as well as elementary and special schools if (cf. 1.5.3 and 1.5.4 of the general decree):

• 1.5.3. one of the legal custodians proves that they are prevented from caring for the child as a pupil in on-site schooling, as a trainee, apprentice, student in the final years for exams that cannot be postponed in the area of vocational and academic training or in practical vocational training or continuing education in professions in the health care or social services sectors, and that care cannot be provided by the other legal custodian,
• 1.5.4. one of the legal custodians proves that they, as a student at a university or the Saxony University of Cooperative Education, are prevented from caring for the child due to immediate preparation for an examination or the taking of an examination that counts towards the final grade and that care cannot be provided by the other legal custodian,

LINK: https://www.coronavirus.sachsen.de/download/SMS-Allgemeinverfuegung-Ausnahme-Untersagung-Praesenzbeschulung-Abschlussklassen-Notbetreuung-2021-04-23.pdf

In order for you to be eligible for emergency care for your child(ren), please complete the form "Formblatt zum Nachweis der beruflichen Tätigkeit für die Notbetreuung" (cf. https://www.coronavirus.sachsen.de/download/SMS-Allgemeinverfuegung-Abschlussklassen-2021-04-23-Anlage3-Formular-Notbetreuung.pdf). Please contact your Examination Office / the office administering your examinations to have the form signed. The office will only check the student status. If the student is enrolled in the degree program or on leave of absence, the form is to be signed.

Flexible Childcare at TU Dresden

During the coronavirus pandemic from January to September 2021, students with child(ren) also have the option of using TUD's flexible childcare on an hourly basis (e.g. for the time they are taking exams).

LINK: https://tu-dresden.de/flexible-kinderbetreuung

Campusnest of the Studentenwerk Dresden

The Campusnest short-term childcare will be available again for the care of the youngest children as of March 22, 2021. Opening is subject to compliance with the applicable general decree regarding the coronavirus.

LINK: https://www.studentenwerk-dresden.de/soziales/campusnest.html

Private babysitter

If you are not entitled to emergency care, you can contact private babysitting agencies to find out whether they can assist you with childcare and under what conditions this is possible.

Compensation regulations for working parents pursuant to § 56 para. 1a sentence 1 IfSG in the event of a national epidemic situation

Working guardians of children up to the age of 12 or disabled children are entitled to compensation for their loss of earnings in accordance with § 56 para. 1a sentence 1 Infection Protection Act (IfSG) if facilities for the care of children, schools or facilities for people with disabilities are temporarily closed by the relevant authority to prevent the spread of infections or communicable diseases on the basis of the above-mentioned law, or if entering the facilities is prohibited, including on the basis of isolation, or if school or company vacations have been imposed or extended by the relevant authority for reasons of infection control, if compulsory attendance at a school has been suspended or access to childcare services has been restricted, or if there is an official recommendation to refrain from visiting a childcare facility, a school or a facility for people with disabilities.

For each employed individual, compensation is granted for the duration of the national epidemic situation* as declared by the German Bundestag pursuant to § 5 para. 1 sentence 1 of the Infection Protection Act (IfSG), regardless of the number of children, for a maximum of ten weeks per year; for an employed individual who supervises, cares for or nurses their child alone, for a maximum of 20 weeks per year. Employees in minor employment (geringfügige Beschäftigung) can also receive compensation. The compensation amounts to 67% of the monthly net earnings, up to a maximum of 2,016.00 EUR per month for a full month.

LINK: https://www.bundesgesundheitsministerium.de/fileadmin/Dateien/3_Downloads/C/Coronavirus/FAQs_zu_56_IfSG_BMG.pdf?utm_source=www.ltv-sachsen.de&utm_medium=301&utm_campaign=url

Children's sick days (Kinderkrankentage)

If their child is sick, parents may stay at home and care for them. In response to the coronavirus pandemic, the number of children's sick days has already been increased in 2020. Upon enactment of the Fourth Civil Protection Act (Bundes-Notbremse - nationwide circuit breaker) on April 23, 2021, the number of children's sick days for statutorily insured professionals has been increased once again. In 2021, each parent will have 30 instead of the current 20 children's sick days per child under the age of 12 (60 instead of 40 days for single parents). In total, statutorily insured employees are entitled to no more than 90 working days, and single parents to no more than 130 working days. This regulation has taken effect retroactively as of January 5, 2021.

Children's sick days may also be used when school or daycare centers are closed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Parents who could work remotely from their home are also eligible.

Parents with marginal part-time employment (so-called mini-job) are usually not insured in the statutory health insurance with entitlement to sick pay, so they cannot receive payment of the child sick benefits. 

LINK: https://www.bundesgesundheitsministerium.de/fileadmin/Dateien/3_Downloads/Gesetze_und_Verordnungen/GuV/B/4_BevSchG_BGBL.pdf

Students with familial responsibilities are affected by the COVID-19 pandemic even beyond the digital start of the semester and the limited on-site teaching activities. For example, part-time jobs at major events or in the hospitality industry are no longer available. Instead, many questions arise: Are students entitled to unemployment or housing benefits? Does the postponed start of the semester have an effect on the BAföG funding? Do the economic implications of the coronavirus crisis have an impact on child alimony payments? Questions like these will be answered by the Campusbüro Uni mit Kind family service center, a cooperation between TU Dresden and Studentenwerk Dresden, and by the Social Counseling Services of Studentenwerk Dresden.

Standard period of study and BAföG

On December 16, 2020, the Saxon state parliament passed the Act Strengthening Education (Bildungsstärkungsgesetz) and, at the same time, amended the Act on the Autonomy of Institutions of Higher Education in the Free State of Saxony (Hochschulfreiheitsgesetz) in a significant point.

In concrete terms, this means that the extension of the individual standard period of study by the period of the 2020 summer semester and the 2020/21 winter semester due to the coronavirus pandemic has been approved.

For all students enrolled in the 2020 summer semester who are not on leave of absence, the standard period of study will be extended by up to two semesters. For all those who have only started their studies in the 2020/21 winter semester, the standard period of study will be extended by one semester. Thus, the last two semesters are counted as "non-semesters" and deducted from the standard period of study. The regulation also applies to state examination programs. As a result, students have legal certainty that they will not suffer any disadvantages due to the coronavirus pandemic when receiving benefits for their studies under the German Federal Training Assistance Act (BAföG).

This allows students to receive training assistance for an additional one or two semesters. Moreover, the proof of academic performance (Leistungsnachweis) with the standard achievements of four semesters, which had to be submitted at the latest at the beginning of the fifth semester, is now only due one or two semesters later. 

The modification applies to all students whose original standard period of study would have ended after the start of the 2020 summer semester. It does not include students whose standard period of study ended in March 2020 or before. Therefore, students who have already received graduation assistance pursuant to § 15 para. 3a BAföG in the 2020 summer semester will not receive any regular funding, even retroactively.

Students whose regular period of study ended in the 2020 summer semester and who have not yet applied for training assistance, or have applied late, now also have the option of retroactive payment of training assistance. Due to the delayed amendment of the law in the Free State of Saxony, BAföG benefits can exceptionally be paid retroactively from the 2020/21 winter semester. However, the application for this must be submitted to the Office for Training Assistance (Amt für Ausbildungsförderung) by April 30, 2021 at the latest.

LINK: https://www.medienservice.sachsen.de/medien/news/244412

Informationen

Parental allowance

The extraordinary situation caused by the novel coronavirus is a particular hardship. In order for parents not to suffer any disadvantages in terms of parental allowance due to the consequences of the coronavirus pandemic, special regulations have been issued, which are initially in effect until December 31, 2021. This allows months with lower income to be excluded from the parental allowance calculation. This affects expectant parents who have lost income as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
LINK: https://familienportal.de/familienportal/familienleistungen/corona/elterngeld-corona

In addition, the law reforming parental allowance will come into force on September 1, 2021:

LINK: https://www.bmfsfj.de/bmfsfj/aktuelles/alle-meldungen/elterngeld-verbesserungen-gesetz-aenderung-160558#:~:text=Wird%20ein%20Kind%20mindestens%20sechs,und%20bei%2016%20Wochen%20vier

Child benefit supplement (Kinderzuschlag)

If the income is not sufficient for the whole family, parents or custodians can receive the child benefit supplement (Kinderzuschlag) in addition to the child benefit allowance. https://www.arbeitsagentur.de/familie-und-kinder/kinderzuschlag-anspruch-hoehe-dauer

Amount of financial help

In order to take the special situation of single parents into account, the amount of financial help, regulated in § 24 b of the German Income Tax Act (EStG), will be increased from the current 1908 euros to 4008 euros for the years 2020 and 2021.

LINK: https://www.bmfsfj.de/bmfsfj/themen/corona-pandemie/finanzielle-unterstuetzung/faq-entlastungsbetrag-alleinerziehende-einkommmenssteuer

Help for students in need

Coronavirus relief fund of the Association of Friends and Sponsors of TU Dresden (GFF)

As of now, TU Dresden students who are in financial difficulties due to the coronavirus pandemic can once again apply for emergency aid from the coronavirus relief fund. Students who can prove that they are in an emergency situation as a result of the restrictions can receive a one-off payment of up to 450 EUR.

LINK: https://tu-dresden.de/tu-dresden/profil/freunde-foerderer/gff/foerderung/antraege-fuer-die-corona-hilfsfonds

Loans granted by the KfW Development Bank (KfW) for German and international students who have fallen into financial hardship because of the coronavirus

LINK: https://www.kfw.de/inlandsfoerderung/Privatpersonen/Studieren-Qualifizieren/Studium-finanzieren/?kfwmc=vt.sea.google.SEA_VT_Studienkredit_Allgemein_BK.{Anzeigengruppe}.{Anzeige}&wt_cc1=bildung&wt_cc2=pri|studieren-qualifizieren&wt_cc3=82025713368_kwd-311285257835_433623776525&wt_kw=b_82025713368_%2Bkfw%20%2Bkredit%20%2Bstudium

BMBF financial assistance (Überbrückungshilfe)

Students in emergencies caused by the pandemic can once again apply for financial assistance from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) during the period from November 20, 2020 to September 30, 2021.

LINK: https://www.überbrückungshilfe-studierende.de/start

Emergency aid of the Students’ Union Dresden (Studentenwerk)

Should you find yourself in a temporary emergency situation during your studies for which you are not responsible, the social counseling service of the Studentenwerk Dresden will try to help you.

LINK: https://www.studentenwerk-dresden.de/soziales/notlagen.html

At present, there are many innovations in the field of social benefits and family benefits due to the Second Family Relief Act (2. FamEntlastG) of December 01, 2020. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, there have been additional modifications to the implementing regulations for social benefits. If you have financial questions, please use the counseling service of the Campusbüro Uni mit Kind

Studying/working at home and caring for my child(ren)

Reconciling study, work and childcare is sometimes a difficult balancing act to achieve. The following are just a few ideas on how this can be done a little better.

Tip #1: Planning, planning, planning 

Planning, planning, planning  Tip #1:

Plan an agenda for each day, plan it thoroughly and record the individual stages in a timetable. Involve older children in the planning and place the timetable where everyone can see it. A notice board in the kitchen, for example, would be a good idea.

Tip #2: Define both shared and separate periods

Define both shared and separate periods Tip #2:

Split the time available into periods that you spend together and periods that your children spend independently. In addition to breakfast, lunch, and dinner together, plan activities that involve physical activity, such as a walk.

Tip #3: Use the morning and the evening

Use the morning and the evening Tip #3:

Use the time early in the morning and later in the evening, when your children are sleeping, for concentrated work. 

Tip #4: Starting the working day together

Starting the working day together Tip #4:

Create a fixed ritual with which you start your first learning or work phase together in the morning. It will help you to switch to another mode without changing location.

Tip #5: Create a defined workspace

Create a defined workspace Tip #5:

If possible, set up a separate area where you can work undisturbed. A spatial separation from the areas where your children work alone is usually very helpful.

Tip #6: Split childcare

Split childcare Tip #6:

Are both parents at home? Then take turns interacting with your children. A room arrangement often helps: Both parents work in different rooms, for example in the living room and the study. The person who works in the living room can be contacted by the children. The one in the study remains undisturbed. Over the day, you simply change rooms to take turn.
https://www.bundesregierung.de/breg-de/themen/coronavirus/wie-eltern-ihren-kindern-jetzt-helfen-koennen-1730182

Learning at home

The Saxon State Ministry for Higher Education, Research and the Arts compiled the most important questions and answers for learning at home.
LINK: https://www.bildung.sachsen.de/blog/index.php/2020/03/30/lernen-zu-hause-die-wichtigsten-fragen-und-antworten-im-ueberblick/

Explaining the coronavirus to my child(ren)

Even if your child is too young to understand the situation, you cannot shield them from the omnipresent topic. Help your child to get used to the current situation by providing clear and age-appropriate information. 
https://jugendinfoservice.dresden.de/de/elternweb/faq-familien-corona.php

Ideas to occupy my children

The schools and daycare centers are still closed (except for the emergency care), and meet-ups with other children outside their homes are restricted. In order to make everyday life with children playful and varied, a lot of creativity is needed. You will find a selection of activity suggestions here: https://jugendinfoservice.dresden.de/de/elternweb/faq-familien-corona.php

In order to bring movement and exercise into your home, ALBA BERLIN’s online program "Sports is fun" offers two digital school lessons (day-care and school) every Saturday for all children and young people - to watch and participate in. https://www.albaberlin.de/news/details/reaktion-auf-coronavirus-albas-taegliche-digitale-sportstunde-fuer-kinder-und-jugendliche/

Campusbüro Uni mit Kind family service center

The Campusbüro Uni mit Kind, a cooperative institution of TU Dresden and Studentenwerk Dresden, offers counseling services that are especially geared towards the needs of students and employees with children.

LINK: https://kinder.studentenwerk-dresden.de/

Counseling and service institutions of TU Dresden

Should you need advice on how to reconcile work/study and family life, there are various counseling and service institutions available at TU Dresden.

LINK: https://tu-dresden.de/studium/im-studium/coronavirus#section-2-9

Students with relatives in need of care are welcome to direct their requests for advice to our independent care counseling service at TU Dresden.

LINK: https://tu-dresden.de/pflegeberatung

Counseling and services of the Studentenwerk Dresden

The Studentenwerk Dresden offers counseling services via telephone, email, and in some cases in person on a variety of topics related to studying.

LINK: https://www.studentenwerk-dresden.de/soziales/kontakt.html

Counseling services of the Dresden Youth Welfare Office (Jugendamt)

The coronavirus situation is a challenge for all walks of life, especially for families, children and young people. Tension and conflict can arise if contact with peers and friends is lacking, if the family structure is under great pressure due to the problems providing care or movement restrictions to protect against infection. In order to be able to provide advice and support, the Youth Welfare Office has set up a counseling hotline.

LINK: https://jugendinfoservice.dresden.de/de/elternweb/faq-familien-corona.php

Nursing assessment (MDK-Begutachtung)

The assessment by the German Medical Service (MD) to determine whether the insured needs long-term care can still be performed without examinations of the insured in their home until June 30, 2021, if the Medical Service (MD) considers this necessary to prevent the risk of infection of the insured or the assessor with the coronavirus. The assessment is then made on the basis of the documents on file and, if necessary, a telephone interview.

Special regulations for care level 1

Until June 30, 2021, persons in need of nursing care in care level 1 can use the monthly support allowance (Entlastungsbetrag) of 125 EUR pursuant to § 45b of the German Social Code, Book XI, even for assistance outside the current regulation, in order to compensate for bottlenecks in care caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Remaining balance of the support allowance (Entlastungsbetrag)

Unused amounts for support services from 2019 and 2020 can now be used until September 30, 2021. This applies to individuals in need of care of all care levels.

Care support allowance (Pflegeunterstützungsgeld)

Payment of the care support allowance will also be extended from 10 to 20 working days due to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic until June 30, 2021.

What about the mandatory counseling visits according to § 37.3 SGB XI?

Counseling sessions for recipients of care allowance (Pflegegeld) may be conducted by telephone, online, or by videoconference. The prerequisite is that the insured person and/or the caring and nursing relatives expressly request this type of service.

The regulation also applies until June 30, 2021. 60 EUR for care aids now anchored in § 40 SGB XI Care aids. The temporary, repeatedly extended increase in the lump-sum care allowance from 40 to 60 EUR was separated from the complex package of measures related to the coronavirus pandemic. A permanent increase as part of the care reform is expected.

If you have any questions regarding the care of relatives, please use TU Dresden's independent care counseling service (https://tu-dresden.de/pflegeberatung).

Up-to-date information on the opening hours of refectories and cafeterias can be found on the website of the  Student Union (Studentenwerk Dresden).

The following tools and digital environments will be available for digital teaching in the 2020/2021 winter semester (https://tu-dresden.de/tu-dresden/organisation/rektorat/prorektor-bildung/zill/e-learning/corona/tooluebersicht). Please note in particular that the video platform MAGMA will be replaced by the new cross-university platform Videocampus Sachsen (VCS), which will be available as of 1^st October 2020.

Learning management system

• Learning platform OPAL (synchronous and asynchronous learning scenarios, student communication, management of learning outcomes, provision of materials, etc.) 

Provision and exchange of files

• Learning platform OPAL
• Cloud store (cloud-based memory)

Video conferencing tools (for synchronous teaching, examination and communication)

• BigBlueButton
• DFN Adobe Connect
• GoToMeeting
• Jitsi
• Pexip/DFNconf (especially for streaming)
• Zoom

Provision of videos/audios

• Videocampus Sachsen (VCS), replacement of Magma as of 1^st October 2020

Monitoring of the learning progress (e-assessment) and examinations

• learning platform OPAL with assignment and test modules (via test suite ONYX)
• separate examination platform OPAL Exam@TUD

Live surveys

• Invote

Synchronous collaboration

• Chat service Matrix (currently until 31^st December 2020)
• Sharepoint

Support on the individual tools, possible applications as well as further training and advice on this topic is available at the ZiLL (the ZiLL prepared initial Recommendations for the design and set-up of online teaching) and at the ZIH by the E-Learning-Support. Information on this topic can be found on the corona websites regarding E-Learning (https://tu-dresden.de/tu-dresden/organisation/rektorat/prorektor-bildung/zill/e-learning/corona/tooluebersicht).

Please also use the continuing education and counselling services of the Centre for Continuing Education (ZfW), e.g. online guidance on higher education and media didactics, online continuing education on Open Educational Resources (OER) in digital university teaching, online guidance and continuing education on tutorial teaching (https://tu-dresden.de/karriere/weiterbildung/wissenschaftliches-personal/index).

The legal bases for you as a teacher are §60a and §60c of the UrhG (German copyright law). You may reproduce and distribute up to 15 percent of a work for the purpose of non-commercial scientific research in compliance with the statutory provisions and make it accessible to a limited group of users. This overview shows which materials can be made electronically available for university courses. The legal bases for us as a library are §60b and §60e of the UrhG. Libraries may reproduce up to 10 percent of a published work as well as individual articles that have appeared in specialist or scientific journals for individual orders requested by users for non-commercial purposes.

If you need media and literature for your online courses that are only available in printed or physical form in the SLUB's collection, the SLUB would be happy to help you put together a digital course reserve collection.

If you upload files to OPAL, please pay attention to the following points:

• The OPAL course is password-protected and is only accessible to a limited number of students
• To the extent permitted, the files are only available for the academic work of the students for that semester.
• Students are advised that the transfer of files to third parties is not permitted; the copies are only to be used for their own private and academic work
• The files will be removed from the OPAL course after the allotted time has expired.

In order to facilitate your research in times of Corona, some publishers and database providers have extended access to their offers. You can find an overview of the extended range of electronic resources here.

If you need media and literature for your online courses that are only available in printed or physical form in the SLUB's collection, the SLUB would be happy to help you put together a digital course reserve collection:

• Send the SLUB information on the literature that you need in advance. This includes literature that is not yet available in the online campus network and materials that you want to make accessible on OPAL (password protected) this semester (please point out the 3 most important sources that your students will promptly need as first sources and which should be included in the first document delivery. With the large number of modules in the TU Dresden, such a ranking is necessary for capacity reasons).
   
• The SLUB will convert your required materials into PDF files, as long as copyright laws allow it, and you can then make these materials directly and therefore in one central place available to the students via OPAL (with this procedure, we can avoid multiple orders of identical materials being sent to #SLUB_on_Demand and save time for the provision of other content).
   
• The legal bases for you as a teacher are §60a and §60c of the UrhG (German copyright law). You may reproduce and distribute up to 15 percent of a work for the purpose of non-commercial scientific research in compliance with the statutory provisions and make it accessible to a limited group of users. This overview shows which materials can be made electronically available for university courses.
   
• The legal bases for us as a library are §60b and §60e of the UrhG. Libraries may reproduce up to 10 percent of a published work as well as individual articles that have appeared in specialist or scientific journals for individual orders requested by users for non-commercial purposes.

If you upload files to OPAL, please pay attention to the following points:

• The OPAL course is password-protected and is only accessible to a limited number of students
• To the extent permitted, the files are only available for the academic work of the students for that semester.
• Students are advised that the transfer of files to third parties is not permitted; the copies are only to be used for their own private and academic work
• The files will be removed from the OPAL course after the allotted time has expired.

The officers for students with disabilities and chronic diseases have developed tips for barrier-free teaching, in particular with references to video conferences and BigBlueButton.

Please note the following instructions for video and audio recordings of courses.