Instruction No. 15/2020. (22.IX.) of the President and the Chancellor (Excerpt)

The president and chancellor of the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music (hereinafter: Academy) as persons exercising the employer’s rights, we hereby determine the special order of the academic year 2020/2021 and the concert season with regard to the epidemiological preparedness and the respectively valid epidemiological regulations of the government in the present instruction (hereinafter: Instruction).

I. GENERAL PROVISIONS

§ 1
Purpose and effect of the Instruction

(1) The Purpose of the Instruction is to determine the measures for the start and carry out of the academic year 2020/2021 and the concert season which decrease the risks of the coronavirus infection and prevent the further spreading of the coronavirus pandemic. Furthermore, it ensures the protection of the life, health, property safety and right certainty of the persons (students, employees, participating persons and the audience) participating in the activity of the Academy and the guarantee of the continuity of the higher education and the stability of the operation of the institution.

(2) The measures are based on the currently valid governmental decisions and sectorial guidelines and on the currently available information and they may change in case of the change of the epidemiological situation and/or as a result of the governmental measures.

(3) The personal scope of the Instruction covers the persons having a legal relationship governed by service regulations, employment relationship and other work-related legal relationships (hereinafter also as colleagues), students, audience and all persons entering any of the buildings of the Academy for carrying out tasks or for any other purposes. The public education institution maintained by the Academy acts according to the provisions being applicable for it.

(4) The subject matter of the Instruction is the higher education activity and all concerts, exhibitions, toured building visits or any other event to be organized in the buildings of the Academy, especially in the buildings LF 8 and V 35 but also any other public event or event organized with the participation of invited guests in any other building of the Academy.

§ 2
General and enabling provisions

(1) According to the authorization of the Senate (Resolutions No. 89/2020 (01.09), the making of the general decisions of principle and the concrete measures – including especially the students’ educational and exam issues, the reimbursement and allowance issues of the students, the scope of exercising the employer’s rights and the possible questions of extraordinary purchases – incurring regarding the coronavirus and affecting the Academy fall within the scope of the president and the chancellor. The purpose of the decisions made within this scope is the creation of temporary provisions for the period of the epidemiological preparedness/state of emergency, the acceptance and issuance of measure plans of the institution handling the epidemiological preparedness.

(2) Besides the provision set out in Clause 1, the president and the chancellor are obliged to ensure the amendment and continuous updating the regulations, instructions, measure protocols of the Academy by adjusting to the change of the epidemiological situation with regard also the particularities of the institution.          

II. REGULATIONS REGARDING THE ENTRY INTO THE BUILDING OF THE ACADEMY AND THE ORDER OF STAY

§ 3
1. General provisions in the interest of establishing a secure environment from health-related point of view

1.1. The compliance with the measures, legal provisions, internal measure plans, policies, instructions, measure protocols, issues guidelines aiming the keeping of the health is mandatory for everybody.

1.2. The buildings, concerts, events, classes of the Academy can be visited exclusively by healthy persons not showing any symptoms of the coronavirus. The specific symptoms of the coronavirus illness are detailed in Annex No. 1.

1.3. The compliance with the personal hygiene is necessary and mandatory for every student of the Academy and every person entering any of the buildings and facilities of the Academy. This includes often hand washing with soap or alcoholic hand disinfection by using the placed hand sanitizer equipment ensured by the Academy, the compliance with the coughing etiquette and the avoidance of the unnecessary touching of the face and the compliance with the provisions regarding the use of equipment covering the mouth and the nose (hereinafter: mask).

1.4. The wearing of masks is mandatory in the building, with the following exceptions

1. in buffets, restaurants, in places appointed for food and drink consumption exclusively for the period of the food and drink consumption,
2. at the musical instrument and singing classes and rehearsals during their period,
3. during practice as described in Section 4 Clause 3.4,
4. for the colleagues exclusively in the offices if the safety distance of 1,5 meters can be complied with and if otherwise agreed by the persons working together there with the consent of all affected persons,
5. on the stages for the artist participating persons of concerts and other events for the duration of the performance.

1.5. The Academy suggests using masks also in cases set out in Clause 1.4 in such cases where it can be solved in a realistic way.

1.6. Compliance with the keeping of appropriate physical distance, the persons being within the territory of the institution are obliged, if possible, to keep a distance of 1,5 meters from each other for which the Academy has fit out the affected areas (especially libraries, buffets, guest areas, educational department) with good visible signs (floor stickers and awareness-raising boards).

1.7. The students and visitors of the Academy are obliged to increasingly ensure the cleanness of the facilities. The Academy ensures the facilitation of the above by using appropriate hand disinfectants (virucide) and surface sanitizer and cleaning fluids also having virucide effects and takes measures for the continuous availability of appropriate hand and surface sanitizers and for the regular disinfection of surfaces touched on a regular basis (door handle, elevator buttons, switches, handles, handrails etc.).

1.8. In closed areas, in the interest of the decrease of the concentration of any possible germs, everybody is obliged to pay special attention to the continuous or regular ventilation having higher intensity. The air ventilation machines operating in the area of the Academy having machinery ventilation ensure the continuous increased ventilation with a fresh air proportion of 100 % and with great effectiveness.

1.9. The Elevators operating in the buildings of the Academy can be used by a maximum of 4 persons simultaneously.

1.10. The colleagues and employees of the service providers contacted directly with the audience, especially, the personnel at the auditorium, persons in the buffets, cashiers, the personnel selling masks and CDs are obliged to use gloves during the carry out of work and provision of services.

2. General provisions of the entry and staying in the buildings

2.1. The entry into the buildings of the Academy is possible only after measurement of body temperature carried out with a non-contact thermometer at every entry below a body temperature of 37,5 C. In case of a higher body temperature, the Academy carries out a control measurement with another equipment and if also the control measurement shows a higher body temperature then the Academy denies the entry of the affected person.

2.2. The Academy is entitled to control the body temperature of the persons staying in its buildings also at random and in case of positive cases found at the control, to request the affected person to immediately leave the building.

2.3.  Students, visitors, colleagues, participating or other persons having noticeable acute airway problems (continuous coughing or sneezing) but not having any temperature can also be requested to leave the building.

2.4. The Academy states the provisions regarding the protocol to be used in connection with the suspected infection with a separate internal regulation.

3. Order of entry of students and employees

3.1. The students and the employees of the Academy are obliged to make the statement according to the questionnaire No. 2 during the academic year 2020/2021 in the course of their first entry into the Academy at the Reception. In the course of the following entries, the respective persons may enter into the building by presenting the confirmation of receipt certifying the making of the statement according to the followings:

• the entry into the buildings LF8 and W52 is possibly exclusively by simultaneous use of the access card,
• the entry into all other Academy buildings is possible after signing the attendance list – possibly with own pen – certifying the daily entry.

3.2. In case of an answer “Yes” to any of the questions of the questionnaire determined in Annex No. 2, the Academy is entitled to deny the entry of the affected person. In case of sickness, the affected person must present an official doctor’s certificate before the next entry into Academy buildings.

3.3. The students and employees of the Academy are obliged to immediately inform the Academy in case of any changes affecting any points of the statement set out in Clause 1 – mainly changes in symptoms and sickness, close contact with a person diagnosed with COVID-19 or a person who is in official quarantine due to suspected COVID-19 infection, being affected by epidemiological measures or restrictions sanctioned by authorities.

3.4. In case of students, absence due to points 3.2.-3.3. is considered justified absence if the student notifies the Study Department in writing.

3.5 In the interest of facilitating the protection, the Academy grants 2 pcs of reusable, washable textile masks fitting into the image of the institution to all of its employees and students for the first time free of charge. The person using the mask is liable for keeping the mask clean.

III. SPECIAL REGULATIONS REGARDING THE ORDER OF THE ACADEMIC YEAR

§ 4
1. General provisions of the education, visiting classes requiring personal participation, registration

1.1. In the epidemiological preparedness situation, the Academy uses distance, online educational form with the following deviations:

The following classes will be held in presence education:

1. main subject classes of Musical Creative Arts (Composition) and Performance (musical instrument) study programs, with the exception of classes where the professor received permission for online education due to 7. § (4)-(5), or in the case of a student requesting online education with justification and receiving permission from the president.
2. main subject solfege and music theory classes (maximum 5 persons) not being major subjects.
3. chamber music classes with the participation of a maximum of 4 students and a maximum of 2 lecturers.
4. Conducting Technique main subject classes of the Conducting Department (maximum 5 persons),
5. symphony orchestra without woodwind and brass instrumentalists – section rehearsals only, with the wearing of masks and the keeping of safety distance of 1,5 meters mandatory for all participants,
6. string orchestra – section rehearsals only, with the wearing of masks and the keeping of safety distance of 1,5 meters mandatory for all participants,

1.3. Besides the provisions set out in Clauses 1.1-1.2, the president may order the holding of further classes having educational purposes (lecture, course, seminar, consultation etc.) in an online form and the online exams related to these classes in the interest of protecting the health of the students after consultation with the affected head of department also during the term time.

1.5. During the presence education, the lecturers and the students are obliged to with the health safety and epidemiological rules (keeping of distance, wearing masks, hygiene rules). The Academy organizes the presence classes in a way that the safety distance of 1,5 meters can be met by taking into consideration of the capacity of the classroom.

1.6. In case of online classes affecting big number of students, the Academy continuously ensures the consultation possibility about the method of which the lecturer holding the class provides information.

1.7. During the continuous contact with the students, the Academy uses the electronic correspondence, the information and other possibilities through the educational system NEPTUN by granting the possibility of inspection of the documents to be submitted and of the evaluation of the written exams to the students – according to prior consultation.

1.8. The students are obliged to make a written statement at the registration, check-in regarding the fact whether they have been in a foreign country in the last two weeks. If yes then the student has to make a separate statement about the compliance with the regulations set out in the Government Decree No. 341/2020 (12.VII) on the travel restrictions of the epidemiological preparedness period.

1.9. The training required by legislation (e.g. fire protection and occupational safety trainings) is carried out at the Academy in online form.

1.10. The appropriate certification of the spending of the quarantine of 14 days or the presenting of two negative coronavirus test results (PCR test) carried out in Hungary to the Study Department is mandatory in case of students arriving from abroad.

1.11. The students and employees of the Academy are obliged to carry out their official issues mainly in electronic ways in all possible cases – especially in the course of the administration of students at the Study Department and regarding issues in connection with diploma concerts at the Concert and Event center.

3. Practice and use of practice rooms

3.1. The practice is permitted in the building of the Academy according to the followings:

Building at Wesselényi street:

• From Monday to Saturday: from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• On Sunday: from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The reservation of the practices is possible by using the reservation system exclusively for two hour periods with a technical break of half an hour on condition that the practice in the practice rooms on floor No. 3 is permitted only for 1 person at a time.

Main building at Liszt Ferenc square:

• From Monday to Saturday: from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. for organs, percussion, bass and harp students

Old Academy of Music:

• From Monday to Saturday: from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. for organs and harpsichord students

Building at Semmelweis street:

• From Monday to Saturday: from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. for folks music and wind instrument students

Building at Köztelek street:

• From Monday to Friday: from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Rehearsal possibility for Chamber groups is possible in the building at Wesselényi Street and in the main building at Liszt Ferenc square with room reservation depending on the capacity by taking into consideration of the opening hours of the buildings and the epidemiological provisions.

No accompanying persons are allowed during the practices.

3.2. During the practice, the general hygiene regulations shall apply for the attending students. Prior to the start of the practice, it is mandatory to wash hands with soap or to sanitize the hands with alcoholic disinfectants by using the hand sanitizer equipment ensured and placed by the Academy for this purpose. After the end of the practice, the persons using the practice rooms are obliged to leave the building and to wear masks in all public parts of the buildings of the Academy. 

3.3. The Academy ensures the regular cleaning of big instruments to be found in the inventory of the Academy (organs, pianino, harpsichord, organs play-table, and with special disinfectants harps, double basses, cimbalom, percussion instruments) or other equipment used during the practice with virucid surface cleaning disinfectants – if it does not damage the above. Besides this, at the end of the classes and the education, the lecturer and after the practice the students are also obliged to carry out this disinfection with the equipment, disinfectants put at their disposal in the respective room.

3.4. It is not mandatory to wear mask during the practice in the practice rooms on floor 3 of the building W52 in case of the presence of 1 person and in the other practice rooms in case of ensuring the safety distance of 1,5 meters on condition that the participating persons are obliged to pay high attention to the compliance with the personal hygiene conditions.

3.5 In case of change of the epidemiological situation, the president is entitled to make decision about the change of the above practice order and about the entry into force of new provisions and measures.

4. Reckoning and order of reports

4.1. Study Department of the Academy ensures the determination of the date of the verbal reports, its affected area and its expected number with the cooperation of the affected lecturers in advance and about the calling of the students to the Academy at a preliminary agreed scheduled date.

4.2. In case of written exams, the compliance with the regulations related to the classes is necessary on condition that the personal usage auxiliary materials are recommended to the students.

4.3. Only healthy students and lecturers not showing any symptoms are exclusively allowed to be present at the reckonings. The students are obliged to make a statement according to the questionnaire in Annex No. 2 prior to the reckoning through the system NEPTUN. In case of an answer “yes” to any questions, the Academy is allowed to deny the access of the student. If necessary, the carry out and ordering of a coronavirus test (PCR test) is recommended. The students are not allowed to visit the buildings of the Academy until presenting the requested number of negative test results.

4.4. It is mandatory to wear masks during the verbal and written exams. Everybody is obliged to strictly comply with the provisions of the coughing etiquette during the exams and the students shall be made aware of this prior to the exam by written information and at the start of the exam also verbally.

4.5. The oral exam can be held only in a well-ventilated room and simultaneously only a maximum of two students and one lecturer can stay together in the room. If the examinees use the equipment of the Academy (bigger music instruments) during the exam after each other the Academy ensures the disinfection of the equipment with disinfectants having short contact time after each use.

6. Holding of events, sport or other leisure activities

6.1. It is mandatory to wear masks in case of programs held in closed areas.

6.2. The organization of programs requiring direct personal contact shall be avoided.

6.3. Exclusively healthy students not showing any symptoms and feeling themselves healthy are allowed to participate in the sport or other leisure activity of the Academy about which the students are obliged to make a statement in the questionnaire set out in Annex No. 2. In case of the answer “Yes” to any of the questions, the Academydenies the participation of the student. The student is not allowed to visit the buildings of the Academy until presenting the required number of negative test results if needed and/or official doctor’s certificate. The person organizing the sport or other leisure activity is obliged to ensure this and also the necessary body temperature.

§ 5
Other special provisions of the order of the Academic year

(1) With the beginning of the academic year 2020/2021, the operation, opening hours and use of the educational buildings is carried out according to the general order regarding the questions not regulated by the present Instruction.

(2)   The operation of buffets and of the restaurant will be ensured.

(3)   The Academy will place hand sanitizer equipment in its buildings the use of which is mandatory and often hand washing is also highly recommended.

VI. CLOSING PROVISIONS

§ 9

(1) Regarding all questions not regulated by the Instruction, the respectively valid government decrees and the provisions of internal regulators shall be applied.

(2) The present Instruction repeals Instruction No. 13/2020. (2. IX.) of the President and the Chancellor.

(3) The Instruction shall enter into force on 23 September 2020 and is valid until withdrawal by simultaneous compliance with the respective governmental epidemiological measures.

Budapest, 22 September 2020

Download annexes:

• Annex No. 1 about the symptoms
• Annex No. 2 statement and certificate of handover