Instruction No. 12/2021. (1.VI.) of the Rector and the Chancellor (Excerpt)

The rector 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 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 special 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 rector 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 rector 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. According to Circular letter No. 6/2020. (XI.10.) of the President and Chancellor on ordering distance (online) education (Excerpt) all forms of education will be maintained on online platforms.

1.3. The buildings of the Academy can be visited exclusively by healthy persons not showing any symptoms of the coronavirus meeting the requirements of points 2., 3., and 4., and in accordance with regulations within the present instruction and legal provisions of the government. The specific symptoms of the coronavirus illness are detailed in Annex No. 1.

1.4. 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).

1.5.The wearing of masks is mandatory everywhere in the buildings, with the following exceptions

a) in buffets, restaurants, in places appointed for food and drink consumption exclusively for the period of the food and drink consumption,

b) on the stages for the artist participating persons of concerts and other events for the duration of the performance exclusively.

c) in offices and other non-public spaces, exclusively for people who reside in such spaces for the sole purposes of working, with the mutual agreement of those at present.

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

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

1.8. 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.).

1.9. 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.

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

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 37,8 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.  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. Entering persons are obliged to make the statement according to the questionnaire No. 2 during the validity of present instruction in the course of their first daily entry into the Academy at the Reception, or submit their vaccination card (védettségi igazolvány) and identity documents for verification to the Reception. During the verification of the vaccination card the person in question may be asked to present the identity document (ID card or passport) related to the vaccination card, the number of which is written on the vaccination card.

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 or the vaccination card (védettségi igazolvány) 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, or not fulfilling the requirements stated in 3.1., 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 or prove the fulfilment of the requirements stated in 3.1. 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.

4. Rules of entry and method of conduct at the buildings of the Liszt Academy for the public

4.1 Concerts with the presence of the audience, events, temporary exhibitions, guided tours of the Liszt Academy (hereinafter referred to as Events) may be held after 25 June 2021.

4.2 Visiting the Liszt Ferenc Museum and Research Center and the Kodály Zoltán Memorial Museum will be possible to visit after 15 June, with the rules of entry discussed in point 3, and wearing a mask according to the followings:

The Liszt Ferenc Museum and Research Center is open to visitors on Wednesdays from 10:00 to 18:00 and on Saturdays from 9:00 to 17:00, with a maximum group of 10 people at a time. No concerts or other events will be held at the Liszt Ferenc Museum and Research Center until September 1 2021.

The Kodály Zoltán Memorial Museum is open to pre-registered visitors on Wednesdays from 10:00 to 12:00, from 14:00 to 16:30, with a maximum group of 5 people at a time. The Memorial Museum will be closed between August 1, 2021 and August 31, 2021.

In case of entering for the above mentioned purposes, the employees and students of the Academy are under the same obligations as the general public.

4.3 The Library of the Liszt Academy will be open to public library visitors from September 1 2021.

Students, professors, researchers, employees of the Liszt Academy may visit the Library from 1 June 2021 according to the followings:

1. Opening hours:
   • the Central Library (LF8): Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, 10.00-15.00
   •  Research Library and Studio (V35): Monday and Thursday, 10.00-14.00
2. Persons visiting the library must put in an order through the electronic catalogue of the library in case they wish to borrow a book, document, etc.
3. There may be two (2) persons at maximum at the library counter, while in the reading-room there may be four (4) persons at maximum simultaneously.
4. Library visitors must wear a mask (covering the nose and the mouth as well) during the period of the library visit, and keep a 1,5 m distance as much as possible.
5. Returning books, documents, etc. is possible by abiding by the primary rules (point c) above).
6. When entering the building, the general pandemic rules are in effect.

The possible authorization of visitation of the Library by Academy professors, researchers and students between 25 May 2021 and 15 July 2021 and the detailed procedure thereof shall be provided by the University in a separate regulation or circular letter after 10 May 2021.

4.4 The public, as persons present as spectators at a cultural event, are obliged to use the mask covering the mouth and nose in the auditorium and in other public areas of the buildings.

5. Rules of entry of others

5.1 An online music event or live performance service shall not be considered an event if the venue of the cultural event or live performance service is provided exclusively by the performers and the technical staff strictly necessary for the conduct (hereinafter: online concerts).

III. SPECIAL REGULATIONS REGARDING THE ORDER OF THE ACADEMIC YEAR

§ 4

1. General provisions of the education

1.1. In the emergency situation, the Academy uses distance, online educational form.

1.2. 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.

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

1.4. 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

§ 5

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 (WE52):

From Monday to Sunday: from 8 a.m. to 8 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. Practicing in the classrooms is allowed for a maximum of 4 people.

Main building at Liszt Ferenc square:

From Monday to Sunday: from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. only for double bass, organ, cimbalom, percussion, tuba, harp students for a maximum of 4 people.

Practicing in the piano main subject rooms of the building at Liszt Ferenc Square is allowed in exceptional, justified cases for students majoring in piano with a special permission and exclusively with the presence of their main subject teacher. A justified, individual request to this effect must be submitted and sent to the head of the department. The rector decides on the request, considering the relevant opinion of the head of the department.

Old Academy of Music:

From Monday to Sunday: from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. only for students of organ, church music, harpsichord in the Bach room on the ground floor and rooms on the 3rd floor for a maximum of 4 people.

Building at Semmelweis street:

In the building at Semmelweis street, practicing is allowed in exceptional, justified cases – in particular practicing for the diploma concert – with a special permission for a maximum of 4 people until 25 June 2021, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday-Saturday. A justified, individual request to this effect must be submitted and sent to the head of the department. The rector decides on the request, considering the relevant opinion of the head of the department.

Due to the summer holiday, from 26 June 2021, practicing is not permitted.

Building at Köztelek street:

In the building at Köztelek street, practicing is allowed in exceptional, justified cases for a maximum of 4 people – in particular practicing for the diploma concert – with a special permission until 9 July 2021, in accordance with the opening hours of the music school. The persons’ name, who are granted permission, are sent to the Study Department and the security personnel of the building by the Jazz Department.

Due to the summer holiday, from 10 July 2021, practicing is not permitted

3.2. Practicing between 1 August and 22 August 2021 is not permitted as the buildings of the Academy are closed for students as due to maintenance during this period.

3.3. Outsiders may not participate in the practices. Students may only request practice rooms for recording sound or video that are related to their studies if they prepare the recordings themselves, without the help of a person who does not have a legal status with the Academy.

3.4. Only one person may be present during a practice in a practice room on the 3rd floor of WE52. The student is obliged to use the hand sanitizer placed in the practice room before the start of the practice. Practice time is a maximum of 90 minutes per person. The next practice in the same room may only start after 15 minutes of the previous student leaving the room, during which time disinfection of the room (ventilation etc.) is necessary. After finishing the practice, the student is obligated to leave the building.

3.5. During the period of practice, participating students must follow the general hygienic rules. Before the start of the practice, washing hands with soap and water or using hand sanitizer, which is provided by the Academy, is obligatory. After finishing the practice, the student is obligated to leave the building immediately, while also wearing a mask.

3.6. The Academy ensures the cleaning of large-bodied instruments owned by the Academy and other equipment used during practice with virucide surface cleaning agents if the equipment is not damaged by the cleaning agent (in case of piano, upright piano, harpsichord, organ console; in case of harp, double-bass, cimbalom percussion instrument cleaning is also ensured but with different yet adequate and instrument-appropriate cleaning agents). Disinfecting with the provided cleaning agents and equipment must be carried out after lessons by the professor, and after practice by the student as well in the given room.

3.7. Wearing a mask during a practice with only one (1) person present is not obligatory, however, the participant is obliged to pay strict attention to personal hygienic rules.

4.  Reckoning and order of reports

4.1. Order of reports will take place online at the Academy. Any possible decisions differing from this, is set in a separate regulation.

§ 5

Other special provisions of the order of the Academic year

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

§ 6

Special provisions regarding foreign citizens

(1)   During the period of state of danger as introduced by Government Decree 478/2020 (3. XI.) on the declaration of state of danger, the regulations laid down in §80 (2) of Act CCIV of 2011 on national higher education are to be applied to non-Hungarian citizens studying in Hungary – regarding those who establish student status after 7 February 2021, and those students who enter Hungary after 7 February 2021 – with the following additions:

1. if the rector of the Academy determines the need for a medical fitness test, and the student is deemed medically unfit to continue their studies according to the result of the medical fitness test, the student status will be suspended for the semester in which the medically unfit status was determined,
2. the Academy terminates the student status if the student is deemed medically unfit to continue and complete their studies according to the medical test in point a).

(2) Paragraph (1) cannot be applied to those students who have the legal right to freedom of movement and residence, and those students who have an immigrant or permanent resident legal status.

VI. CLOSING PROVISIONS

§ 11

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

(2) Instruction No. 8/2021 on transitional rules. (IV.22.) of the Rector and Chancellor is valid in accordance with the rules of validity contained therein. The present Instruction repeals Instruction No. 9/2021. (V.3.) of the Rector and the Chancellor (Excerpt)on the provisions of reopening in the 2020/21 academic year and concert season.

(3) The Instruction shall enter into force on 1 June 2021 and is valid until withdrawal by simultaneous compliance with the respective governmental epidemiological measures.

(4)  In the event of a change in the epidemiological situation, the Rector is entitled to make a decision to change the above order of practicing, organizing educational issues – especially practical education of students and knowledge measurement requiring student presence according to the academic and examination rules while complying with epidemiological measures.

Budapest, 1 June 2021