Summer semester is in full swing: The Freie Universität campus is bustling with students, employees, instructors, and researchers. And it is all happening on site and in person – with no more Covid safety regulations in place. After three years of a pandemic, this is a noteworthy and special state of affairs. Of course, Covid is not over for everyone. People are still contracting the virus. Some people are suffering from its long-term effects. Others are still struggling to overcome the psychological strain of loneliness and isolation that they felt during the pandemic. For some young people, it severely disrupted their studies. The physical and mental repercussions are still palpable for many. However, now that the worst seems to be behind us, this is a good time to take a moment to reflect on the events of the last few years. Significant events at Freie Universität during the pandemic and an interview with Professor Günter M. Ziegler.

A Look Back – Freie Universität Berlin during the Covid-19 Pandemic

Monday, January 27, 2020

First confirmed case of Covid-19 in Germany: rapid spread of the virus in the weeks that follow; the first wave of the pandemic reaches its peak in March; and the first member of Freie Universität contracts Covid.

March 11–22, 2020

Freie Universität decides to implement extensive lockdown measures: the health of students, employees, and researchers is the highest priority; cancellation of all events during the period when classes are out of session; with pressure mounting, solutions for virtual, online teaching are sought out and developed; conversion to digital formats with special regulations for exams in the upcoming summer semester; start of classes postponed to April 20, 2020; libraries stop allowing in-person use; study and research stays abroad and business trips no longer possible; cafeterias and the indoor area of the Botanic Garden close; all university sports courses are canceled; the university announces minimum on-site operations; all members of the university are kept informed about developments via a new website devoted to pandemic news, newsletters, and social media.

Monday, March 23, 2020

Classroom teaching is suspended; campus buildings are closed to the general public: “Ordinance on Measures Necessary to Stem the Spread of the Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) in Berlin” enacted by the Berlin Senate; the Senate’s decision forbids people assembling in public buildings, such as university buildings – exceptions can be made for employees who perform necessary tasks in order to keep essential operations running; the university provides masks and disinfectant to protect those employees who are not able to work from home.

March 2020

Professor Reinhard Bernbeck proposes a fundraising campaign, “SoliFUnd,” to provide support for Freie Universität students in need of financial assistance due to the pandemic.

2020 summer semester

Strongly restricted on-site operations: Teaching and studying take place online without direct contact in a classroom; instructors quickly adapt their courses to this new learning environment with creative formats for seminars, tutorials, and lectures with the use of video software and e-learning platforms; libraries open for lending services with “limited physical contact” starting in May (article from May 7, 2020); the University Sports Center offers a number of online courses and a few outdoor courses are allowed to take place starting in June; the “Veggie-Mensa” cafeteria resumes limited services with strict hygiene measures; all university activities are continually adjusted to keep in line with the ever-changing political decisions taken in response to the development of the pandemic – always with the goal in mind of maintaining teaching, research, and administrative operations, while also protecting people from getting sick.

2020/2021 winter semester

A challenging winter in the face of the ongoing pandemic: Classes take place in different formats, some online, some in person (for example, new students can participate in some classes on campus, and there are exceptions for courses that can only be held in person); people required to wear masks on campus (article from October 7, 2020); in-person events, including classes, are limited to a very small number of people (article from October 20, 2020); no on-site events, classes, or examinations between December 14, 2020, and January 10, 2021, as a precautionary measure around the holidays (article from December 14, 2020).

Tuesday, December 22, 2020

Financial support for students and instructors in Berlin: The Berlin Senate announces two sources of funding – one for procuring hardware and software and another for students in the particularly important phases of starting or completing their university studies.

2021 summer semester

Hopes of re-opening: Most of the regulations from the winter semester remain in place, but with explicit rules about the possibility of additional on-site activities if conditions improve; starting May 1, students are required to test themselves for Covid before attending in-person events and activities; a test center opens on campus; libraries and computer labs open up their workstations and on-site services again for people who make reservations in advance and can provide proof of a negative Covid test; the student cafeteria in the Rostlaube and Silberlaube complex starts providing “click and collect” meals; university events are allowed with a maximum of forty participants, a hygiene and safety plan, and documented attendance lists (article from May 27, 2021); some rules are relaxed mid-semester, such as the maximum number of participants for on-site events and the Covid testing requirement; employees are no longer required to work from home; business travel is possible again.

June 2021–August 2021

Vaccinations provided on campus: Employees and students at Freie Universität can get vaccinated.

2021/2022 winter semester

Semester begins with some on-site teaching, but returns to online teaching mid-semester: About three-quarters of university classes take place on site at the beginning of the semester (with over 5,000 courses on offer); the university community celebrates the return to on-site operations with a week of special activities and the slogan #yeswecampus; basic protection against the spread of infection is summarized by the “3G rule” (the three “Gs” referring to the German words for “recovered,” “tested,” or “vaccinated”) in combination with wearing masks when indoors and track and trace measures; another wave of infections hits with the Omicron variant, meaning that on-site activities must be reassessed; on-site courses switch back to online formats as much as possible starting December 13 and until the end of the semester; however, campus buildings remain open, and libraries, computer labs, and other research facilities are still accessible (article from January 10, 2022). The 2021 year in review article focuses on the pandemic.

October 2021 to January 2022

More vaccinations offered on campus; an estimated 90 percent of students and staff are vaccinated. From June 2021 to January 2022, around 12,000 booster shots are administered to Freie Universität employees and students.

2022 summer semester

Back to campus: Research, teaching, and studying resume on campus; health and safety regulations remain in place: FFP2 masks must be worn indoors, the “3G rule” is recommended; libraries, computer labs, and cafeterias are fully operational; new remote work regulations for employees.

2022/2023 winter semester

The pandemic is relegated to epidemic status: University operations, including studying, teaching, research, and administration, can all take place on campus for the most part, though a number of online formats remain available and in use; everyone is encouraged to continue to observe the health and safety regulations (article from October 5, 2022); support.points are set up on campus, providing quick assistance for students with questions and concerns about mental health.