Dear Franklin Community,
Stay tuned for a rather lengthy update that includes the latest federal guidelines, the link to the testing schedule for all students going on Academic Travel, projections for the spring term, and the latest on University Day and the upcoming Swiss accreditation visit.
As of today, Monday, March 22, private indoor events may include as many as 10 people, libraries and museums are open, and all of the other regulations remain in effect. This means that restaurants are still open for take-away but not for regular service, stores remain open, and university classes remain online. Masks that cover your nose and mouth are required indoors and, in light of the upcoming cantonal holidays, masks are required outdoors in Lugano’s train station, lungolago, and old town on March 27-28 and April 2-12. Other cities in Ticino are taking the same approach so make sure to check before making plans.
The Academic Travel period begins on Friday! All students and faculty traveling will be tested for COVID-19 on March 24, 25 or 26, 2021 in the auditorium as well as upon your return. Click here for the schedule for testing or ask your travel professor. If you are not traveling and want to sign up for a test, please do so here. Testing is intended to ensure your safety, the safety of the travel group, and the wellbeing of our community at large. If you haven’t done so already, please fill out the Academic Travel release and health form here.
As of now, the authorities have announced that online and hybrid learning will continue through mid-April. We do expect final exams to take place in person and in the classroom. We know that Ramadan begins on April 12 and we are happy to work with students to make sure they have food service option in sync with the holiday hours. Student permit issues make returning home for Ramadan quite complicated: anyone wishing to consider that option should reach out to Sabina Macchi and to their professors regarding remote class attendance.
As announced last week, University Day will take place on Thursday, March 25, 2021 in conjunction with our Annual Day of Giving. This year our Swiss accreditation visit will take place on University Day. To celebrate University Day, we invite you, the entire university community, to participate in the presentation by the MSIM students on leadership strategies for a changing planet at 6pm. Read more about the presentation here. The entire community is also welcome to join the final report back from our Swiss accrediting expert team. A calendar invitation will be shared with you for the Thursday presentation, plus a separate invitation for the final report later this week.
Finally, we change our clocks in Switzerland on Sunday, March 28: remember, we will all spring forward into daylight savings time. And in case you have forgotten, please wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth, social distance and wash your hands!