Assoc. Prof. Charnchai Panthingviriyakul, M.D., President of Khon Kaen University sets policy and guidelines related to instruction and student activities to student representatives under COVID-19
Thursday January 7, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. at Sirikunakorn Room 5, Sirikunakorn Building, Office of the President – Assoc. Prof. Charnchai Panthingviriyakul, M.D., President of Khon Kaen University explained the details of the policy for instruction under the situation of Covid-19 to the representatives of the students. The meeting was also attended by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sthaporn Roengtham, Advisor of the Student Organization, Miss Orasa Julama, an advisor of the Student Organization, Asst. Prof. Dr. Chusak Poonsawat, Advisor of the Student Council and representatives of the students from the Student Organization and the Student Council. Assoc. Prof. Piansak Pakdee, Vice President for Student Development and Alumni Relation and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Maitree Inprasitha, Vice President for Education and Academic Service were also present and gave suggestions as follows:
Khon Kaen University has set policy according to the guidelines of the Office of Disease Prevention, i.e., dividing the risk zones into, green, yellow, orange and red colors. KKU is under the yellow zone or the area under high surveillance since the number of infected patients is still lower than 10. Therefore, it is still not strict for Khon Kaen University to order a 100% online instruction or a closure of the university and service sections such as the library. However, there must be preventive measures in the yellow zone such as mask wearing and social distancing. The teaching and learning at different faculties of the university now can be of any approach, hybrid, face-to-face, or 100% online. This will be based on the University Announcement issued during the last pandemic. The President has assigned the dean of each faculty to issue an announcement of the faculty for each course. The university also asks each faculty to prepare and set measures for the situation when the university is under the orange or red zone in the future.
During the spread of COVID-19, all organizations must avoid holding activities that involve more than 100 people (according to the standard area management). If an activity has to be organized, then the proportion of area to the number of people should be 5m 2 per person in a closed area and 4m 2 per person in an open area.
The experience training program or the cooperative education program under COVID-19 in an orange or a red area can be approved if students make a request, but each student must follow the measures set by the workplace such as 14-day Local Quarantine. Then when the student returns from the training job before the end of the program (less that 3 months), the faculty shall assign other work for the student to compensate for the practicum and to prevent the spread of the virus. This depends on each faculty. The student must follow the Khon Kaen University Announcement No. 2700/2563 on The Measures for Surveillance of the New Phase of the Spread of Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19). That means the student must report at the Epidemiology Unit, Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine so that the officer can interview the student to see the risk and test if the student has the virus, or gives instruction to observe him/herself.
The principles, guidelines, and rate of financial support if a student tests positive of COVID-19 according to Announcement No. 614/2563 are still effective. The Student Development and Alumni Relation Section and the Administration will contract the insurance for COVID-19 for the students of KKU this year.
News: Juthamas Pilachai
Photos: Boriphat Thasi
