Face to face teaching is permitted with teaching spaces operating at 80% of the normal (pre-Covid) room capacity. An overall cap of 200 attendees (including the lecturer) will be applied in large lecture theatres.

By way of example: in a teaching space with a normal room capacity of 100 students, class sizes of up to 80 people (students and staff) can attend for face to face teaching.

An updated room capacity guide will be made available through Buildings & Estates here.

Students will wear face coverings during lectures and other infection control measures will be in place.

Lecture durations will be reduced to ensure sufficient time for a changeover between lectures (e.g. in a traditional 1 hour slot; lectures will start 5 minutes after the hour, allow for 45 minutes of teaching time and then 10 minutes at the end for students to vacate prior to the arrival of the next class). To avoid congestion during lecture changeovers, students are asked not to take their seating prior to the designated hour slot.

For 2 hour lecture slots, it is recommended that lecturers consider having a break at the midpoint to allow all to move outside and take a break from wearing a face covering if needed.

Laboratories and similar practical based tuition settings can operate at 80% capacity with the use of face coverings and other appropriate control measures.

Permitted.

Any applicable capacity limits for coaches/buses to be taken into account.

For field work entailing interfacing with members of the public as part of the field work see Research section below.

Library

(Boole & Brookfield Libraries)

The Boole Library and Brookfield Library will operate at full user capacity.

Library users will wear face coverings while in the library and the current pre-booking system will remain in place.

This Academic Year, libraries will open for extended periods to ensure greater access to the facilities: Boole Library from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. seven days a week; and Brookfield Health Sciences Library from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mon-Fri, and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sat -Sun.

See the Boole Library website for further details.

Scientific/laboratory based research activities can continue with appropriate protective measures in place including the use of face coverings. 2 metre physical distancing should be maintained in write up areas and office spaces.

Guidance on continuing research during the current period of public health measures is available via the Research Business Continuity Team’s website.

Desk based research activities are permitted with 2 metre physical distancing and other appropriate control measures. 

Guidance on continuing research during the current period of public health measures is available via the Research Business Continuity Team’s website.

Subject to appropriate protective measures and prior approval from the relevant Head of School/RICU Director, continuation of volunteer studies will be possible. Submissions for prior approval must be in line with the revised Research Business Continuity Team process. In certain cases, approval from the relevant Head of College may be required.

Field work (no interface with members of the public)

Subject to appropriate protective measures and prior approval from the relevant Head of School/RICU Director, continuation of field work  will be possible. Submissions for prior approval must be in line with the revised Research Business Continuity Team process. In certain cases, approval from the Head of College may be required. 

Higher education and research are categorised as essential activities under the Government’s guidance. To ensure full delivery of teaching and professional services from September 2021, staff should continue to liaise with their line manager/unit head in respect of the return to on campus working in the Academic Year.

2 metre physical distancing should be maintained for staff members. Face coverings should be worn when transiting through communal indoor spaces. The general infection control measures on campus should be adhered to at all times.

Face to face meetings are permitted where necessary subject to 2 metre physical distancing, use of face coverings and other appropriate control measures. Please note that meeting room capacities will be reduced due to the application of 2 metre physical distancing.

From 22nd October 2021, academic conferences/seminars/graduation ceremonies may take place within the parameters of national public health guidelines and subject to appropriate control measures. View details of the parameters for such events online.

The UCC staff member organising the conference/seminar must assess the risk associated with holding the event in the context of levels of community transmission nationally and locally at the time.

Club activities remain subject to national public health guidelines.

UCC outdoor facilities are fully operational for students, staff and external users to pre-book time via sport@ucc.ie for training in groups or for individual activities. 

Where public health guidelines permit a return of team training or matches, this remains subject to the relevant UCC Club completing the relevant return to play protocols (see the Department of Sport and Physical Activity website ).   

Indoor group/team training for Clubs is currently permitted in pods of 6 people.

The Mardyke Arena is open for individual training and for Clubs activities within the parameters set out above for indoor sport.

Exercise/dance classes are also available within current public health guidelines for attendees with proof of immunity (e.g. an EU Digital Covid Certificate).

In person indoor events for Societies are permitted within the framework of national public health guidelines and proposed events will be reviewed through the Office of the Director of Student Experience and the Student Activity Safety Committee.

In person outdoor events for Societies are permitted within the framework of national public health guidelines and proposed events will be reviewed through the Office of the Director of Student Experience and the Student Activity Safety Committee.