To all new students enrolled from April 2020, current students, and faculty and staff members
Toward the Opening of Classes for AY2020
April 3, 2020
President Yuko Tanaka
As you are all aware, Hosei University has announced the cancellation of the AY2020 Entrance Ceremony (announced on March 6), changes to the Academic Calendar (announced on March 23), and revision and rescheduling of the procedures for student ID issuance, student guidance, health checks, etc. (announced on March 30) in response to the continuing spread of the novel coronavirus epidemic.
The situation regarding the spread of this epidemic in the major urban centers, including Tokyo, is at a precarious stage and the possible declaration of a state of emergency needs to be taken into consideration. At this time, I would like to inform you of the university’s policies and thinking on holding classes for the new academic year.
There will be no further changes in the AY2020 Academic Calendar announced on March 23.
At this point, the schedules of academic events are as follows:
■ Issuance of student IDs, student guidance, health checks, etc.: April 1 (Wednesday) –April 20 (Monday)
Issuance of student IDs, student guidance, English language tests, and other activities at the campuses scheduled for March 30 have been cancelled.
Health checks scheduled for March 30 have been postponed for the time being.
See the following for details:
- Temporary suspension of student ID issuance, student guidance, health checks, etc., scheduled to start from April 1 (Japanese)
- Temporary suspension of student ID issuance, student guidance, health checks, etc., scheduled to start from April 1 (English)
■ Start of classes for the spring term: April 21 (Tuesday)
The reason why there will be no change in the class schedules is that it is highly possible that the impact of the novel coronavirus epidemic will continue for a considerable time. The university would like to conduct its regular activities as much as possible, even with the prolonged impact of the epidemic, by adopting all necessary precautions and procedures and taking all possible ingenious steps.
At its meeting on March 19, the government’s experts’ panel on the novel coronavirus epidemic control issued a strong warning that “an overshoot (explosive surge in infections) is more likely in densely-populated areas and in major urban centers with heavy human traffic,” and “unless a vast majority of citizens and business owners continuously make utmost efforts to avoid human contact and stay clear of places where the ‘three conditions’ [enclosed space, gathering of a large number of people, and talking at close distance] converge… an overshoot may occur.” The panel’s “recommendations” on April 1 indicated that it is necessary to “avoid participating in gatherings and events involving more than 10 people” in “hazard areas experiencing a growing epidemic,” including Tokyo.
The university must also be aware of and understand the current situation with a sense of crisis and conduct its operation based on this perception.
Considering the current situation, it is highly possible that even after classes start for the spring term on April 21, students and faculty members will not be coming to the university and will conduct and attend classes from home. Since the university has over 25,000 students in the various faculties of humanities and social and natural sciences and has no experience conducting all classes—including practicums, experiments, and practical training—through distant learning, it will be difficult to provide quality learning opportunities to the students without sufficient preparations and great determination. Inasmuch as not all students have unlimited Internet access at home, it is necessary to choose realistic and rational educational methods appropriate for the conditions of both students and faculty and staff members. Now is the time for the university as a whole to join all forces, engage in active discourse, and take up the challenge posed by this unprecedented approach to university education and learning.
The university administration will do its best to put in place the necessary systems for the preparation and holding of classes. All faculty and staff members and students are urged to give full play to their wisdom and experience to ensure that Hosei University continues to be a university that maintains its freedom under all conditions. With a free spirit, we must pool our “practical wisdom for freedom” and cultivate and share such wisdom to help society and the university overcome this crisis. Through this experience, the new students shall come to know Hosei University better and become a true member of this university.
I hope for your support and cooperation.
The “Study Support System” updated in April (no significant change in functions and usage from the “Class Support System” used until AY2019) will serve as the main educational platform for conducting distant learning classes. Instructions for classes and studying with the “Study Support System” can be found below. Please take a look. (Log in with ID/Password required)
(Data for AY2020 classes available on the “Study Support System” from April 7)
Detailed information for classes and studying through distant learning, including other study methods, will be uploaded constantly on the online bulletins on Hoppii, the Hosei portal site opened in April for students and faculty members. Please also check this out. (Log in with ID/Password required)