LAHORE: (Thursday, September 10, 2020): The Punjab University administration has issued a comprehensive plan to open the university in three phases in the light of government SOPs regarding COVID 19 pandemic, Higher Education Commission guidelines and deliberations in academic council. In a press statement, PU spokesman Khuram Shahzad said that the university would continue both online and face-to-face mode of teachings. However, he said, the students who would prefer online classes would be granted 50 percent concession in the fee. He said that the first phase would be from Sept 15 to Oct 25. He said that faculty members and research staff of the university will attend their offices from 15th. He said that Ph.D and M Phil students would do their research/laboratory work from September 15 subject to the approval of the supervisor, head of department and the dean concerned. He said that online classes of all semesters of BS and M.A/M.Sc. will continue until 30th October, 2020. He said that the exams of 1st annual M.A/M.Sc., Part-II and LLB (all parts of 3-year & 5-year programs) will begin from Sept 26 in the traditional manner .He said that the exams of pharmacy and geology (all professionals) will begin from Oct 1, 2020 in the traditional manner. He said that in the first phase, there would be initiation and completion of admission process of B.S. and M.A/M.Sc level programs, start of MS, M.Phil. & Ph.D admissions from October 1 and opening of hostels for PhD and M Phil students only from Sept 23. The spokesman said that the second phase would be from November 02 to December 15, 2020. He said that in the second phase, the face-to-face classes of students for 3rd & 7th Semesters of BA (Hons.)/BS (Hons.) and the students of M.A/M.Sc., 3rd semester would begin from Nov 2. He said that online and face to face classes will be offered simultaneously. He said that all those students of the second phase who would wish to continue their classes online would be granted a 50% fee waiver. He said that the practical/lab work of these students would be deferred and they would be allowed to perform experiments and attend the compensatory classes when the university would be properly opened. He said that the hostels for the students of second phase, who would attend face-to-face classes, would be opened from Nov 02 to December 15, 2020.  He said that it would not be mandatory for the students to attend face to face classes on campus. He said that the students of phase II shall have to vacate the hostel on 15th of December so that next phase students could be accommodated according to the SOPs of the government for Covid-19. The spokesman said further that the third phase of opening the university would be from December 16 onwards. He said that in the third phase, the face-to-face classes of newly admitted students in all BS and masters’ level programs and the students of 5th semester would begin. He said that the hostels for the students of third phase would be opened from December 16, 2020. He said that all those students of third phase, who would wish to continue their classes online, would be granted a 50% fee waiver. He said that it would not be mandatory for the students to attend face-to-face classes on campus and the students preferring online classes would be offered compensatory classes before the end of their semester exam. He said that hostel facility will be provided only to those students of Phase-I/II/III who have cleared their pending/current dues of the hostel as well as of the department. He said that the students were advised to submit their fee in the designated banks nearby. The spokesman said that the students attending face to face classes would take compensatory classes and would perform practical/lab work, if it was felt necessary by the individual student/department. He said that none of the hostel residents would be allowed to accommodate any guest i.e., evening class students or outsiders in their rooms. He said that no student of evening classes would be allowed to stay in the university hostels and in case of violation, their admissions will be cancelled. He said that the students who will join face-to-face classes on campus will have to pay all outstanding/current dues of the department as well as of the hostel. He said that cafés / canteens would only be opened for take away. He said that all the students residing in the hostels would render certificates duly signed by their parents that they will abide by all the SOPs for Covid-19 prescribed by the university. He said that the University Health Centre would depute an exclusive representative to deal with any suspected case of Covid-19 in the university and refer them to the hospital, if required. He said that the Chief Medical Officer, in coordination with the Director of Students Affairs and Chairman Hall Council, would establish quarantine enclosures in the area of Students Teachers Centre (STC), guest rooms and halls to deal with the suspected cases of Covid-19. He said that all fruit shops in the vicinity of hostels will remain closed. He said that no gathering of any kind will be allowed by anyone in the premises of the university.
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