Since March 2020, the health pandemic has relentlessly affected the life of our country, comprising our university, however, the collective response from our community (students, teachers and technical-administrative staff alike) has been equally robust and has managed to overcome problems with a constructive, responsible and supportive mindset.

In view of the start of the upcoming 2021/22 A/Y, Università Cattolica will implement new measures (coming into effect from 1 August 2021) that envisage holding mainly in-presence classes at the university campuses, in full compliance with current security measures. The successful rollout of the vaccination campaign, along with other encouraging signs, enable us to feel optimistic about the prospect of getting closer to that form of ‘university life’ which - also fostered by the personal sharing of ideas, places and experiences - characterises our university’s educational profile.

Starting from September, lectures and other frontal activities for all students enrolled in the undergraduate, graduate and integrated degree programmes, plus, the university specialising masters, specialisation and doctoral programmes at all our campuses, compatible with the health measures in force, will be delivered in person with contextual live streaming for the benefit of students who may not be able to physically attended the didactic and curricular activities. The professors/instructors will hold lessons in the university lecture rooms in line with the schedules arranged by the competent teaching structures, in full compliance with safety measures and in coordination with the relevant Administration Directorates. All lessons will be recorded and can be viewed, but not downloaded, by enrolled students at least for at least a week.

In order to continue to ensure personal safety, access to face-to-face lessons will be allocated in time slots, in full compliance with the 50% capacity social-distancing rules in force; access to the lessons - with the exception of the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery - must be confirmed at least 48 hours in advance and it will also be possible to request access in days other than those assigned through a reallocation system for unconfirmed places. The timetables, methods and time slots will be published on the iCatt portal and on iCatt app, and duly communicated to students.

The oral and written exams for the autumn session (23 August - 15 October) will adopt the measures currently in force for this summer session and, therefore, can be held in presence/remotely, in line with the schedules arranged by the competent teaching structures, in full compliance with safety measures and in coordination with the relevant Administration Directorates. Each Faculty will keep its students informed with specific updates on the iCatt portal, on iCatt app, and via the @icatt email.

With regards to defending the undergraduate, graduate and integrated degree theses in the autumn session of the 2020/21 A/Y (23 August - 15 October 2021), all graduation panels (comprising the ceremonies for the proclamation of graduate degrees) will be convened in attendance and graduates may be present in the classroom, or may opt for remote performance according to the pre-determined criteria and technologies.

At the same time, given the repeated scientific guidance to remain prudent, aimed at ensuring maximum personal protection, all the pre-established precautionary and organisational measures will still remain in place, in particular access control to campuses with scanned Student ID cards.

For the content of these updated provisions, and for further information on those summarised above, please see the attachment with the full text of the provisions in force from 1 August.