2020-02-03 School of Languages and Communication Studies Comprehensively Implements Epidemic Prevention and Control Measures. 

Since the university convened a special meeting on epidemic prevention and control on January 22, the School of Languages and Communication Studies has swiftly responded and earnestly implemented relevant measures in accordance with the requirements of the Ministry of Education and the Beijing Municipal Government, as well as the unified arrangements of the university. It has comprehensively launched prevention and control efforts against the novel coronavirus pneumonia.

I. Combating the Epidemic with Swift Response, Establishing Specialized Working Groups. On the evening of January 22, the “Work Plan of the School of Languages and Communication Studies for Preventing and Controlling the Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia” was formulated, and an epidemic prevention and control working group was established with clarified tasks and requirements. On January 28, in accordance with the responsibilities of the university’s epidemic prevention and control leadership team and based on the actual situation of the School, the “School of Languages and Communication Studies Novel Coronavirus Prevention and Control Groups and Their Responsibilities” was drafted. This further refined and expanded the working groups into nine specialized teams: Undergraduate Student Management, Graduate Student Management, Faculty and Staff Management, Undergraduate Teaching Coordination, Graduate Teaching Coordination, Research Work Coordination, Publicity and Public Opinion Monitoring, Administrative Coordination and Logistics Support, as well as Supervision and Implementation. School leaders and key personnel were assigned to lead these groups, with clearly defined responsibilities and integrated implementation. Among them, the Supervision and Implementation Group formulated the “School of Languages and Communication Studies Epidemic Prevention and Control Implementation Supervision Checklist” to ensure accountability, effective measures, and thorough execution. II. Implementing Categorized and Precise Monitoring of Epidemic Prevention Data with Daily Tracking of Faculty and Student Status. Faculty and staff are managed by their respective Party branches, with the branch secretary serving as the responsible person. Students are categorized into four groups: those staying on campus, those from Hubei (including those who have passed through Hubei), those who have left campus, and students from Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan. Each group is overseen by designated counselors. Through this categorized management approach, epidemic prevention and control data is accurately surveyed and reported, with daily monitoring of the status of faculty and students. Currently, all faculty and students in the School are reported to be in normal condition. Specifically: Students on campus: Active efforts by counselors, class representatives, and supervisors have been made to verify individual situations and report them. Through coordination with dormitory administrators, it has been confirmed that four students from the School remain on campus. Faculty and students in Hubei or who have passed through Hubei: Separate groups for undergraduate and graduate students from Hubei have been established. Faculty and staff maintain one-on-one contact with them, checking on their health status daily and providing psychological support. Students who have left campus: Daily updates on their situations are collected online, along with dissemination of epidemic prevention knowledge. Students from Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, and overseas Chinese backgrounds: The School has six such students, and counselors have contacted each one individually to confirm their status. Faculty and staff: Daily gentle reminders are sent to encourage self-protection, emphasizing that timely reporting and feedback constitute the most direct contribution to combating the epidemic. III. Fulfilling Requirements for Delayed Semester Start and Resolving Practical Issues for Students. Through extensive mobilization of class advisors and supervisors, a shared-responsibility approach has been adopted, combining humanistic care with institutional requirements to fulfill the directives on delaying the start of the semester. Upon receiving the university’s notice regarding the delayed semester, counselors informed all students via WeChat and forwarded the “Letter to Students of Beijing Jiaotong University”, instructing them not to return to campus early in accordance with university guidelines. To ensure every student received the notice about the delayed semester, students were required to confirm receipt by replying in their respective class WeChat groups. Currently, this confirmation has been successfully implemented down to each individual across all undergraduate and graduate classes. Many students applied to return to campus due to reasons such as internships, foreign language exams, overseas travel, or employment arrangements. The frontline counselors of the School adhered to principles while exercising patience and attentiveness. To effectively implement epidemic prevention and control measures and safeguard student health, they not only dissuaded students from returning early but also promptly reported the common challenges and issues faced by students. Currently, examinations such as IELTS and civil service interviews have been either postponed or shifted to online formats. Since the notice on the delayed start of the semester was issued, not a single student in the School has returned to campus early. IV. Enhancing Publicity and Education on Epidemic Prevention, Establishing Online Communication Platforms. The School has utilized channels such as its official WeChat account and various WeChat groups at different levels to disseminate notifications, requirements, and progress updates from the Party Central Committee, the Ministry of Education, and the university regarding epidemic prevention and control. This approach has firmly secured the communication front, guiding faculty and students to enhance their political awareness and deeply understand the importance and urgency of preventing and controlling the novel coronavirus pneumonia. It also reinforces the resolute implementation of all higher-level directives to win the battle against the epidemic. In response to recent rumors about the university’s epidemic prevention and control efforts, the School has promptly issued epidemic updates to faculty and students through multiple channels such as WeChat and email, educating and guiding them to resolutely refrain from creating, believing, or spreading rumors. On February 1, the School launched a dedicated column for epidemic prevention and control on its WeChat Enterprise Account, consolidating updates from the university and the School, official announcements, scientific prevention knowledge, and rumor clarifications into a single platform for easy access by faculty and students. On February 2, a “Letter to the Faculty and Students of the School of Languages and Communication Studies” was drafted and disseminated to every member of the School via the official WeChat account and various WeChat groups at different levels. The letter encouraged faculty and students to strengthen their awareness and sense of responsibility toward epidemic prevention, emphasized the School’s care for the physical and mental well-being of all, outlined the rational deployment of prevention and control measures to safeguard the work and lives of the community, and called for collective resilience to overcome the challenges together. V. Adapting Teaching Plans in Response to the Epidemic Situation. Led by the undergraduate and graduate teaching coordinators respectively, the School has guided various departments to formulate implementation plans addressing delayed semester start issues, including student course selection, academic activities, and related academic affairs. By leveraging online self-study platforms, assigning teaching materials and self-study modules complemented by guidance and Q&A sessions, as well as utilizing live-streamed classes, the School ensures that students experience a halt in in-person classes without an interruption in instruction.