Newsletter from the President of Aix-Marseille University
to the entire university community
Dear all,
We are entering our fourth week of home confinement as the COVID-19 virus continues to claim victims around the world and here at home. Once again, I urge you to be extremely vigilant. Barrier measures are the best defence against the disease. Observe containment and social distancing to protect yourself and others, to break the chains of transmission of the virus and, in so doing, try to reduce the number of victims hospitalised. It is not yet certain how long total containment will last. However, I am convinced that, from this crisis, we will collectively be able to retain the positive actions that I see and that many of you comment on regularly. On the one hand, the strong capacity for adaptation that you have demonstrated for the benefit of our large community, made up of 90,000 individuals with very different needs. On the other hand, the strengthening of the feeling of belonging to AMU that is evident every day in your exchanges, on the networks, by telephone, and by all the other means we have to keep in touch. I thank you for this, because the power of our solidarity makes our organisation strong and strengthens our ability to overcome obstacles. Our links will be even more necessary when we meet up in person in a few weeks' time. Our resilience and ability to bounce back will be put to the test. The goodwill that it is important to nurture today, both in managerial situations and between colleagues, will be our strength when business resumes on a "normal" basis. Please continue to be attentive to this.
Once again this week, university life has continued with the 'vital' tasks set out in our BCP: distance learning, research, in particular on COVID-19 and maintaining the animal houses, payments to members of the community and certain suppliers, and communications. I continue to hold daily meetings by videoconference with the members of the crisis unit, weekly meetings with the directors and deans and fortnightly meetings with the members of the governance team. The governance team was strengthened on 1 April when Damien Verhaeghe took up the post of Chief of Staff, working alongside me. He will also take on the role of Vice-President for Human Resources and Heritage. I welcome his arrival at this special time.
At the same time, corporate life has resumed, with virtual meetings of the company's governing bodies. The tools you need to work remotely are at your disposal and are being perfected every day, with the number of users of business applications constantly increasing. Many of you are using digital tools, adapting your working hours to the new rhythms of your personal lives, and I would like to thank you warmly for this.
Continue to take good care of yourself and everyone else.
1. Reactivation of central and component bodies
Yesterday afternoon I held a videoconference meeting with the members of the Technical Committee and then with the members of the Board of Directors. On the agenda: the procedures for holding all AMU bodies remotely - these proposals were adopted unanimously by the members - as well as the extension of the delegation of power from the Board to the President to facilitate the management of AMU during the lockdown, in particular for aid to students stranded abroad.
The members of the CHSCT met today to discuss the framework for flexible remote working arrangements.
2. Easter holidays
With the school holidays approaching, we have received many requests for time off. Unlike other universities, we have decided not to impose any restrictions. For many of you who work remotely in unprecedented conditions of confinement, it is important that you and your loved ones are able to rest, and essential that you are able to disconnect if you wish.
We have therefore decided not to impose any closures linked to the current crisis, or to reduce the number of days of leave. Everyone is responsible and aware of the professional challenges they face. I have every confidence in your ability to assess your needs. I invite you to think about it and, if necessary, to take the days off you need to ensure your well-being and that of your loved ones. Of course, when you come out of confinement, the interests of the service will be paramount.
In addition, like our EPST partners, CNRS and Inserm, staff on special leave of absence (ASA) continue to benefit from their RTT days.
3. Educational continuity plan - Examination arrangements under review
A review of the organisation of examinations and their procedures (dates, formats, expectations) is underway with university colleagues and student representatives. The national texts governing this process concern general bachelor's degrees, professional bachelor's degrees and master's degrees. The principles underpinning our discussions are clear: equal treatment for all students; recognition of students' work; respect for the timetable, with no examinations between 15 July and 20 August. At the end of this collective process, an Exam Guide will be presented to the members of the CFVU and then distributed to all departments for use by course managers and students.
Aware of the specific problems faced by the 1,500 students with disabilities at AMU, we will be sending a message to each and every one of them to help them continue their studies.
4. Call for applications
The deadlines for most calls for projects and applications under the PIA have been extended. As far as calls for applications for future doctoral students are concerned, the two institutes "Cancer and Immunology" and "Microbiology, Bioenergies and Biotechnology" are funding interdisciplinary doctoral contracts for the start of the academic year in October 2020. Deadlines are tight, but these calls for applications are open by law, and you are free to apply: click here.
5. Solidarity actions
. The first packed lunches were distributed to students on the Luminy and Saint Jérôme campuses on Saturday and Sunday, on presentation of their AMU card. Demand was high. In conjunction with charities, supermarket partners, the City of Marseille, the Metropolitan Council and the CROUS, meal baskets will now be distributed every Friday in all the university halls of residence in Aix and Marseille for residents - surveys having revealed that students on AMU's delocalised sites did not identify themselves as being in need. This distribution will be supplemented by shopping vouchers, valid in supermarkets, given by the CROUS to students who need them. Hygiene kits will also be distributed.
- The survey sent by e-mail to 52,000 students on 24 March to identify their medical and social needs received 50% responses, including many requests for contact with a medical or social professional, which are currently being processed. This online survey will be sent out again this week to students who have not responded.
- For those who don't have access to their email, today we sent out 20,000 text messages to students who remained silent following the online survey, giving them the telephone numbers of the BVE, SIUMPPS and CROUS medical and social teams.
- The AMU website has been expanded to include emergency numbers to help people in serious difficulty. The information has also been posted on our social networks, so don't hesitate to share it - it too can save lives:
§ Emergency numbers are here
6. Keep in touch and think positive thoughts
- If you haven't been keeping up with the daily live updates from the SUAPS teams on our "Rendez-vous Sport AMU" Facebook pages
- Find all the sessions here
- Multidisciplinary science popularisation: find the playlist of all the "Little scientific questions" produced with our researchers and already published:
- Find out more about the short questions here
- Other questions, other scientific culture: Does life exist inside and outside the Solar System? What is climate change? How can exoplanets be detected?
- Researchers from five laboratories give us their answers
- The gallery of photos and videos that you have uploaded includes a video of a distance learning course on theatrical activity, which you are invited to discover! Don't hesitate to add to this gallery with unusual moments or situations that are part of your everyday life:
- To find out more: click here
- To take part and add a contribution (image, video), go here: click here
- New this week is a tool that gives everyone free access to reliable, regularly updated information resources:
- Find out more here
Eric Berton