Dear HHU students,
 
We are delighted to see the campus filling with life again at the start of the winter semester and it is our top priority to ensure that this can remain the case after the last two difficult years for you.
 
We are currently undertaking intensive preparations for the cold weather period that is now starting and the upcoming winter. In addition to the coronavirus situation, the energy crisis in particular is also occupying our attention. First of all, we would like to thank you for your support. We have received a great deal of constructive feedback, which shows that we are all pulling together when it comes to reducing our energy consumption. By switching off the hot water network, limiting the operating hours in all buildings and realising medium-term technical measures such as pressing ahead with the conversion to LED lighting, we have made good progress toward our goal of achieving energy savings of 20%. Nevertheless, we need your ongoing support.
 
There have been reports in the media that many universities are considering closures of several weeks around the turn of the year. However, we are very much aware of the particular burden students are having to bear in the current situation. With regard to the possibility of extending the Christmas break, we have therefore agreed with the Task Force and representatives of the General Student’s Committee (AStA) that, despite the urgent need to save energy, the university will not close for a longer period and that learning spaces will be provided over the Christmas break especially to help students in particularly difficult circumstances.

An overview of the measures:
 
·        Suspension of on-site operations between 24 December 2022 and 1 January 2023: During this period, all technical systems in the buildings will be set to restricted operation mode. This will affect the room temperature and ventilation systems e.g. in the University and State Library, so – apart from the exception below – all library sites will be closed during this period.
·        Opening of the self-study centre in building 26.21, level 01, from 27 – 30 December 2022: In previous years, the library has primarily been used as a study location in the last week of December. To make things easier for students and to enable continued use of HHU facilities, a central learning area with up to 130 student workspaces will be open between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. There is no need to reserve spaces in advance – available spaces can be used freely. This offer is aimed especially at supporting students in particularly difficult circumstances.
·        Opening of all libraries from 2 January 2023: All University and State Library facilities can be used again during the currently applicable opening hours. Please note that all HHU employees have been asked to keep their on-site presence to an absolute minimum during this week, meaning that it may be necessary e.g. to reschedule consultations with lecturers.
 
These measures are aimed at giving you the opportunity to use HHU facilities as a study location where necessary during the lecture-free period and thus continue your studies with minimum disruption. At the same time, we appeal to you to maintain your efforts to help save energy. You can find tips and further information at www.hhu.de/Energie. You can also contact the team from the Heine-Center for Sustainable Development via at any time if you have questions or suggestions.
 
Thank you for your understanding and commitment. It gives us confidence that we will also be able to master this crisis situation together.
 
Best regards,
 
Professor Dr Anja Steinbeck, President                                          Dr Martin Goch, Chancellor