On the grounds of Art. 32, Par. 1 (1) of the Higher Education Act and Ordinance No. RD-01-124 of 13.03.2020 of the Minister of Health with reference to the complicated epidemic situation related to the spread of COVID-19 on the territory of the country and the declared state of emergency by Resolution of 13.03.2020 of the National Assembly in the Republic of Bulgaria,

I ORDER:

1. Class attendance at the South-West University "Neofit Rilski" shall be suspended until 29.03.2020. State and semester exams, thesis and dissertation public defences shall be deferred.
2. Classes shall continue without attendance at the university and be organized online, through available e-learning platforms, with online contacts between lecturers and university students.

I assign the Heads of the main units together with the Directorate of Educational Activities and the Department of Communication and Technical Services the organization and realization of the students' training through the university electronic resources.

1. After the regular attendance studies have been restored, new schedules should be prepared for the non-conducted classes and examinations, including those held online.
2. I cancel the conducting of the university application examinations previously scheduled for 21^st, 22^nd and 29^th March 2020.
3. All events - scientific, cultural, sports etc., shall be suspended on the territory of the South-West University "Neofit Rilski" and organized by the university units.
4. I cancel all business trips and journeys of the academic staff, administration staff and students abroad, including mobility or internships.
5. I cancel all mobility, internships, work visits etc., for foreign teachers, researchers, scientists, students and guests, with the exception of those already started. I recommend that foreign teachers, researchers, scientists, students and guests who are already in Bulgaria not leave the country and continue working under the terms and conditions of this ordinance.
6. All returning members of the academic staff, administration staff, students, as well as foreign teachers, researchers and students arriving from abroad after 10.03.2020 are obliged to be subjected to a 14-day quarantine period.
7. The presence of faculty and staff at the university is restricted. The heads of the main units, departments and directorates will organize and ensure the maintenance of the activities of the units, the operation of the computer and information systems and the activities with deadlines that cannot be changed. The employees will proceed to home office execution of their duties and/ or in person, according to a schedule presented by the heads of the said units and offices to the Assistant Rector.

10.  For the period under p. 1, I forbid the access of students and external visitors to the university buildings and the Rector's Office of SWU "Neofit Rilski". I recommend that communication with and between employees be held by means of telephone and/ or e-mail. I forbid the admission of persons in quarantine or with symptoms of acute contagious and respiratory diseases in the university buildings and the Rector's Office.

11.  For the period under p. 1, I forbid the access of outsiders to students' dormitories for any reason. It is forbidden to gather in groups in the buildings and the area around the dormitories.

12.  For the period under p. 1, the working schedule of the university canteen will be suspended.

13.  The provision of disinfection and hygiene materials will continue. Hygienists should arrange disinfection of floors and other surfaces in the premises.

14.  All issues arising in the implementation of the ordinance shall be agreed by the Chairperson of the Crisis Headquarters Assoc. Prof. Ivanka Stankova and the Assistant Rector Nikolay Tahov.

I assign the supervision of the implementation of this ordinance to the deputy rectors, deans, assistant rector, heads of units, heads of directorates and heads of departments.

The ordinance shall be submitted to the responsible officials, members of the academic staff, administration staff and students.

Rector:

Prof. Borislav Yurukov, PhD