The crisis management team has generally met once a week since the outbreak of the pandemic in March 2020. It includes representatives from various areas of the University, including:
- Occupational health physicians
- Commissioner for student affairs (student) as representative and mediator between crisis management team and student representation (Student Council, StuRa)
- Head of Administration and Finance
- Staff Council
- Vice-Rector for Education and International Affairs
- Rector
- Office for Environmental Protection and Occupational Safety
- International Centre (for students and members of staff from abroad)
- Office for University Communications
- Studentenwerk Leipzig for the area of refectories, halls of residence and psychosocial counselling for students
- University Library
- University administration: e.g. Department of Academic Administration; Department of Construction and Technical Services (facility management)
- Representative of the deans – and thus of all faculties
The crisis management team is headed by the Rector.
The crisis management team discusses the regulations and makes decisions which the rectorate passes on for publication in the Hygiene and Infectious Disease Concept. The Vice-Rector for Education and International Affairs liaises closely with the deans of studies on the organisation of teaching and examinations. Proposals can be made for the implementation of various measures, for example regarding the enforcement of the “3G” rule, adapting examination regulations, or also for conducting the semester remotely or on campus. The representatives have the possibility of preparing and introducing their own concepts.
As a rule, the rectorate follows the recommendations of the crisis management team on the basis of the legal framework of the federal and state governments, in particular the German Protection Against Infection Act (IfSG) and the coronavirus rules applicable in the Free State of Saxony. The crisis management team and the rectorate can only act on this basis; they are bound by the decisions set forth in the IfSG and the legislation applicable to Saxony. Only when these have been passed and published can the University adapt and publish its own concepts for organising university life. This means that the recommendation for or against holding the semester on campus is always made on the basis of the legal requirements on the part of the Free State of Saxony, taking into account the preferences of students.