Happy New Year to you all.

The whole university will strive to let students enjoy fruitful campus life in this year as well.

We all look forward to working with you.

　Due to the spread of the Novel Coronavirus infection, a state of emergency is expected to be declared again tomorrow, January 7, in four prefectures, Tokyo, Chiba, Kanagawa and Saitama. However, the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology has also stated that the government will not request schools to suspend classes under this emergency declaration.

　The air conditioning system in the school building (classrooms) is safe with equipment of ventilation. In addition, regular ventilation, requirement of wearing masks, and disinfectant solutions have been installed.

Therefore, classes for the second semester in January will be conducted as usual.

　Little less than 20% classes, such as required subjects for 1st and 2nd year students and seminars for 3rd and 4th year students, have been offered face-to-face instruction on campus since last September. After the declaration of a state of emergency, classes will be offered continuously in the same format as in December until the end of the academic year 2020, unless there is a drastic change in the infection situation. Students are encouraged to attend classes according to their own course schedule. However, if you are unable to come to school due to health or other reasons, please do not force yourselves.

　Regarding of the academic year 2021, as announced earlier, we are planning to offer more than 80% face-to-face instructions. We are preparing for the resumption of face-to-face classes while devising measures to prevent infection, such as adopting online instructions for large lecture-style classes.

　We ask that you continue to take all possible care to safeguard both yourselves and those around you against this dangerous infection, and refrain from eating and drinking in groups or going out unnecessarily on holidays.

　We will continue to incorporate feedback from you and as we update our measures to maintain a safe and secure learning environment in an uncertain world, one where future developments caused by the infection. Once again we ask you to accept our deep appreciation for your ongoing understanding and cooperation.

January 6, 2021
Suminori Tokunaga, Ph. D.
President, Reitaku University