Dear students at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem,

The academic year will begin on Sunday, October 23, 2022, and I wish you a fruitful, successful, and enjoyable year.

Your success in studies is a common goal for you, the academic staff and the administrative staff at the university. To achieve this goal, I would like to highlight several issues:

1. Class Attendance. In the coming academic year, we will emphasize returning to classrooms, since the presence of students in a classroom is critical for meaningful learning. Proper learning includes active participation in classes (and the forum in Moodle), conducting an in-depth discussion between the lecturer and the students and raising questions, comments, suggestions and constructive criticism - based mainly on the academic material of the course.

2. Learning in groups versus independent writing. We encourage learning in groups that inspire all the students in the class. At the same time, you must make sure to write the papers and exams yourself—unless otherwise specified in the syllabus and submission instructions. We are very strict about the purity of the papers and exams (that is, independent writing and not shared with friends) and their authenticity (that is, independent writing and not copying from other sources). More information in the following short video.

3. Lecture recording policy. Most of the courses will be recorded, but in order not to harm the conduct of studies in the classrooms, there will be no "live" broadcast of the lessons (with only some exceptions). Please read carefully the specific instructions for each course regarding the recording policy and their use. In some courses, they will be open to all students enrolled in the course shortly after class, and in others, they will only be open to those who are absent from class with a justifiable reason (reserve service, holidays whose dates appear on the academic calendar, participation in a tour as a mandatory part of another course and parental circumstances). Please verify the format chosen for your course in the syllabus.

4. Assistance. University studies can be intense and challenging, and many students encounter academic, financial, social and other difficulties. Remember that you do not have to face difficulties alone: ​​we are here in many circles of assistance at any moment. If you encounter any difficulty in a certain course, contact the course staff, and if you have not received an answer, contact the student secretariat at your department and faculty. For special problems for which no solution can be found within your department or faculty, you can also contact the Committee for Teaching Policy & Procedures (for academic matters) or the Dean of Students (for other matters) in the following email: dstudents@savion.huji.ac.il. At the student dean's office, you have at your disposal the unit for equal opportunities, the unit for aid scholarships, psychological services, the accessibility unit, the unit for diagnosing and supporting students with learning disabilities and attention disorders, the unit for social involvement, the career center and more. Your tutor in "Year Alef is not alone" will also be happy to help with any inquiry or request.

I recommend all of you to attend the orientation day. Details will be sent in a separate email.

I see you, the students, the academic staff and the administrative staff as one learning and researching community. We are all committed to courtesy, responsiveness and mutual respect, along with meeting high academic and ethical requirements, as expected by the leading university in Israel. We are all partners in creating the special spirit of our university - this is the living spirit of the "Hebrew University", a spirit of learning, education, creative thinking, criticism and also social responsibility. This is a community whose main added value is developing the ability to ask the right and important questions and to try to answer them. A community that seeks to think without determining what to think; A community that encourages its members not to take anything for granted.

I wish you a successful and enjoyable academic year.

yours,

Prof. Tamir Sheafer, Rector