Extracurricular Activities and Campus Facility Use from September 2020
The university has made the decision to keep the campus entry ban for students in place for September except for students who need to come to campus for reasons related to their classes given the number of coronavirus infections continuing to be reported throughout Japan in addition to the number of confirmed cases within Oita Prefecture alone. As a result, students will not be able to use campus facilities and the Gymnasium and Multipurpose Field will not be able to be used for individual use.
Student organizations are asked to continue to refrain from conducting extracurricular activities that entail contact or proximity to others both on and off campus. Online activities are permitted, however, please ensure that members participate from their own homes.
The above restrictions are scheduled to remain in place until the end of October, however, permission could be given to gradually recommence extracurricular activities earlier depending on the number of coronavirus infections here in Oita Prefecture and the rest of Japan.
APU’s unique multicultural campus had been alive with laughter and exchange from students all over the world prior to this pandemic. Although not being able to come to campus has prevented you from enjoying a wealth of on-campus experiences and connecting with other members of the APU community, we intend to provide online platforms that we hope will simulate the “APU experience.” APU’s annual Tenku Festival has been an event that has served as an opportunity for student organizations to perform and show off the results of their long practices and hard work in addition to being a place where APU students could socialize with other students and members of the community. This year, we are moving forward with preparations to hold the Tenku Festival online and will be trying to recreate the festival program as faithfully as possible.
I am disappointed to have to announce that we will continue to suspend extracurricular activities for now, but implore you to use this time to focus on your fall semester classes without forgetting the need to prioritize human life, safety, and health. Now is the time when we must all act responsibly and put our obligation to society first in doing whatever we can to prevent the spread of the virus.
Please continue to follow the measures below to prevent contracting and transmitting COVID-19.
① Take care to avoid the Three Cs (closed spaces, crowded places, and close-contact settings).
② Do not leave home without a mask.
③ Refrain from non-essential and non-urgent outings.
Sports teams with upcoming tournaments organized by the sports league they belong to, scrimmages, or away games should consult with the Student Activities Team in the Student Office. I will make another announcement on the university’s guidelines with regards to extracurricular activities from November 2020 onward once they have been finalized.
Please direct questions concerning this matter to:
Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University
Student Office, Student Activities Team
stueca@apu.ac.jp
August 31, 2020
SEIKE Kumi
Dean of Student Affairs
