Dear Dr. Bang and administration officers of the KIMEP,

The decision to switch to traditional learning was unprecedented and caught all of us off guard. Many issues regarding this decision remain uncertain.

1. How are you planning to organize the arrival and accommodate international students? 

2. What should do those who due to a valid excuse do not have green ashyq status and will not be able to enter campus? 

For example, those who are currently sick with COVID-19, or will be, by chance sick by the day of the start of classes? 

Or, those who was sick with COVID-19 in the past three months and will be able to get vaccinated only in time? 

3. What should do those who are financially unprepared to switch to traditional learning (in 2 weeks)?

4. Switching to traditional learning is a high risk to contract COVID-19 because even vaccination does not give a guarantee that you will not get sick. This is eventually a potential risk to infect other people and family members which is socially irresponsible. 

And lastly, I’m a 4th year student with a GPA 4.09 and my academic performance in this tough situation is an issue of a high importance for me. And I’m not the only one. 

Today is the 18th of September. We (especially international students) have only two weeks to even try to organize all the conditions needed to start attending classes without affecting academic success. 

Imagine the amount of stress students will be dealing with on the day of the mid-term with non-green status being not able to attend the exam.

Imagine the rate of decrease in academic success among all students due to all inconveniences.

I truly understand that these are though times for all of us and I hope we will be able to cope with them. 

With the kindest regard I’m asking KIMEP administration to reconsider the decision to switch to traditional learning and at least postpone it till Spring 2022 so that you will be able to prepare all the conditions and we will be prepared for that. 

***I’m also asking to sign after this official open letter which I post as a petition all those who are indifferent with current situation. 

Sincerely, Lidiya Yagodina (BISB)