Bilkent University International Faculty Guide ön kapak içi IMPORTANT CAMPUS TELEPHONE NUMBERS Ambulance - Fire - Security - Emergency: 6666 Health Center Main Campus: 1666 East Campus: 5057 Security Weekdays (9 a.m. - 5 p.m.): 1453 / 1700 Weekdays (5 p.m.- 9 a.m.): 1234 / 1578 24 hours on weekends: 1808 Security: Entrance Gates Main Campus: 1700 /1701 East Campus: 5347 / 5348 Security: Housing Main Campus: 1410 East Campus: 5093 Switchboard: 290 4000 EMERGENCY Ambulance: 112 (anywhere in Turkey) Police: 155 (anywhere in Turkey) Fire: 110 (anywhere in Turkey) Gendarme: 156 (anywhere in Turkey) • Calls within the campus: At Bilkent, all extensions have four-digit numbers. Dialing “0” directly from any campus telephone will connect you to the university telephone operator. • International Code for Turkey: 90 • Ankara Area Code: 312 • For intercity calls withi n Turkey, first dial “0” then the area code, and then the local number. • For international calls, first dial “00” then the country code. • Directory Assistance: 11811 COVID -19 RELATED CHANGES ON CAMPUS COVID-19 Measures on Campus As has been the case in other countries, a number of precautionary measures have been put in place in Turkey; Bilkent University has likewise implemented such measures. In this regard, the University Senate has set out the following rules that, until further notice, will apply to all indoor and outdoor spaces on campus: 1. Wearing a face mask that completely covers the mouth and nose is mandatory in all indoor and outdoor spaces. The mask can be removed temporarily while eating or drinking, provided that a minimum social distance of 1.5 meters is observed. 2. Wearing a face mask is mandatory on University shuttle buses and in private cars with two or more people inside (i.e., at least one passenger in addition to the driver). 3. It is mandatory to adhere to quarantine and isolation restrictions imposed by the Ministry of Health or the Bilkent University Health Center for COVID-19 patients, persons who show COVID-19 symptoms, or persons who have been in contact with a COVID-19 patient. 4. Compliance with time restrictions imposed by Bilkent University regarding entry to and exit from the campus is mandatory. 5. Since the act of smoking often leads to neglect of social distancing and since blowing tobacco smoke causes droplets to disperse further and thus increases the risk of infection, the use of cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and other tobacco products is forbidden in all indoor and outdoor spaces on campus other than in specially designated smoking areas. In designated smoking areas, a minimum social distance of 2.5 meters between smokers must be maintained. 6. All employees and students of Bilkent University must obtain an HES code from the “Life Fits into Home” platform of the Ministry of Health and share it with the University administration. (For detailed information on how to obtain an HES code, please visit https://hayatevesigar.saglik.gov.tr/hes-eng.html) 7. It is also mandatory to comply with any additional precautionary measures taken by Bilkent University against the spread of COVID-19. Violation of any of the rules outlined above is subject to reporting to University authorities for initiation of disciplinary action and penalties as specified in the applicable regulations. Important note 1: According to the travel guidelines issued by the government during the pandemic period, all travelers need to obtain an HES (Hayat Eve Sığar) code for both domestic and international travel (by plane, bus, and train). Moreover, if you are planning to travel internationally, along with having an HES code you also need to get tested 72 hours before your departure (please be aware that some countries require 48 hours before arrival) and show your negative PCR test (a nuclear acid amplification–based test is required) result in a digital or printed format prior to boarding. Passengers without a negative test result will not be allowed to fly. Please note that people aged 65 and over need a special travel permission document, which can be obtained through the e-devlet portal (www.turkiye.gov.tr). Additionally, until further notice, everyone who visits a shopping center or government building is required to present his/her HES code at the entrance. Important note 2: In the case that you don’t have a residence permit, you can still obtain an HES code by sending your passport details (from the passport you used upon entering Turkey) via SMS to 2023 in the following format: HES(space)Nationality[for example, GBR]passport number(space)year of birth(space)surname. Please note that the SMS message must be sent from a mobile phone registered with a Turkish mobile network operator. Important note 3: Please note that for facilities such as the Housing, the Library, the cafeterias, the Sports Center, and, the Health Center, the regular operating and service schedules have been provided in the guidebook on the assumption that any changes made during the pandemic period will be temporary and things will be returning to normal. However, depending on the number of infected people in the country and the possibility that the restrictions imposed by the government in order to prevent the spread of the virus will remain in place or that new restrictions will be imposed, some offices and facilities may have in place modifications to their schedules and/or services, so that they differ from those indicated here. Even though you will be informed about any new changes via e-mail messages sent by the University, please always remember to check the facilities’ websites for up-to-date schedules and information. CONTENTS Preface . i About Bilkent University . 1 About the International Center . 3 Preparing for Departure . 5 Housing . 17 Transportation . 31 Health Care . 37 Life on Campus . 41 Getting Used to Living in a New Environment . 55 Learning Turkish . 59 Academic Life . 61 Library . 65 Computing Facilities . 69 Planning Your Return Home . 73 About Ankara . 74 Cafes, Pubs, and Restaurants . 76 Places to Visit . 77 Shopping. 79 Bookstores and Music Centers . 80 Cultural Centers . 81 Places of Worship . 81 Popular Destinations for Travel . 83 Some Useful Websites . 85 Frequently Asked Questions . 87 Bits & Pieces . 92 Safety Matters . 93 Bilkent'e hoş geldiniz! Welcome to Bilkent! Living and working in another country can be exciting and wonderful, but at the same time, challenging and stressful. The International Center (IC) at Bilkent University serves to help ease the transition to your new surroundings and provide ongoing assistance and guidance during your stay at Bilkent. Prepared by the IC Office as a reference source for our international faculty, this guide is intended to help you settle in and adjust as smoothly and quickly as possible. In the following pages, you will find: • explanations of official procedures to be followed prior to and after your arrival • important information on housing, transportation and health care • a detailed survey of services available on campus • an overview of University regulations and resources • a list of social and cultural resources available in Ankara • practical and useful tips that will make your transition easier I strongly recommend that you read this guide thoroughly and carefully, and keep it handy for easy reference. For issues that are not addressed in this guide, please do not hesitate to ask your colleagues, your departmental staff and the International Center for further information. Of course, no guidebook can replicate the valuable experience of firsthand involvement in the events, activities and social life taking place in your new community. Once again, we welcome you to Bilkent and wish you a healthy, happy and successful academic year! Berna Örge, M.A. Coordinator International Center About Bilkent University Bilkent University—the first private, nonprofit university in Turkey was founded in 1984 by Prof. Dr. !hsan Doğramacı, M.D. The school admitted its first students in October 1986 and began the academic year with 386 undergraduate and graduate students and one main building. Currently, there are approximately 12,000 students pursuing degrees in a variety of fields. Bilkent University is located in Ankara, approximately 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) west of the city center, and covers around 500 hectares (1,200 acres). The campus includes three sites: Main Campus (location of the University’s administration and most of its faculties), Middle Campus (location of the Faculty of Music and Performing Arts) and East Campus (location of some of the University’s vocational schools, the School of English Language, and I.D.F primary and high schools). Faculty housing units are found on all three campuses. Currently, there are more than 200 state and private universities in Turkey. Each year, around 2,000,000 high school graduates take a nationally administered examination to enter these schools. Many of the students who perform best in the University entrance exam choose to attend Bilkent; around a half of the University’s students receive various scholarships. The faculty is comprised of academic staff members from approximately 40 countries. Most hold Ph.D. degrees from universities in North America and Europe. According to the ISI Citation Indexes, Bilkent consistently ranks high in Turkey and also internationally in terms of the number of published papers per faculty member. 1 To further enrich its teaching and research programs, Bilkent University has entered into collaborative projects and exchange programs with a number of universities abroad. At present, Bilkent has student exchange agreements with 327 partner institutions around the world and about 1000 international students study at the University. Bilkent University is proud to provide an environment for learning and intellectual growth encompassing the sciences, technology and the humanities, and will surely continue to rank among the finest universities in the world.