| Campus community remembers Hannah Cornelius, other deceased students | http://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=4917 | | Campus community remembers Hannah Cornelius, other deceased students | Corporate Communication/Korporatiewe Kommunikasie |
<p><strong></strong>On Friday (2 June), Prof Wim de Villiers, Rector and Vice-Chancellor, addressed staff and students of Stellenbosch University (SU) in light of incidents over the past two weeks in which two Maties students, Hannah Cornelius and Mikhail Hendricks, passed away, and a fellow student Cheslin Marsh was assaulted:<br></p><p><strong>Let's stand together in the face of tragedy</strong></p><div><em>The passing of our students Mikhail Hendricks and Hannah Cornelius in the past two weeks has deeply and profoundly touched us as a University community. Our hearts and our thoughts are with their families and friends. </em></div><div><br></div><div><em>I am relieved to hear that Cheslin Marsh, who was hijacked with Hannah, is making progress, although he still is in a very serious condition. We wish him well and hope that he will make a full recovery. He will be assisted in every way possible to catch up with his studies.</em></div><div><br></div><div><em>We appreciate the swift way in which the South African Police Service responded to apprehend the suspects. If found guilty, the perpetrators should be met with the fullest extent of the law.</em></div><div><br></div><div><em>I am thankful towards staff members of Student Affairs, the leadership of Goldfields and Irene residences and members of the Students’ Representative Council (SRC) who have supported Mikhail and Hannah’s friends. </em></div><div><br></div><div><em>Although the hijacking occurred in town, safety and security on campus has come under scrutiny. I want to emphasise that the safety of students and staff remains of primary concern to us. These incidents, like all others, will be used to further refine our security measures and the support we provide to students in collaboration with other role-players. </em></div><div><br></div><div><em>I again call on everyone to be vigilant and be our active partners in campus safety. It is a sorry state of affairs that the crime levels have forced this burden on us, but it is unfortunately a reality. By working together, we can to a large extent limit the number of incidents on campus as we strive to create a safer Stellenbosch for all its residents. </em></div><div><br></div><div><em>Lastly, let us remember the students we have lost for the amazing young people they were. Even though they are no longer with us, they remain an inspiration to us all.</em></div><div><br>[Information updated on Friday 2 June]<br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><strong>Poem for Hannah</strong><br></div><div><br></div><div>Well-known poet, Prof Joan Hambidge, from the University of Cape Town and also a member of the SU Council, penned the the following <a href="/english/Documents/Hannah%20Cornelius.pdf" target="_blank" style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong class="ms-rteThemeForeColor-5-0" style="text-decoration:underline;">poem</strong></a> in rememberance of the late Hannah Cornelius. <br></div><p><strong><br></strong></p><p><strong>March and vigil on campus in remembrance of Hannah Cornelius</strong></p><p>Maties students and staff, and other members of the Stellenbosch community today (1 June) marched through the streets of Stellenbosch in the wake of Hannah Cornelius' murder and the assault on fellow student Cheslin Marsh, on Saturday 27 May. Members of women's residence Irene, where Cornelius stayed, handed out black ribbons to those attending the march. The group walked through Victoria and Merriman Streets to reach the Nouveau block of flats in Bird Street, where Cornelius and Marsh were hijacked. There, those attending the march sung <em>Amazing Grace</em> and held a moment of silence.<br></p><p><img alt="OPTOG.JPG" src="/english/PublishingImages/Lists/dualnews/AllItems/OPTOG.JPG" class="ms-rtePosition-1" style="margin:5px;width:410px;height:273px;" /></p><p>A night vigil was held on Thursday evening (1 June) at 20:00 in Wimbledon Square, behind Irene residence in remembrance of students who have recently passed away. Students and staff were encouraged to attend and bring along a candle. <br></p><div>On 19 May, the Stellenbosch University community also learnt with sadness of the passing of a final year law student and resident of the Goldfields Residence on the Stellenbosch Campus, Mr Mikhail Hendricks. Mr Hendricks, who is described as a brilliant and compassionate leader, served in various leadership capacities, among others as part of the student leadership of Goldfields. He worked as an intern at the Stellenbosch University Legal Aid Clinic, where he was doing his practical legal education. He was a research assistant for the South African Research Chair in Property Law (SARCPL) and a tutor in the Law Faculty in Criminal Law and Constitutional Law. <br></div><div><br></div><div>[Information updated on Friday 2 June]<br></div><p><br></p><p><strong>Campus community shocked by hijacking, death of a student</strong><br></p><p>"Our campus community is appalled and shocked by this senseless act and our hearts go out to the family and friends of the student who has lost her life and to the injured student. We are very relieved to hear that the SAPS has arrested suspects in connection with the hijacking. The perpetrators should be met with the full extent of the law."</p><p>This was the message of Prof Wim de Villiers, Rector and Vice-Chancellor of Stellenbosch University (SU), on learning of the kidnapping of two Matie students over the weekend. Ms Hannah Cornelius, a BA Humanities student, was found dead on Saturday (27 May), while a male student was admitted to hospital with serious injuries. <br></p><p>Prof De Villiers expressed his deepest condolences with those involved and said: "Our thoughts are with the victims of this horrific crime. We wish the injured student well and we will do everything in our power to assist – also in aiding the SAPS with their investigation." </p><p>Staff of the Division of Student Affairs were in contact with the parents on Saturday night and started to provide support to Ms Cornelius' friends. <span style="line-height:107%;font-family:calibri, sans-serif;font-size:11pt;">Trauma
counsellors have presented debriefing sessions at Ms Cornelius' residence and are on standby to provide support. The University's Crisis
Service number is 082 557 0880 and students are encouraged to make use of the
services provided. </span></p><p>The Police confirmed on Saturday afternoon that cases of murder, attempted murder and hijacking are under investigation. According to a SAPS statement the female student was found on Saturday morning at about 08:30 on the Knorhoek Road with injuries. A blue VW Citi Golf that they were driving was hijacked by three suspects. The SAPS requested that anyone who can provide further information to contact Crime Stop at 08600 10111.<br></p><p>A memorial service for Cornelius will be held on Friday 2 June at 11:00, at the Dutch Reformed Church in Fish Hoek. <br></p><ul><li>Read the Student Representative Council's statement <a href="https://www.facebook.com/stelsrc/?hc_ref=PAGES_TIMELINE&fref=nf">here</a>. <br></li></ul><p>[Information updated on Tuesday 30 May 2017]</p> |
| Tonia Overmeyer appointed as Dean of Students at Stellenbosch University | http://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=4222 | | Tonia Overmeyer appointed as Dean of Students at Stellenbosch University | Corporate Marketing/Korporatiewe Bemarking | <p><span style="line-height:1.6;">Stellenbosch University (SU) today, 1 September 2016, welcomed a new appointment in the reconceptualised post of Dean of Students.</span></p><p>Ms Tonia Overmeyer, formerly acting Director of the Centre for Student Support Services at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) and boasting many years of experience in the student development, governance and leadership domain in higher education, was appointed to the position recently. </p><p>SU Rector and Vice-Chancellor Prof Wim de Villiers, said he is very excited to welcome Ms Overmeyer to the SU family. "I am confident that Stellenbosch University will benefit tremendously from her vast experience in student engagement, support and leadership development. Her appointment will contribute towards making the student voice heard." </p><p>"We are delighted in her appointment and look forward to her joining us in the Division of Student Affairs where she will lead the Centre for Student Leadership and Structures," Senior Director: Student Affairs, Dr Birgit Schreiber said. "The Student Affairs Division is made up of three Centres and Tonia will work with the other directors in the Division, Dr Munita Dunn-Coetzee of the Centre for Student Counselling and Development and Mr Pieter Kloppers of the Centre for Student Communities. I am sure that she will complement them very well."</p><p>Overmeyer said she is excited at the prospect of serving the SU community and working with colleagues in the Centre for Student Leadership and Structures to build on the success that they have already established. "I believe that with the right nurture, student leaders can become world changers by developing their confidence, competence and connectivity. I feel privileged to play a role in developing students into citizens whose hearts, minds and hands are galvanised to build an inclusive, innovative and future focused Stellenbosch University and beyond. Together we can build a space where students not only experience the best years of their lives, but also build a foundation for a lifetime of better citizenship, contribution and fulfilment."</p><p>Overmeyer completed her undergraduate and postgraduate studies at the University of Cape Town (UCT), obtaining an MBA in 1999. She spent her early career managing the Raymond Ackerman Academy of Entrepreneurial Development in Cape Town, before joining UWC as manager of the Department for Leadership and Social Responsibility. She later acted as Director of the Centre for Student Support Services. </p><p>"Tonia impressed SU's selection and interview panel – made up of staff and students – with her insight and knowledge of the higher education landscape, her engagement with the panel, keen sense of student activism and experience in the student representation and leadership domain," Schreiber added. </p><p>She also expressed her gratitude to all involved, including students and student leadership, in the shaping of the vision for the Centre of Student Leadership and Structures, the post, as well as the appointment process. This new Centre for Student Leadership and Structures will boost student governance, co-curricular and leadership programmes and strengthen Student Affairs at Stellenbosch University. </p><p> <strong style="line-height:1.6;">MORE INFORMATION ON THE DIVISION OF STUDENT AFFAIRS </strong></p><p>The Student Affairs Division at SU has 3 Centres, all under the leadership of Dr Birgit Schreiber, Senior Director: Student Affairs, which synergize to create a comprehensive and integrated student support and development framework. The three centres are:</p><p><strong>Centre for Student Leadership and Structures</strong></p><p>The Centre for Student Leadership and Structures is directed by Tonia Overmeyer. This Centre comprises the Frederik van Zyl Slabbert Student Leadership Institute headed by Dr Leslie van Rooi, formal student governance structures and primarily the Student Representative Council, as well as the coordination of the Co-Curriculum and the related second transcript and First Year Academy. The aim with establishing this Centre is to ensure that the University provides comprehensive and coherent leadership experiences for its students, focussing on positional leadership as well as meritorious leadership. These experiences contribute significantly to the development of Graduate Attributes and future employability of our students. </p><p><strong style="line-height:1.6;">Centre for Student Communities</strong></p><p>The second Centre is the Centre for Student Communities, which focusses on residences, communities, transformative conversations and integrating the living and learning spaces into optimal environments which accelerate student development. Mr Pieter Kloppers, the director of this Centre has championed a number of flagship programmes and developed innovative listening, living and learning models which are the benchmark for national and international university residences practices. This Centre focusses on engaging all students, residence and commuter students, in order to ensure a community that is collectively focussed on advancing the goals of our students and the SU.</p><p><strong>Centre for Student Counselling and Development</strong></p><p>The third Centre is the Centre for Student Counselling and Development and contains a range of professional and integrated services. The units in this Centre include the Unit for Psychotherapeutic and Support Services, the Equality Unit, Unit for Graduand Career Services, Unit for Academic Counselling and Development, and Disability Unit. Each one provides a range of services and is aligned to professional and higher education associations, much like the units in the other Centres. This Centre is led by Dr Munita Dunn-Coetzee who is deeply engaged in broadening the impact of the Equality Unit in order to accelerate transformation. </p> |
| New dates for postponed exam opportunities | http://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=4938 | | New dates for postponed exam opportunities | Corporate Communication/Korporatiewe Kommunikasie | <p><strong>Update 9 June</strong></p><p>Exam timetables and venue information is available as per usual on the <span class="ms-rteThemeForeColor-5-0"><span class="ms-rteThemeForeColor-5-0"></span><a href="http://midtier.sun.ac.za/html-navbar/home.html"><strong>Student portal under the heading 'Studies'</strong></a></span>.<strong> </strong></p><p><strong><br></strong></p><p><strong>Update 8 June </strong></p><p>Students who have to change flight arrangements due to the postponed exams, tests or other assessment opportunities, can <a href="/english/Documents/Official%20SU%20letter%20for%20flight%20bookings.pdf"><strong class="ms-rteThemeForeColor-5-0">download an official letter</strong></a> from the University requesting airlines not to charge penalties for these changes.<br></p><p><br></p><p><strong>Update 7 June 17:30: </strong><span><span><span lang="EN-US"><span><span><br></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color:black;">All
University activities will proceed normally on 8 June 2017. Formal exam opportunities
scheduled for 7 June which had to be postponed due to severe weather warnings,
have been rescheduled. A few exam venues still need to be confirmed. Once it is
known how many students will be writing the specific exam, the venues will be
announced. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color:black;">For
tests and other assessment opportunities students are requested to contact the
relevant lecturer / academic department. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color:black;">Click
<span><span><span><span><span lang="EN-US"><span><span><a href="/english/PublishingImages/Lists/dualnews/My%20Items%20View/Eksamens%20van%207%20Junie.pdf" style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong>here</strong></a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="text-decoration:underline;"></span> for information on the rescheduled formal exam opportunities. Staff
in the Registrar’s division have tried their utmost to reschedule the postponed
exams as closely as possible to the original date, depending on the available
timeslots and venues. Unfortunately it will not be possible to accommodate
individual requests. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color:black;">Enquiries:
021 808-9111 / </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="mailto:info@sun.ac.za">info@sun.ac.za</a><span style="color:black;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="text-decoration:underline;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color:#1f497d;"><strong>Travel arrangements</strong></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color:black;">Students
who have to change flight arrangements due to the postponed exams, tests or
other assessment opportunities, can download an official letter from the
University from the University’s website on 8 June 2017. </span></p><span><span lang="EN-US"><span><span><a href="/english/PublishingImages/Lists/dualnews/My%20Items%20View/Eksamens%20van%207%20Junie.pdf" style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong></strong></a><strong></strong></span></span></span></span><br><p><strong>Update: 7 June 10:00</strong></p><p> The Rector's Management Team yesterday (6 June) decided to postpone exams scheduled for Wednesday 7 June. This is also applicable to other forms of assessment. Staff members are requested to liaise with their line managers to make appropriate arrangements to work from home. All SU libraries will also be closed for the day, but library users can e-mail <a href="mailto:libraryhelp@sun.ac.za">libraryhelp@sun.ac.za<span class="ms-rteThemeForeColor-2-0"> </span></a>with urgent library enquiries.</p><p><strong>Tygerberg Campus</strong>: All academic and clinical activities are suspendedfor Wednesday 7 June. </p><p><span class="ms-rteThemeFontFace-1"><strong>Please take note: </strong>Due to inclement weather staff are working from home, Assistance is available via e-mail info@sun.ac.za or by calling 021 808 9111. <br></span></p><p><span class="ms-rteThemeFontFace-1"><strong>Please make safety a priority: </strong><br></span></p><ul><li><span class="ms-rteThemeFontFace-1">Report emergencies at 021 808 2333 (Stellenbosch Campus) </span></li><li><span class="ms-rteThemeFontFace-1"><span class="ms-rteThemeForeColor-2-0 ms-rteThemeFontFace-1"></span><span style="font-size:9pt;color:#656566;"><span style="font-size:9pt;color:#656566;"><span class="ms-rteThemeForeColor-2-0 ms-rteThemeFontFace-1">Pedestrian escort service on campus: </span>021 808 4666 (WhatsApp 082 808 2333).</span></span><strong></strong></span></li><li><span class="ms-rteThemeFontFace-1">SU Crisis Service (counselling and support): 082 557 0880</span></li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>Dear Colleagues and Students </strong></p><p>In light of the severe weather warnings issued by the South African Weather Service for Wednesday 7 June 2017, and the related safety concerns, our Stellenbosch University Management this afternoon decided to postpone all exams scheduled for Wednesday 7 June. Relevant information regarding the rescheduling of tomorrow's exams will be uploaded on the University's website (<a href="/">www.sun.ac.za</a>) <br></p><p>This comes after the Western Cape Government (click here for statement) earlier today announced that all schools in the province would be closed tomorrow. According to the South African Weather Service the Western Cape would experience gale force winds and heavy rains, with the related risks of flooding, over an extended period on Wednesday, starting tonight (Tuesday 6 June). The Western Cape Government has also advised road users to rather stay indoors to ensure that emergency vehicles can reach affected areas much faster. </p><p><strong>STAFF MEMBERS</strong></p><p>Staff members are requested to liaise with their line managers to make appropriate arrangements to work from home. Applications for leave of absence are to be submitted (in other words, not "annual leave"). </p><p>Each University division should make internal arrangements for essential services and ensure that staff members are available by telephone or email should further arrangements become necessary. </p><p>We have taken this decision in the interest of the safety of our staff and students. We trust that the situation will be back to normal by Thursday 8 June. </p><p><strong>Kind regards</strong></p><p><strong>Prof Nico Koopman</strong></p><p><strong>Acting Rector and Vice-Chancellor </strong></p> |
| SU to set up an institution-wide RapeCulture monitoring function | http://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=4974 | | SU to set up an institution-wide RapeCulture monitoring function | Corporate Communication/Korporatiewe Kommunikasie | <p>Stellenbosch University (SU) will be setting up a permanent mechanism to monitor RapeCulture and gender violence on its campuses. Monitoring activities will include an annual climate survey to compile a RapeCulture report, which will be presented to the Rector's Management Team (RMT). </p><p>This is one of the key recommendations of the SU End RapeCulture task team. The team was initiated by the RMT in March 2016 to generate proposals aimed at changing the culture underpinning gender violence and RapeCulture at SU, being a manifestation of the broader societal challenge in this regard. </p><p>The monitoring function will operate from the Equality Unit of the Centre for Student Counselling and Development in the Division of Student Affairs and will monitor all campuses.</p><p>RapeCulture refers to attitudes, beliefs, behaviour and practices that normalise gender discrimination and sexual violence, including rape. (For a more formal definition, see "More about RapeCulture" below.) </p><p>"Universities' role in addressing RapeCulture is not only about engaging students in the here and now at SU, but also about equipping our graduates as agents of change to have a real and sustainable impact on the wider South African society," said Dr Birgit Schreiber, Senior Director: Student Affairs and chair of the task team. "We seek to develop graduates who can recognise injustices and power asymmetries, and can act powerfully on these in acceptable ways that lead to sustainable transformation in South Africa." </p><p><strong>Role-players</strong></p><p>The task team, which consisted of various SU academic, support and administrative staff, representatives from the Student's Representative Council (SRC), student leaders from SU communities as well as student activists, recently submitted their report to the RMT, who subsequently approved the recommendations contained therein. </p><p>"The task team did a thorough job, and the University management accepted the report with appreciation. The recommendations will go a long way towards helping us address this challenge, which we share with the rest of society. Every member of the University community has a responsibility to do their bit," said Prof Wim de Villiers, Rector and Vice-Chancellor.</p><p>Schreiber added: "In exploring gender violence and RapeCulture, the task team found that, just as in society at large, this was a pervasive problem on campus, not only violating the victims/survivors, but affecting everyone – staff, students, friends and family of victims/survivors, as well as the perpetrators themselves. We live in a brutally violent society, of which gender violence is but one of the manifestations." </p><p>She emphasised that students and staff alike carried the responsibility to change the culture in which gender violence is embedded: "We need men and women who have the courage to expose RapeCulture, and to change it by not only speaking against sexist slurs, derogatory images, cruel jokes and explicit gender violence in our society, but also to take positive steps to change the culture that makes these seem normal."</p><p><strong>Recommendations</strong></p><p>Apart from setting up a RapeCulture monitoring mechanism, the task team recommended that SU senior management, staff and students take part in End RapeCulture training. In commenting on the report, the RMT indicated their commitment and enthusiasm to do so. </p><p>"We think it is very important for senior management to model, lead and live the changes they wish to see. We all should in fact model End RapeCulture behaviour and attitudes, and explicitly address this within line management to have a direct impact on culture. We also require a commitment from all students and staff so that issues around gender violence and RapeCulture are incorporated into their conceptualisation of transformation, culture change and renewal," said Schreiber.</p><p><strong>Interventions</strong></p><p>The task team facilitated a range of activities and interventions during 2016 that enabled the wider SU community to join in the discussions about RapeCulture. This included student and staff conversations, media releases and newspaper articles, training for student leaders, the wider student community as well as staff, a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0C-6InCY1c">video</a> about RapeCulture, student support and development programmes, and a dedicated website. </p><p><strong>END</strong></p><ul><li>Click <a href="http://bit.ly/RCR-Eng"><span style="text-decoration:underline;">here</span> </a>to read the report.</li></ul><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>MORE ABOUT RAPECULTURE: DEFINITION</strong></p><p>The SU End RapeCulture task team defines RapeCulture as follows: </p><p>RapeCulture refers to attitudes, beliefs, behaviour and practices that normalise gender discrimination and sexual violence, including rape. Behaviour commonly associated with RapeCulture include gender discrimination, sexism, victim blaming, sexual objectification, 'slut shaming', trivialising rape, denial of widespread rape, refusal to acknowledge the harm caused by sexual violence be that implicit or explicit, or some combination of these that lead to sexual violence becoming so normalised that rape and gender violence is not viewed as a serious problem. Rape Culture also includes the subtle behaviours and subconsciously held attitudes and beliefs which underpin our patriarchal culture in South Africa into which RapeCulture is embedded. </p><p>RapeCulture includes all forms of discursive, visual and audio expressions of gender violence, including sexist jokes, media messages via for instance television, music, advertising, social discourse and imagery that normalise violence against women and sexual coercion.</p> |
| Doctoral and Master's degrees for family members | http://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=4745 | | Doctoral and Master's degrees for family members | Corporate Communication / Korporatiewe Kommunikasie | <p>Jamie and Rosemary Cripwell, a couple from Stellenbosch, toiled together for a few years and now they're obtaining their doctorates in the same week at Stellenbosch University (SU)'s March 2017 graduation. Jamie received his doctorate in Chemical Engineering on Wednesday morning (15 March) at SU's second graduation ceremony while Rosemary will be awarded her PhD in Microbiology on Thursday (16 March). </p><p>At the same ceremony, degrees were also awarded to students in the Faculties of Theology and Engineering. Students in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences received their degrees and diplomas at the third graduation ceremony on Wednesday evening.</p><p>Jamie and Rosemary's PhDs are among the 140 new doctorates that will be awarded this week and, together with those awarded in December, it will bring the number of doctorates for the 2016 academic year to 278 (in comparison with 2015's 267).</p><p>"It is great that we are receiving our doctorates in the same week. This was also one of the reasons we decided to complete them at the same time. We helped and mutually inspired each other," says Jamie.</p><p>He speaks highly of his wife Rosemary who he says encouraged him to do his doctorate. </p><p>"Initially a PhD wasn't part of my plans, but Rosemary inspired me to start."</p><p>Originally from Johannesburg, the couple met at the University of the Witwatersrand. They also did their Master's degrees together.<img src="/english/PublishingImages/Lists/dualnews/My%20Items%20View/Man%20en%20seun.jpg" alt="Man en seun.jpg" class="ms-rtePosition-2" style="margin:5px;width:375px;height:263px;" /></p><p>Jamie will do post-doctoral research at SU and says he plans to publish two articles on his PhD in addition to the two that have already been published.</p><p>"It was not easy and was frustrating at times," Rosemary admits, "but we supported each other all the time."</p><p>Rosemary says it was good to tackle their PhD-studies in this three-year goal they have set out for it together. </p><p>"We inspired each other and exchanged ideas all the time. It was good to do this with someone who knows me as a student and as a person." </p><p>On Wednesday, Master's degrees in Music were awarded to mother and son Louna and Pieter-Adriaan Stofberg. Louna, who graduated <em>cum laude</em>, is an organist, whilst Pieter-Adriaan is a cellist. </p><p>"It was wonderful and extremely special to do our masters together," says Louna. "We encouraged each other and kept one another going when things got difficult."</p><p>"There were many early mornings of getting up and working together on our studies," Pieter-Adriaan adds. "There was a lot of bonding time and cups of coffee!"</p><p>"I did this simply for myself and my own enrichment, I've already taught a lot in my life and was a music teacher for years, I'm now an organist in Hermanus," says Louna. Pieter-Adriaan, a cello teacher at various schools, was motivated to do the master's at SU because of cellist and lecturer Anzél Gerber, who acted as his supervisor.<img src="/english/PublishingImages/Lists/dualnews/My%20Items%20View/Ashwin.jpg" alt="Ashwin.jpg" class="ms-rtePosition-1" style="margin:5px;width:375px;height:263px;" /></p><p>For Louna's chamber music exam last year, mother and son performed the 'Rheinberger Suite' together, a piece of music that features the rare combination of organ, cello and the violin. Pieter-Adriaan fiancée was the violinist. They will perform the piece again at the FynArts festival in Hermanus in June this year. </p><p>"We had so much support from our family," Pieter-Adriaan concluded. "It is really impossible to do this without a backup system in place and people who tell you to keep going." </p><p>Also among the graduates was Ashwin Phillips who obtained his BA Honours degree in Social Anthropology. Ashwin, a former SciMathUS-student, is currently doing a Master's degree in Sociology at SU. He was part of a group of former SciMathUS and Hope@Maties students who graduated on Wednesday.</p><p>SciMathUS and Hope@Maties are two university preparation programmes being run by SUNCEP, the Stellenbosch University Centre for Pedagogy. These programmes aim to afford learners access to higher education.</p><p>For the 2016 academic year, 106 students who have come through these programmes graduated.</p><ul><li><strong>Main photo</strong>: Jamie and Rosemary Cripwell<br></li><li><strong>Photo 1</strong>: Louna and Pieter-Adriaan Stofberg<br></li><li><strong>Photo 2</strong>: Ashwin Phillips</li><li><strong>Photographer</strong>: Stefan Els</li></ul><p></p> |
| Council approves revised Admissions Policy | http://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=4670 | | Council approves revised Admissions Policy | Korporatiewe Kommunikasie / Corporate Communication | <p><strong>Communication from Council, </strong><strong>11 February 2017</strong></p><p>The Council of Stellenbosch University (SU) Saturday afternoon adopted a revised Admissions Policy for the institution, which will come into force on 1 March 2017 when applications open for the 2018 academic year.</p><p>The revised policy gives effect to the University's obligations arising from the Constitutional right of access to further education, and the legislative duty to ensure that the institution's admissions policy provides appropriate measures for the redress of past inequalities without unfairly discriminating in any way. The long-term objective of the policy is to contribute to a non-racial and equal society no longer requiring race-based redress.</p><p>"It creates an equitable, transparent and reasonable process for admission to undergraduate and postgraduate programmes at SU. This is in line with the University's commitment to becoming more inclusive by broadening access to the institution and deepening its transformation, as contained in SU's guiding policy document, its Institutional Intent and Strategy," Council Chair Mr George Steyn said.</p><p>The ISS was adopted in 2013, and in the same year, SU's Rectorate requested an investigation into appropriate admission and selection mechanisms, with the aim to reasonably and holistically address socio-economic disadvantage in South Africa. A task team was commissioned to review the previous Admissions Policy through a process of investigation, research and consultation.</p><p>After more than two and a half years of intensive consultation with stakeholders, the task team proposed a draft in which three considerations for the admission of prospective students to SU study programmes are blended:</p><ul><li>Proven academic merit at school level.</li><li>Transforming the racial demography of SU's student body.</li><li>Redressing the socio-economic disadvantage experienced by some students.</li></ul><p>"This represents a nuanced set of indicators with which the University can admit a diverse group of newcomer students with the potential for success. The three considerations complement one another through SU's strategy of excellence <em>though</em> diversity," SU's Vice-Rector: Learning and Teaching, Prof Arnold Schoonwinkel, said.</p><p>The fundamental objective is to maintain the University's culture of academic excellence by attracting the best applicants, and facilitating the transformation of SU so that it has a more inclusive and representative student body. The University's reputation as a centre of excellence depends on attracting and maintaining a diverse student body, for it enriches the learning environment.</p><p>The University takes heed of the multifaceted and complex nature of disadvantage in the South African context. The University recognises the need to reserve places for socio-economically disadvantaged students, regardless of racial classification, who achieve the minimum requirements for a chosen course of study but who would not otherwise be admitted to that course of study.</p><p>The policy, and the targets set in each year, will be adapted to reflect the progress made at the University and in the wider community, at eradicating the effects of historical racial divisions.</p><p>The policy has gone the full route of institutional approval, with inputs from all 10 of SU's faculties, its Senate and its Institutional Forum. It was also open for public input – the University community at large, as well as the broad public were invited to comment during the month of October 2016. The final draft was comprehensively discussed at a special Council meeting on 11 February 2017, where the Policy was approved.</p><p>"We have revised our Admission Policy as a leading national higher-education institution, a national asset serving the national interest and the nation as a whole. The policy promotes access and success for students from diverse communities. Stellenbosch is a university for all South Africans," SU Rector Prof Wim de Villiers said.</p><ul><li>The revised Admission Policy will be placed on the University's website (<a href="/"><span lang="EN-GB" style="text-decoration:underline;">www.sun.ac.za</span></a>) once the changes made by Council to the final draft has been incorporated.</li></ul> |
| R11.2m Mellon grant to investigate transformation at Maties | http://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=4674 | | R11.2m Mellon grant to investigate transformation at Maties | Ilse Arendse & Lynne Rippenaar-Moses | <p></p><p style="text-align:justify;">While the #FeesMustFall movement of 2015 and 2016 highlighted the urgency of questions around transformation in the higher education sector, it left many stakeholders, in particular universities, perplexed about how best to respond to students claim of continued inaccessibility and discrimination.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">Now, thanks to a R11.2 million Andrew W Mellon grant, Stellenbosch University's Sociology and Social Anthroplogy Department will delve deeper into questions about how best to transform higher education environments by concentrating on its own existing curriculum and engaging with critical pedagogy and institutional transformation through its Indexing Transformation project. The project will be officially launched on 16 February at the university.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">According to Prof Steven Robins, the Indexing Transformation project leader, the Department will now be able to interrogate what 'transformation' actually means for South Africa's higher education sector as well as the wider South African society.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">"In 2015 a documentary called <em>Luister </em>(Listen) about black students' experiences of studying at Stellenbosch University was posted on YouTube. It instantaneously generated a vociferous national debate about institutional racism and the linguistic and cultural obstacles black students encounter at Afrikaans-medium universities," says Robins.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">"Whereas the management team had previously framed transformation at the university simply in terms of statistical data, graphs and indices on campus racial demographics – of white, Indian, Coloured and black African students and staff – the <em>Luister</em> documentary foregrounded the lived experiences of black students in the residences, in the university town and on the campus."</p><p style="text-align:justify;">According to Robins the project will also help the Department shed light on who defines, evaluates, and measures institutional transformation and how knowledge in the human sciences in South Africa has responded to the racialised histories of their formation, 22 years into post-apartheid democracy.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">These questions will be central to this new research and postgraduate education project which is being undertaken by a team of researchers in the Sociology and Social Anthropology Department. The project has been made possible by a five-year grant of R11.2 million from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and will support a part-time programme manager, research projects, 78 graduate student scholarships, and a weekly seminar series. It will also be used for an international conference on institutional transformation that will set agendas and identify challenges for the study of transformation and an annual workshop of faculty and graduate students working on transformation issues.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">It will be driven by Robins, who is the Principal Investigator, co-Principal Investigator Dr Bernard Dubbeld, and a Steering Committee consisting of Mr Jan Vorster, Ms Elizabeth Hector, Ms Anne Wiltshire and Ms Nwabisa Madikane.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">The project will also involve the development of research clusters, the introduction of a coursework Masters focusing on the theme of Critical Transformation Studies, and a seminar series. The aim with these scholarly interventions, says Robins, is "to develop Indexing Transformation into an innovative and dynamic intellectual space for scholars and graduate students to interrogate the diverse dimensions of transformation".</p><p style="text-align:justify;">Speaking about the new project, Dr Saleem Badat, Program Director: International Higher Education & Strategic Projects at the Mellon Foundation, said that they "are pleased to be associated with Stellenbosch University as one of the leading research universities in Africa".</p><p style="text-align:justify;">"The Foundation's partnership with Stellenbosch seeks to strengthen and promote the contributions of the humanities and the arts to human flourishing and to the well-being of diverse and democratic societies, and to support high quality programmes oriented to producing new knowledge, and building new generations of intellectuals scholars, especially from disadvantaged backgrounds," added Badat.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">The project follows directly from the Mellon-funded Indexing the Human project that successfully ran a seminar series and developed a dynamic research space in the Department between 2014 and 2015.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">"Indexing the Human succeeded in catalysing critical reflection on the history of the human sciences in Stellenbosch, and in South Africa more generally. Our current project emerges out of this on-going concern with the nature of knowledge production in the human sciences. It is also the outcome of the recognition that our university spaces and intellectual work require serious examination in relation to persistent racial inequalities and obstacles to democratic, inclusive intellectual practice, a recognition amplified by recent student protests across South Africa," said Robins.</p><p><em>Photo: Students from Stellenbosch University participated in the #FeesMustFall movement in 2015 and 2016. (Stefan Els)</em></p> |
| Den Bosch chairs find new home | http://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=4759 | | Den Bosch chairs find new home | Student Affairs | <p>At the end of last year the Centre for Student Development and Counselling donated chairs from the Den Bosch facility to the Bruckner de Villiers Primary School in Stellenbosch.</p><p>The chairs are currently being utilized in the school's reading room and the scholars are extremely excited about their new reading space.</p><p><img src="/english/PublishingImages/Lists/dualnews/My%20Items%20View/Van%20Zyl-s.jpg" alt="Van Zyl-s.jpg" style="margin:5px;width:1000px;height:679px;" /><br></p> |
| Invitation for Comments: SU Universal Access Policy | http://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=4832 | | Invitation for Comments: SU Universal Access Policy | Dr MM Lyner-Cleophas | <p style="text-align:justify;">To: All staff and students at SU</p><p style="text-align:justify;"><strong>Invitation for comment as part of the review of the disability policy at Stellenbosch University</strong></p><p style="text-align:justify;">Stellenbosch University (SU) is reviewing its disability policy on students with disabilities. With this review, we will strive to follow a universal approach to disability that is inclusive of all people using campus services, whether on or off campus. We view the striving towards disability inclusion as part of the rights of people, as well as being crucial to the transformation agenda of South Africa and SU. Therefore, the need for the policy to respond not only to students with disabilities, but to all people on campus has become clearer. Indeed, if the lack of access to a building is, for instance, a problem for a student in a wheelchair, then it will be as much a problem for a staff member in a wheelchair, or a visitor on campus. </p><p style="text-align:justify;">The need for redress regarding disability is evident in, inter alia, the SA Constitution (1996), the Employment Equity Act (1998), the South African Schools Act (1996), the Higher Education Act (1997) and the National Plan for Higher Education (2000). However, in a recent South African Human Rights Commission report (2017), it is clear that most violations regarding human rights are still linked to race, ethnic or social origin and disability. </p><p style="text-align:justify;">The marginalisation of people with disabilities is akin to segregation experienced because of racial and linguistic divides, which are societally constructed. As we strive to break down a myriad of barriers in our environments and in our country, this quest is the same when we speak about disabilities.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">Our striving with the Universal Access Policy is to ensure we cover all aspects of people's functioning on campus, in each and every department, so that we can put in place plans to address disability in a holistic and truly inclusive way.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">We invite you to read the draft SU Universal Access Policy (available as a <span class="ms-rteForeColor-8" style="text-decoration:underline;"><a href="/english/learning-teaching/student-affairs/cscd/Documents/Disability%20Unit/Lyner-Cleophas_Universal%20Access%20Policy%206%20April%202017_Marcia%20ed_post-ed_fi.pdf"><span class="ms-rteForeColor-8" style="text-decoration:underline;">PDF</span></a></span> or a <a href="/english/learning-teaching/student-affairs/cscd/Documents/Disability%20Unit/Lyner-Cleophas_Universal%20Access%20Policy%206%20April%202017_Marcia%20ed_post-ed_fi.docx" style="text-decoration:underline;"><span class="ms-rteForeColor-8" style="text-decoration:underline;">Word</span></a> document) and to comment on it. You can send your comments to either of the addresses given below.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">E-mail: <a href="mailto:disability@sun.ac.za"><span class="ms-rteForeColor-8" lang="EN-GB" style="text-decoration:underline;"><span style="text-decoration:underline;">disability@sun.ac.za</span></span></a><span lang="EN-GB" style="text-decoration:underline;">.</span></p><p style="text-align:justify;">Postal address: Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602 (For attention: Dr MM Lyner-Cleophas, Centre for Student Counselling and Development).</p><p style="text-align:justify;"><strong>The final date for comments is 15 May 2017.</strong></p><p style="text-align:justify;">Enquiries: Mrs Melanie Willems at 021 808 4707</p><p style="text-align:justify;">With appreciation </p><p style="text-align:justify;">Task Team: SU Universal Access Policy</p> |
| Student fees and registration 2017 | http://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=4580 | | Student fees and registration 2017 | Registrateurskantoor / Office of the Registrar | <p>Information on student fees, registration 2017 and the implementation of the state-funded DHET 8% gap-funding was sent to students by the Registrar, Dr Ronel Retief, on Thursday 15 December 2016. This was followed up by an email on 5 January 2017 regarding the DHET gap-funding grant. <br></p><p><strong><em><br></em></strong></p><p><strong class="ms-rteForeColor-1"><em>15 December 2016</em></strong></p><p><em>Dear Stellenbosch Student</em></p><p><strong></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:14.25pt;"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:verdana, sans-serif;color:#656566;"><em>I trust that you are enjoying a
well-deserved break over the holidays.</em><br></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:14.25pt;"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:verdana, sans-serif;color:#656566;"><em>Over the past few months the University has been involved in discussions with
the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) and other stakeholders
in the higher education sector on various issues related to registration 2017
and student fees.<br></em></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:14.25pt;"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:verdana, sans-serif;color:#656566;"><em></em></span><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:verdana, sans-serif;color:#656566;"><em>Coming to the fore now, is the implementation of the
state-funded DHET 8% gap-funding grant for students from families with a
combined household income of up to R600 000 per annum. Due to the DHET
gap-funding grant and SU accommodation bursaries, these students will not be
subject to any increase in tuition and accommodation fees in 2017. If you fall
in this category you will pay exactly the same tuition and accommodation fees
next year (2017) as in 2015 and 2016.</em><br></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:14.25pt;"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:verdana, sans-serif;color:#656566;"><em>From the University’s side we will try and provide as much information as we
have at our disposal. What has been confirmed by the DHET is that students from
quintile 1, 2 and 3 schools (as determined by the Department of Basic
Education), and those who will be funded by NSFAS in 2017, will automatically
qualify for the 8% DHET gap-funding grant, whereas students from families with
a gross income of up to R600 000 per annum – the so-called missing middle – and
who fall outside of these two groupings, will need to apply for the gap-funding
grant early next year. These students will still be required to pay the
first instalment at registration as in the past, but will receive credit of 8%
on their student accounts if they are deemed eligible for gap funding by the
DHET, and the state funds have been received by the University.</em><br></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:14.25pt;"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:verdana, sans-serif;color:#656566;"><em>With regard to the first instalment payable at registration, I would like to
remind you that you can apply for a delayed payment, which means that you pay
the first instalment over three months (January, February and March). With regard
to outstanding debt, students who receive a bursary for 2017 which covers at
least the outstanding debt as well as the first instalment for 2017, will also
be allowed to register.</em></span><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:verdana, sans-serif;color:#656566;"><br></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:14.25pt;"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:verdana, sans-serif;color:#656566;"><em>More information on the application process for gap funding will
be made available early in January 2017. For your convenience a dedicated
e-mail address has been created for enquiries: </em><a href="mailto:gapfunding@sun.ac.za"><span style="color:#2ba6cb;text-decoration:none;"><em>gapfunding@sun.ac.za</em></span></a><em>. This email
address will be activated early in January 2017.</em><br></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:14.25pt;"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:verdana, sans-serif;color:#656566;"><em>We are acutely aware of the financial pressures under which South African
households have to provide for student fees. We therefore continue to strive to
assist, as far as possible, financially needy students who are academically
deserving. Please familiarise yourself with the various categories and forms of
financial assistance available.</em></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:14.25pt;"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:verdana, sans-serif;color:#656566;"><em>
The following links provide access to general information on registration and
student fees:</em></span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"century gothic", sans-serif;color:#656566;"></span></p><ul><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#656566;line-height:14.25pt;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"century gothic", sans-serif;"><a href="/english/Documents/2016%20Everlytic/December%202016/Fees%20and%20Registration%202017.pdf"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:verdana, sans-serif;color:#2ba6cb;text-decoration:none;"><em>General info on registration and
student fees</em></span></a></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#656566;line-height:14.25pt;"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=4518"><span style="color:#2ba6cb;text-decoration:none;"><em>Increase in
student fees</em></span></a><em> (Media Release, 28 November 2016)</em></span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"century gothic", sans-serif;"></span></li></ul><em>
</em><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:verdana, sans-serif;color:#656566;"><em>Finally, please remember to make use of the option to </em><span style="font-family:verdana, sans-serif;"><em>register online</em></span><em>, that
will be available from 13 January 2017 at </em><a href="/english/maties/Pages/default.aspx"><span style="color:#2ba6cb;text-decoration:none;"><em>www.maties.com</em></span></a><em>.
Students who register online will avoid queues, including having to activate
their student cards. As always, students who are unable to register online,
will be assisted by our administrative staff during the registration period
(see registration notice at the link provided above for detail).</em><br><br><em>A dedicated website is currently being created to enable students and parents
easy access to all the relevant information on registration. More
information will follow early in January 2017.</em><br><br><em>
We look forward to welcoming you back in 2017.</em><br><em>
</em></span><br><em>Kind regards</em><em><br>Ronel Retief</em><p><em>Registrar designate</em><br><em></em><strong><em></em></strong></p><p><em><strong><br></strong></em></p><p><span class="ms-rteForeColor-1"><strong>5</strong><em><strong> January 2017</strong></em></span></p><p><em>Dear Stellenbosch Student</em></p><p><em></em><em>Further to </em><a href="http://newsletters.stellenbosch-mail.com/public/messages/view-online/kXj4Q5w6xR4vwalr/xNcHGrxSuCTxkVAh" target="_blank"><em class="ms-rteThemeForeColor-5-0">my email</em></a><em> of 15 December 2016, please find </em><a href="/english/Documents/Higher%20Education%20Correspondence/161214%20COMMUNIQUE%202ND%20revised.pdf" target="_blank"><em class="ms-rteThemeForeColor-5-0">information on the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) gap-funding grant</em></a><em>, as well as </em><a href="/english/Documents/Higher%20Education%20Correspondence/2016-Dec%2014%20December%20%20DHET%20GRANT%20APPLICATION%20FORM%20.pdf" target="_blank"><em class="ms-rteThemeForeColor-5-0">the application form with instructions</em></a><em>, as provided by the DHET.</em></p><p><em></em><em>Completed application forms with supporting documents may be sent to gapfunding@sun.ac.za or, alternatively, submitted in hard-copy format to the Centre for Bursaries and Loans, Admin A for processing.</em></p><p><em>Kind regards</em><br><em>Ronel Retief</em><br><em>Registrar</em></p><p><em><br></em></p><a href="/english/students/Pages/Registration.aspx"><strong>Click here for additional information such as registration options and schedules</strong></a> |
