Prof Wim de Villiers, Rector and Vice-Chancellor, today announced ad hoc arrangements with regard to the loss of academic
time and the final examinations for 2016.
Read his letter to staff and students below:
31 October 2016
Dear colleagues and students
Some extraordinary, ad hoc arrangements relating to the loss of academic
time and the final examinations for 2016 were approved by the Executive
Committee of Senate late last week. An urgent special meeting of the committee
was called by the Rector’s Management Team to discuss students’ concerns
regarding the effects of recent student protests and the continuation of the
academic year.
The University’s approach is twofold, namely that the integrity and quality control
of the examination system will be maintained, as is required from all higher
education institutions, and that staff will as far as possible assist affected
students with care and empathy to complete the examinations.
The following decisions were taken following lengthy and in-depth
discussions:
- That the University’s established
system of two equivalent and consecutive examination opportunities already
offers affected students the opportunity to utilise additional preparation
time for entering the second examination.
- That in adherence to the principle of
fairness and the maintenance of the integrity and quality control of our
examination system, special efforts will be made to assist students
affected by the recent protest action to complete the examinations as far
as possible.
- That due to the lost academic time,
students will be afforded greater leniency when considering access to the
second examination opportunity. Specific measures will be determined at
faculty level and communicated to students and to the Registrar for
governance and record purposes. Note, however, that where final-year
students opt to participate in the second examination opportunity, this
will inevitably mean that the relevant qualification can be awarded at the
March graduation ceremony only.
For post-examination appeals concerning marks, the existing rules for the
re-evaluation of examination scripts, as contained in the SU Calendar Part
1, will apply. - That a third examination opportunity
in January 2017 would be impractical, given the logistical challenges
associated with administering an examination at the start of a new
academic year.
- That ad hoc arrangements will be made
pertaining to suspended students, who are able to continue with their
studies now that the disciplinary process has run its course. These
students should contact their respective lecturers, and the head of
department must communicate the measures taken to the dean and
Registrar.
Please note that these are extraordinary
arrangements against the backdrop of recent challenging events and the
consequences of lost academic time. These arrangements in no way constitute a
precedent being created, but are considered a once-off endeavour to enable
students to complete the 2016 academic year.
The Executive Committee of Senate acknowledges that University staff members
too have been affected by recent events, and would like to express its
appreciation for all the efforts by members of staff to support our students
during these challenging times.
On behalf of the management team, our very best wishes for the last weeks of
the academic year.
Kind regards
Prof Wim de Villiers
Rector and Vice-Chancellor
