A whole generation of Matie students knows Mr Johann Aspeling as the Registrar of Stellenbosch University (SU). But the long road that he has walked with SU began as far back as his own student days in this university town, which he came to embrace with his entire being.
Aspeling retires on Friday (9 Desember) after years of service to the University.
He grew up on a farm between Loxton and Victoria West in the Karoo. "There were 14 learners in my matric year. When I arrived in Stellenbosch in 1972 to study BCom, I'd been placed in Hombré residence − where the ABSA building in Plein Street stands today − because it was the only residence where my brother Peter and I could be placed together."
He completed his final year of study in 1978 after obtaining his MCom and Higher Education Diploma. He was, among other things, primarius of Hombré for two years and treasurer and later Chairperson of the Students' Representative Council in addition to playing for his residence in the Sauer Cup rugby team and for Maties in the first table tennis team.
"I was a Matie through and through. I met my wife, Estelle, here in 1977," says Aspeling, who has three children – son St. Clair (married to Maryke) and daughters Mariné (married to Huibert) and Elzanne (who will be marrying Stefan in March 2017) – and four grandchildren.
Aspeling began working in the then Division of Admissions and Accommodation in 1979 in addition to teaching in the extramural division and, in 2001, succeeded Prof Serf Kritzinger as Registrar.
"SU's Registrar is Head of the Division of Academic Administration, which is responsible for, among other things, admitting and registering students, advising them on their programme and subject choices, compiling class and exam timetables, managing exams in conjunction with faculties, and organising graduation ceremonies," he describes his work.
Included in this is the responsibility for managing, interpreting and revising SU's policies, regulations and procedures, its Statute, and the Higher Education Act, as well as legal services and the institutional secretariat.
Technology, in particular, has greatly influenced the activities of the Registrar's Division in Aspeling's time.
"When I was appointed Registrar, cellphones were used almost exclusively only to make and receive calls. At that stage, we communicated with students only by post and even still by telegram. Students were registered by hand and they therefore had to queue for ages."
These days, e-mails, SMSes and the SU website are used to communicate with students and more than 80% of them register online.
But what about his work has he enjoyed most and what have been some of the greatest challenges?
"As member of the Rector's Management Team, I was continuously involved in SU's management and decision-making processes and it was satisfying for me to remain informed about the University and being closely involved − although it was sometimes of course challenging as well. Being involved with the students over the years has also been very stimulating and satisfying.
"But what I won't miss are the more than 100 e-mails that landed in my inbox every day and often had to answer after hours," he adds.
Aspeling has worked under six SU Rectors, for the last four as Registrar: Profs Jannie de Villiers, Mike de Vries, Andreas van Wyk, Chris Brink, Russel Botman and, currently, Wim de Villiers. He has also served under four Council Chairpersons as Registrar: Mr Desmond Smith, Drs Edwin Hertzog and Paul Cluver and Mr George Steyn.
As Registrar, Aspeling worked closely with the Rectors, and something of each Rector's way of doing things has stayed with him.
"Prof Van Wyk, with his legal background, was extremely competent in managing SU. Prof Brink again always prepared thoroughly for meetings and didn't like deviating from a planned agenda or modus operandus.
"Prof Botman − a theologian − was a peacemaker who, as with his HOPE project, reached out to the community. I have to mention that Prof Leopoldt van Huyssteen as Acting Rector after the passing of Prof Botman guided SU very skilfully thorough a very difficult period for nine months.
"Prof Wim de Villiers isn't only exceedingly clever," he jokes with reference to De Villiers's nickname 'Slim Wim' "but I'm also experiencing him as an exceedingly able rector who is leading SU through participatory management."
As Aspeling now looks back over his decades of involvement with SU, he sees many highlights – too many to mention. But he does say: "The SU Campus is surely one of the loveliest in the world and I've seen how the gardens have been beautified and trees have been planted to enhance the Campus even more over the years. Today we're bearing the fruits of these initiatives. And buildings aren't only maintained but also upgraded to accommodate modern electronic teaching facilities."
Also where teaching methods and research are concerned SU has made great progress, Aspeling believes.
He will hand over the reins at the end of December and will first go and holiday at Vleesbaai with his family. "Then I'm going to help my wife organise our daughter Elzanne's wedding and then I'm going to the Kruger Park with friends before we start hustling and bustling on the little Karoo farm of my childhood."
What he's looking forward to most, however, is doing all those things with his wife that work never allowed him to do. "After that, the Lord, who has guided our lives up to this moment, will show us what will happen on the way forward," he says.
"I thank the University from the bottom of my heart for the privilege of being able to spend the greater part of my life here. I enjoyed it thoroughly and, if I could choose, I'd do it all over again."
Photo: Stefan Els
