UJ to ensure smooth start to 2016 academic year

Designed to ensure that all students are able to access libraries, lectures, seminars, laboratories and other learning spaces, the measures would be as unobtrusive as possible and as business-like as necessary, the university said in a statement on Sunday.

It would apply to all staff, students, and visitors to the university in the interests of all for whom the university was a place of learning, debate, inquiry, and empowerment.

“UJ appeals to all students, staff, and visitors to continue to support the security staff in ensuring that the university remains free of disruptions and a place conducive to learning and teaching.”

As part of ensuring a smooth and conducive beginning to the academic year, registration fees had to be paid by all students starting or resuming their studies. Financial assistance would be available to those students from the poorest backgrounds who were able to show that they could not afford the registration fees themselves.

“The business of the university is the empowerment of individuals, families, and communities through academic study leading to concrete, sought after qualifications, and we are very proud of the thousands of graduates we have in the first decade of our existence assisted in setting a successful compass for the future,” said UJ vice-chancellor and principal Professor Ihron Rensburg.

“We are determined that we will again in 2016 make a very positive difference to the lives of many thousands of young people, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds. To do so, we are determined that learning and teaching will proceed as planned from the first day of term,” he said.

Access would be granted to all first year students as soon as they had finalised their registration so that they could collect their student cards.

With the exception of National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) qualifying students, all students would in 2016 again be required to pay registration and student fees. This was one of the important revenue streams that ensured the university could remain financially viable and able to do its job of empowering thousands of young people.

UJ recognised that not everybody could afford university fees and would continue with the support it provided via the Students’ Representative Council (SRC) Trust Fund. This had increased significantly for 2016 to accommodate up to 15,000 students – three times the number in past years – who could not afford to pay their registration fees.

UJ would also continue to top-up NSFAS from its operating budget and with funds raised from the public and private sectors. The university would continue to provide free inter-campus bus transport and the meal support scheme for the neediest students would continue.

The usual UJ arrangements would remain in place regarding outstanding student debt. Students who were unable to pay their debt in full should make payment arrangements with student finance. In respect of NSFAS qualifying students’ historic debt, and in line with the president’s announcement regarding the state’s intention to cover such debt accumulated during 2013, 2014, and 2015, NSFAS qualifying students would not be required to pay outstanding debt accumulated during this period.

Against this backdrop of significant support for the neediest students, the university had decided that in the interests of a smooth and productive start to the year for all who were eager to get underway with their studies, disruptions would not be allowed on campus. As always, and in line with the university’s student regulations, there would be room for peaceful protest.

“Any attempt to disturb the smooth running of the university as it gears up for the new academic year should be seen as an attempt to take fairness and equity out of the process. Such attempts should be rejected by anyone interested in the broadest possible access to higher learning as a route to transformation and intergenerational empowerment in our country.

“It is crucial for everyone connected to UJ to understand that the essential prerequisite for scientific inquiry, learning, and open debate is non-violence, a peaceful atmosphere, and mutual respect,” Rensburg said.

“Our task is to nurture and to grow tomorrow’s leaders and to explore the frontiers of knowledge, and that means it is our duty as a university to ensure peace and security for all,” he said. – African News Agency (ANA)