Mini-semester wrapped up, and other updates

23 February 2017
Campus announcement
23 February 2017

Dear students and colleagues

This campus announcement aims to inform members of the University of Cape Town community about recent developments on campus.

1. Mini-semester and deferred exams conclude

The mini-semester and deferred-examination period will conclude when exams in the Faculty of Health Sciences are finished on 24 February 2017. During the deferred exam period, 567 exams were written in venues on upper campus and the medical campus. A total of 16 046 students wrote exams during this period. The university thanks all staff and students for the roles they have played in ensuring the smooth running of the mini-semester and exams.


2. Wage negotiations

Salary negotiations with the National Education Health and Allied Workers? Union (Nehawu), the Employees Union (EU) and the Academics Union (AU) reached a deadlock when the three unions rejected the university?s final offer of a 6% increase. The university has decided that the most appropriate step to take in these circumstances is to implement the final offer of 6% with the February 2017 pay run, backdated to 1 January 2017.


3. Distinguished Teacher Awards 2016

The recipients of UCT?s Distinguished Teacher Awards for 2016 have been announced. The Distinguished Teacher Award is the highest accolade awarded to teaching staff at all levels within the university and recognises excellent teaching. Through the award, UCT acknowledges the primary place of teaching and learning in the university?s work.

The 2016 winners are Dr David Erwin, Department of Mathematics & Applied Mathematics; Associate Professor Ryan Kruger, Department of Finance & Tax; Dr Miguel Lacerda, Department of Statistical Sciences; Dr Janice McMillan, Centre for Innovation in Learning and Teaching; Dr Jonathan Shock, Department of Mathematics & Applied Mathematics; and Associate Professor Jimmy Winfield, College of Accounting. The university congratulates the recipients of the 2016 Distinguished Teacher Awards for their outstanding work.


4. UCT?s amended BBBEE status

The amended Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) codes that came into effect on 1 May 2015 significantly changed the manner in which the BBBEE status level is calculated.

The number of BBBEE points required to achieve a particular BBBEE level significantly increased. Thus, far-reaching changes have materially affected UCT?s existing BBBEE status and will continue to have an impact on industry as companies and institutions are assessed against these new requirements.

In 2016 UCT was certified using the new BBBEE codes. This first new measurement retrospectively looked at 2015?s data and performance, resulting in an overall score of 38.85 points and a status level of non-compliant. This processs highlighted key gaps that UCT has committed to address over the next three years in order to get its rating back to level 4. UCT believes that BBBEE is not simply a way to redress the wrongs of the past, but a pragmatic strategy that aims to realise the country?s full economic potential.


5. AGM Convocation reconvened

The AGM of UCT?s Convocation will reconvene on Tuesday, 28 February, at 16:30 for 17:00 in Lecture Theatre 1, Kramer Law Building, middle campus. This is to allow Convocation to address items 6 and 7 of the original agenda, which were not dealt with when the AGM was adjourned due to disruption last December.


6. Parent orientation

UCT will be hosting orientation meetings for parents of first-year students on Wednesday, 1 March, and Saturday, 4 March, in Jameson Hall and the Leslie Social Science building. A guide to UCT, Campus Life, has been produced for incoming students and will be distributed at parent and student orientation meetings.


7. SS Mendi centenary

On Sunday, 26 February 2017, at 11:00 a military ceremony will be held to commemorate the centenary of the sinking of the SS Mendi by the Gunners Association Western Province. The Acting Vice-Chancellor, Professor Francis Petersen, will represent UCT at the ceremony.

There will be restricted access on Saturday, 25 February, and a road closure on Sunday, 26 February, on the Cecil Road extension that?s used to access the Baxter / Gra


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