Campus announcements
Feedback on vaccination proposal and other updates
20 October 2021Dear colleagues
The University of Cape Town (UCT) Council approved in-principle a proposal on COVID-19 vaccination as condition of campus access. Read more on this and other updates below:
Feedback on vaccination proposal
The UCT Council approved in-principle to take effect as from 1 January 2022 a proposal requiring that all staff (as a condition of being able to perform their duties) and students (as a condition of registration) provide acceptable proof of having been vaccinated against COVID-19.
This complex matter was discussed fully and Council took into consideration a range of diverse views at a meeting held on Saturday, 16 October. Council resolved that the university executive should proceed to establish an appropriately constituted panel, whose task would be to develop the operational details required to implement the campus access dispensation as referred to above, including the principles and guidelines for exemption from a requirement to provide proof of vaccination.
UCT vaccination site to operate this Saturday
The UCT Community of Hope Vaccination Centre will be open this Saturday, 23 October 2021, from 09:00 to 13:00. The site is open every weekday from 08:00 to 15:00. For Saturdays, updates are shared via the UCT communication channels - including social media platforms - whenever the site is to be open.
The site was launched in September and is open to all students, staff and members of the public. It is located at the university's Forest Hill residence complex on the Main Road, Mowbray. Access to the site is through Broad Street.
Initial plans for the 2022 academic year
On 4 October, Senate approved the Framework for Teaching and Learning in 2022. The framework takes into account an assessment of the difficulties encountered by staff and students with physically distanced learning during 2021; and the possibility of increasing contact teaching on campus, as a result of the availability of vaccines.
The basic elements of the framework require all students to be in Cape Town throughout the academic year and to come to campus as required. The mode of teaching will be faculty dependent and a mix of online and face-to-face activities. The 2022 academic calendar starts on 14 February. First-year registration and orientation will take place in the preceding two weeks, with residences opening in late January.
Master’s/PhD parking discs for 2022
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, applications for student parking discs will only be done online. All master’s/PhD students interested in a parking disc for 2022 are invited to add their details to an online list in order to be issued with a P18 parking disc. An annual parking fee applies. The online form will only be made available on the first working day of November, which is Tuesday, 2 November 2021. Please note that there are 100 bays available. Only the first 100 students will be accepted, and once this number is reached the application process will be closed.
To complete the form, please go to the Campus Parking page on 2 November 2021.
Reminder: Vice-Chancellor’s Excellence Awards 2021
After what has been yet another challenging year, the Vice-Chancellor (VC)’s Excellence Awards provide an opportunity for the UCT executive to express appreciation for the teamwork, collective action, collaboration and leadership that have ensured the sustainability of the university during this difficult time.
The VC’s Excellence Awards committee calls for nominations of staff in the three categories: global citizenship, service excellence, and transformation.
COVID-19 Vulnerability Assessments for undergraduate students
The access process by undergraduate students to campus for academic activities, study spaces, sports and other university activities will no longer require the completion of the Vulnerability Assessment as the country moves out of the third wave of the pandemic. Students should, however, note that the university could be required to reinstate controls if higher levels of the national lockdown are reintroduced later.
Students are reminded that it is mandatory to complete the daily screening prior to accessing campus spaces. It is the responsibility of each student to ensure that they obtain medical advice from their practitioners. A vulnerability checklist is provided on the Student Wellness Service website for further information.
Reminder: Transformation and Inclusion in Higher Education Lekgotla 2021
UCT is committed to interrogating its progress towards being a truly African university that has rid itself of all forms of discrimination, harassment and inequalities.
The Transformation and Inclusion in Higher Education Lekgotla, hosted by UCT, aims to connect and share work, best practice and limitations of structured approaches to better monitor, evaluate and track culture change within a student and staff population in an increasingly turbulent world.
The next sessions will be held on:
- Friday, 22 October
- Tuesday, 26 October
- Friday, 29 October
ICTS scheduled maintenance on Sunday, 24 October
Please note that there is a scheduled maintenance slot by Information and Communication Technology Services (ICTS) on Sunday, 24 October from 09:00 to 17:00. Unless advised to the contrary, do not expect any ICT services to be available for the duration of the maintenance slot. Please remember to consult the scheduled ICTS maintenance slots for 2021 before planning any teaching, conferences, meetings, etc that require ICT services. For more information, see the article on why ICTS schedules regular monthly maintenance slots.
Communication and Marketing Department
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