Feedback on vaccination proposal and other updates

Dear students

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.

• Read the VC Desk: UCT Council approves in-principle a proposal on vaccination as condition of campus access.

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.

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.

COVID-19 Vulnerability Assessments for undergraduate students

Undergraduate students are notified that the process of accessing 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.

• Read the CA: COVID-19 Vulnerability Assessments for undergraduate students.

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

• View the invitation to the Transformation and Inclusion in Higher Education Lekgotla 2021.

Join a mindfulness-based session on the power of HOPE

Mindful Revolution, an external organisation, is offering mindfulness-based sessions in collaboration with the Student Wellness Service (SWS).

On 25 October, the session will discuss the power of HOPE. It will take place virtually from 17:30 to 18:00. Students can join the session by emailing SWS peer counsellor Mary Clark or via the meeting link. More information can be found on the session flyer.

Students are reminded that they can book an appointment on the SWS ICAS Crisis App. And the SWS’s toll-free 24-hour telephonic counselling services are available throughout the day, including on weekends and after hours:

• UCT Careline: call 0800 24 25 26 or text 31393
• SWS ICAS line: 0800 87 26 76
• Higher Health Counselling: 0800 36 36 36
• ER24 UCT collaboration line: 010 205 3010.

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

Read previous communications:

• From the UCT Executive
• Campus Announcements