From the DVC’s Desk
Outcome of the review and restructure of the Transformation Services Office
24 November 2017 | From the DVC’s Desk
Dear students and colleagues
I am writing to update you on the outcome of the review and restructure of the Transformation Services Office (TSO), located in the Office of the Vice-Chancellor.
The purpose of the review was to assess the TSO – which consisted of the HIV/AIDS, Inclusivity and Change Unit (HAICU); the Discrimination and Harassment Office (DISCHO); the employment equity function; and the Disability Service – in terms of its structure, services and relevance to meeting the institutional needs in an evolving higher education context.
This process was recently finalised and I am pleased to inform you that a new office, called the Office for Inclusivity and Change (OIC), has recently been constituted. The OIC overarches three service areas that were previously located in HAICU, DISCHO and the Disability Service.
As previously reported, Dr Sianne Alves has been appointed as the new director of the OIC and has taken up this role with immediate effect.
The Disability Service reports to the director of the OIC, who in turn, reports to me as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Transformation.
The OIC provides institutional responses to transformation, sexual and gender-based violence, disability and cultural change. Some of the operational areas of the office include facilitating cultural shifts (staff–student engagement or staff–staff engagement), disability support services, prevention programmes, education, sexual assault, harassment and discrimination.
The employment equity (EE) portfolio that was initially a function residing within the TSO currently remains in the transformation portfolio. In the future it will be moved to the Human Resources department to allow for the integration of EE in the broader scope and function of human resources at the university. At present, while university processes associated with the relocation to the Human Resources department are being finalised, the EE function reports directly to me.
I would like to thank my colleagues for their continued commitment and patience in working towards finalising this process.
For more information regarding the work of the OIC, please contact Dr Sianne Alves or 021 650 1003/6.
Sincerely
Professor Loretta Feris
Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Transformation
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Disruption of classes, blocking of entrances or exits, interfering with traffic flow, putting up barricades that prevent people from conducting normal business or attending classes, and any form of intimidation – whether physical or verbal – is unlawful.”