Dear colleagues and students
This campus announcement aims to inform the UCT community about recent developments on campus.
1. Fee adjustments and deadlines
Please take note of the following update with regards to fee adjustments:
2. Students’ return to campus under level two
The return of students to campus is being implemented under the current national lockdown alert Level 2, and in line with the higher education department’s guidelines. This return is being implemented by invitation only, after the necessary public health assessments have been concluded and formal authorisation granted for return to UCT – either at the residences or on campus.
UCT has developed a framework for the return of students to residences, and for some students and staff to return to campus within a phased approach. Of the 7 700 students in the residence system, an initial cohort of 2 000 students were approved to return to residence. Since September 2020, under alert Level 2, a further 3 100 students have been approved for return to residences.
3. Nominations for VC’s Excellence Awards
The Vice-Chancellor’s Excellence Awards aim to recognise members of the UCT community who make an outstanding contribution to the university’s mission and objectives through innovation or improvement in services, and/or sustained exceptional performance in an area or areas beneficial to the university and its strategic imperatives.
Professional, administrative support and services (PASS) staff may apply or nominate colleagues for the Global Citizenship Award and the Service Excellence Award, while all staff involved in transformation work may apply or nominate colleagues for the UCT Transformation Award.
For questions related to the nomination process or criteria, please email Daphney Makgoba or call 021 650 2175. The deadline for submission is Thursday, 15 October 2020.
4. Update on COVID-19 cases in the UCT community
The university has a reported 100 cases among non-health sciences staff members as at 15 September. The number of staff recoveries is 85. A total of 36 students’ cases have been reported, including 10 Faculty of Health Sciences students on clinical platforms. Although no new COVID-19 related deaths have been reported since July, the university remains saddened to have lost nine staff members and one student to the pandemic.
5. Unleashing the New Global University series
The fifth and final #NewGlobalUni event was held on 7 September. Launched in June and hosted by Vice-Chancellor Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng, this series of webinars are themed Unleashing the New Global University. On 7 September, the webinar titled “How does changing the medium change the way of doing things?”, saw leading academics from Egypt, Australia and Kenya unpacking their insights and sharing five takeaways for how the move to digital changes the way of doing things in higher education.
6. ICTS scheduled maintenance
Please note that on Sunday, 20 September 2020, the Information and Communication Technology Services (ICTS) department will perform scheduled maintenance from 09:00-17:00. Unless advised to the contrary, staff and students should note that no ICT services will be available for the duration of the maintenance slot. Please remember to consult the scheduled ICTS maintenance slots for 2020 before planning any teaching, conferences, meetings, and other activities that require ICT services.
Read previous communications:
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COVID-19 is a global pandemic that caused President Cyril Ramaphosa to declare a national disaster in South Africa on 15 March and implement a national lockdown from 26 March.
UCT is taking the threat of infection in our university community extremely seriously, and this page will be updated regularly with the latest COVID-19 information.
Getting credible, evidence-based, accessible information and recommendations relating to COVID-19
The Department of Medicine at the University of Cape Town and Groote Schuur Hospital, are producing educational video material for use on digital platforms and in multiple languages. The information contained in these videos is authenticated and endorsed by the team of experts based in the Department of Medicine. Many of the recommendations are based on current best evidence and are aligned to provincial, national and international guidelines. For more information on UCT’s Department of Medicine, please visit the website.
To watch more videos like these, visit the Department of Medicine’s YouTube channel.
As the COVID-19 crisis drags on and evolves, civil society groups are responding to growing and diversifying needs – just when access to resources is becoming more insecure, writes UCT’s Prof Ralph Hamann.
03 Jul 2020 - 6 min read RepublishedThe Covid-19 crisis has reinforced the global consequences of fragmented, inadequate and inequitable healthcare systems and the damage caused by hesitant and poorly communicated responses.
24 Jun 2020 - >10 min read OpinionOur scientists must not practise in isolation, but be encouraged to be creative and increase our knowledge of the needs of developing economies, write Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng, vice-chancellor of UCT, and Professor Thokozani Majozi from the University of the Witwatersrand.
09 Jun 2020 - 6 min read RepublishedSouth Africa has been recognised globally for its success in flattening the curve, which came as a result of President Ramaphosa responding quickly to the crisis, writes Prof Alan Hirsch.
28 Apr 2020 - 6 min read RepublishedIn an email to the UCT community, Vice-Chancellor Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng said:
“COVID-19, caused by the virus SARS-CoV-2, is a rapidly changing epidemic. [...] Information [...] will be updated as and when new information becomes available.”
We are continuing to monitor the situation and we will be updating the UCT community regularly – as and when there are further updates. If you are concerned or need more information, students can contact the Student Wellness Service on 021 650 5620 or 021 650 1271 (after hours), while staff can contact 021 650 5685.