UKZN Management and SRC reach amicable outcome on key issues

The University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) Management and the Student Representative Council (SRC) had a meeting yesterday at which they discussed and addressed a number of concern stabled by the student leadership on behalf of the students.   The two parties engaged extensively on the institution’s back-to-campus decisions as directed by current legislative regulations. This came amid demonstrations outside the Westville campus on 9 February 2021.

Both parties agreed that stability at the University is crucial for donor confidence and support, and to protectthe reputation of the University. With stability endorsed as a core fundamental, management reiterated its prior undertaking to support the SRC’s fundraising initiatives in whatever way possible. Management also agreed to pursue its own external fundraising initiative to match the SRC’s fundraising target of R3 million.

On the matter of waveringthe requirements to honour previous repayment commitments, it was understood that this is not a new requirement and accordingly students are already aware that they need to have honoured the repayment plans of their prior year before they can be financially cleared for the new academic year.

It was agreed that students are also aware that in instances where they are unable to honour their repayment commitments,they need to have advised the Student Funding Office so that they could revise their repayment agreements.A number of students did this throughout the course of last year, which indicates that they take their studies and commitments to the University seriously. It is unclear why any student facing financial difficulties during the course of the year would not have sought this avenue of relief. Hence the University is not in a position to waive the requirement for students to pay all amounts committed to in their most recent repayment plans.

In its deliberation, management agreed that in view of the fact that students were prevented from occupying residences through no fault of their own or the University, it would be deemed reasonable to consider a partial reversal of 2020 residence fee charges – a reversal of 25% for days on which residences were not occupied. This reversal would apply only to fully or partially self-funded students.As the matter requires an adjustment of Council-approved fees it is being progressed to the Finance Committee for their consideration and recommendations to Council.

On the SRC request to allow students who were residing in private accommodation residences in 2020 back, it was highlighted that University is guided by the DHET/NSFAS funding guidelines. The 2021 guidelines have not yet been issued by NSFAS and the University will revert to the students as soon as these guidelines are issued.In the prior year this was not allowed by the DHET/NSFAS guidelines except in situations where the University did not have any available accommodation for NSFAS funded students requiring accommodation.

On the SRC request for a blended approach for registration, especially for first-time entry students and the students that need to submit forms manually,Management agrees that first-time entry students need to be supported adequately with remote online registration. The University has already put various support measures in place to ensure that new first entry undergraduate students are adequately supported with remote online registration. These measures include but are not limited to:

• Provision of data to students when they accept their offer to study at UKZN.

• Implementation of a toll-free call centre to assist students to be registered by University staff.

• Dedicated registration period to ensure that University staff can focus solely on the first-year students.

• During the registration period, unregistered first-year students who have paid the required registration fees or have received confirmed funding decisions will be contacted by the University to complete their registration process telephonically.

• Thereafter, any remaining unregistered first-year students who have paid the required registration fees or have received confirmed funding decisions will be assisted with registration on campus from 22 March to 1 April.

On the SRC demand for the return of all students to campus and residences, it was agreed that 33% of expected students, may return.

Management’s intention is to ultimately bring back all students to campus, but the current state of the pandemic and regulations require for us to return the minimum number feasible and prioritise students with the greatest need to be back on campus as per College submissions.

The collection of degree certificates will continue at Westville campus as per the booking process previously outlined. Unfortunately, the University is unable to decentralise the collection of degree certificates due to the controls that are associated with the tracking and issuing of degree certificates.

Due to the pandemic, it was reiterated by management that degree letters and academic records can be obtained online.

Other agreements noted include that:

• For students that are left with one or two modules and have already attempted these modules previously, the required assessments for these students will be conducted online, colleges are already implementing this.
• On the inconsistency in final mark calculations across modules and students: College DVCs working with their Deans and other staff will oversee the process of calculation of marks to ensure that the required procedures have been complied with in the calculations.
• Research Masters and PhD students: The matter has been reviewed extensively by the Colleges and, in individual cases, students who have not been able to register will be assisted with registration.
• Other returning students: The closing date of 5 March 2021 has to remain in place as it is imperative that staff complete the registration of returning students and thereafter focus solely on assisting new first year students.
• Re-admissions will be considered on a case-by-case basis in the Colleges until 15 February 2021.
• On late applications, the University already has 110000 applications for only 10000 available spaces and can therefore not accommodate any additional applications.
• Updated official results will be resubmitted to NSFAS as and when they become available.
• All system errors impacting students with negative term decisions will be reviewed by the Colleges together with ICS, and any errors will be amended accordingly on an individual case basis.