Dear colleagues

This is the fourth week since the student protests commenced on our campus. 

I am aware of the emotional strain this difficult time of uncertainty has had on all our staff and students.  I want to thank you for your patience and cooperation, and keeping the wheels of our organisation turning.

Disruption of the academic programme on our campus and beyond have been unsettling and challenging, but our campus has remained calm following successful engagement between staff and students on their list of demands. We are now in the process of working further on implementing the recommendations regarding the demands. The final report will be made available on Friday this week after the signing of the final recommendations together with our students.

However, as you know, as mentioned by the Vice-Chancellor Dr Max Price, this is a national student-led movement that requires a national response to address the key demand of fee-free higher education.  Thus, even if FHS solutions are found, we are also subject to University-wide and national issues.

With uncertainty about the resumption of classes, within the Faculty, our programme and course convenors are working on various scenarios for completing the academic programme. I thank the convenors and our teaching staff for their dedication to the welfare and success of our students.

The Vice-Chancellor has indicated that in this period of suspended teaching activity, the core administrative functions and essential services of the university will be maintained. Faculty line managers and most staff responded well to this call.  If members of staff have any concerns regarding their work in this period, they must discuss the matter with their line managers.

The Faculty takes the lead from decisions taken by the university, so please check regularly your emails and the UCT and Faculty website for updates.  We will add Faculty of Health Sciences-related information as necessary. We plan to hold a Staff Update on Friday 14 October 2016 for members of our community who will be on campus.

In the meantime, please feel free to send me any feedback, suggestions and concerns that you may have to  #AskTheDean.

Regards 

Bongani Mayosi
Dean