​At its third scheduled meeting of the year, on 26 September 2016, the Stellenbosch University (SU) Council deliberated on the current state of affairs regarding higher education funding and student protests, adopted a report on the so-called purple-face incident, appointed a new Chief Operating Officer, and also approved a new Student Disciplinary Code and a number of other important policies.

State of affairs in higher education

Council noted with concern the nationwide protests about student fees. In a submission to the Commission of Inquiry into Higher Education and Training, the University had indicated its support for providing assistance to academically deserving students in financial need – on a sliding scale linked to household income. Council has pledged to support this, as well as the sector-wide insistence on increased state funding for universities. Council also expressed its support for the planned visit to Canada and the USA by SU Rector and Vice-Chancellor Prof Wim de Villiers from 28 September to 7 October 2016, which is primarily aimed at raising funds for the University.

In terms of student protest, Council expressed its concern about the form it has taken, but confirmed its confidence in management to deal with the situation through ongoing talks and other steps. Council emphasised the importance of the academic project and said that the University should remain open to enable students to complete the academic year.

Report on 'purple-face' incident

Council thanked Adv Renata Williams SC for her comprehensive report – with criticism and recommendations – on the University's handling of events at Heemstede residence on 4 February 2016, dubbed the purple-face incident. Council noted that management had already initiated action to address the shortcomings identified in the report, and also took note of the Press Ombud's remarks that one-sided media reporting had contributed to the unfortunate events. 

New Chief Operating Officer

Council resolved to appoint Prof Stan du Plessis as SU's new Executive Chief Operating Officer. Du Plessis, who was the preferred candidate of both Senate and the Institutional Forum, currently serves as dean of the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. He will be taking over from the current Chief Operating Officer, Prof Leopoldt van Huyssteen, who is scheduled to retire at the end of 2017. Du Plessis will assume his new position with effect from January 2017, with allowance for a period of overlap so as to ensure proper handover of duties and responsibilities.

Student Disciplinary Code

Council approved a new Student Disciplinary Code, which had earlier also been given the go-ahead by the Students' Representative Council, the Institutional Forum and Senate. (The English version serves as the source document, with which the Afrikaans translation must closely correspond.) The code is in keeping with the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, as well as SU's values and principles as contained in the University's Institutional Intent and Strategy. Particular emphasis has been placed on strengthening the administrative nature of the disciplinary process and moving away from quasi-judicial proceedings. The code will be managed by the Legal Services Division, which now falls under the Registrar. It will take effect on 1 January 2017 and will be published in the University Calendar as well as on the SU website.

Policy on Unfair Discrimination and Harassment

Council approved a new Policy on Unfair Discrimination and Harassment, applicable to both staff and students. (Again, the English text serves as the source document, with which the Afrikaans translation must closely correspond.) The policy has been in use since the Rector's Management Team provided provisional approval in November 2015 for implementation and adaptation as necessary, provided it still followed the full institutional approval route.

The new policy is an overarching document encompassing both the previous policy on sexual harassment as well as new guidelines against unfair discrimination. The policy aims to establish a new campus culture. It takes a firm stance against unacceptable conduct, yet at the same time encourages conversation and dispute resolution. The policy operates in tandem with related instruments, including the Student Disciplinary Code. It also pursues synergy between implementing structures such as the Equality Unit, Human Resources and the Central Disciplinary Committee.

SU Trademarks Policy

Council approved a trademarks policy, which is aimed at protecting the SU brand, being one of the University's most valuable assets. (The English version serves as the source document, with which the Afrikaans translation must closely correspond.) The policy has been drafted to promote the integrity of SU's respective trademarks and ensure that they are used appropriately. The policy falls under the Chief Operating Officer and will be implemented by Innovus, the division tasked with managing SU's intellectual property, in collaboration with other divisions.

Employment Equity Policy

Council approved the Employment Equity Policy (dealing with fair and equitable employment) with the earlier concurrence of Senate and the Institutional Forum. (The English version serves as the source document, with which the Afrikaans translation must closely correspond.) The policy enables SU to comply with the provisions of the Employment Equity Act of 1998. The document has been drafted following extensive consultation on campus as well as an external audit of employment equity practices at the University, and focuses on the imperative of building a staff corps that is both diversified and equipped with transformation competencies. An Employment Equity Plan outlining how the policy should be implemented will be submitted to Council as soon as possible.

Revision of SU Admissions Policy

A first draft of a revised SU Admissions Policy and associated legal opinion were submitted to Council, and members were requested to provide written inputs on foundational principles. The relevant task team will now produce a second draft, which will be made public for a month, to solicit inputs from students, staff, faculty boards and external stakeholders. A final draft will be submitted to Senate and the Institutional Forum before being tabled at Council for approval at its meeting of 28 November.

Statute

The new Statute of the University was published in the Government Gazette on 2 September and is now in operative. Click here for a copy as published. The Minister of Higher Education has not yet appointed additional Council members.

Mid-year financial report

Council approved SU's mid-year financial report to the Department of Higher Education and Training. Operating capital enables SU, as a leading research-driven university, to continue contributing to the country and continent despite the considerable expenses associated with research, bursaries, facilities maintenance and upgrades, as well as information and communications technology (ICT).

In terms of the report, the most important risks to be considered include:

• the impact of #FeesMustFall and the subsequent student protests about student fees;
• the impact of protests about the outsourcing of certain services;
• the unknown effect of the anticipated change in the subsidy formula on the University's first-stream income;
• the impact of the sluggish global economy on donations and research contracts; and
• students' (in)ability to settle their student accounts.

The University deals with these challenges through its strategic approach to financial planning and management, which is executed in accordance with its chosen business model.

Student fees

Council discussed possible student fee adjustments – one meeting earlier than usual due to the particular significance of this matter. A decision will however only be taken at the next Council meeting, on 28 November, when SU's budget for next year will be considered.

Council noted the announcement by the Minister of Higher Education and Training on 19 September 2016 that additional funding would be provided in order for students from households with an annual income of up to R600 000 to be charged the same tuition fees in 2017 than in 2015. Council also confirmed SU's support for the sector-wide approach of a proposed 8% increase in revenue for 2017.

Remuneration adjustments for 2017

Council received a report from its Remuneration Committee on remuneration adjustments for 2017. The following is recommended:

• A general inflation linked adjustment of 6% for all staff members who achieved a performance mark of 3 or more in the previous cycle.
• Base Remuneration Levels (BRL's) will not be adjusted in 2017.
• An additional percentage increase will be awarded to top performers as follows:
• a 1% adjustment for staff who achieved a performance mark of 4–4.49 in the previous three evaluation cycles. (This additional adjustment may not increase the employee's cost to company to above 10% of the BRL.)
• a 2% adjustment for staff who achieved a performance mark of 4.5 and higher in the previous three evaluation cycles. (This additional adjustment may not increase the employee's cost to company to above 25% of the BRL.)

A decision in this regard is subject to final approval of SU's budget for 2017, which will be considered at the next Council meeting, as well as the final state subsidy allocation.

Management reports to Council

At each Council meeting, it is customary for the Rector to report on the highlights in the period since the previous meeting. In his report, he said: "SU is a national asset. It delivers highly sought-after graduates, has the highest research output per capita in the country, produced a record number of PhDs last year, and boasts a throughput rate that is among the highest in the country. We need to build on these strengths and take advantage of all the opportunities that come our way in striving to be the best we can be." Click here for extracts from his report.

The vice-rectors and Chief Operating Officer take turns to table a comprehensive report to Council on their activities over the past year. At this meeting, Prof Arnold Schoonwinkel, Vice-Rector: Learning and Teaching, had the opportunity to provide an overview of his portfolio. His presentation focused on excellence in learning and teaching; student success; residence placements; a proposed new admissions policy; the size and shape of SU, including student diversity; programme renewal; the implementation of multilingualism; as well as ICT in learning and teaching. Click here for his PowerPoint presentation.

Student success

Council noted with appreciation the good student success rates maintained at SU, as indicated in the report by the Vice-Rector: Learning and Teaching. It is pleasing to see that the module success rate has gradually increased over the past six years and reached a new high of 86,7% in 2015. The long-term objective is to maintain a rate of 85% or higher.

Facilities maintenance and upgrades

Council was informed that SU's Campus Renewal Project is well on track. This project comprises extensive, complex initiatives in a range of different areas and with various clients, including the Engineering complex, Student Communities and Student Affairs, PSO/residence hubs, sport facilities, the Van der Sterr and the Accounting and Statistics buildings, the Arts and Social Sciences building, the Drama renewal project as well as upgrades to teaching spaces.

A component separately reported on to Council is the Tygerberg maintenance backlog project. In terms of nature, extent and timeframes, this is the single biggest project ever embarked on by SU and it has seen continuous extensive construction on Tygerberg campus since 2010. The project will be largely completed by the end of 2016.

Senior appointments and personalia

Apart from the appointment of the new Chief Operating Officer (see above), Council also discussed the reappointment for a second term of two of SU's vice-rectors: Prof Arnold Schoonwinkel (Learning and Teaching) and Prof Eugene Cloete (Research, Innovation and Postgraduate Studies). The Rector informed Council that these two officials are doing extremely well in their respective portfolios and that it is vital for this momentum to be maintained. Council adopted the recommendation that the short process instead of the long process for reappointment be followed. Profs Schoonwinkel and Cloete's reappointment will first serve before Senate and the Institutional Forum, after which Council will take a final decision at its next meeting.

Another staff matter considered by Council was the reappointment of Prof Sam Tshehla for a second term as Dean of Military Science. The Joint Appointments Committee recommended this reappointment, which Council accepted.

The Human Resources Committee informed Council that Dr Jerome Slamat will be permanently appointed as executive manager in the SU Rectorate with effect from 1 October 2016. He has been performing the duties associated with this position in a seconded capacity since 1 June 2015, having previously served as senior director of Community Interaction.

Prof Hester Klopper took up the new position of Vice-Rector: Strategic Initiatives and Internationalisation on 1 August. The Chair of Council welcomed her and said she now enjoys observer status at Council because under the Statute no more than three vice-rectors may serve on Council and she is the most recent appointment.

Prof Klopper received an honorary doctorate from Oxford Brookes University on 2 September 2016. Prof De Villiers was appointed to the Advisory Board of the international journal Gastroenterology.

SU in the news

The University continues to enjoy positive news coverage on cutting-edge research and other achievements. Council further noted that in the past three months, SU had also made headlines on language matters in particular, and – like the rest of the sector – on higher education funding and student protests for free education. Click here for news highlights and a list of opinion pieces and regular columns.

Next meeting

The next Council meeting is scheduled for 28 November 2016.