Stellenbosch University (SU) will continue with its hybrid graduation ceremonies, which will include small face-to-face interactions and live streaming for the remainder of its graduands.

In a communiqué to staff and PhD graduands, Prof Stan du Plessis, Chair of the Institutional Committee for Business Continuity (ICBC) said that the ICBC had decided, after careful consideration and much discussion, that SU would proceed with its small face-to-face graduation ceremonies for doctoral graduands, honorary doctorates, Chancellor's awards recipients and the Chancellor's medallist. These ceremonies are scheduled from Monday, 14 December to Wednesday, 16 December 2020.

“We were faced with a very important, but difficult decision on Thursday afternoon (10 December 2020): whether to proceed with our hybrid graduation ceremonies scheduled for next week while South Africa finds itself in the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic," Prof Du Plessis said. “Our decision to go ahead with the face-to-face doctoral ceremonies was based on the format of the small events, our comprehensive COVID-19 protocol for the graduation ceremonies and the related precautions, as well as the fact that we fully comply with all level 1 regulations. The attendance of the physical graduation ceremonies is completely voluntary for graduands and guests. Another consideration is the fact that we are so close to the events and that graduands and their guests would have incurred considerable costs for travel arrangements."

PLEDGE CEREMONIES

The ICBC, the committee responsible for the management of SU's COVID-19-related responses, did however take the decision to cancel the face-to-face pledge ceremonies of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, scheduled for Monday, 14 December 2020. The faculty will continue with a live-stream version of its pledge ceremonies. These events involve much larger groups than the graduation ceremonies for PhD candidates, and health sciences students unfortunately have a higher exposure risk to COVID-19 infections due to their clinical training platforms.

SPECIAL MEASURES FOR FACE-TO-FACE CEREMONIES

Special measures have been included in SU's COVID-19 protocol (click here for the comprehensive details) that was developed specifically for the face-to-face graduation ceremonies:

• The number of people per ceremony is well below the 50% capacity of the venue and fewer than the 250 individuals allowed for indoor events.
• The venue will be cleaned thoroughly and sanitised after each ceremony.
• The wearing of masks at all times is compulsory for staff, graduands and guests.
• Only SU office bearers required to officially constitute a congregation and essential staff will be present at each ceremony.
• Graduands and guests over the age of 60 and those with comorbidities are encouraged to consider following the ceremonies via live streaming, or to take extra precautions.
• Each attendee has been assigned a unique seat number taking social distancing into consideration, and the procedures on stage have been adapted to comply with COVID-19 protocols.
• All graduands, guests and staff will be required to complete the Higher Health Check screening and to present a screenshot of their status on arrival at the venue. Only a green/low risk status is acceptable for entry. The Higher Health Check application can be accessed in the following ways: 

• Website: https://healthcheck.higherhealth.ac.za   
• WhatsApp: 0600 11 0000
• Dialling: *134*832*2#

ARRANGEMENTS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE

The decision taken by the ICBC on Thursday remains conditional depending on prevailing circumstances. Stellenbosch University is committed to hosting its physical doctoral graduation ceremonies early next week, but will continue to monitor the situation and communicate with graduands and staff should any changes in COVID-19 regulations or circumstances related to infection rates require the unfortunate cancellation of any of the events.

PhD graduands who may wish to no longer attend the face-to-face graduation ceremonies next week due to the rising COVID-19 infection rates countrywide, should inform Mr Ashmind Daniels, Deputy Registrar, via email: [email protected]

The graduation schedule for the face-to-face graduation ceremonies is available on the SU website and these can also be followed via live streaming: www.sun.ac.za/streaming. All virtual graduation ceremonies will proceed as planned. Full details are available on the SU website.​

Click on the links to read the student communiqué and the staff communiqué

Read more about the honorary doctorates and the qualifications to be conferred.