What is the University’s stance towards the return to campus – will the University encourage staff and students to return as soon as possible, or rather encourage all to stay away for as long as possible? Will SU be the first University or the last in the country to swop back from online to full-on campus teaching?

The University has been required to tailor its activities according to the lockdown regulations and directives issued by the Government (more specifically, the Department of Higher Education and Training). It has also relied on the guidance of medical experts, including its own medical advisory committee in order to determine the best course of action. This will also be the formula, going forward.

The University is committed to business continuity. This includes the engagement in all learning and teaching activities, albeit that there are restrictions as a result of Covid-19. At this point in the academic year, it is more prudent that we complete the academic year online, save for those students that have returned under level 3 (and those that are invited to return under Level 2 regulations) in order to for example fulfil salient practical work/ requirements or clinical work. The intention, however, is to return to campus in 2021. This will of course be subject to the prevailing situation at that point in time.

The University is mindful of the risks that Covid-19 poses to certain persons and this must be taken into account in our planning for the rest of the current year as well as academic year 2021. Furthermore, we also had to plan for situations where infections occur, where persons are rather anxious about returning to campus and where social distancing measures require innovative scheduling of classes. Therefore, whilst the intention is to return to campus, essential contingencies have been implemented to keep Academic Year 2020 on course. We have communicated these quite extensively on the university’s COVID-19 webpage and via mass mailers.

How will I be informed if I have been selected to return to campus?When we eventually do swop back to campus-style teaching, how would students (and staff) with limitations (medical immunity challenges etc.) be accommodated? - Will staff be expected to lecture in person and also online to the same cohort in order to accommodate the 10% or so students who cannot return? - Will some staff with limitations (e.g. medical, or age >60) be excused from lecturing, thus increasing the lecture load on other staff?

No, Senate agreed that academic staff will not be expected to do both emergency remote teaching and in-class teaching. When SU returns to on-campus teaching, students and staff will function within the regulations of COVID19 infection risk avoidance at that time.

It is generally accepted that certain persons are at higher risk if infected with Covid-19, including older persons and those with comorbidities. The current medical position, and no doubt the position that will be maintained in this regard, is that as far as possible, and keeping in mind the employer’s operations, these persons must continue to work from home. However, where that is not possible, special arrangements will have to be made. In this regard, the context will determine which special measures are required as this will not be a one- size- fits-all approach.

Why do staff that have uncapped fibre at home receive no reimbursement for that costs? I am also using a lot of internet more than normal (at my own expense), causing my service to be degraded yet under the current policy, if I am not buying it upfront for work, I get nothing

Covid-19 has had a significant financial impact on the University. Although our finances are under strain, we until now, have made every effort to compensate additional expenses that our staff incur to ensure adequate connectivity for working from home. Where staff have uncapped wi-fi at home, they, of course, are not incurring additional expenses, even though the quality of the service may be impacted.

Staff should also bear in mind that they have not incurred travelling cost or other costs associated with coming to the office since the inception of lock-down.

On Parking, we are still being forced to pay parking even though we are working from home. Why?

Students and staff are indeed still paying for parking even though they are working or studying from home. Please remember, however, that the infrastructure still exists and has to be maintained whether it has been used over the last few months or not.

What arrangements will be made to compensate staff for electricity and data costs incurred at home? Current policy only provides compensation for staff who do not have Wi-Fi.

The University does not have the financial capacity to compensate all staff for electricity and data costs incurred at home. This matter has been adequately addressed under Question 3 above.

What arrangements are in place for staff wellbeing with regards to being overworked and being in positions where they cannot take leave to due workloads, especially in light of A4 which now requires staff to be available 14 and 15 December as well as 7 and 8 January, and then mark again. I have noticed that staff are encouraged to take leave during term time, but who will do the work if we take leave as currently it is impossible.

The extraordinary circumstances caused by COVID-19 has placed additional pressure on staff. Given the nature of the University’s activities, we cannot simply impose shut-down periods that will allow staff extended breaks. The situation has now been amplified by the fact that the 2020 academic year will roll forward into 2021.

We are working with line managers to identify certain down-time periods for opportunities where staff can take some time off, without impacting on operations. Where it is possible to take a long weekend, here and there, staff are encouraged to do so. We are working closely with the respective environments to identify their key priorities in order to lessen the workload of staff. We are also seriously attending to strengthening our staff-wellness offering.

As we are encouraged to work from home, can we get our parking fees from April paid back to us? Especially in light of situations where we have family members who lost their jobs during this time and everyone is trying to assist family and friends in need.

This matter is addressed under Question 4. In short, there will be no reimbursement for parking since our infrastructure still requires ongoing maintenance.

If first year students start in March 2021, will the senior students start at the beginning of February as usual?

The University is currently considering possible scenarios for the commencement of Academic Year 2021 – guided by national guidelines, the limitations posed by our staff capacity and practical considerations with respect to the scheduling of lectures and assessments - to ensure a good start to the new academic year for all our students. The final decision in this regard will be communicated in due course.

Would it be possible to consider a once-off staff loan/ withdrawal against their pension fund? This could be the equivalent of one month’s cash salary or alternatively an amount not exceeding R50000. This is to assist members whose spouses have lost jobs, or are working reduced hours with the impact of reduced household income. The current pension fund rule can reflect a once off withdrawal or loan. The current fund rule as I recall does not indicate that this is possible or not.

The pension fund legislation does not allow for such once-off withdrawals. SU retirement opted for the option to lower retirement fund contributions down to 5% of pensionable earnings. This change will have the same effect as a once-off withdrawal over the longer term, but ensures the availability of a better and constant cash flow every month.

Ek wil weet gaan julle die mense wat 60 word en moet aftree alles uit betaal. Of wat is die plan?

Aftreefondse en aftrede-uitbetalings word bepaal deur die riglyne van Aftreefondse (wat belyn is met staatswetgewing) en die heersende belastingimplikasies soos voorgeskryf deur die SA Inkomste Diens. Dit val dus buite die mandaat en jurisdiksie van die Universiteit.

It came to my attention that some female students who have returned to campus, feel rather unsafe on the quiet campus. There is a perception that there are not enough security staff members doing visible patrolling during this time. Could you please respond to this concern?

It is totally understandable for anyone to feel less safe due to the reduced people-movement associated with lock-down. Security is provided, not only through the presence of security guards, but also via the presence of members of the public. Hence, notwithstanding the fact that Campus Security deploys the full component of staff (day and night) with more vehicle patrols than usual, the absence of other members of the public does create a sense of insecurity and an opportunity for criminals. It is therefore imperative that students and staff remain vigilant at all times, that they do not roam outside unnecessarily, avoid secluded areas, and to adhere to lock-down measures by staying indoors, especially after-hours and particularly during the curfew times.

Why is this called a staff assembly? Reminds me of the hierarchy at school. Should we not be moving towards flattening our structures?

It is customary at our institution to refer to a formal event where colleagues meet to be informed and discuss institutional matters of common interest, as a staff assembly – precisely to promote flatter structures and a sense of togetherness.

Realising how successful individuals can be whilst working from home, would there be consideration in the future to increase working from home and subsequently reduce the requirement for space on campus (including parking!), by allowing academics to work from home more frequently, if their type of work allows?

The University will extract the lessons, good and bad that it has learnt from the past few months. One of these, is of course to assess the effectiveness of allowing for staff to work from home with its many positives, including reduced travelling time, reduced traffic congestion in the town as well as increased parking space on campus. These arrangements will be looked at in future and assessed for future application where it can be accommodated. The point of departure will always be the impact it has on our operations, the effectiveness of the arrangements as well as the impact on colleagues.

Could the Rector say more on the restructuring of the Vice-Rector portfolios that was announced recently? It seems that the only portfolio that was left unchanged is the Personnel, Transformation & SI portfolio. Reasons for that?

Since the approval of Vision 2040 and the Strategic Framework (2019-2024) by SU Council, the realignment of particular functions within the structures of the Rectorate has received ongoing attention to best fit with the Institution’s strategy and vision. This is a dynamic and ongoing process.

The Anti-GBV work group has it completed its work, if so what are the key recommendations that came out of the work of the group? Will the report be made available to the university community?"

The rectorate is resolute in its commitment to combat GBV and expects the same form the SU community. The reports of the work groups that investigated various dimensions on anti-GBV will be tabled at a rectorate meeting in September. Some of the recommendations may turn out to be immediately actionable, and others in the medium term depending on prioritisation. The actions to be taken by the various SU stakeholders shall be communicated to the university community.

Postgraduate students are always on a tight schedule to complete their degrees. The progress of students in experimental disciplines have been delayed in spite of efforts. Will the University please talk to the NRF and DST and other bursary funders and urgently request the funders to make available extension of existing bursaries that can be applied for by students who are affected? Or will the University make such funds available as an institute?

Yes, we are in constant communication with the NRF and looking into the reallocation of unspent undergraduate bursaries to assist our post-graduate students