Staff and students are our most valuable assets. We have various initiatives and dedicated professionals to ensure the physical safety and mental health of our staff and students.
WATCH: Safety first: UFS Emergency Protocol
The safety, health, and well-being of staff and students remain the university’s priority. Your safety and security are important to us, and we are working hard to create a safe work and study place. To help minimise risks on our three campuses, we have put together some tips and resources to protect you and others.
WATCH: Safety first: UFS Protest Protocol
The University of the Free State (UFS) is not only committed to protecting its staff and students, but also respects the right of employees and students to assemble, picket, demonstrate, and protest peacefully – as long as such a right is exercised in a responsible manner, i.e., if the rights of other members of the university community are not violated.
Visit www.ufs.ac.za/911 for emergency support.
Protection Services is available 24 hours a day, with various measures in place that are continuously evaluated and updated.
Student Counselling and Development (SCD) is staffed by a team of registered mental-health professionals who aims to promote, enable, and optimise students' mental well-being. It offers a wide array of services including individual counselling, career counselling, and developmental workshops or programmes.
The UFS has a vibrant Organisational Development and Employee well-being section, operating on all three campuses as part of our Department of Human Resources, with various initiatives to ensure that the overall well-being of staff is looked after.