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The closing date for the submission of nominations for five members of the Convocation to the Excom of the Convocation was 18 May 2020 at 16:30. A total of six nominations were received and scrutinised, after which two nominations were declared invalid due to substantial non-conformance with the requirements laid down. The remaining four candidates are thus elected to the Excom and will serve for a period not exceeding five years.
We wish to congratulate the following four officials (in alphabetical order) with their election to the Excom of the Convocation:
1. Dr Pieter Bettings
2. Ms Ntombi Nhlapo
3. Mr Ntakuseni Razwiedani
4. Ms Nokuthula Sithole
A meeting of the Excom of the Convocation will be scheduled to discuss the one remaining vacancy in the Excom.
We wish to express our sincere gratitude to all those who participated in this process as well for their interest in, and commitment to the University and its affairs.
Received from: The Registrar and the President of the Convocation
UFS sympathises with exchange students from Virginia Tech
2007-04-18
The University of the Free State (UFS) is shocked by the news of the tragedy that happened yesterday at Virginia Tech in the United States of America (USA).
Sixteen (16) students from Virginia Tech are currently studying at the Main Campus of the UFS in Bloemfontein on an exchange programme of six months.
The students are devastated because of the loss of their friends who were killed when an armed man opened fire on a hostel and classroom on the Blacksburg Campus of Virginia Tech, killing at least 33 people.
“The exchange programme between the UFS and Virginia Tech, which was implemented in 1998, stipulates that selected students from both institutions will study at the other institution for six months on an annual basis as part of the completion of their undergraduate studies. Approximately 120 students from both institutions have taken part in the exchange programme over the past couple of years,” said Prof. Izak Groenewald, co-ordinator of the agreement and Director of the UFS Centre for Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development.
According to Prof. Groenewald no students from the UFS are currently studying at Virginia Tech. “The students from Virginia Tech who are currently studying on the Main Campus are all in their third-year in agriculture and the biological sciences. They will be staying here until the completion of the June examinations, when they will return to Virginia Tech,” said Prof. Groenewald.
According to the Rector and Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Frederick Fourie, the UFS has already made the necessary arrangements for the students to receive pastoral and psychological counselling. “We are doing everything in our power to support them and to bring them in touch with their friends on the Blacksburg Campus,” said Prof. Fourie.
According to Prof. Groenewald the American Ambassador in South Africa, Mr Eric M. Bost, will be talking telephonically to the students this afternoon (17 April 2007).
Media release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Assistant Director: Media Liaison
Tel: 051 401 2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: loaderl@ufs.ac.za
17 April 2007