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16 March 2021 | Story Lacea Loader

UPDATE: 16 March 2021 at 20:37

During a meeting between members of the Rectorate and representatives of the Institutional Student Representative Council (ISRC) on 15 and 16 March 2021, the following was agreed upon:

1. SUSPENSION OF THE ACADEMIC PROGRAMME

All academic activities have been suspended on all UFS campuses from 17 to 22 March 2021. No online/face-to-face lectures/tests/assignments will take place until 23 March 2021, and the full academic programme will resume on this date.
 
This decision will allow the university management an opportunity to address outstanding matters regarding the admission of senior undergraduate students.

2. FACE-TO-FACE REGISTRATION

Any senior undergraduate and first-year student who is unable to register successfully online, can do so on the Bloemfontein and Qwaqwa Campuses from 17 to 19 March 2021.

► Registration stations:

Bloemfontein Campus:

- Examination Centre (EXR)
        

Qwaqwa Campus:

- Faculty of Education: Mandela Hall
- Faculty of the Humanities: E0013 + 14
- Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences: E009 + 10 – EMS
- Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences: Fulufhelo Gazelle

► Operating times on both campuses:

17 March 2021: 13:00-15:00
18 and 19 March 2021: 8:00-15:00

The following must be noted:

Senior undergraduate students must be in possession of a valid student card (previous year) and will be allowed to enter the campuses without an access permit in order to register.

First-year students must be in possession of a firm offer from the UFS in order to register – no campus access permit is needed.

3. NUMBER OF STUDENTS ON CAMPUSES  

The university management is aware of the challenges that some students are experiencing with the continuation of their studies off campus in terms of, for instance, access to campus facilities and connectivity.

It is, however, important to take note that the institution is obliged to adhere to national regulations linked to Level 1 of the national lockdown, also taking into account the university’s teaching and learning approach, as well as the capacity to adhere to physical distancing protocols.

The university management will continue with the return of students to the campuses in a responsible way, as the safety, health, and well-being of students and staff remain the key priorities.

With this in mind, the university will reconsider its blended learning arrangements for 2021 to allow more students to return to campus within the parameters of the national lockdown regulations. These arrangements will be communicated to students soon.

4. ACADEMICALLY ELIGIBLE STUDENTS

The university will compile a list of students who have outstanding debt and who are still awaiting funding confirmation from NSFAS. Confirmation will be provided before midnight on 16 March 2021 if these students can register provisionally without payment of the first amount.

5. MEAL ALLOWANCES

The payment of meal allowances for NSFAS students will be implemented by the end of March 2021. It should be noted that NSFAS is only expected to transfer funds in April, but the UFS will lay out the funds for food allowances in the meantime.

6. ACADEMIC EXCLUSION

During the meetings on 15 and 16 March 2021, the ISRC tabled the matter regarding students who are academically excluded for the 2021 academic year. This matter is being addressed by the university management and engagement in this regard will continue.

7. VICTIMISATION OF STUDENTS BY PRIVATE SECURITY

During the meetings on 15 and 16 March 2021, the ISRC tabled the matter regarding students being victimised, harassed, and assaulted by private security.

The ISRC will submit more information, after which the allegations will be investigated.

Released by:
Lacea Loader (Director: Communication and Marketing)
Telephone: +27 51 401 2584 | +27 83 645 2454
Email: news@ufs.ac.za |  loaderl@ufs.ac.za
Fax: +27 51 444 6393



News Archive

Sunflowers are satellite dishes for sunshine, or are they?
2016-07-20

Eighty-six percent of South Africa’s
sunflowers are produced in the
Free State and North West provinces.

Helen Mirren, the English actress, said “the sunflower is like a satellite dish for sunshine”. However, researchers at the University of the Free State (UFS) have found that too much of this sunshine could have a negative effect on the growth of sunflowers, which are a major source of oil in South Africa.

According to Dr Gert Ceronio from the Department of Soil, Crop, and Climate Sciences at the UFS, extremely high soil temperatures play a definite role in the sprouting of sunflower seedlings. Together with Lize Henning, professional officer in the department, and Dr André Nel from the Agricultural Research Council, he is doing research on biotic and abiotic factors that could have an impact on sunflowers.

Description: Sonneblom 2 Tags: Sonneblom 2

Various degrees of deformity (bad-left
to none-right) in seedlings of the same
cultivar at very high soil temperatures.
Photo: Dr Gert Ceronio

Impact of high temperatures on sunflower production

The Free State and North West provinces, which produce 86% of South Africa’s sunflowers, are afflicted especially by high summer temperatures that lead to extremely high soil temperatures.

Dr Ceronio says: “Although sunflower seeds are able to germinate at temperatures from as low as 4°C to as high as 41°C, soil temperatures of 35°C and higher could have a negative effect on the vegetative faculty of sunflower seedlings, and could have an adverse effect on the percentage of sunflowers that germinate. From the end of November until mid-January, this is a common phenomenon in the sandy soil of the Free State and North West provinces. Soil temperatures can easily exceed the critical temperature of 43°C, which can lead to poor germination and even the replanting of sunflowers.”

Since temperature have a huge impact not only on the germination of sunflower seeds, but also on the vegetative faculty and sprouting of sunflower seedlings, Dr Ceronio suggests that sunflowers should be planted in soil with soil temperatures of 22 to 30°C. Planting is usually done in October and early November. Unfortunately, this is not always possible, as soil moisture is not optimal for growth. Farmers are then compelled to plant sunflowers later.

Impact of herbicides on sunflower growth

“High soil temperatures, combined with the herbicide sensitivity of some cultivars, could lead to the poor development of seedlings," says Dr Ceronio.

The use of herbicides, such as ALACHLOR, for the control of weeds in sunflowers is common practice in sunflower production. It has already been determined that ALACHLOR could still have a damaging effect on the seedlings of some cultivars during germination and sprouting, even at recommended application dosages.

“The purpose of the continued research is to establish the sensitivity of sunflower cultivars to ALACHLOR when exposed to high soil temperatures,” says Dr Ceronio.

 

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