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17 February 2022
Academic programme

The University of the Free State (UFS) is excited to welcome our students to campus next week. As a residential university, it remains important that our students experience an on-campus student life and that staff and students can learn, work, and socialise in a way that minimises risk while still complying with the necessary COVID-19-related protocols.

Lectures will commence on 21 February 2022 in a blended teaching and learning approach, where 67% of modules on offer will be in a face-to-face format – as approved by the Academic Committee in 2021.

Face-to-face lectures refer to those modules identified by faculties to be presented on campus. The university will continue with this blended approach; each faculty has identified and communicated modules that will be offered through an online approach.

Students attending lectures on campus must be vaccinated. Unvaccinated students must upload a negative SARS (COVID-19) PCR test (not older than one week), have an approved deferral or an approved exemption, in order to access campus. The necessary health regulations will apply in lecture halls, with everyone expected to wear a mask and to sanitise. More information on access to campus click here.

These arrangements apply for the first term of 2022; it will be monitored continuously, after which assessment will be done, and adjustments will be made to the academic programme where needed.

After almost two years of the national lockdown, the campuses are ready to receive our students, for them to experience student life and to commence with their academic activities.   

News Archive

Villa Bravado orientation practice
2010-08-02

The University of the Free State (UFS) takes note of forbidden initiation practices which Residence Committee Members (RCM) of Villa Bravado, a men’s residence of the UFS, participated in during September and October 2009. A video of the events is currently widely being distributed.

Earlier this year, the UFS management was informed about the events by students who had also been involved in the initiation practices and management took note of that with great dismay.

These events took place despite the comprehensive amount of support and assistance regarding transformation which is continuously provided to students in residences. The UFS clearly and regularly communicates to students that initiation is strictly forbidden.

After the management had been informed of the matter, it was immediately addressed and the following measures were taken by the Dean: Student Affairs, Mr Rudi Buys without delay:

  1. The Student Head of the residence was immediately suspended as RCM member; and
  2. Disciplinary proceedings were immediately instituted against the Residence Head because of his alleged involvement in these forbidden practices. The case is currently under investigation.

The UFS is convinced that the event was not an incident where black students acted against white students, because black members of the Residence Committee had undergone the same initiation exercise earlier. The misconduct was a continuation of a forbidden initiation practice that is not allowed at the UFS.

“I expect that these events, which took place last year, were the last of students exercising forbidden initiation practices and once again I strongly wish to express the loathing that my management and myself have for any form of forbidden initiation practice,” said Prof. Jonathan Jansen, Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the UFS.

Media Release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Director: Strategic Communication (actg)
Tel: 051 401 2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: loaderl@ufs.ac.za 
2 August 2010

 

 

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