Update on the novel coronavirus outbreak and other updates

Dear students and colleagues

This campus announcement aims to inform members of the University of Cape Town (UCT) community about:

1. Update on the novel coronavirus outbreak

The novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), which emerged last month, was declared a global health emergency by the World Health Organization late last week. With students and staff due to return to UCT classrooms for the beginning of the academic year, the university is monitoring reports of the spread of this disease.

Students who require further information or have questions about 2019-nCoV should contact SWS: sws@uct.ac.za, 021 650 1020/5620 (week days) or 021 650 1271 (weekends and after hours). Staff members can contact Blanche Claasen-Hoskins on 021 650 5685 or Margie Tainton on 021 650 3028.

• Read the VC Desk: Update on the novel coronavirus outbreak.

2. Load-shedding measures in place at UCT

UCT has put measures in place to ensure that minimal teaching and learning time is lost during load-shedding, and that the impact on all other university operations is reduced as far as possible. Both Eskom and the City of Cape Town issue regular notices in advance of load-shedding. UCT’s upper, middle and lower campuses, the health sciences campus and all residences are in Area 15. Hiddingh campus and the Graduate School of Business are in Area 7. Staff and students are encouraged to check load-shedding schedules regularly and to plan accordingly. The university has a limited number of venues with full back-up power, which can be booked for study purposes, but these may not be available if they are already booked for other purposes.

They are:

• Upper campus: Sports Centre, Chancellor Oppenheimer Library and Sarah Baartman Hall
• Middle campus: Kramer Building
• The entire Hiddingh campus.

Some UCT facilities have generators to provide back-up power that is limited to research activities, emergency lighting, some power points, and access and fire-detection systems. Other UCT facilities have uninterruptible power supplies that will provide emergency lighting and some power points for a limited time – usually about two hours. Wi-Fi will unfortunately not be available in most UCT buildings during power outages. Although UCT IP landlines will not function during load-shedding, the Campus Protection Services (CPS) landline (080 650 2222) will still be operational.

UCT has over 100 lifts. Staff and students are cautioned not to use these lifts 10 minutes prior to scheduled load-shedding times. Some of the lifts have emergency dial-out systems that will allow communication with CPS, which you are advised to use if necessary. Alternatively, if you have airtime, make use of your cellphone to contact CPS on 021 650 2222/3.

During load-shedding periods the Maintenance Department staff, in conjunction with contractors, monitor the status of all the generators and ensure that they all start as expected. After load-shedding periods, all generators are refilled with diesel to be ready for the next power cut. Any repairs that need to be done are also attended to timeously to ensure that all generators are available when needed.

• Read the City of Cape Town load-shedding schedule.
• Read tips on managing load-shedding.

3. Memorandum of Understanding between supervisors and postgraduates

A standard-format Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between postgraduate students and their supervisors has been rolled out across the university and its use is now compulsory in all faculties. Guidelines for completing the MoU have also been introduced this year. The MoU is a formal agreement between a postgraduate student (master’s or doctoral) and their supervisor regarding their expectations of each other, and the research requirements for completion of the degree. The intention is for students and supervisors to discuss and agree on important issues at the point of registration.

There are three versions of the MoU: two for postgraduates in their first year of study (ACA47a or ACA47b) and the third for returning postgraduates (ACA48).

Students may direct any questions around the MoU to their supervisor, while supervisors may contact their faculty postgraduate manager if they have any queries.

• Download the ACA47a ACA47b or ACA48.
• Read the guidelines for completing the MoU.

4. Book launch: ‘UCT Under Apartheid: From onset to sit-in 1948 - 1968’

As part of the Distinguished Alumni Speaker Series, the Development and Alumni Department will host the launch of the book ‘UCT Under Apartheid: From onset to sit-in 1948 – 1968’, written by retired UCT academic Emeritus Professor Howard Phillips. Drawing on an extensive array of sources (written, oral and visual) this richly illustrated volume provides a rounded social, intellectual, educational, cultural and political history of one of Africa’s foremost universities during the first phase of apartheid.

When: Wednesday, 12 February 2020

Where: Centre for African Studies Gallery, [directions]
Level 2, Harry Oppenheimer Institute Building, Engineering Mall Road, UCT upper campus

Time: 17:30 for 18:00

RSVP: Extended to 13:00 on Monday, 10 February. Kindly email alumnievents@uct.ac.za on or before this deadline in order to avoid disappointment.

Communication and Marketing Department

Read previous communications:

• From the UCT Executive
• Campus Announcements