Approved 2021 calendar and other updates

28 October 2020 | Campus Announcement

Dear students

This campus announcement aims to inform the UCT community about recent developments on campus.

1. Approved 2021 academic calendar

The 2021 calendar has been adjusted and is no longer accurate due to changes made in response to COVID-19. Up-to-date information is available on the UCT Coronavirus Disease web page.


2. Update on COVID-19 cases

The university has 105 reported positive COVID-19 cases among non-health sciences staff as at 27 October. A reported 92 staff members have recovered. With regards to students, 47 cases have been reported, including 15 health sciences students on clinical platforms.

Staff and students’ deaths due to the pandemic remain nine and one respectively. The university has created a dedicated web page through which we pay tribute to students and staff lost during the pandemic.


3. P18 parking discs for 2021

Due to Covid-19 restrictions, applications for student parking discs will only be done online. All Masters/PhD students interested in a parking disc for 2021 are invited to add their details to the online Microsoft list in order to be issued with a P18 parking disc for an annual fee. The online list will only be made available on the first working day of November, which is next week Monday, 2 November 2020. Please note that there are 120 bays available. Only the first 120 students will be accepted, and once this number is reached the application process will be closed off.

To complete the form please go to the link on 2 November.


4. Virtual graduation ceremonies

Graduations are undoubtedly the highlight of the university’s calendar year, and occasions celebrated with great pride. In adopting a very cautious approach guided by the regulations permissible under lockdown alert Level 1 that have a limit of 250 persons for an indoor event, and a limit of 500 persons for an outdoor event, the December 2020 graduations will be hosted online. This decision was not taken lightly but was underpinned by the need to consider the health and safety of the university community. Details of the virtual events will be shared at the appropriate time with the affected students.

The details will relate to arrangements for the virtual event in respect of the ceremonies that were planned for March 2020 but had to be suspended following the national lockdown, and for which qualifications were awarded in absentia; and the virtual ceremony in respect of the December 2020 graduating cohort.


5. Well wishes for the upcoming examinations

UCT Chancellor, Dr Precious Moloi-Motsepe, has wished students well ahead of the examinations following seven months of adapting to remote learning and remote campus activities. The chancellor also urged students to preserve the resilience and purpose throughout this uncertain period.


6. Manage your productivity with Microsoft tools

The Information and Communication Technology Services (ICTS) Training team is running several free information sessions that highlight new and useful features in some of the Microsoft products that are frequently used. The next session titled ‘Powerpoint on steroids’ is taking place on Tuesday, 3 November 2020, 10:00–11:00. Join to learn more.


7. Irma Stern Museum website & education

The recently launched UCT Irma Stern Museum (ISM) website enables the public to virtually ‘visit’ the museum as the COVID-19 pandemic continues while also supporting teaching and learning in South African schools. The website, through images, texts and timelines, gives insight into the life and work of the artist Irma Stern – one of South Africa’s most noted artists – and houses an extensive education section. Besides being educational, by featuring upcoming exhibitions and events, tour offerings, logistical information and venue hire opportunities, the website will make visits to and interaction with the ISM easier once it opens to the public again. Importantly, this new website is designed to visually pay tribute to Irma Stern, the work she collected, and serve as a reminder that the museum represents a valuable part of African cultural heritage and a valuable part of UCT’s heritage.


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Coronavirus Disease 2019 updates

COVID-19 is a global pandemic that caused President Cyril Ramaphosa to declare a national disaster in South Africa on 15 March 2020 and to implement a national lockdown from 26 March.

UCT is taking the threat of infection in our university community extremely seriously, and this page will be updated regularly with the latest COVID-19 information. Please note that the information on this page is subject to change depending on current lockdown regulations.

Frequently asked questions

 

Daily updates


Friday, 5 February 14:20, 5 February 2021
Monday, 4 January 16:50, 4 January 2021
Friday, 18 December 11:30, 18 December 2020
Thursday, 19 November 09:30, 19 November 2020
Friday, 13 November 12:40, 13 November 2020
Friday, 16 October 10:05, 16 October 2020
Wednesday, 14 October 12:50, 14 October 2020
Tuesday, 22 September 14:10, 22 September 2020
Friday, 11 September 10:05, 11 September 2020
Monday, 31 August 12:20, 31 August 2020
Wednesday, 12 August 10:20, 12 August 2020
Friday, 7 August 11:24, 7 August 2020
Thursday, 6 August 18:26, 6 August 2020
Monday, 27 July 14:00, 27 July 2020
Wednesday, 15 July 09:30, 15 July 2020
Monday, 13 July 14:25, 13 July 2020
Monday, 6 July 16:20, 6 July 2020
Thursday, 25 June 10:15, 25 June 2020
Tuesday, 23 June 12:30, 23 June 2020
Thursday, 18 June 17:35, 18 June 2020
Wednesday, 17 June 10:45, 17 June 2020
Tuesday, 2 June 12:20, 2 June 2020
Friday, 29 May 09:25, 29 May 2020
Monday, 25 May 14:00, 25 May 2020
Thursday, 21 May 12:00, 21 May 2020
Wednesday, 6 May 10:00, 6 May 2020
Tuesday, 5 May 17:05, 5 May 2020
Thursday, 30 April 17:10, 30 April 2020
Tuesday, 28 April 10:30, 28 April 2020
Friday, 24 April 09:35, 24 April 2020
Thursday, 23 April 17:00, 23 April 2020
Wednesday, 22 April 14:25, 22 April 2020
Monday, 20 April 17:45, 20 April 2020
Friday, 17 April 12:30, 17 April 2020
Thursday, 16 April 09:45, 16 April 2020
Tuesday, 14 April 11:30, 14 April 2020
Thursday, 9 April 09:00, 9 April 2020
Wednesday, 8 April 15:40, 8 April 2020
Wednesday, 1 April 15:50, 1 April 2020
Friday, 27 March 11:40, 27 March 2020
Thursday, 26 March 18:30, 26 March 2020
Tuesday, 24 March 15:40, 24 March 2020
Monday, 23 March 15:40, 23 March 2020
Friday, 20 March 16:00, 20 March 2020
Thursday, 19 March 09:15, 19 March 2020
Wednesday, 18 March 16:00, 18 March 2020
Tuesday, 17 March 12:50, 17 March 2020
Monday, 16 March 17:15, 16 March 2020

Campus communications

 
2020

New SRC and other updates 16:44, 4 November 2020
Virtual graduation ceremonies 13:30, 21 October 2020
Online staff assembly and other updates 15:09, 30 September 2020
Fee adjustments and other updates 15:21, 16 September 2020
Call for proposals: TLC2020 10:15, 26 August 2020
SAULM survey and other updates 15:30, 5 August 2020
COVID-19 cases and other updates 15:26, 5 August 2020
New UCT Council and other updates 15:12, 15 July 2020
Upcoming UCT virtual events 09:30, 15 July 2020
Pre-paid data for UCT students 14:25, 22 April 2020
Update for postgraduate students 12:55, 20 April 2020
UCT Human Resources and COVID-19 16:05, 19 March 2020
UCT confirms second COVID-19 case 09:15, 19 March 2020
Update on UCT COVID-19 response 13:50, 11 March 2020
Update on COVID-19 17:37, 6 March 2020

Resources

Video messages from the Department of Medicine

Getting credible, evidence-based, accessible information and recommendations relating to COVID-19

The Department of Medicine at the University of Cape Town and Groote Schuur Hospital, are producing educational video material for use on digital platforms and in multiple languages. The information contained in these videos is authenticated and endorsed by the team of experts based in the Department of Medicine. Many of the recommendations are based on current best evidence and are aligned to provincial, national and international guidelines. For more information on UCT’s Department of Medicine, please visit the website.


To watch more videos like these, visit the Department of Medicine’s YouTube channel.

Useful information from UCT

External resources


News and opinions


Statements and media releases


Media releases



Read more  

Statements from Government



 
 

In an email to the UCT community, Vice-Chancellor Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng said:
“COVID-19, caused by the virus SARS-CoV-2, is a rapidly changing epidemic. [...] Information [...] will be updated as and when new information becomes available.”

 

We are continuing to monitor the situation and we will be updating the UCT community regularly – as and when there are further updates. If you are concerned or need more information, students can contact the Student Wellness Service on 021 650 5620 or 021 650 1271 (after hours), while staff can contact 021 650 5685.

 

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