UCT online staff assembly and other updates

06 May 2021 | Campus Announcement

Dear colleagues

The university held the first virtual staff assembly for the 2021 academic year, the UCT executive updated staff on operational issues including the impact of the fire. Read more about this and other updates in the latest campus announcement.

1. UCT online staff assembly

On Friday, 30 April, Vice-Chancellor Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng hosted the first virtual staff online assembly for 2021 from 08:30 to 10:00. The aim was to update staff on the state of the university for the 2021 academic year, including an update on the effects of the devastating fire of 18 April and other matters related to UCT operations.

Members of the executive team also provided updates from their various portfolios and addressed questions and concerns from staff.

If you were unable to join the online event, you can view or download the recordings.


2. Sexual Misconduct Policy and Procedure Training for 2021

UCT has revised the Sexual Misconduct Policy and Procedure in accordance with the Department of Higher Education and Training policy framework to address sexual and gender based violence in the Post-School Education and Training System.

The university is committed to creating and maintaining an institutional environment in which the dignity of its employees, students, job applicants, clients, visitors, service providers, suppliers and others having dealings with the institution are respected; and where all may pursue their studies, careers, duties and activities free from any form of harassment, including sexual harassment and/or sexual offences.

The purpose of the policy is to encourage and promote the development of an institutional climate and culture that is free of all forms of sexual offences and sexual harassment, and where everyone respects one another’s integrity and dignity, privacy, and right to equity in the institutional environment.

The training schedule has been set as follows:

May 2021 Friday, 14 May
13:00 to 15:00
Student leaders, residence leaders, faculty student bodies, students
Thursday, 13 May
13:00 to 15:00
All managers
June 2021 Thursday, 3 June
13:00 to 15:00
All staff
Friday, 4 June
13:00 to 15:00
Transformation Committees
Thursday, 24 June
13:00 to 15:00
All managers

For further enquiries please contact  Cheryl Vallay indicating your preferred date and time.


3. Protection of Personal Information Act engagement session

The office of the registrar has announced the promulgation of the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) with effect from 1 July 2021. The university will arrange an engagement session for staff where UCT’s POPIA team will provide an overview of the Act, elaborate on Universities South Africa guidelines and outline the processes required by the university to comply with POPIA. The team will also be available to respond to any questions that may arise.


4. UCT Libraries urgently needs volunteers  

UCT Libraries has made an urgent call for more volunteers to help salvage the remaining collection of the archival materials housed within the Jagger Reading Room, which was destroyed by fire on 18 April. Shifts are available from 08:00 to 13:00 and 13:00 to 18:00 until Sunday, 9 May. It is important to register in advance, as limited spaces are available for each shift. This is a completely volunteer position with no paid remuneration.

Parking is available on campus.


5. Update on COVID-19 cases

As at 1 May, the university has 352 reported cases of COVID-19 among non-health sciences staff members, with 326 recoveries. The number of students who have tested positive stands at 105 with 102 recoveries. The university has lost 19 staff members and three students to the virus.


6. Sharing copyrighted UCT materials online is a serious offence

The illegal uploading of course materials, examination and test papers, lecture notes, slides and other documents, films or images that are termed “copyrighted works” belonging to UCT, constitutes a serious breach of the law. Any student or staff member who is found to be uploading copyrighted works without UCT’s authorisation is liable not only to internal disciplinary action, but also to possible criminal prosecution.

As the copyright owner, UCT has exclusive rights to the copyrighted works. This includes the right to reproduce, publish and make them available to the public. The university has reserved all rights in the copyrighted works and we will take action against any infringement of these rights.

 

Communication and Marketing Department


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#UCTFire – one year later

Jagger Library Memorial Exhibition opens on 20 April 2022

The Centre for Curating the Archive, in association with Michaelis Galleries (UCT) and UCT Libraries will stage a memorial exhibition marking the one-year anniversary of the tragic Jagger Library fire at the Michaelis Galleries. The exhibition will open to the public on Wednesday, 20 April 2022.

Campus communications


 

Updates on Campus Fire

 

Campus communications



News and videos



Memories of Jagger Library – stories from the UCT community



Content submitted by members of the UCT community has been published with little to no editorial intervention from UCT News.

#UCTFire – stories from the UCT community



Content submitted by members of the UCT community has been published with little to no editorial intervention from UCT News. 

 

In an email to UCT students, Vice-Chancellor Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng said:
“Thank you for your patience as we seek ways to return to full academic activity at the University of Cape Town under COVID-19 regulations. Our first priority is to ensure the health and safety of everyone who needs to return to campus buildings.”

UCT is deeply grateful to all the donors who supplied food and other essential items for our students, and to everyone who has so generously offered other forms of support and assistance.

Everyone who would like to support the #UCTFire emergency relief fund is urged to please make financial donations to UCT through the UCT Alumni Ways to Give web page.

Donations can also be made by EFT using the details below:
Account name: UCT Donations Account
Bank: Standard Bank of South Africa
Branch code: Rondebosch Branch, 025009
Account number: 07 152 2387
Swift code: SBZAZAJJ
Please include your donor name if you so wish, as well as the reference for your donation, e.g. Name Surname, #UCTFire.

Messages of support


Cengage EMEA 17:00, 7 June 2021
Ricardo de Sao Joao 16:00, 17 May 2021
J.P. Morgan 10:00, 17 May 2021
Unilever Southern Africa 16:10, 6 May 2021
Iziko Museums of South Africa 16:20, 5 May 2021
Sciences Po, France 10:05, 4 May 2021
The University of Tokyo 09:00, 30 April 2021
McCall MacBain Foundation 16:00, 29 April 2021
Stephen Toope, Chair of IARU 23:50, 27 April 2021
Mazi Asset Management 21:00, 27 April 2021
The National Archives (UK) 17:40, 27 April 2021
Universiteit Antwerpen 16:20, 26 April 2021
Yale University 21:15, 23 April 2021
SOAS University of London 17:00, 23 April 2021
University of Nairobi 15:45, 23 April 2021
Zhejiang University 12:05, 23 April 2021
University of Glasgow 11:20, 23 April 2021
Durham University 18:20, 22 April 2021
Sanlam Corporate Team 16:00, 22 April 2021
MANCOSA 16:00, 22 April 2021
Mastercard Foundation 13:30, 22 April 2021
National Research Foundation 09:05, 22 April 2021
Taylor & Francis 08:20, 22 April 2021
McGill University, Canada 21:35, 21 April 2021
Wild Bean Café 19:50, 21 April 2021
Worldwide Universities Network 19:10, 21 April 2021
University of Groningen 13:35, 21 April 2021
National University of Lesotho 11:00, 21 April 2021
Google South Africa 10:35, 21 April 2021
Chinese Ambassador Chen Xiaodong 09:00, 21 April 2021
George Whitefield College 08:40, 21 April 2021
Virginia Tech 02:00, 21 April 2021
University of Southampton 18:10, 20 April 2021
University of the Free State 17:25, 20 April 2021
KU Leuven 15:45, 20 April 2021
Northwestern University 15:45, 20 April 2021
Council on Higher Education 14:00, 20 April 2021
Times Higher Education 11:45, 20 April 2021
Regent Business School 11:15, 20 April 2021
Professor Crain Soudien 09:05, 20 April 2021
University of the Western Cape 09:00, 20 April 2021
Bishop Tshalo Katshunga 07:30, 20 April 2021
National Library of France 20:50, 19 April 2021
Thabo Mbheki Foundation 20:00, 19 April 2021
Stellenbosch University 19:10, 19 April 2021
Chinese Embassy in South Africa 17:20, 19 April 2021
University of Hull 17:00, 19 April 2021
University of Copenhagen 13:25, 19 April 2021
Cape SA Jewish Board of Deputies 13:10, 19 April 2021
Mastercard Foundation 10:50, 19 April 2021
Stellenbosch University 09:20, 19 April 2021
Minister Blade Nzimande 09:15, 19 April 2021
Committee on Higher Education 09:10, 19 April 2021
University of the Witwatersrand 09:05, 19 April 2021
University of Pretoria 09:00, 19 April 2021

 

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