Coronavirus-archive

17 March 2020: Urgent arrangements (staff and students): Covid-19

Following the declaration of a national disaster relating to the COVID-19 pandemic and the statement by the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology, the North-West University management met to review the plans and processes that have been put in place to address the risks posed by the pandemic to both internal and external stakeholders, as well as to implement the necessary measures that ensures the continuation of university’s essential academic functions. The following measures were approved;

• The recess will be from 17 to 29 March 2020.
• All graduation ceremonies have been postponed until further notice.
• Teaching-learning will be conducted through an online mode via eFundi from 30 March until 30 April 2020. Work-Integrated Learning, Work-Place Learning, and practicals will be rescheduled for later in the semester/year.
• Professional bodies will be engaged regarding assessments for work-integrated learning and work-place learning.
• Students who elect to leave the NWU during the recess may continue their studies through the online mode after the recess.
• Students who are unable to leave the residences will be accommodated in designated residences and must observe social distancing and hygiene practices as advised.
• Postgraduate students who need to engage in practical or laboratory-based work will be granted access to facilities through the directors or deans. This will be applicable to groups of 15 students or less.
• Facilities such as libraries and other services deemed critical will continue to be available.
• The situation will be constantly monitored up to 30 April and the university community advised accordingly.

Students are encouraged to contact their faculties for more information regarding the academic programme and activities.

The University Management also approved directives in regard to formal and informal sports events, gatherings and meetings, official and private travel by staff and students and receiving international visitors. Please read the directives here below.

Kind regards

University Management Committee

16 March 2020: Directive on Formal and Informal Sports Events, Gatherings, and Meetings

Effective 16 March 2020 until further notice

As a result of a developing pandemic of COVID-19 disease (caused by the new coronavirus SARS-CoV2), it has become necessary to restrict unnecessary gatherings, meetings, and sports events.

The reason to restrict these events is to limit as far as possible the spread of the virus that causes disease.

This directive is applicable to all staff and students of North-West University, unless otherwise specified or unless clearly inapplicable by the context.

In the event that there is uncertainty about the scope of application of this directive, in the case of staff members, contact your supervisor or line manager, and in the case of students, contact the relevant Director: Student Life or the relevant Academic Director’s office, in the case of academic enquiries.

1       Sporting Events

All sporting events, held on premises owned by or under the control of North-West University, are to be cancelled or postponed indefinitely with effect from 16 March 2020.

This prohibition extends to all inter-campus, and inter-residence sporting events, including practice sessions or informal sporting activity.

All gymnasia on the premises of the North-West University are closed with effect from 16 March 2020 until further notice. Staff and students are requested to exercise great care when using facilities not under North-West University control.

2       Gatherings on or off campuses

The basic principle is that staff and students need to observe and practice social distancing ie keep a distance of 1 metre between oneself and other people. Practice the good hygiene measures recommended on this webpage. Avoid all physical contact including handshaking. Gatherings that are unnecessary for the continuation of core academic and support functions are to be avoided completely.

All social and informal gatherings are prohibited on the premises of the North-West University, unless they are broadcast by video or video-conferencing (eg the streaming on YouTube of a student debate where the debate takes place between a few debaters who maintain an appropriate social distance without any audience). For permission to hold an event of this nature, permission must be obtained from the relevant Campus Director: Student Life after consultation with the Specialist: Occupational Health.

Although the NWU cannot control social and informal gatherings off-campus, gatherings of more than 100 people are prohibited in terms of the government directive, and students are strongly advised not to organise or participate in any social or informal gatherings, of whatever size.

3       Meetings

All meetings, whether formal or informal, should be conducted by means of teleconferencing or video-conferencing or other remote forms of meeting, whenever possible. Social distancing is to be practiced at such meeting by the maintenance of a distance of at least 1 metre between participants. Practice the good hygiene measures recommended on this webpage. Avoid all physical contact including handshaking.

Meetings should be avoided unless absolutely essential. Utilise the officially supported technology solutions such as Vidyo or NextCloud, or utilise other solutions with which participants are familiar.

Face-to-face meetings should be avoided as much as possible.

4       Academic functions

All academic functions such as inaugural lectures, public academic lectures and graduation ceremonies (whether on or off campuses) are postponed until further notice.

Approved by the University Management Committee on 16 March 2020

 

16 March 2020: Directive on Official and Private Travel by Staff and Students and Receiving International Visitors

Effective 16 March 2020 until further notice

As a result of a developing pandemic of COVID-19 disease (caused by the new coronavirus SARS-CoV2), it has become necessary to monitor and restrict international and local travel by students and staff and to regulate visits by international visitors to the NWU.

Travel generally and international travel, in particular, is strongly discouraged in the light of the developing pandemic.

Students

All official international travel (to a country other than South Africa) by students of the North-West University, organised under the auspices of the North-West University, is prohibited without the written permission of the International Travel Committee (described more fully below). Apply for permission using this form: http://www.nwu.ac.za/covid-19-international-traveling

In the case of private international travel by students, the student must notify the relevant campus Occupational Health Centre at this email address nwu-covid19@nwu.ac.za in advance of any planned visit, including the expected return date. Upon return, the student must notify the relevant campus Occupational Health Centre at this email address nwu-covid19@nwu.ac.za of his or her return.

The student must then remain in self-quarantine for a period of 14 days. After certification by the relevant campus Occupational Health Centre, the student may return to campus.

Non-essential official local student travel is also prohibited, unless permission has been obtained from the relevant Campus Director: Student Life.

This directive is applicable to ALL contact students and distance students (in the event that a distance student has to visit a particular campus or learning support centre for some or other reason).

Staff

All official international travel (to a country other than South Africa) by staff of the North-West University, no matter how the travel is funded, is prohibited without the written permission of the International Travel Committee (described more fully below). Apply for permission using this form:  http://www.nwu.ac.za/covid-19-international-traveling

In the case of private international visits, the employee should notify his or her line manager and the relevant campus Occupational Health Centre in writing before the planned visit, including the expected return date at this email address nwu-covid19@nwu.ac.za Upon return, the employee must notify the relevant campus Occupational Health Centre at this email address nwu-covid19@nwu.ac.za of his or her return.

The employee must then remain in self-quarantine for a period of 14 days. The staff member will be on risk leave or work remotely during this period. After certification by the relevant campus Occupational Health Centre, the employee may return to campus.

This directive is applicable to all employees, whether employed full time or part time, permanently, on a fixed term contract or temporarily.

Non-essential official local travel by staff is strongly discouraged, and if any local travel is undertaken, reasonable precautions must be taken to reduce the risk posed by COVID-19. Staff are also discouraged from undertaking private local travel, and reasonable precautions must be taken to reduce the risk posed by COVID-19

Any staff member who is currently in a country other than South Africa on an official or private visit, must in writing report their return to South Africa to Dr Emile Kotzé at this email address nwu-covid19@nwu.ac.za The staff member must not report to their place of work but must, if the nature of their work permits, work remotely in a state of self-quarantine or, if remote work is not possible, be on special leave for 14 days. After certification by the relevant campus Occupational Health Centre, the employee may return to campus.

International Visitors

Staff members or students, who wish to invite international visitors (whether staff or students) (from a country other than South Africa) to the NWU for an official visit, should consider whether the engagement cannot be conducted virtually by means of tele-conferencing or postponed to a later date.

In the event that staff members or students wish nevertheless to invite an international visitor to NWU or an international visitor (including but not limited to sportspersons, academic or research visitors or administrative staff) has indicated an intention to visit NWU, and the visitor is from a country from which travel to South Africa has not been prohibited, such an invitation or visit cannot go ahead unless written permission of the International Travel Committee (described more fully below) has been obtained.

The relevant department or unit or stakeholder must apply in writing on this form (http://www.nwu.ac.za/covid-19-international-visitors) for permission to host the visitor.

These arrangements are applicable to all departments and entities within the university framework.

Requests and enquiries related to the above arrangements may be directed to: Dr Emile Kotzé (+27 (0)18 299 4345).

International Travel Committee

The international travel committee is appointed by the Vice-Chancellor to take decisions in respect of matters falling within the ambit of this directive. It consists of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Teaching and Learning (or a secundus), the Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research and Innovation (or a secundus) and the Specialist: Occupational Health.

Approved by the University Management Committee on 16 March 2020.

15 March 2020: Management decision regarding classes 

15 March 2020

Classes and tests will continue at the NWU, pending the outcome of discussions between the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology and the vice-chancellors of universities. Please visit the Covid-19 webpage of the university for information updates. http://www.nwu.ac.za/coronavirus The safety of our staff and students remains a priority in all decisions which will be taken by the university management. Please ensure that you take the necessary precautions and act responsibly.

Learning support centres

Learning Support Centres for NWU ODL students will be closed until 30 March. Lectures will be pre-recorded so that students do not miss out on the necessary support. The protocols to download these lectures will be sent via text messaging to affected students.