New body will deal with problems

A clearing house – comprising the student representative council, finance department, student affairs, academic administration and student counselling – will deal with students’ issues on an individual case basis, according to a statement issued by Nelson Mandela University management late on Thursday.

The agreement includes that:

● Academically deserving master’s and doctoral students who qualified for council-approved financial concessions for their undergraduate studies, under the cohort of zero expected family contribution, will be cleared for registration;

● An adjustment has been made to align the percentage required to qualify for postgraduate funding with that of the postgraduate admission requirements;

● Appeals of students who had unfavourable outcomes relating to the loss of NSFAS funding due to various reasons will be reviewed.

Most of the admitted students who had applied through the national Central Applications Clearing House (CACH) system have been cleared for registration and accommodation.

Any CACH students who have not yet heard the outcome of their application can request intervention from the university’s clearing house; and

● Any identified administrative irregularities will be attended to.

Further, issues that are inadequately resolved by student accounts or financial aid sections can be brought to the attention of the clearing house.

Higher certificate students who still have to complete modules from 2018, and do not qualify for NSFAS funding as a result, may appeal to their faculties for reconsideration and possible concurrent registration for diploma studies.

Students who have not met the pass requirements for their prerequisite modules, which affects what they are able to register for in 2019 and preventing them from obtaining NSFAS funding, may also appeal to their respective faculties for reconsideration.

NMU spokesperson Zandile Mbabela said following the constructive engagement with students, the university’s operations would resume as normal on Friday.

“Tests and assignments that were affected by the disruptions to the academic activities this week – from Wednesday afternoon to Saturday – will be rescheduled.

“Students should consult their respective lecturers for these arrangements,” Mbabela said.