ÍøÒ×ÌåÓý Update 34 – Phase 2: The return of students to campus

3 July 2020 - Wits University

Students who are scheduled to return as part of phase 2, will return in mid-July.

Dear Students

We hope that you are healthy and well.

At the end of May, we shared information about Wits¡¯ phased approach for the return of students and staff to our campuses. The first cohort of students are already on campus. Students who are scheduled to return as part of phase 2, will return in mid-July. If you are required to return in this phase, your School coordinator or lecturer will communicate the exact date, time and schedule directly to you.

Cohorts that will be invited to return from mid-July are as follows:

Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management

The Faculty will reintegrate a very small percentage of the student body, as and when appropriate. PhD and MSc students who require access to data  laboratories will return. A very small number of students in accountancy and law, and specifically final year CTA students and legal practice students in law, will attend a limited number of tutorials on campus. All other activities will continue online.

Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment

PhD and MSc students who require access to laboratories will return. Selected graduating classes and students who need access to laboratories and/or studios, will also return.

Faculty of Health Sciences

Pre-final year students with a high clinical load will return. Undergraduate students with clinical training needs and postgraduate students with laboratory-based research will return.

Faculty of Humanities

The Faculty will reintegrate a percentage of the student body. Schools within the Faculty will communicate directly with students who need to return to campus.

Faculty of Science

Some PhD and Research Masters students have already returned. Honours students who require access to laboratories and a very careful selection of 3^rd year students will return.

Residences

The first cohort of students who found it difficult to study online returned to Wits¡¯ campuses in June, where they continue with their online studies from their respective residences. As per regulations, no more than one third of Wits¡¯ residences may be occupied at any given time. This means that only a limited number of students are allowed to live in residences. The Dean of Students is managing this process carefully and will communicate details of a possible return to those students who have applied, as soon as lockdown regulations allow for a further return of students in this category.

Managing ÍøÒ×ÌåÓý risks

There is still much confusion in the public sphere surrounding ÍøÒ×ÌåÓý. The following article co-authored by several Wits experts, helps to contextualise the pandemic and provides some useful pointers on ÍøÒ×ÌåÓý risks and how to manage them. Read more: Distance, Dose, Dispersion: Experts¡¯ guide on ÍøÒ×ÌåÓý risks in South Africa and how to manage them.

Conclusion

Your wellbeing and safety is paramount and it will take our collective effort, courage and determination to keep the coronavirus at bay. Please do not return to campus unless you have been given express permission to return, as we are carefully managing the numbers of students and staff on our campuses. Please contact your lecturers or School Administrators directly should you have any further queries.

Thank you

SENIOR EXECUTIVE TEAM

3 JULY 2020