The first scheduled Council meeting of 2015 took place on 4 May 2015. It was also the first Council meeting attended by Prof Wim de Villiers, Rector and Vice-Chancellor since his term of office started on 1 April 2015. From the position of Rector, both Prof de Villiers and Prof Leopoldt van Huyssteen, Acting Rector and Vice-Chancellor from 28 June 2014 to 31 March 2015, reported to Council this week.
Approval of annual report and financial statements for 2014
Council approved the annual report and consolidated financial statements for 2014 at the recommendation of the Audit and Risk Committee (ARC). Council also took note of the positive external audit report. Prof Prieur du Plessis, Chairperson of the ARC, expressed his appreciation for the excellent work done by the Finance division.
Academic programme offering
The following new academic programmes have been approved by Council at the recommendation of Senate: MPhil (Minimally Access Gynaecological Surgery); Higher Certificate in Audio Technology; Postgraduate Diploma in Film Music; MPhil (Film Music); MPhil (Development Demography); PhD (Urban and Regional Science); Postgraduate Certificate in Education in Further Education and Training; MSc (Food and Nutrition Security); Postgraduate Diploma (Agronomy); Diploma (Sustainable Development Management and Planning); Advanced Certificate in Business Management and Administration; B in Nursing and Midwifery; Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing (Occupational Health); MPhil in Infant Mental Health; MPhil in Cancer Science; M in Addiction Care; M in Public Health Nutrition; and MSc in Biostatistics.
Career promotion of women
The work of the task team has been completed and will be tabled at the Rector's management meeting and the Human Resources Committee of Council before it is discussed in the June meeting of Council.
NSFAS funding
The Executive Committee of Council informed Council that the members took note of the issues surrounding NSFAS funding and that the proposed actions of the Rector's Management Team be supported. SU can expect less money from the NSFAS in the future, and since most CBI students are dependent on financial support, this will place greater pressure on support funds. In 2014, SU spent a total of R588 million on bursaries, of which 55% was allocated to CBI students. Since it is not possible for SU to enlarge this amount further from own funds, innovative ways will have to be found to obtain significantly more funds from third-stream income. An increase in throughput rates could relieve the pressure on the support funds, and faculties will need to play a key role in this regard. SU will have further discussions with the NSFAS and also request that HESA clear up problem areas and report back to all tertiary institutions.
SU Woordfees (Wordfest)
The Rector's report made specific mention of the great success of the 16th SU Woordfees (Wordfest) in March 2015. Ticket sales and attendance figures increased by 30% and sponsorships and donations for the Woordfees and the WOW programme increased from R7 million in 2014 to R11 million in 2015. The Woordfees provides a large financial injection for the town and boasted a number of new initiatives this year. The festival site was re-planned; a cashless environment was created; there was a larger offering of WOW projects during the festival; and activities were expanded to the Breughel Theatre in Cloetesville and Amazink in Kayamandi.
Enrolment planning
In the Rector's Report, Council was informed of the newcomer first-year student figures calculated after the final registration period in 2015. CBI enrolments exceeded the target by 5,6%, but since there also was an increase in the number of white students, the CBI as subsection of the whole decreased by 1,1%.
Newcomer first-year students 2011 - 2015
| Year | White students | CBI students |
| 2011 | 3 497 | 1 201 |
| 2012 | 3 105 | 1 085 |
| 2013 | 3 162 | 1 462 |
| 2014 | 3 410 | 1 848 |
| 2015 | 3 602 | 1 854 |
All undergraduate enrolments 2011 - 2015
| Year | White students | CBI students |
| 2011 | 12 717 | 4 270 |
| 2012 | 12 545 | 4 378 |
| 2013 | 12 374 | 4 885 |
| 2014 | 12 435 | 5 636 |
| 2015 | 12 691 | 6 287 |
Since 2011 there has been a sustained increase of 8% in the CBI percentage of all undergraduate enrolments.
Student success
The Rector's Report elaborated on the role of the First-year Academy in the constant first-year retention rate of 86%-87% at SU over the past nine years, despite problems in the schooling system. The First-year Academy also makes an important contribution to the success rate of some CBI students and those in extended degree programmes, thanks to strong institutional and systemic support to overcome poor matric marks.
The SU mentor programme has also received international attention. This is probably the most extensive programme in terms of participation in South Africa. Approximately 700 senior students offer psychosocial mentoring support and development to about 4 000 first-year students. The results indicate that this has a positive effect on the adaptation, adjustment and academic success of newcomer first-year students.
Building names, symbols and statues
Against the background of recent events on campuses in South Africa, the Chairperson of Council requested a discussion on building names, symbols and statues. Prof Arnold Schoonwinkel, Vice-Rector: Learning and Teaching, informed Council of the Contingency Committee that is paying attention to the matter and the discussions that already are under way with different student groups after the Human Dignity March on 6 March 2015. Council supports the Management standpoint that discussions on transformation at SU should be channelled via the Students' Representative Council (SRC), since the SRC's role as a statutory body is captured in the Statute of the University. Progress in this regard will be reported on at the next Council meeting.
Management reporting: Research and Innovation
The vice-rectors report extensively on their respective centres of responsibility at various Council meetings every year. Open this document to see interesting information on the University's research successes from the presentation of Prof Eugene Cloete, Vice-Rector: Research and Innovation, to Council.
Next Council meeting
The next Council meeting is scheduled for 22 June 2015.
