5.1.3. Matters of significance considered by Council during 2020

5.1.3. Matters of Significance Considered by Council during 2020

InviewoftheCouncil’sresponsibilitytogoverntheUniversityandtoprovideongoing strategicdirectionofthe University, Council considered various matters during theyearandreceivedregularreportsfromtheexecutive officers on the day-to-day stewarding of the University. • The 2020 to 2025 Enrolment Plan: The University continues to increase its postgraduate intake, as well as part-time and distance enrolments. • The 2021 Salary Agreement • Renaming of Wits Places and Spaces: Council approved renaming of four spaces • PropertyandInfrastructureDevelopment:CouncilnotedtheapprovalbytheExecutiveCommitteeofCounciloftheframeworkagreementformajorconstruction works within the Wits Precinct. Council approved the purchaseofNoswallHall,notedplansfortheupgrades to entrances and crossings on Jorissen Street and Jan

Smuts,andexpectmajordevelopmentsregardingthe

Frankenwald property in 2022. • Wits Sustainability Strategy: Council noted the correlation between the 2021 Council objectives and the 2021 Institutional Scorecard and will be incorporated into the 2021 Annual Performance Plan. • AppointmentsofSeniorExecutives:Councilapproved the appointment of Professor Zeblon Vilakazi as the

Vice-ChancelloroftheUniversityoftheWitwatersrand.

Professor Ruksana Osman was moved from the portfolio of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Academic for Advancement, Human Resources and Transformation (AHRT) to Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic.

The interim reorganisation of the Senior Management

Team (SET) was as a result of the resignation of

Professor Andrew Crouch. Professor Shabir Mahdi was appointed as the new Dean of the Faculty of

Health Sciences from 1 January 2021. Professor Joao

Rodriques was appointed the acting Deputy Vice-

Chancellor, Research and Postgraduate Affairs as of 20 July 2020 to 31 December 2020. Council approved the appointment of Professor Lynn Morris as the new

Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research and Postgraduate

Affairs with effect from 1 April 2021. • NewLearningManagementSystem:Councilapproved of the conclusion of an appropriate contract for the purchase of a new learning management system. The system has been named ‘ulwazi’ (isiZulu for ‘knowledge’), and supports Wits’ move towards blended learning as outlined in the University’s Learning and

Teaching Plan (2020 – 2024). • HonoraryDegreesandGoldMedals:Councilapproved

six honourary degrees and one gold medal. • Finance Update: Council reflected at length on the financial sustainability of the University, including the potential impact of cuts in subsidies and fees on the 2021budget.Councilapprovedthe2021budgetbased on an assumption that there will be no increase in subsidy from the state in 2021. Student fees and subsidymakeupabout90%oftheUniversity’sincomeand theChairpersonoftheFinanceCommitteecommended the finance team and members of the University for maintaining the highest financial management and governance standards. Council also approved the bad-debt write off for 2020 of 80 million.

• University’sResponsetoCovid-19Pandemic:Council noted the development of the submission to the Solidarity Committee and donors for Wits University toplayaroleinassistingresearchentitiesforthebroad –roll-out of Covid-19 testing. Furthermore, Council acknowledgedasubstantiveamountofresearchbeing conducted on the virus by Wits researchers and 670 face shields were made available, as well as test kits. • Risk Management: The following matters were identifiedasmajorrisks:Fundingconstraints,gender-based harm, deteriorating infrastructure and equipment, strainedlabourrelationsandtransformationchallenges. • Student Matters: Council noted the continued implementation of the N+2 rule, approved adjustments to accommodation fees, and noted the measures taken to ensure students were able to study remotely due to the Covid-19 pandemic. • Council approved the following policies: - Policy on working remotely - Leave policy (amended) - Sabbatical leave policy (revised) - Study support policy for staff - Policy on study support for dependents of staff members - Policy on regulating allowances for mobile computing devices (updated) - Travel policy (amended) - Students Plagiarism policy (updated) - Academic Workload policy - Covid-19 policy

TSHEPO

Tshepho = tss – eh – poh

(Sesotho; Setswana)

Hope

Inspired by an engineer’s primary responsibility to develop solutions for the needs of society, the naming of this room speaks to the importance of retaining a positive attitude amidst sometimes challenging contexts. A place for future engineers who are conscious of the problems they are to solve and the people they are solving them for.

Renaming of lecture rooms in the Northwest Engineering Building on Braamfontein Campus East

CURIOSITY

Curiosity = kew – ree – oss – it – tee

(English)

Inspired by this important characteristic for an engineer – an ability and a desire to stand in awe and wonderment – to think more deeply and strive to understand. Curiosity is the engine of discovery and creation.