PORT ELIZABETH - NMMU TO 'HELP IT'S STUDENTS COMPLETE THE 2016 ACADEMIC YEAR'

Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) is set to resume their academic activities according to a new academic completion strategy which they have initiated. They have detailed their plan as per a statement made on their website, nmmu.ac.za,  as seen below:

Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University’s multi-layered academic completion strategy to help its students complete the 2016 academic year is underway.

After four weeks of shutdown and two weeks of intermittent interruptions, along with the unsuccessful court-mandated mediation process, NMMU had no option but to initiate an academic recovery plan to meet its obligation of helping all students complete this year’s studies.

Academic completion

The Executive Committee of Senate considered various proposals for completing the 2016 academic year.  Among others, ECS decided that for Semester 2 examinations, students are:

Encouraged to sit for examinations in the November-December examination period.

Advised that they could nonetheless choose to write some/all their examinations in the January-February 2017 period.

Informed that some practical/applied assessment tasks/activities and examinations are being deferred until January-February 2017.

New assessment and exam dates will be shared once logistics around completing outstanding academic work and securing venues has been finalised.

Faculty arrangements

Faculty-specific plans will be communicated to students in readiness for the resumption of some classes from Monday 31 October. These plans ensure that teaching delivery and assessment tasks are aligned with learning outcomes to give students every opportunity to successfully complete their academic requirements.

Varied teaching and learning approaches

In completing the academic year, various adaptions to the original teaching and learning approach will be made, including the cutting back of face-to-face classroom contact, a greater reliance on alternative forms of teaching and learning, the redesign of assessments, and the replacement of some examination with a continuous assessment approach.

Supplemental support

In line with the University’s long-term education vision of teaching and learning taking place anytime, anywhere, NMMU has fast-tracked its online learning offerings. These will form an important stepping stone for students in completing their study commitments.   

Access

NMMU staff and students can access digital information resources, including online learning resources, from external venues such as 11 municipal libraries, throughout the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality.  NMMU is also participating in availing the “zero data cost” concession provided by all cellular networks and Telkom.  This offering will go a long way in expanding avenues for access to information resources for staff and students.

Venues

Various off-campus venues across the metro have been availed to allow for face-to-face classes, tests and exams. More details on this will be communicated to students by their lecturers.

Other support

To help students complete the academic year the following support is still in place:

 Counselling, and

 Supplemental instruction, tutorials, and mentoring sessions