Rhodes University soon hopes to have every first-year student in University residence. This is in line with recommendations made by a ministerial committee reviewing student housing at South African Universities.
Rhodes University soon hopes to have every first-year student in University residence. This is in line with recommendations made by a ministerial committee reviewing student housing at South African Universities.
Dr Iain L’ange, executive director for Infrastructure, Finance and Operations at Rhodes, was chief researcher and co-wrote the recommendation to Blade Nzimande, Minister of the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET).
“There’s been global recognition that residences must be something far more than just a bum in a bed. The committee made a case for student residences to be living and learning communities that are critical to the success of their academic project,” said L’ange.
Rhodes also plans to grow student numbers by 2% per annum in the long term and has begun collecting data for a comprehensive Campus Spatial Development Plan.
“The plan will be used to project what the university will look like in 30 to 50 years’ time. At the moment things are done in an adhoc manner. The strategic campus development plan will allow us to identify where buildings should go,” explained L’ange.
Funding proposals have been sent to the DHET for new buildings for the schools of life sciences and languages. Plans also are in place to create more suitable academic spaces.
L’ange said the projected 2% growth will come from an increase in postgraduate students and, therefore, Rhodes has proposed building new, customised postgraduate clusters.
“The plan for post graduate village is to turn it into a short course or continuing education support centre with conference facilities.”
The minimum standards proposed for public and private accommodation applies to areas with more than 10 students. It is hoped it will be promulgated in February 2013.
* Single rooms no smaller than 9 sqm and doubles minimum of 14 sqm;
* Two students maximum per room;
* Furniture provided per student;
* Buildings managed and fire safety regulations in place;
* NSFAS-funded students accommodated in university accredited housing only;
* Unless kitchenettes are provided, no cooking permitted in student rooms;
* Residence staff to student ratio should not exceed 1:150;
* Monthly hygiene audits of all communal self-catering facilities carried out in addition to annual municipal hygiene inspections;
* Housing must be accredited by the university.
Rhodes already surpasses these requirements, but L’ange said one more residence will allow the university to house all first-year students. They propose the site behind Kimberley Hall.
