15 June 2020
Dear Colleagues,
RE: RETURN OF STUDENTS AND eASSESSMENT GUIDELINES FOR REMOTE TEACHING AND LEARNING
DURING COVID‐19
The University will soon reach yet another milestone in meeting the challenges caused by the COVID‐19
pandemic when 4 Categories of our student cohort will return to campus on Monday, 22nd June 2020 as part of
Phase I of the NUST Action Plan on the Return of Students as follows:
1. Masters and PhD Students;
2. Students due for Graduation in October 2020 who are registered for courses with practical lab sessions;
3. Senior Students, including Honours students registered for courses with practical lab sessions; and
4. 1st and 2nd Year Students in selective courses to be identified by the respective Faculties where small
numbers of students are registered for courses with practical lab sessions.
It was further determined that 22% of the NUST Student Cohort did not have access to data/devices and could
not access Remote Teaching and Learning since we resumed teaching on 11th May 2020. Note that this category
of students will return to Campus on 6th July 2020 only, as agreed after extensive consultation with Extended
Management and the SRC.
Please note that the above phased in approach for the return of students to campus is based on the current best
case scenario under the allowed Stage 3 COVID‐19 National Regulations. Should this situation change, the
University community will be informed accordingly.
The attached eAssessment Guidelines were developed by the Online Implementation Committee and are based
on the recently approved SENEX submission to change Examination‐based courses to Continuous Assessment
courses. These Guidelines further makes reference to the existing Plagiarism Policy of the University, whilst wide
consultation and input was received from all Faculties. I trust that these Guidelines will serve as a valuable
reference document and guideline to administer and facilitate sound assessments as part of our response to the
COVID‐19 challenges.
Your hard work, dedication and support that went into the facilitation of Remote Teaching and Learning is
certainly not going unnoticed. To say I am gratified to you all would be an understatement. Allow me to thank
you for your remarkable efforts and sound work ethic to serve our most important clients – our students. The
COVID‐19 pandemic caught us all off‐guard and resulted in overwhelming moments at times. Now is the time
for servant leadership and to show empathy, understanding and collegiality towards each other. In the
meantime, and in the absence of any certainty, we move forward with confidence.
I trust that we all will emerge from this experience with a renewed confidence in ourselves and our abilities.
With my very best wishes,
Dr Delvaline Möwes
Acting Deputy Vice‐Chancellor: Academic
