COVID-19 at UCT Law

Information pertinent for the Law Faculty community, staff and students, will keep developing during the COVID-19 outbreak and the closure of UCT Campus. Please keep checking back. Staff, please check at the bottom of this page for information on staff wellness.

International Students - the COVID-19 FAQ

The UCT International Academic Programmes Office (IAPO) has put together a whole list of frequently asked questions, to provide critical information about visas, expiry, renewal, travel and more. Contact the IAPO office for further information not provided on the FAQ.

Covid-19 - Leave of Absence and dropping courses

For full information on dropping courses and changing your curriculum during emergency Remote Teaching, please go to http://www.law.uct.ac.za/dropping-course. Strict deadlines apply.

Online teaching & learning

The University Executive is focused on plans to continue the academic year through remote teaching. Recognising that this is a significant shift both for staff and students, a range of initiatives are underway - including a survey of all students to determine levels of readiness for remote learning, and discussion forums and webinars for staff on key issues related to moving courses online where possible. The Executive and Faculty staff are aware of how stressful this period is for students while waiting to hear what the plans are with regard to continuing the teaching and learning programme. Plans are in development, that take into account the multiple challenges faced by many students who would need to undertake their learning remotely while not on campus.  

The Faculty will continue to update students as plans are firmed up and finalised. 

Accessible information

As far as possible, the Faculty is posting the formal UCT communications with students on class VULA tabs with a view to ensuring information is available at limited data costs, where applicable. For the most recent information and contact details on student wellness services, the Faculty Office and UCT Libraries, please consult the relevant VULA tab.

Student Access Survey

The UCT Student Access Survey is an important step in establishing how many students will be able to participate in remote teaching when term starts on 20 April (Orientation) and the week of 27 April (first teaching week) and identifying eligible students who need loan laptops. Please take the survey!

The university will be following up via SMS with students who do not respond online, with the option to receive a call-back to complete the survey telephonically.has been communicated to all students on the UCT website, via social media and email. The direct survey short URL is https://bit.ly/UCTAccessSurvey 

• Students would not be limited only to accessing their usual Faculty counsellor. They can book with any of the counsellors on the booking site.
• Therapists will be sharing digital online health tips and mental health self-help tips while the students are on vacation.

2. Medical Advisory

• Student may call the students triage line 021 650 5620 for medical-related advice. These are not consultations. Telephonic slots can also be booked online and the Clinical Nurse Practitioner will call back.
• Limited virtual consultations can be booked online, details will be on the booking site.
• SWS medical team will be sharing digital online health self- help tips while the students are on vacation.

·All COVID – 19 queries can be directed to the NICD Hotline 0800 029 0999 nationally

3. Psychosocial Support

• All SWS social workers will be available for telephonic psychosocial support.
• The sessions would be booked as usual online to secure the slot or via email to sws@uct.ac.za.
• Referral letters to other facilities and external services will be emailed upon requests via email.

In addition to Student Wellness, there is also a UCT Peer Counselling initiative - book a session at https://outlook.office365.com/owa/calendar/STUDENTWELLNESSSERVICEPSYCHOLOGICALSERVICES@mscloudtest.uct.ac.za/bookings/ and follow the service on instagram at @uct_peercounsellors.

UCT Libraries

Virtual support for teaching & learning, and research - To support the teaching & learning, and research activities of the University, the Libraries are providing virtual support. Reference and information hotlines have been created and the support will be available from 08h30 - 17h00 Monday to Friday.

Please note that the due date of all library material out on loan has been extended. All fines accrued will be waived.

Reference and Information Hotlines Telephone

+27 21 650 3703; +27 21 650 3704; +27 21 650 3118; +27 21 650 3134;

Ask a Librarian

https://libanswers.lib.uct.ac.za/ * libraries@uct.ac.za

The Law Library is on lib-law@uct.ac.za

For support for electronic information not available at UCT Libraries, please contact Interlibrary Loans on ill@uct.ac.za.

Staff Wellness

While university operations are continuing virtually and online wherever possible, the UCT executive wants to ensure that all staff remain healthy, both physically and mentally. The UCT Human Resources department has been working to further increase the availability of, and access to, counselling services to support the mental health of our staff through this period of lockdown and remote working. Read the full article and access relevant informaton at https://www.news.uct.ac.za/article/-2020-04-01-support-for-staff-mental-health-and-wellness.