Student Representative Council 2024/25

Constitution of the SRC

Policy on recognition of student formations

Code of conduct

Electoral rules and procedures

Rules and procedures for general meetings

Guidelines for portfolios and functions

New formations application form

Renewal of formations application form

Campaigning rules

The Strategic Plan 2020-2024 describes the mission and vision of Sol Plaatje University, through the implementation of four strategic goals. The Strategic Plan works towards enhancing the role of the University as a leading centre for higher education through building a community of students and leaders capable of effective participation in the broader knowledge society.

The SPU SRC Thusa Moithuti Fund is an SRC Fundraising initiative supported by the Sol Plaatje University. SRC Thusa Moithuti Fund is aimed at providing holistic assistance to financially needy students beginning with access and providing the support necessary to propel them to succeed.

INSTITUTIONAL CONTEXT

The Mission of Sol Plaatje University is to become an institution of higher learning uniquely positioned to:

• graduate citizens competent and capable of realising the aspirations of society;
• produce new knowledge impacting on key challenges of the region; and
• engage critically with communities of discourse and communities of people in order to search out pathways to equitable development.

The SRC Thusa Moithuti Fund works within a university that is committed to the kind of learning and research that contributes to development that positively impacts democracy and social justice.

BACKGROUND AND RATIONALE

Many students of Sol Plaatje University come from rural and economically disadvantaged backgrounds and are first-generation students. They, therefore, do not have adequate support to focus fully on their studies.

Research findings indicate that most of the students are not sure for which course to register for in their first year. First-year students most often register for a course that they meet the requirement for, based on their matric subjects and results. Most first years do not register for a course based on their abilities, skills, and personality. Others choose a course based on the job prospect.

Many students eventually drop out of higher education to seek income for themselves and their families. As a direct result of a miss-match between course and abilities and limited support from the families, students fail to complete their courses and drop out because of lack of funding.

PHILOSOPHICAL CONTEXT

As part of its social justice agenda under the leadership of the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Andrew Crouch, the SRC is embarking on a project that will assist students who have no funding to register and the necessary support to propel them to succeed in their studies. This project seeks to limit the inequality created by social injustices in our country and strive to balance the gap that has been created by poverty and lack of education in the South African society.

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE

The SRC Thusa Moithuti Fund seeks to assist students at SPU who face financial challenges in their quest to perform academically, and thereafter complete their degrees. The SRC remains acutely aware and supports the national call for free quality education, thus want to ensure that “no student is left behind”. The SRC in February 2021, emerging from their Strategic workshop, established the Thusa Moithuti Fund as a necessary step towards realising the educational opportunities of many students.

The SRC Thusa Moithuti is aimed at providing immediate relief to financially needy students in the following areas:

• Assistance with Financial Clearance
• Academic Material
• Food Security Programme

LEADERSHIP AND ADMINISTRATION

The Dean of Student Affairs and the SRC are the official champions of the project to ensure maximum visibility and support. Although the project resides in Student Affairs Department for administrative purposes, the Thusa Moithuti Fund is the brainchild of SPU SRC 2020/21 and is strictly led by the SRC and on a volunteer basis by the Dean of Student Affairs.

Students can join the following societies and should contact the SRC should they be interested in starting new societies to add to the array of student life activities at SPU.