OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY VICE-CHANCELLOR: ACADEMIC
KANTOOR VAN DIE ADJUNKVISEKANSELIER: AKADEMIE
IHHOVISI LEPHINI LIKASEKELA-SHANSELA: EZEZIFUNDO
KANTORO YA MOTHUŠAMOTLATŠAMOKHANSELIRI: TŠA THUTO
Office of the Deputy Vice Chancellor: Academic • Cnr Kingsway and Uni versity Road Auckland Park • PO Box 524 A uckland Park 2006 • Auckland Park Campus • +27 11
559 4822 • uj.ac.za
16 April 2020
Dear UJ Senior Tutors and Tutors
COVID-19
We trust that you are taking care of yourselves at this difficult time. As tutors and senior tutors, you will be
straddling both a student and a staff experience at this time. We appreciate that senior tutors and tutors have
always played an integral part in student teaching and learning at UJ.
We have amended the 2020 Academic Calendar. The academic programme for the second term will
commence on 20 April with online teaching and learning and the first semester to end on 26 June. Please keep
abreast of all communication in this period by following https://www.uj.ac.za/coronavirus/
There is no question that with the advent of COVID-19 and the lockdown decisions, the roles that senior tutors
and tutors will play will become ever more important as we transition to online teaching and learning. This
situation has forced all of us to rethink the ways in which we are able to offer support to our students. We can
no longer rely on a face to face interaction, whether formal or informal. We trust that you have been in contact
with the lecturers and your relevant departments to discuss your role in the coming weeks.
The Centre for Academic Staff Development (CASD) and your academic departments will continue to support
and mentor all tutors through this process. The CASD will offer support to senior tutors and tutors in the
following ways:
1. Senior tutors and tutors will have access to a Blackboard community where they may engage with
each other, providing support and assistance to each other as we navigate this new experience.
2. On this Blackboard community, further training will also take place to equip senior tutors and tutors
with the skills necessary to successfully provide online support and to navigate the online
environment.
3. Senior tutors and tutors will be invited by CASD to participate in Zoom and MS Team meetings to
further develop online tutoring skills. Some of these will be in collaboration with departmental
lecturers.
4. In this Blackboard community, there will be opportunities for online discussions focusing on your
wellbeing and on problem-solving and sharing.
5. Senior tutors and tutors who experience difficulty in accessing the online environment will receive
support via email communication. Senior tutors and tutors can email the following individuals:
Dr Nelia Frade at [email protected] (for all APK tutor queries), Mr. Raymond Robinson at
[email protected] (for all DFC and SWC tutor queries) and Ms. Queenta Anyele Sindoh at
[email protected] (for all APB and FADA tutor queries).
