Jaaroorsig - University of the Free State

Meganismes isin werking omstudente sedeurvloeikoerste verbeter.Access to health servicesAt the Kovsie Health Division, the improvementof access to health serviceswas a priority.To make these services more accessibleto students and staff with cash-flowproblems, the division introduced a credit-cardsystem, and extended debiting ofstudents’ tuition fees accounts for thepayment of medical expenses to the physiotherapyand dietetic services. In instancesof real need, services were offeredfree of charge or at a nominal fee.In 2005 almost 70% of Kovsie Health’sclients were black students and staff. Anincreasing number of service workersmade use of the service.Kovsie Health also offered preventativeservices, which included immunisationof high-risk students against HepatitisA and B, as well as flu. Health counsellingservices on the Main and VistaCampuses included counselling and disseminationof literature on birth control(which was identified as a problem areain 2005), cervical cancer and HIV/Aids.Strong support forstudents with disabilitiesDuring 2005 the Unit for Students withDisabilities (USD) facilitated assistance to120 students. The USD supports the visuallyimpaired, those that are hard of hearing,physically or learning disabled, andthose suffering from psycho-social disability,epilepsy or speech defects. Temporarilydisabled students who haveproblems completing exams or tests, alsoreceive assistance.The USD places a heavy emphasis ona strong relationship of trust and cooperationwith academic faculties and staff,which enables disabled students to studyand to be assessed within a teaching environmentwhich takes their disability intoaccount realistically. Where necessary,academic teaching staff were offeredadvice on teaching and learning methods,techniques and equipment when classesincluded students with disabilities.Students with disabilities were able tomake use of the USD’s computer labwhich consists of six accessible computerstations with the latest assistive technologyand software. This facility providesaccessible word-processing by utilisingscreen reading and magnification software,and accessible Internet and e-mailfacilities for people with a range of disabilities.In 2005 individual tutoring was arrangedfor visually impaired students inEconomics and Accounting, as well asComputer Science.To raise awareness about disability,the USD and the Kovsie Student CommunityService (Kovscom) arranged awheel-chair dance and related competitionson Casual Day. Nearly 200 studentstook part. Ms Ronelle Ceronio, co-ordinatorof the USD, has been appointed as oneof five members on the South AfricanNational Council for the Blind’s NationalEducation Advisory Committee.Studentevoorligting helpmet deurvloeikoersKovsievoorligting en -ontwikkeling (KVO)help studente om hul volle potensiaal teontwikkel deur die verskaffing van sielkundigedienste, opleiding en geriewe. Dieafdeling lewer veral ’n groot bydrae tot dieverbetering van die deurvloeikoers vanstudente deur middel van ontwikkelingskursusseen ’n Kultuur-van-Leer-program.Die afdeling het in 2005 sy dienste nadie Qwaqwa-kampus uitgebrei, waar die58