Dear Alumni
The unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic has surely turned the world as we know it upside down. We hope that you are keeping safe and that we all come out at the other end of this trying period with a renewed sense of solidarity.
Respective governments have taken drastic measures to stem the further spread of the Corona virus and South Africa is no exception, our President having instituted a 21-day lockdown from midnight on 26 March 2020. Due to the many uncertainties, Stellenbosch University (SU) cannot predict what will happen to the COVID-19 trajectory over the next weeks. For that reason, the higher education sector came together as a group to consider both the short- and medium-term scenarios and we have decided to make Monday, 20 April 2020 the projected start of our second term.
For Stellenbosch University, lockdown means that all but a few campus buildings are inaccessible until the lockdown is officially lifted by the President. Our academic staff will in the meantime start preparing their teaching materials to be fully online by 20 April. As things stand, our aim is to keep the academic programme going and give students access to quality learning opportunities.
The Development and Alumni Relations (DAR) team are currently all working remotely and we will communicate with you to keep you updated. We are available telephonically and online to answer any queries you may have during this period. Over the next couple of weeks, DAR will also look at inviting you to virtual events to help us all stay connected. Watch this space…
You would also be interested to know that as the world continues to be affected by COVID-19, our researchers have joined the fight against the disease, turned bread into hand sanitiser, and teamed up with a biotechnology company in the hope of contributing towards assisting treatment of patients.
We look forward to keeping you updated and welcome your engagement with us. Do do not hesitate to reach out to us at alumni@sun.ac.za.
Please take care, adhere to all the precautionary measures during this period and remember to visit the University’s COVID-19 website regularly as a source of trusted information on our measures as well as general information on curbing the disease.
Thank you for your continued support.
With warmest regards,
Karen Bruns
Senior Director: Development & Alumni Relations
Stellenbosch University
