Supporting Students Towards a Journey to Success

01 | 06 | 2025

17 April 2025 

To all students at the Central University of Technology, Free State

Providing Timely Communication to Address Student Concerns

The university is an organisation that contribute to the supportive and a responsive environment that is at the centre of student success. To do this, timeous communication with students as primary stakeholders is sacrosanct. The university in collaboration with SRC’s, both (Bloemfontein and Welkom) campuses respectively, the division of the Finance reconvened a Situation Room to assess the state of services to students. This was to reflect on both National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) and residences payments of accommodation related issues. This integrated strategy is a necessary proactive strategy to build a responsive university that enhance quality of service to students. The below capture the agreed principles that would avoid students being frustrated and create a disservice to the academic project.

The university aims to create a supportive environment that fosters student success. Timely communication with students, as primary stakeholders, is essential. In collaboration with the Student Representative Councils (SRC) from both Bloemfontein and Welkom campuses, the Finance division has established a Situation Room to evaluate services provided to students. This initiative focuses on issues related to the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) payments and accommodation-related issues. The integrated strategy aims to enhance service quality for students. The following principles have been agreed upon to minimise student frustrations and support academic success.

Movement of students between Residences

Recently, there has been an increase in students moving from accredited residences to non-accredited ones. This practice is discouraged, as there are available rooms in accredited residences. Students wishing to move between accredited residences must report to the Student Accommodation offices, providing reasons for the request. The Student Accommodation offices will ensure that such movements are approved by NSFAS and that all administrative requirements are met. This strategy aims to promote quality student accommodation as a key aspect of student support.

Payment of Non-accredited Accommodation and NSFAS Threshold of R25000

The university acknowledges student concerns regarding the NSFAS threshold for non-accredited accommodation, particularly affecting those at the Welkom campus. Students in non-accredited accommodation should upload their lease agreements to the NSFAS Portal to facilitate payments. The university, along with the Chief Financial Officer and SRC representatives, will approach NSFAS to address these concerns. Collaborative efforts are essential to resolving challenges that impact students. Further updates will be provided on this matter.

Communicating with Landlords on the Refunds of Students Admin Fees 

The university noted that there are students who have paid various landlords an amount of Admin Fee in the beginning of the academic year. This was because as the university and the SRC, we were still negotiating the abolishment of the admin fee. Considering the challenges that we came across with FUNDI payments delay, some of the landlords were unable to receive the rental fees on time and we are at the point that the challenges are being resolved.

The Situation room agreed that the letter will be send to the landlords with a deadline of end of this semester to refund such students. Students who are not refunded are invited to inform Student Accommodation offices in their respective campuses so that the follow-up is made on their behalf. CUT is rebuilding itself as a caring institution that is compelled to facilitate quality services to its students.

The university noted that some students have paid administrative fees to various landlords at the start of the academic year. Negotiations regarding the abolishment of this fee were ongoing at that time. Due to delays in FUNDI payments, some landlords did not receive rental fees on time, but these issues are being addressed. The Command Centre/Situation Room has decided to send a letter to landlords, requesting refunds for affected students by the end of the semester. Students who have not received refunds should contact the Student Accommodation offices on their respective campuses for follow-up to be made on their behalf.

Together, we empower your success and get involved

The university and the SRC remains committed to ensuring an ecosystem that walks with its students through any situation to leverage support that enhance academic project. This remains our commitment to cultivate agency and remain proactive at all material nature in support of our students. Our journey for student success is transcending through the re-establishment of strategies to maintain an environment that is conducive, and we are grads that collectively.

As we work together to pursue excellence in turbulent times, our unity is what intends to guide us as we gravitate to success in pursued of student centricity.

Issued by
Dr B.K. Sebake
CUT's Dean of Students