PAPER PRESENTED AT THE INTERNATIONAL STUDENT AFFAIRS TOUR TOPIC:SITUATING STUDENT SERVICES IN THE ACADEMY:PHILOSOPHY AND PRACTICE IN STUDENT SERVICES WORK FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION LEADERS IN SOUTH AFRICA DATE: 23 MAY 2007 UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA

OUR HISTORY  appointment of the NCHE to provide government with policies to restructure the HE sector  1997-White Paper on HE:A Programme for the Transformation of HE  1997-HE Act as amended provides for the legislative framework of HE  2000: CHE Advice to the Minister “Towards a New Higher Education Landscape  Minister’s response “A National Plan for HE  2003 –2005: Mergers and Incorporations

STUDENT ENROLMENT Between over student enrolled in higher education institution this includes contact and distance 5,7% constitute undergraduate 5,4 % constitute post graduate Total annual average increase of 5,7%

Student Services in South Africa:A Perspective from an Outsider The academy continues to be staff centric There is little or no progress toward a student centred philosophy Traditional hierarchy into the administrative structures, delivery of student services in most of the HEI’s Student are regarded as consumers compared to being customers looking forward to good quality service

Perspective Continues Attitude from staff and academics Recognition of non traditional student issues (day care,adult student needs) Lack of student service advocacy system to refer student to available services

Who do “student services” serve Student services are not about unnecessary pampering of students but that first and foremost student services serve the institution (RJ Bateson:2003) Student services can act as change agents in modernizing and upgrading institutions to become centres of customer service Student services operationalise strategic objectives and provide the channels to transmit procedures and policies from the center to the “margins” The student affairs professional must integrate the traditional student affairs roles as disciplinarian with roles as environmental scanner, development officer etc.

WHAT SHOULD STUDENT SERVICES DO integration and promotion of student services as part of the university of the university “core” Student services operating as multidisciplinary centres An integrated and full services support Reliable, consistent and available student services Good leadership and commitment to the vision

CONCLUSION STUDENT SERVICES CONTRIBUTE TO THE EDUCATIONAL PROCESSES THROUGH AN INTEGRATED APPRPOACH TO UNIVERSITY MANAGEMENT CONSISTENT WITH ACADEMIC PRIORITIES AND INDIVIDUAL STUDENT NEEDS I THANK YOU