Update and happy holidays!

[oyeniyi.abe]

Dear Colleagues:

 

We hope this email finds you well. 

 

As the academic calendar is winding down, the UPPA Executive would like to extend its heartfelt appreciation to you for your continued support, encouragement and advice we have received so far. 

 

We wish to update you on some of the engagements we have had with the University Management. While some of these have yielded some results, some are still a work in progress. We crave your indulgence as we continue to seek common ground in resolving these challenges. 

 

On the status of postdoctoral fellows, Management indicated that this is a national (SARS) regulation that postdocs are not classified as staff member, so that they are not required to pay tax on the fellowships. At UP, for human resource purposes, the University classifies postdoctoral fellows in a separate category so that tax is not deducted from their stipend. However, the Vice Principal, Research and Postgraduate Education has promised to enable access to the research ethics and grant systems, so that postdocs can easily apply for research grants (an opportunity hitherto only granted to staff).

 

For institutional support and advice, postdocs are advised to utilize the Graduate Support Hub at DRI. The Head, Dr Nyika is more than willing to assist postdoctoral fellows.

 

Further discussions are underway on the following issues:

1.     Increase in borrowing privileges at the University library. 

2.     Special coloured card for fellows 

 

As always, we welcome your comments, suggestions and advice. 

We wish you happy holidays!

 

Sincerely, 

UPPA Executive