Arrived on the third week of January (14 January 2019)
FINANCIAL APPEALS
From the first day, I started dealing with appeals, along with the financial aid committee. However, sitting for appeals was constantly being interfered due to unforeseen circumstances.
SPONSORSHIP
This is to ensure that events the SRC organize are well supported to benefit the cause. Hence, sponsorship is momentous, the validity and worth it enhance to cater to the student body needs which are core. In addition, as much as the sponsorship is to benefit the student body it is also important to be cognizant of those facts. The relationship is mutual and business are profit based. However, as the SRC we need to sustain that relationship because it is very beneficial for the Rhodes community at large. Including events such as Registration first-year purple bags, First-year picnic, RU Jamming, Amazing race and, Purple Thursdays.
FeeNix initiative
FeeNix has approached us through the DSA and Alumni house in 2018 to assist in raising funds for students to cover their fees on their platform. These meetings continued to take place between SRC, Alumni, DSA, and the FeeNix from time to time and as the Student Benefits and Sponsorship Councillor, I am responsible for the success of this from the SRC side.
Fees Office
Meetings with Fees Office arise from time to time to mediate in terms of fee payment plans and payment agreements between students, their parents, and the university. Mr. Mathiso has been from time to time found himself deeply engaged in this process as the Student Benefits and Sponsorship Councillor.
Financial Aid
In addition to the work of assisting the office during the registration, Mr. Mathiso and the Secretary-General Mr. Bulelani Mvengenya formed part of the Financial Aid Committee and the meetings of the committee were scheduled from time to time from the registration till the last meeting which took place on the 5th of March. With the assistance of the Secretary-General and other council members of the SRC, MathisoI was able to prepare powerful appeals for all the students who have approached me for assistance. Consultations took place from time to time until just recently whereby students needed our guidance on how they can go about appealing and securing financial support for their studies.
Education Department (PGCE)
These are the students who have brought the challenges that are unique for our attention as the SRC and I has managed to assist the SRC in assisting the students in the manner that they liked.
Alumni Office
Alumni House is working hard to make sure that the students are safe in the university and that they get all the meaningful benefits while at Rhodes University and as the Student Benefits and Sponsorship Councillor I am the liaison between the SRC and the Division when the benefits are concerned. This is very beneficial to the student body. Hence, as a councillor, one took the liberty to have some basic needs that a student(s) may access from the SRC offices, dispense of information by the Media Councillor.
Various Sponsors
Student Benefits and Sponsorship Councillor as the head of sponsorship of Rhodes University Students, He has started to work hard in maintaining the good relationship that exists between Rhodes University SRC and the local businesses and to even expand that. All businesses that sponsored us are recognized by the Alumni House as he has communicated the list of all sponsors to the Alumni for that to be done after all sponsorships were received. Hence, we took the liberty to thank the sponsors on the SRC social media page. This is merely to show our gratitude to them.
Post – Grad Funding
The Student Benefits and Sponsorship Councillor worked hard in finding funding and other benefits for all university students, some students that I have assisted and worked with are Postgraduate Students
Closing
Currently, this office is in the process of strategizing future events to make that happen on time and they are well prepared for.