CAES Student Support

The role of Student Support Services (SSS) in the College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science (CAES) is to provide counselling to students who are having personal and/or academic difficulties or who wish to improve their academic performance and increase their self-knowledge and wellbeing.  The kinds of issues that students usually seek help with range from depression, anxiety, substance abuse, grief, unplanned pregnancy, and stress to adjustment difficulties, study skills, time management, relationship and family problems, exam preparation as well difficulties choosing a career.

SSS provides life skills training to groups on topics such as time management, study skills, learning styles, career decision making, managing stress, and exam preparation.  Training to student groups such as class rep training and leadership training amongst others is also offered. SSS also offers career assessments and counselling as well as other kinds of psychological assessments. 

>> CAES Student Support Services – English 

>> CAES Student Support Services – isiZulu 

Staff consists of professionally trained Counselling, and Educational Psychologists (Counsellors) across the 3 campuses (Wvl, HC, Pmb and Cedara), Intern Psychologists, Student Development Officers and Administrative Staff committed to the highest ethical standards.

>> Meet the team

• Individual Counselling and Psychotherapy
• Academic Risk assessments
• Psychological Assessments
• Crisis Management
• Career Assessments
• Group Work/ therapy
• Lifeskills Workshops eg: stress, time management, career decision-making
• Study –Skills development
• Learning Enhancement checklist revised (LECR)

>> Read more about our services

• WVL, HC and PMB: 08:00-16:30 during weekdays. We are not open during weekends and on public holidays.
• Cedara: Fridays from 09:00 to 16:00

The service is voluntary and there is no cost to current UKZN students. Career assessments for prospective students not registered at UKZN incur a cost (currently R2500) 

Our appointments are booked electronically using our booking system. To book an appointment with your relevant counsellor, follow these steps:

1. Go to: https://caes-ukzn.bookem.com
2. Register online and create a profile (you only need to do this once and you can update it when necessary if your details change)
3. Choose your relevant campus
4. Then select the counsellor you would like to consult with
5. You will then be directed to the relevant diary of your selected counsellor
6. You must then choose an available 30 or 60 minute appointment time which you will be able to attend
7. You will also need to choose whether you would prefer to be seen online via zoom (teletherapy) or in person (face to face in the counsellor’s office)
8. Once your booking request is approved by a Counsellor, you will receive confirmation of your appointment
9. You will then need to read and sign the intake and consent form online (you only need to do this once). You will not be able to attend counselling if you have not signed this form as it has important terms and conditions which you need to acknowledge.
10. You will receive reminders about your appointment by email. If you cannot make your appointment, please cancel it online in advance. Failure to arrive for your appointment will result in you appearing as a “no show” and will not reflect well on you. Counsellors will only wait online or in person for you for a maximum of 10 minutes. Should you arrive later than 10 minutes after the start of your scheduled appointment, you will not be seen and will have to make another booking.

In the unlikely event that you cannot make a booking online, students can also schedule appointments either with the helpdesk by email, phone or in person

Helpdesk contacts are as follows: Toll free line 0800 800 017 (option 3) or  031 260 7572 or email aessupport@ukzn.ac.za

Emails and phone calls are not attended to outside of office hours. In case of an emergency, please contact (also see below community resources):

• PMB RMS: 033 260 5211
• WVL RMS: 031 260 7133
• HC RMS: 031 260 2540

You can also connect with us on

• Facebook: UKZN-CAES-Student Support Services
• Instagram: caes_studentsupportservices

The Student Counsellor is not allowed to reveal issues discussed during your sessions without your verbal or written informed consent to do so. All our Student Counsellors are bound by the Health Professions Council of South Africa’s ethic of confidentiality which must adhered to at all times during counselling/therapy sessions.  Confidentiality will only be broken if it is assessed that there is a threat to yourself, others or if it is required by law.

Yes, when booking an appointment you can request to see an isiZulu speaking counsellor. Currently these counsellors are:

Howard 

• Ms Nqobile Kweyama | Student Counsellor / Educational Psychologist | 031 260 1594 | KweyamaN2@ukzn.ac.za | Desmond Clarence building, 3rd Floor, Room 344

Westville

• Ms Ronelle Msomi | Student Counsellor / Counselling Psychologist | 031 260 7158 | Msomir1@ukzn.ac.za | Rm 16, 4th floor, OR  Tambo
• Ms Vuyelwa Dladla | Intern Counselling Psychologist | 031 260 7056 | Dladlav@ukzn.ac.za | Rm 10, 4th floor, OR Tambo

Depending on the nature of the problem, try and convince your friend to seek help from either Student Support, the clinic or RMS or another trusted person.  If possible, escort your friend to Student Support Offices and explain to the helpdesk that this is an urgent case. If you feel like your friend is a threat to themselves or others, please consult with Student support immediately. Students in crisis are prioritised and seen immediately.

Unfortunately, not as there is already a very high demand for our services from students. UKZN has an employee wellness programme where staff can access free counselling or consult the list above for community resources: UKZN ICAS Toll Free line: 0800 254 255 | UKZN ICAS on the Go App code: UKZ001

If you require assistance after hours (between 16h30-08h00 or on weekends or public holidays) please contact either of these departments:

RMS (24 hours):

• PMB – 033 260 5211
• WVL – 031 260 7133
• HC – 031 260 3777

Or:

• South African Depression & Anxiety Group | 0800 567 567 
• 24 hour Suicide Helpline | 0800 123 314
• National Health – University Students – Crisis Line | 0800 363 636                   
• Lifeline | 0861 322 322
• Rape Crisis | 0860 287 223
• Thuthuzela Care Centre | 033 395 4325/031 459 6000          
• Akeso Psychiatric Clinic | 087 098 0454                     
• Alcohol & Drug addiction | (031) 301 4959
• AL-Anon (Durban Central) | (031) 304 1826/0861 252  666
• AA (Durban Central) | 086 143 5722
• GBV Toll-free helpline | 0800 150 150

1. Academic matters include, but not limited to matters relating to lectures and lecturers, assessment, plagiarism, cheating, requests/submissions of special requests (e.g. need to miss academic activity due to personal circumstances or university obligations, such as participation in sport competitions for UKZN.

2. Copying and plagiarism are treated very seriously and we will strictly follow the university policy in all cases where plagiarism or copying are identified, which may result in disciplinary action or forfeiting marks. Offences are also noted permanently on your academic record.

3. Mark changes/corrections to exams, tests and practicals will only be considered within one week of the results having been released to you. It is your responsibility to check your marks regularly on Student Central. We will not consider any late requests for mark changes or corrections.

4. Medical certificates must be submitted (only to the CTO office of the School) within one week of the missed practical or test, students admitted to medical facilities need to submit a medical certificate on the first day after being discharged. All medical certificates will be confirmed for authenticity (see below).

5. Receiving fraudulent medical certificates and other reports will be forwarded to the university proctor for disciplinary action. This is considered a serious offence requiring university action.

6. The protocol refers only to student grievances. Issues relating to administration matters, such as incorrect mark capturing, class mark, DP, etc., should be directed as advised by the particular lecturer concerned.

7. For contact details of individuals/sections indicated in the procedure, please consult our CTO staff/offices.