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.
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.
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:
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):
You can also connect with us on
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.
Please consult with either your Academic Development Officer (ADO) or your respective programme co-ordinator or academic leader.
Please consult your relevant financial aid advisors:
Howard
Pietermaritzburg
Westville
Ms Lindiwe Mdondolo | Financial Aid Advisor | 031- 260 1488 | kumalo@ukzn.ac.za | 2nd Floor, Oliver Tambo
Please consult with the College office:
Howard College
Pietermaritzburg
Westville
Please consult with the College office as per table above
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.
As part of compulsory academic monitoring and support, all students who are academically ‘at risk’ must complete the revised Learning Enhancement Checklist (LECR) online and attend a group feedback session with a counsellor. Together with the counsellor, possible threats to your academic success can be identified and addressed.
Often students are unaware of what could be disrupting their studies, and require counselling to unpack some of these barriers and help you to find your strengths. Our experience has been that students who seek help timeously have a much better chance of passing.
As part of this registration process, you will be directed to complete the revised Learning Enhancement Checklist (LECR) either when you register or before registration closes. The process of completing the online Learning Enhancement Checklist Revised (LECR) will assist you in identifying obstacles to your academic progress by reflecting on key issues so that you can get back to good academic standing. You will need a computer/device/laptop with internet access.
Yes, when booking an appointment you can request to see an isiZulu speaking counsellor. Currently these counsellors are:
Howard
Westville
If you require assistance after hours (between 16h30-08h00 or on weekends or public holidays) please contact either of these departments:
RMS (24 hours):
Or:
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
Please follow the communication protocol below:
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.
Book a counselling session
Students can book either a 30 or 60 minute one-on-one therapeutic session with a trained psychologist. Bookings must made using the booking system.
New LEC® assessments
All students CAES students with negative term decisions are required to attend online counselling with the Student Support Services on their campus.
Book a career development session
The career development officer visits HC, PMB & WVL campuses each week. You can book a session to acquire skills and tools that will help you start your career.
We have vibrant Facebook and Instagram pages that we use to engage with our students. Scroll through our timeline and take a look at our student support activities and initiatives.
We want to hear from you, so visit our pages and connect with us.
Follow us on Facebook
We have a vibrant Facebook page that we use to engage with our students. Scroll through our timeline on the left and take a look at our student support activities and initiatives.
We want to hear from you, so visit our page and connect with us.
REGISTRATION 2020
It is compulsory for all students with academic holds to do the LEC assessment.
You will have to attend the assessment with a counsellor, during the allocated times.
About us
Student Support Service aims to ensure that students’ personal and emotional needs are met. We are aware that many students’ academic performance is negatively affected by difficult personal circumstances.
Our aim is to support ALL students in a holistic manner. To do this, we provide academic support in the form of study skills and time management workshops; and psychological support for students experiencing personal and psychological difficulties.
No problem is too big or too small and every student matters to us.
Book a counselling session
Students can book either a 30 or 60 minute one-on-one therapeutic session with a trained psychologist. Bookings must made using the booking system.
LEC assessment
You can do the assessment online or attend a session in the LAN at specified times under the guidance of a student counsellor
Book a career development session
The career development officer visits HC, PMB & WVL campuses each week. You can book a session to acquire skills and tools that will help you start your career.
Follow us on Facebook
We have a vibrant Facebook page that we use to engage with our students. Scroll through our timeline on the left and take a look at our student support activities and initiatives.
We want to hear from you, so visit our page and connect with us.
