Academic Services Unit
The Academic Services Unit forms part of the six service units of the Centre for Psychological Services and Career Development (PsyCaD). The main purpose of this unit is:
- to promote the academic success of students at the University of Johannesburg through internal support services;
- to promote access to psycho-educational services as a means of promoting the psycho-emotional health and academic well-being to UJ students;
- to promote the retention and throughput of students at the University through collaboration with the various faculties.
This Service Unit consists of two broad functional areas, namely that of Academic Services, as well as The Office for People with Disabilities (O:PwD). Each basic function is characterised by various sub-functions. For this purpose the Academic Service Unit is currently manned by seven professionals, including four psychological practitioners, and two office professionals.
What do we do?
The basic functions of the Academic Service Unit include the following:
- Faculty Liaison
- First year Experience
- Office: People with Disabilities (O:PwD)
- Advisory Services
Faculty liaison
Academic Counselling
- Academically underperforming students receive counselling support. This means exploring a range of issues that could have interfered with their academic adaptation and progress. Strategies are then put in place to enhance learning and development.
Academic Assessments
- Academic assessments consist of assessments for academically excluded students (the so-called F7 students) as well as academically at risk students (the so-called F5 students). Evaluations are undertaken to guide faculties regarding the placement of students. Language proficiency assessments also are performed.
- Assessment and recommendation of students that have been academically excluded (F7) by their faculty due to poor academic performance — at student’s request. Payment for these services by the applicant is required.
- Assessment of and recommendations to students that are at risk of academic failure(F5) — this service is requested by faculties and the student is not required to pay for the service.
- Working with faculty referrals of students at risk of failure in the first and second semester (E1 and E2) for interventions by PsyCaD (these interventions are facilitated across PsyCaD teams).
- Liaising with faculties to promote student psycho-emotional and academic well-being
Course Cancellation Counselling
The Academic Services Unit offers a counselling and support service to assist students in making informed decisions prior to cancelling or terminating their studies.
The First Year Experience (FYE)
The FYE initiative aims to enhance the academic and personal adjustment as well as the development of the first year student. Student orientation to University structures and services forms an integral part of the UJ Orientation process, and Academic Services play a coordinating role in this regard within PsyCaD.
PsyCaD’s role in the FYE is to address the psycho-emotional and academic health needs of first year students. This is achieved through the provision of workshops or theme presentations relevant to FYE. In addition, support services are provided to academic departments and their faculties in aid of the first year students.
Office: People with Disabilities
The Academic Services Unit of PsyCaD also runs the Office: People with Disabilities. To read more about this initiative, click here.
Advisory services: Walk-in Service
PsyCaD provides a walk-in service where clients without appointments are seen on a first come, first seen basis for a short 15 minute session. The key objective of this service is to initially assess the needs of the clients approaching PsyCaD and to meet the demand for counselling swiftly This service is available to registered students as well as to prospective students.
Services include attending to brief enquiries, providing career information, initial screening with a view to follow-up appointments and making appropriate referrals.