MIDLANDS STATE UNIVERSITY 25

August 2010

STATEMENT FROM THE VICE CHANCELLOR'S DESK

There have been reports in the press on payment of student fees, which unfortunately do not project the true position with regards to University policy and also the University's relationship with government when it comes to tuition fees. Regrettably, such statements are purportedly coming from some members of the University Senate, lecturers and students.
Given this background, I wish to make clear the official position of the University with regards to fees payable at the University.

• The University did not increase tuition fees for this semester. Tuition fees for conventional students are still pegged at $300.-00 and $350-00 for Humanities and Sciences respectively, while the tuition fees for the full fee paying students are still pegged at $360 and $420 respectively.
• The University has insisted that all students register so that it has correct records of who their students are. During the last meeting of Senate held on the 12th of August 2010, Deans of Faculties and Chairpersons of Departments were fully briefed of the University's position, which they agreed to support, namely that unregistered students who would have paid something as deposit or not, each case considered on its own merit, would be allowed to attend lectures as long as they presented their payment plans. Lecturers were asked to satisfy themselves that students attending their lectures are bonafide MSU registered students or provisionally allowed to attend classes by Academic Registry.
• It was noted that the University would not be able to operate unless students met their fees obligations for operations and sustaining the local incentive. In addition, the University believes in creating a conducive and caring environment where students can access credible learning materials as well as basic necessities such as electricity and water through generators and boreholes respectively, among other deliverables.
• It should also be noted that the Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education has never given a directive to the effect that students should be allowed to learn completely free of charge. Hence with regards to the indigent students, government has put in place a cadetship scheme to enable eligible Zimbabwean students from all backgrounds to learn. The cadetship scheme is ample evidence that government understands that students cannot at any stage, receive meaningful university education for free. No student who has fulfilled conditions of cadetship has been barred from attending classes. MSU accepts students on cadetship and actually encourages students who qualify, to apply for the cadetship scheme, which, in fact, is run on similar lines to the government grants and loans, which some have referred to as ‘learning for free in the past'.
• As regards the full-fee paying programmes students are admitted on the basis that they are expected to pay fees. This fact notwithstanding, the University has been sensitive enough to accept deposits and payment plans from students in these categories.
• As is practice in universities the world over, medical aid is a critical aspect that any caring institution needs to put in place upfront. For administrative efficiency, the service provider is stationed on campus to collect their $30 dues and ensure the students are medically covered.
• Finally the University's doors are open to parents and guardians of students for negotiations of payment so that their children could attend classes. It is the responsibility of everyone to ensure that students comply with registration procedures to enable smooth functioning of University programmes and delivery of core business.

Professor N. M. Bhebe
VICE-CHANCELLOR