The University has a special system to monitor and support the academic progress of all students. This is called The Academic Monitoring and Support Programme (AMS). The Dean of Teaching and Learning has oversight of this programme in the College of Humanities.
All first-year students are considered to be green up until their first exams. Thereafter, at the beginning of each semester, you will receive a code with a corresponding colour to help you track your performance. This code is based on your performance in the exams, as well as the University progression rules. Here is a description of each colour and code:
Performance Codes
Blue
Outstanding Academic Performance Always strive to be here
Outstanding Academic Performance
This is to signal to you that you are on track to pass your degree CUM LAUDE or SUMMA CUM LAUDE. These are special first class passes – a great academic achievement!
Green
Good Academic Standing This means that you are doing well in meeting the minimum progression criteria – an acceptable place to be.
Good Academic Standing
New students who register for the first time and have not transferred from another College of the University are initially deemed to be of good academic standing and coded green. A student remains coded green provided s/he has passed at least 75% of the maximum expected credit load to date and also has passed 70% or more of the normal credit load this semester.
Orange
At Risk This is a warning. You need to go back to ‘green’. See your AMS co-ordinator
At Risk
A student who is at risk is required to participate in a compulsory developmental programme, including academic counselling, a possible modified curriculum, as well as student counselling for personal, life skills and/or career counselling.
A student may be deemed ‘at risk’ when:
- His/her performance is above the applicable minimum progression requirements but is not at the level of ‘green’, that is, s/he has not passed 75% of the maximum expected credits to date.
- Fewer than 70% of the normal credit load has been passed in the current semester.
- Credits are below the applicable minimum progression requirements but the student has been registered for one semester only – the student is placed on academic probation with specific and realistic conditions, even if such a student is performing (orange) provided s/he continues to meet the set probation requirements that are reviewed each semester.
Red
Underperforming NO! NO! NO! Not a good place to be in. See your AMS Co-ordinator immediately!
Underperforming
A student will be coded red when his/her performance falls below the applicable minimum progression requirements and s/he has been registered for two semesters or more. The first time a student becomes ‘red’, s/he is placed on strict academic probation. After compulsory academic and personal or career counselling, s/he may be permitted to continue in the same qualification or may be advised to redirect to another qualification in the same or another College.
A student will become ‘red’ for a second time if s/he does not achieve the probation conditions set in the previous semester or if, after improving performance for a period, the student again drops below the required levels. In this case, the student must appeal to be readmitted to the same or a different qualification or College. If a student is readmitted following a successful appeal, s/he is placed on final probation with specific conditions to be met and continued academic support.
If a student who was severely underperforming (‘red’) responds to interventions, achieves probation requirements and eventually works back to good academic standing (‘green’), s/he will be considered rehabilitated and the previous period as ‘red’ will not be considered should s/he subsequently lapse.
If a student does not respond to such interventions and s/he continues to underperform, s/he must appeal for readmission and may or may not be readmitted on final probation. If readmitted and still the student does not respond to interventions while on final probation, s/he will be excluded. No further appeals are allowed.
Students who transfer between qualifications carry their history and academic status with them. Students will normally only be accepted into a new qualification if they are able to complete the new degree in the maximum time permitted for this degree, which includes the semesters they have already spent at UKZN and for which they may have generated credits towards the new degree.
Mentorship and Academic Monitoring & Support Team
They are there to monitor and support your academic performance through a variety of programmes using a holistic approach.
Who are they and where to find them?
Click on Profile Photo for more information
Makhosi Nathi Phetha
Howard College • MTB ZG138
031 260 2685 • hdss-mentorship@ukzn.ac.za OR phetham@ukzn.ac.za
Thandanani Ngidi
Pietermaritzburg • House 6, Milner Rd
033 260 6429 • amsp@ukzn.ac.za
Victor Nnadozie
Edgewood • MTB Room CU132
031 260 3086 • Nnadozie@ukzn.ac.za
Mentors
Each first-year student is assigned to a mentor. You might have had a mentor at school when you were in Grade 1 or Grade 8. You might have been a mentor yourself! A mentor is also a student who has already successfully completed their first year. So s/he knows what it’s like to be at University for the first time. They know the campus, who to go to and where to go to for help. They also know what the challenges are and what you should know. See your mentor as a special kind of friend who can point you in the right direction when things might get a bit confusing or overwhelming.
