Acacia eNewsletter - June-July 2020

Online Only Classes for First Semester 2020/2021

Africa University students will take all their lectures virtually this fall. A recent escalation in COVID-19 cases in Zimbabwe has led university officials to suspend preparations for in-person classes in August, citing an abundance of caution regarding the health and safety of students, faculty and staff.

More than 870 new students have been admitted for August enrollment. Fifteen percent of the 2020 freshmen are from outside Zimbabwe. Freshman orientation, initially scheduled to begin face-to-face on campus on August 4th, will now be virtual.

"The university is putting in place measures to ensure that the student learning experience is not compromised but rather enhanced through this mode of learning," said Prof. Peter Mageto, who as deputy vice chancellor, oversees academic life at AU.

Students completed academic requirements online following the suspension of in-person lectures in March.

Africa University

"All our teaching staff are going through rigorous training to facilitate high impact and engaged teaching and learning as well as student advising online," said Mageto. Students must have the appropriate hardware as well as reliable high-speed internet for online instruction, discussion, supervision and assessment.

Tuition fees for the first semester of the 2020/2021 academic year are unchanged at $1,400. However, the university is foregoing collection of technology fees and allowing stu- dents to use those funds to improve their access to internet services in their home communities or countries. Students who prepaid accommodation and meal charges can seek refunds.

Phase Two Expansion of Student Union Completed

The phase two expansion of the Ndorimana Bonaventure Dining Hall and Student Union building at Africa University is complete. The addition was one of two construction projects funded by a $2 million gift from Highland Park United Methodist Church (HPUMC) in Dallas, Texas.

Speaking at the formal handover ceremony on July 20th, Vice Chancellor Munashe Furusa thanked the congregation, its senior pastor, Rev. Paul Rasmussen, and HPUMC member and Africa University (Tennessee) Board chair, Mrs. Lisa Tichenor, for their leadership and support.

"This (facility) will become the vibrant center of campus life. Students of AU, know that this building has been built with love for you, for the promise you hold, and for the Africa that you shall create," Furusa said. "We believe that in order for you to deliver excellence, you must experience it."

The new construction improves access to the building for persons with disabilities and expands the space available for entertainment as well as services such as a barbershop, salon, store and gym. A portion of the HPUMC gift was used to build and equip a new residence hall for female students. That building was completed in January 2020 and houses about 130 students.

Africa University Development Office | P O Box 340007 | Nashville, TN 37203 Tel. (615) 340-7438 | Fax. (615) 340-7290 | Email: audevoffice@gbhem.org