STUDENT AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT
The Student Affairs Department is a division under the office of the Vice Chancellor. The department is headed by the Dean of Students who is a senior member of Academic Staff. The Dean is assisted by the Deputy Dean and an Administrative Officer representing Registry Department and who serves as Departmental Secretary. Other staff members include Guidance and Counseling Officers, Hall Officers, Clerical Officers and Office Assistants.
The Department provides non-academic services such as; Student Welfare matters, Hostel Accommodation, Career Guidance and Counseling, NYSC mobilization, recreation, sporting activities and students disciplinary matters. It is also the responsibility of the Department to regulate and control Student Union activities for the purpose of safeguarding national security, public order and public morality.
STUDENT SERVICES
GUIDANCE AND COUNSELING SERVICES
The Guidance and Counseling Unit in the Student Affairs Department offers a wide range of counseling and psychological services aimed at helping students and staff to acquire and develop attitudes and skills, insights and understanding about themselves and their environment. The following services are available:
- Individual and group counseling
- Academic/educational counseling
- Careers counseling/information
- Personal/social counseling
- Crisis intervention including:
- Room mate problems
- Courtship/marital problems
- Feeling of isolation and depression
- Lack of concentration and interest
- Anxiety about examinations
- Relaxation/shyness problems
- Ineffective study habits
- Victimization and intimidations problems
- Sexual harassment
- Indigent students part-time work
- Referral Services etc.
The Guidance and Counseling Officers are available for consultation from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily (Monday to Friday).
HOSTEL ACCOMMODATION
There are six students’ Halls of Residence on Bosso Campus. These comprise Blocks L, M, N, and O for Female Students and Blocks P and Q for Male Students. In all there are 1,600 bed spaces of which 570 and 1030 are shared among the female and male students respectively. The Gidan-kwano Campus on the other hand has three Halls of Residence. These include Blocks A & B for male students and a female hostel block comprising five sub-blocks (C,D.E,F & G). In all there are 940 bedspaces at Gidan-kwano of which 300 and 640 are shared among the female and male students respectively. Thus less than 20% of students population could only be accommodated on Campus whereas the majority live off -Campus.
POLICY GUIDELINES ON ACCOMMODATION
All students (including Remedial students) are eligible for a bedspace in the Halls. However, priorities will be given to:
- Foreign students
- Physically challenged students
- Sportsmen and women that has won medals for the University
REGISTRATION FOR HOSTEL ACCOMMODATION
Fresh and returning students seeking hostel accommodation are required to register for available bed spaces on-line by logging onto the University website: www.futminna.org. Allocation of bed spaces by the Hostel Managers shall be strictly on first come first serve basis.
DURING VACATION
All students must vacate their Halls of Residence during the semester breaks. If for any reason a student has to stay during vacation a formal application must be submitted to the Hostel Managers through the student’s Head of Department and the Dean of Students for permission of stay. Reasonable charges are made for the up-keep and Hostel services.
RULES AND REGULATIONS GUIDING HOSTEL ACCOMMODATION
All students officially allocated bed spaces in Halls of Residence are made to sign an undertaking to be of good behaviour and to abide by University Rules and Regulations as stated below:-
1. |
University authority is not under any obligation to provide all students with Hostel accommodation. Allocation of bed space in Halls of Residence is therefore a privilege and not a right. |
2. |
The University does not accept responsibility for any loss or damage to students’ property within or outside the Halls of Residence. |
3. |
Only students duly registered for the session are eligible for allocation of bed spaces |
4. |
Any student found occupying a bed space illegally or squatting at any point in time will be ejected and made to face disciplinary actions. |
5. |
Any bed space or room allocation made cannot be altered and student must remain where they are assigned for the period or session under review. |
6. |
All University property/facilities provided in the Hostels must be used judiciously. Any damage(s) effected to such facilities as a result of misuse shall be fully replaced or paid for by the student(s) concerned. |
7. |
It is mandatory that students keep their rooms, corridor, toilets, kitchen and environment in general, clean and tidy. All rubbish must be properly disposed off. |
8. |
It is an offence for any student to engage in illegal transfer or sale of bed spaces. Such actions would attract penalties which may include dismissal from the University. |
9. |
Students must vacate their rooms, remove all their personal effects during holidays and hand over keys to the Hall Supervisor before departing on each vacation. Failure of which will attract payment of full rent for the period. |
10. |
Students residing in each Hall must be ready to participate in any organized sanitation exercise. Students who fail to participate will be ejected from the Hostel. |
11. |
Cooking inside rooms is strictly prohibited. Students must use the Kitchenettes provided in each Hall or any other appropriate place approved by the Hostel Managers. Any student(s) who contravene(s) this regulation will have his/her cooking materials seized and also face severe disciplinary action, including ejection from the hostel and/or suspension from the University. |
12. |
Transfer of Classroom, Library, Lecture Theatre or Cafeteria furniture/equipment into students’ rooms is strictly prohibited. |
13. |
Students are forbidden to engage in trading or hawking inside the hostels |
14. |
Sale or consumption of alcohol or any other intoxicants is banned on Campus. Any student found violating this order shall be expelled from the University. |
15. |
Any electrical appliances not certified alright should not be brought in or else the owner will be ejected/banned from hostel accommodation. The use of refrigerators and cookers is restricted to the kitchenettes, subject to availability of space. |
16. |
Fighting, religious preaching, noise making and misuse of musical instruments in the hostels are strictly prohibited and can lead to summary dismissal from the university. |
17. |
Any activity that is not in the interest of the academic and welfare pursuit of the University is banned. |
18. |
Any student found in possession of dangerous weapons such as knife, gun, offensive chemicals will face summary dismissal from the University. |
19. |
Students may receive visitors between 9.00am and 10.00pm. Only. |
20. |
No male Visitors (including male students) are allowed into the female hostels and no female visitors (including female students) are allowed into the male hostels. |
21. |
The University does not accept responsibility for any loss or damage to students’ property. |
22. |
All non-Hostel residents and visitors entering the Hostels must check in at the reception desk in the Porter’s Lodge. |
23. |
Female students that are nursing mothers are not allowed to reside with their babies in the hostels. |
24. |
Friends, or relatives, are not to be housed in the Halls of Residence for any period of time without written authorization by the Dean of Students. |
25. |
Violation of any of the above conditions shall lead to students being surcharged, face ejection from hostel, or banned from hostel accommodation for the remaining part of his/her stay in the University, or even suspension or dismissal from the University. |
ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES
Use of high wattage appliances (Hot plates, electric cooker, washing machines, refrigerator, freezers etc.) is prohibited in the rooms. No student must tamper with or alter in anyway, electrical installations in any section of the Hall of Residence. Porters are mandated to carryout on the spot checks in students’ rooms and to report defaulting students to the Dean of Students for appropriate sanction.
PREGNANT STUDENTS
The Hostel Managers shall not accept liability for the arrangement of ante-natal and delivery services of pregnant students. The University Health Center will undertake to advise and direct students generally as may be necessary. A pregnant student will report her condition early to the Dean of Students and the Director, Health Services. A pregnant student will be allowed to remain in the Hall of Residence not longer than three months before her expected date of delivery as may be determined by the Director, Health Services.
EXIT
For absence over night or longer periods, students are required to obtain duly signed exit forms from the Dean of Students. Any absence involving missing of lectures, practical classes, require the approval of the Students’ Academic Adviser and of the Head(s) of Department(s) and Dean of School concerned.
FEEDING
The University has engaged the services of private Caterers to provide meals to the students on PAY AS YOU EAT basis in the University’s Cafeteria.
COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES
All activities related to the sale of goods and provisions of services on the two campuses of the University are under the Commercial Activities Committee. There are butteries and shops attached to or close to the Halls. These and other available spaces are allocated by the Committee to independent private operators for the provision of essential services to students at affordable prices. The Committee also monitors prices in order to check possible excesses on the part of the private operators. In some cases, prices are negotiated between the two parties, with the Students’ Union as a third party.
RECREATION AND SPORTS
It is the interest of the University to ensure moral and physical development of the Students through adequate sporting activities. In this regard, a variety of recreational and sporting facilities have been made available in the Bosso Campus of the University. These include a Football field, Volleyball, Lawn Tennis, Badminton, Basket ball Courts, and Table Tennis Tables. Plans are underway to develop similar sporting facilities at the Gidan-kwano Campus. In addition the University makes use of Niger State Sports Council facilities to provide some necessary back-up services for our students.
The University is a member of the Nigerian University Games Association (NUGA); and has actively participated in various NUGA Games and other Inter-University sports competitions.
STUDENT PROBLEMS:
Individual or collective student problems concerning the Halls should be referred to the Hall Supervisor or respective Hall Advisers in the first instance who will in turn report the matter to the Dean of Students for necessary action.
The Guidance and Counseling Unit of the Students’ Affairs Department provides advice and help for students who have personal, psychological or academic problems. The office is particularly concerned to help students attain maximum comfort in pursuing their academic programme.
Regulations Governing Conduct Of Students And Procedures For Settling Students’ Grievances
Conduct Of Students:
Conduct of students that falls into any of the categories listed below is subject to strict disciplinary actions and possibly expulsion from the University:
- Physical assaults, whether or not they lead to injuries.
- Vandalization of University property and perpetration of acts that prevent the University from carrying out its statutory functions.
- Membership of cults, drug cartels or organizations whose aim is to deprive others of their fundamental human rights.
Students’ Grievances Against Staff
Students may feel aggrieved by the actions of some staff in the course of their day – to – day interaction. Such grievances are inevitable and may arise in areas such as:
- Academic matters involving grading, evaluation or status.
- Denial of student access to data or misappropriation of student’s data/research.
- Professional misconduct towards students.
- Unfair discriminatory or intimidating treatment of students including sexual harassment.
- Unfavourable actions taken as a result of allegations involving cheating, plagiarism, fabrications, falsification of record or altered documents; and
- Aiding and abetting the perpetration of above acts.
Procedure for Handling Grievances
The following procedures should be adhered to in handling grievances:
Step 1: The discussion of the grievance by the student and academic staff concerned. It is anticipated that majority of cases could be resolved at that personal level without recourse to other steps.
Step 2: If that proves unsatisfactory to either party, he or she shall discuss the matter informally with the Head of Department who should attempt to mediate and resolve the dispute.
Step 3: If step 2 fails to satisfy either party, he or she shall present a written appeal to the Head of Department. In the event that the Head of Department is personally involved, the written request shall be addressed to the Dean of the School. In the unlikely event that the Dean is subject of the complaint, the written appeal shall be addressed to the Vice Chancellor through the Dean of Students.
Step 4: Upon receipt of a written grievance, the Head of Department or the Dean should appoint an Ad-hoc Appeal Committee comprising three staff and two students, deemed to be neutral to the issue, to review the case. The Ad-hoc Committee shall conduct hearing including testimonies from witnesses for both parties. The Appeal Committee shall, on completing its assignment, prepare written recommendations to the Head of Department or Dean who shall inform the parties of the recommendations of the Committee.
Step 5: If the decision is still not acceptable to either party, the matter shall be presented to the Vice Chancellor who will make a final determination.
Step 6: If the matter borders on Staff discipline, the case will be treated in line with the provisions of the University statute and as contained in Senior Staff Appointment Conditions of Service.
It should be noted that:
- Every effort should be made to resolve issues at the lowest possible step in the procedure.
- Grievances should be filed promptly following the actions from which appeal derives; and
- Written grievances should include all pertinent facts and information to substantiate the grievances.
Misunderstanding between students
All forms of misunderstanding between fellow students should be first reported to the University authority through appropriate channels (Students’ Affairs Department, Security Division, Course Advisers, Heads of Department, Deans, etc.)
The University does not encourage any student reporting a fellow student or any member of the University community directly to the law enforcement agencies.. Any grievance against any member of the University community must first be reported to the University authorities.
DRESS CODE
Students must dress properly in public while on campus; accordingly the Senate of the University has identified the following as constituting indecent modes of dressing and will not be tolerated in the University environment:
1. Short and skimpy dresses e.g. Body hugs, Show-me-your chest/back/stomach, Spaghetti wears and dresses exposing sensitive parts.
2. Tight shorts and skirts that are above the knees (except for sporting purposes).
3. Tattered jeans with holes and/or patches.
- Transparent and see-through dresses.
- Tight fittings e.g. Jeans, Shirts, Hip Star, Patra, Lactra, Cross-No-Gutter, Mini-micro and others that reveal the contour of the body.
- Under clothing, such as singlets worn publicly.
- Unkempt and haggard appearance, including bushy hair and rough beards;
- Dresses that make it impossible to wear laboratory coat during practicals or participate actively in practicals.
- Long and tight skirts, with long slits that reveal sensitive parts.
- Wearing of T-shirts with offensive captions.
- Skirts without buttons or not properly buttoned leaving the wearer bare chested.
- Wearing of earrings by male students.
- Plaiting or weaving of hair by male students.
- Wearing of coloured eye glasses, except on medical grounds in the classrooms/ lecture halls/library/offices.
- Wearing bathroom slippers to class/library/offices (except on medical grounds).
- Wearing of covering that obscure the face and hands and which make the identity of a person difficult or impossible to fathom.
Punishment for offenders
The punishment for violating the dress code shall range from warning to suspension from the University and without prejudice to stiffer penalties. Lecturers, Technologists, Security and Staff of the Student Affairs Department (Guidance and Counseling Officers) will monitor and ensure strict compliance. Worst-case offenders will have to face the Students’ Disciplinary Committee for appropriate disciplinary measures.
STUDENT WORK STUDY PROGRAMME.
This programme is a noble one recently established in the Student Affairs Unit in collaboration with the Direct Labour Unit primarily to cater for the needs of indigent students. The students are engaged in the different areas of casual labour (skilled and unskilled) to execute essential projects introduced by the University Authority. Participants in the programme are paid at a predetermined rate per hour depending on the nature of the assignment. Each student is allowed to work for a minimum set hours per semester. Through this programme, students are not only gainfully kept engaged and busy; they are also compensated financially and exposed to the challenges of the future.
NATIONAL YOUTH SERVICE CORPS (N.Y.S.C.)
The students eligible for the one year N.Y.S.C. scheme should not be more than 30 years of age at the time of graduation and must satisfy the minimum graduation requirements of their various Departments/Schools. They must also be found worthy in character. Only students whose results have been duly approved by the Senate are qualified.
Candidates coming for N.Y.S.C. call-up letters should:
1. Ensure that no any University property is in his/her possession.
2. Bring along with, photocopies of his/her statement of result, University clearance paper and I.D. card for presentation to the NYSC Schedule Officers in the Department.
Those seeking for concessional posting can only be on the following grounds:
1. Illness:- the sickness shall be certified by the University Health Services and the ailment shall be either of the following:- tuberculosis, sickle cell, mental illness, epilepsy , heart and kidney diseases and HIV/ AIDS.
2. Orthopedics/visually handicapped persons
3. Married women: – Married women must provide the following documents to the Student Affairs Division:
- Marriage certificate/affidavit, Newspapers publications of change of name,
- Letter indicating husband’s place of domicile obtained from either his employer or the Secretary of the LGA where he resides.
Those not eligible for service include the followings:
- All graduates of part-time, sandwich, evening or weekend course, as well as products of distant learning of satellite campuses.
- Holders of HND Certificates obtained from Universities, Nigerian Army, Police and State Security Services.
STUDENT COMMITTEES REPRESENTATION
There are some Committees in which students are members. This is to avail the students to be adequately represented when matters that have direct effect on them are being considered. Such Committees include;
- University Ceremonies Committee (two representatives) one of whom must be a Female)
- Students Welfare Committee (three representatives one of whom must be a Female)
- Sports Committee (one representative, Students’ Union Director of Sports)
- Committee on Sexual Harassment (two representatives one of whom must be a Female).
- Campus Community Communication Forum (two representatives, one of whom must be a Female.
- Students Disciplinary Committee (two representatives one of whom must be a Female)
- Laboratory Committee (three representatives from each School)
- Health Management Committee (two representatives one of whom must be a Female)
- Committee Overseeing the Activities Of Hostel Managers (two representatives one of whom must be a Female)
The Dean of Students is responsible for sending the list of nominated students to secretaries of the appropriate Committees concerned. Student representatives serve one term only after which new members are nominated in order to give opportunity to as many students as possible.
More information follows later.
