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Convocation is a statutory body comprising graduates of the University, the Registrar, full-time permanent members of the academic staff, professors emeriti and other retired members of the permanent academic staff whose period of service was at least 10 years. Diplomates not in possession of a degree are not eligible to vote in Convocation elections.
Members of the Convocation, defined as ‘the great legislative assembly consisting of qualified members’ elect the Chancellor of the University, the President of Convocation and the 10 members of the Executive Committee of Convocation (Exco). The President and one elected Exco representative sit on the University Council.
The Convocation is the largest constituency of the University (since the founding of the University in 1922, alumni number almost 100 000). Its statutory mandate that, the convocation discusses and states its opinion upon any matters relating to the University including matters referred to it by the Council‚ allow for the views of this body to be represented at the highest levels of governance of the University.
The day-to-day administrative affairs of Convocation are managed by the Office of Alumni Relations. (The word alumnus(pl. alumni /-ni/; fem. alumna, pl. alumnae /-ni/) derives from the Latin alere, nourish and is a term used by universities throughout the world to refer to their former students. In recent times a colloquial abbreviation alum is also in use.)
As an important link between the University and its alumni, the Office of Alumni Relations produces regular communications including electronic newsletters, an interactive website that includes discussion for both Convocation and Alumni Relations and the quarterly magazine Wits Review. Class reunions and other functions are arranged and support is given to alumni chapters around the world. The Office also manages a retail outlet situated at Senate House which focuses on the sale of Wits branded items.
The Office of Alumni Relations is situated in Alumni House on the West Campus.
Enquiries: telephone (011) 717-1090, fax (011) 403-4493, e-mail: alumni@wits.ac.za, website: www.wits.ac.za/alumni
Source: General Prospectus, University of the Witwatersrand, 2008
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