The Centre for Student Management is a Unit that offers academic and psychosocial support to students in their passage through university.  The support rendered assists students in successfully selecting a programme of study and getting engaged in the learning process.

Students are encouraged to actively participate in activities and processes related to their learning and development. Their views are represented through the Student Representative Council.      

The Unit shall strive to ensure such informed participation of students in contributing towards the enhancement of the learning process and policy formulation is enabled.    

The Unit makes use of Students’ ZOU portals, WhatsApp groups and email addresses to disseminate relevant information. It is important for students to constantly check their portals for any relevant information.

Vision

To provide all Zimbabwe Open University students and stakeholders with high-quality services and support.

Mission

To manage Zimbabwe Open University students and stakeholders’ issues in order to attract more clients and generate client retention levels, which will result in viable and sustainable management of the institution in accordance with the organisation’s strategic plan.

 Core Values

Student Centred

Embracing diversity

Integrity

Respect

The Centre for Student Management strives to fulfil the following roles:

• Provide counselling and advisory services to individual students or groups of students on academic and psychosocial issues that affect their learning through face-to-face, telephone or via WhatsApp chat groups or any other online platforms.
• Offer Career Guidance and Advisement on the choice of programmes, course selection and exemption on courses.
• Provides pre-entry and in-university services on study programmes
• Monitor student enrolment, retention, and dropout rates.
• Provides input on student retention strategies.
• Equip Students with Study and Examination Preparation Skills
• Carry out study skills training sessions with groups of students.
• Provide individual counselling and advisory services to students with specific enquiries to do with study skills, time management and examination preparation.
• Facilitate appropriate arrangements for assignments and examinations for students with special learning needs.
• Participate and input in learning materials production to ensure that learner needs are taken into consideration.
• Advise on appropriate and valid assessment procedures for students with specific challenges.
• Assess adequacy and appropriateness of special examination considerations and arrangements for students requiring the arrangements.
• To ensure students are adequately oriented to major operations of the University

The Centre for student management co-ordinates Student Representative Council (SRC) activities

• Plans for SRC to attend meetings with the University authorities, such as Student Affairs Committee, Senate Meetings, and Students Disciplinary Hearings among others.
• Facilitating the conducting of free and fair Student Representative Council Elections
• Plans for the orientation of the SRC so that they can execute their mandate efficiently.
• Creates chat platforms to enable effective communication between students and the University authorities to facilitate a speedy and amicable resolution of student concerns.
• Co-ordinates sporting and cultural activities, among them, The Vice Chancellor’s Games, Choral music & Dance, Debate & Public Speaking

The office of the Dean of Students is responsible for coordinating all the activities of the Unit and providing support to all students both undergraduate and Post Graduate students. Services on offer include taking care of students with disabilities and financial challenges so that their full potential is realised without being discriminated.  

The Dean of Students' office can be reached at: chivasat@zou.ac.zw, or alternatively deanofstudents@zou.ac.zw /studentmanagement@zou.ac.zw Phone 0719 910 803

Located at the National Centre are Manager Mr. E. Mberi (mberie@zou.ac.zw) and Administrator Ms. R.N.M. Tendere (tenderer@zou.ac.zw) for the Dean of Students' office. The Dean of Students’ office is represented by a Student Advisor in all Regional Campuses who works with the campus Regional Director.