Student Life

Vision
To be a leader in the provision of excellent professional support services and co curricula programs with a global perspective.

Mission
To facilitate the holistic development of students from a diverse population through carefully selected programs and support services that assure their preparedness for meaningful engagement in the competitive world around and
beyond them.

Values:

Integrity and Transparency
Environmental Sustainability
Respect
Social Responsibility
Multicultural Understanding
Ethical Leadership
Innovativeness

Programs:

New Students Orientation: 1st week of the semester. All new students are required to attend all the orientation events during the week so that they can:

Be exposed to university academic and non-academic information, policies and regulations.
Be introduced to Key faculty and staff members that they will be interacting with during their studies.
Learn about Campus facilities and the various services at their disposal.
Gain knowledge about Placement Tests which all new undergraduate degree seeking students must take during the orientation week.

The Orientation activities help students transit more smoothly into their new campus life. Parents, sponsors and guardians are expected to attend the first day of orientation in order to familiarize themselves with university policies and regulations that will affect their children/wards.

During this time, they gain information about fee structures and payment, course units, how to access their children’s/ward registration and grade information online, what faculty expect of students and how to support their children during their university lives. Parents also have the opportunity to seek clarifications about various issues that will impact on the student’s education in the university. It is therefore advisable that all first time USIU-Africa students’ parents attend the orientation session scheduled for them.

Graduate Orientation programs are held separately and focus on the needs of the new graduate students. All new students (undergraduates and graduates) are advised to attend all scheduled orientation sessions. They must also ensure that they acquire and sign for flash disks that contain the University Catalogue, Student Handbook and other useful regulations.

The Sub-Division of Student Affairs is committed to providing a supportive learning environment that will ensure the all-round development of students through planned student welfare and activities programs as well as academic support services. The Associate Deputy Vice Chancellor - Student Affairs is the head of the sub-division.

Every student who attends USIU-Africa will have the opportunity to learn, enhance and develop many interests and talents. The ADVCSA is the Student Affairs Council (SAC) advisor and together with a committed team of staff from Student Affairs, works closely with SAC and other student leaders to facilitate and help enhance student leadership skills and knowledge, the identification of their talents and uniqueness and the exploration of the vast range of opportunities in the university. The ADVCSA is the liaison between the university administration and the students through SAC.

Student Life Staff:

Professional staff in the Sub-Division provide the necessary services and work with students to ensure their engagement in activities that complement their academic learning. Students are advised to visit the following for different services and programs.

Dr. Victor Boiyo
Deputy Vice Chancellor - Student Life
Office: Second Floor, Freida Brown Student Center
Telephone: +254 730 116 795 /788

Maureen Kaoga
Office Administrator
Telephone: +254 730 116 795

Admissions Department

Dean of Students

The Dean of Students office is housed at the Freida Brown Student Center. The Dean oversees student activities as well as the international students’ services. The Student Affairs staff are committed to fostering a conducive learning environment outside the classroom so as to nature the all-round development of the students. In order to do this, the Dean of Students office works closely with Student Council and serves as a liaison between the administration and the students. Individual students are free to see the Dean whenever there is need in his office at the Freida Brown Student Centre, Ground Floor.

Our Vision

To be a leading center of service excellence in student welfare and co-curricular learning.

Our Mission

Promote the development and application of skills, values, knowledge and attitudes that enhance the students’ self-discovery and empowerment so as to prepare them to meet the challenges of a competitive and changing world.

Core Values

Passion for service excellence
Integrity and transparency
Commitment to leadership and delivery of winning results
Ownership and accountability to processes and outcomes
Fostering Trust among stakeholders

Policies and Regulations

The University Catalogue
The Student Handbook
The Residents Handbook
The International Students Handbook
The Clubs Handbook
The Sports Handbook
The Student Council Constitution

Location: Freida A. Brown Student Center, Ground & First Floors

Staff:

Ronald Kimani, Dean of Students – Telephone: 0730 116 781
Mr. Bonfas Salano, Senior Student Affairs Officer -Sports – Telephone 0730 116 747
Mr. Chris Ayuoyi, Senior Student Affairs Officer - Clubs – Telephone 0730 116 792
Ms. Kellen Njagi, International Students Officer – Telephone 0730 116. 765
Ms. Kasyoka Mwambua, Office Administrator – Telephone 0730 116 787

Services and Programs offered: Visit the offices for information on:

Sports Programs
Student Clubs
Student Exchange and Study Abroad programs
Student Code of Ethics and Disciplinary procedures
Student Welfare Services
Yearbook
New Students Orientation
Flash disk with the university Catalog and Student Handbook

Sections:

International Students Office

This is the International Students’ contact office and handles all their related questions. It offers services such as:

Orientation of international students including organizing the city tour.
Handles specific problems and concerns of individual international students.
Coordinates student exchange/study abroad programs.

For more information, please Contact the Senior Student Affairs Officer- International Students Ms. Kellen Njagi at the Freida Brown Student Centre, 1^st Floor or on Extension 765.

The Year Book

The yearbook, which is an annual publication, is a memorabilia for graduates. The book is compiled and edited by a committee, under the supervision of faculty from the journalism program. The office of the Associate DVC, Student Affairs overseas the work of this committee. Students wishing to join this committee should submit their names to the Senior Student Affairs Officer - Club Coordination on Extension 792.

Student Council

The Student Council commonly known as SC is the student association governing body at USIU Africa. All registered students are members of this Association. SC works with the students, faculty and administration on activities and policies that are related to the overall well-being and interest of the student community. The SC offices are located within the Freida Brown Student Center. You can reach the SC Executive on Extension. 767

Electoral College

The Electoral College conduct the election of the members of the Students Council (SC) and are also representatives of students’ academics matters in their various schools. The electoral colleges are constituted of representatives from all the university schools as well as any other any other School in existence at the time of election.

Placement and Career Services Department

Counseling Department

Housing Department

Objectives

To provide quality Housing services and programs that enhance residential student success in a clean, safe and inclusive living-learning environment – a “home away from home”.

Campus Residence Halls

The student halls of residence allow them to live close to instructional and academic support buildings, the dining facility and other university services. Two residential buildings accommodate 256 students on campus. Facilities in the buildings include the Table Tennis/Darts/Pool Room, three TV Rooms and a Study Room.

Facilities

Unlike most colleges, the residence halls provide fully furnished rooms for accommodating two residents in each room. Each room therefore has two beds and mattresses, study tables, chairs and wardrobes. There are communal bathrooms on each floor shared by occupants from four rooms.

A telephone is located on each floor for incoming calls.

Resident Assistants live on each wing to provide assistance and facilitate a positive community experience.

With very limited on-campus housing, priority is therefore first given to international students. Should space permit, students from outside Nairobi City are then considered.

One must be enrolled as a full-time student (9 credits units or more) at USIU-Africa to live in the Residence Halls. Graduate students must take a minimum of 6 credit units to be permitted to stay in the Residence Halls.

Room Reservation

USIU-Africa residence halls provide fully furnished rooms for two students. Each room therefore has two beds and mattresses, study tables, chairs, book shelves, and wardrobes. There are communal bathrooms on each floor shared by occupants from four rooms.
A telephone is located on each floor for incoming calls.
Resident Assistants live on each wing to provide assistance and facilitate a positive community experience.
With very limited on-campus housing, priority in room allocations is given to international students. Should space permit, students from Kenya are then considered. All students who wish to live on campus must fill in a Room Application Form.
To be eligible to live in the Residence Halls, an undergraduate student must be enrolled as a full-time student (9 credits units or more) at USIU-Africa. Graduate students must take a minimum of 6 credit units to be permitted to stay in the Residence Halls.

Check-in / Check-out

When checking into the room, the resident will be required to fill in a check-in form with his/her Resident Assistant. This form will then be checked during checkout and any damages other than normal wear and tear will be the resident’s responsibility.

Health Services

All residents are required to submit PRE-ENTRANCE PHYSICAL EXAMINATION and sign up for the university’s HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM that has been established by the university to protect and ensure healthful conditions for all students. For further information, check with the Health Services Coordinator in the Health Centre or the Head of Housing on arrival.
All students should submit their medical history to the University health Centre within the first week of arrival.
Medical insurance is compulsory for all residents. However, residents who have alternative medical cover will be exempted from the university cover upon documentary proof. Residents must meet the cost of insurance.
Whenever a student is ill or injured, he or she should report to the Health Centre, the Resident Assistants and/or Receptionists
PREGNANT students are not permitted to stay in the hostels. The university authorities reserve the right to carry out pregnancy tests in case of a dispute.
There is a FIRST AID KIT (available 24 hours) with the Resident Assistants for minor injuries. Resident assistants will refer serious cases to the Heath Center. What cannot be handled by the Health Center will be referred to the hospital(s) approved by the insurance company.

Resident Assistants (RAs)

Resident Assistants (RAs) are appointed after a rigorous process that involves both written and oral interviews. They serve in different areas including hostel reception, maintenance, entertainment, etc and help in the administration of the hostels. They also:
- Act as a bridge between the administration and the resident students
- Arbitrate in case of disputes between residents
- Officially check residents in and out of the hostels.
- Handle problems and questions in the hostels and work with the Head of Housing.
- Inspect all hostel areas to ensure that proper cleaning is done.
To be an RA, one must be a registered student with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above, must be of good character, with no caution or disciplinary memos and possess leadership qualities. The student must also show proof of need for Financial Aid.
Resident Assistants serve for a term of one year with a possibility of re-appointment for a final one term. Benefits include university paid for room and board in the university hostels. Qualified candidates are encouraged to apply when the positions are posted.

Dean-Residents-Advisory Board (DRAB)

This is a body composed of three elected students among the resident community. It is a body whose major task is to represent the students on major issues affecting their lives in the hostels by acting as their spokespeople to the administration and vice versa.

Committee members serve for a one-year term, but can be re-elected for another term.

Entertainment

Board Games

Board games such as chess, draughts, scrabble and monopoly are available at the hostel reception. Games may not be taken out of the hostels. Residents are expected to return all games in their possession within 24 hours.

Video Facilities

Residents are allowed to use the Entertainment Facilities in the Common Rooms. Arrangements may be made with the Head of Housing or RA to borrow some movies from the Video Library.
Videocassettes rented by the university should not be taken off campus.
The university reserves the right to accept or reject film for viewing in the hostels.
Playing of electronic games in the common rooms is STRICTLY prohibited.

Trips/Activities

The Housing team organizes day and overnight trips, and other entertainment options each semester at a minimal cost to students. Information on trips or any other activity will be posted on the notice boards.

Off Campus Housing

Click here to visit our recommended Off Campus Housing/Accommodation options.

Points to note:

USIU-Africa only recommends, but does not manage the off-campus hostels. As such, the university does not accept any responsibility or liability for the choice(s) made by a USIU-Africa student.
Students are advised to make your reservation through the contact(s) indicated against each hostel.
The hostels are ranked according to distance from USIU-Africa - Hostel No. 1 is the nearest. Note: The distances indicated against each are approximate, and may slightly differ from the actual distance between the hostel and the university.
Some hostels charge per semester; while others charge per month. Those that charge per month allow their tenants to stay over during semester breaks; those that charge per semester require everyone to vacate at the end of the semester, or pay extra if they extend their stay.
While all the hostels listed below have been vetted and approved, in your choice of hostel, please consider the following:

1. Distance from USIU-Africa: The nearer, the better
2. Cost: Most hostels do not accept payment in installments. They also do not refund if you decided to leave mid-semester.
3. Level of privacy: Some rooms are shared; others single; ensuite or non-ensuite etc
4. Meals: Some hostels have a Cafeteria; others provide a shared kitchen; while others provide a kitchenette within the rooms

1. As a precaution, you are advised not to pay money until you are FULLY convinced about the choice of hostel you make. If in doubt, pay only AFTER visiting the facility of your choice.
2. If you need further assistance, feel free to get in touch with the Head of Housing - call +254 730 116 265