GENERAL INFORMATION FOR STUDENTS
The teaching and research activities of the University of Zimbabwe are the responsibility of the
Senate as the academic authority of the University.The Senate consists of all Deans, Deputy Deans, Professors, Associate Professors and Chairmen of departments, the Pro-Vice-Chancellors, the Librarian and members elected by the full-time lecturing staff of each Faculty. The President of the Students’ Union is an ex officio member and
there is provision for membership of five students elected by the Students’ Union. Senate is presided over by the Vice-Chancellor. Senate regulates the admission of students, the provision of programmes of study and the conduct of examinations.

It recommends to the Chancellor the conferment of degrees and other awards to the University and it meets two or three times each term.Universities have found it expedient for the closer ordering of teaching and research to group
related subjects into Faculties. The University of Zimbabwe now has Faculties of Agriculture,Arts, Commerce,Law, Engineering, Education, Medicine, Science, Social Studies and Veterinary Science. For each Faculty there is a Faculty Board consisting of the teaching staff of the subjects assigned to a Faculty. The Faculty Board elects one of its senior members as chairman and spokesman on other University committees. He is the Dean of Faculty and he is assisted by a similarly elected Deputy Dean. Faculty Boards meet two or three times each term. Cutting across department and faculty boundaries is the University Library providing the bibliographical basis for teaching and research throughout the University. The University Computer Centre and the Language Laboratory (in the Department of Linguistics) also provide services to several Faculties.

For individual counselling in academic, financial and personal matters, each student is assigned to a Student Adviser within his own Faculty, with whom he is encouraged to discuss his progress in the University and any problems which may arise. Other counselling resources available are listed below in the section headed “Dean of Students: Department of Student Affairs”.