UCC lashes out at fraudulent applications

Cape Coast, Sept 15, GNA - More than 200 applicants seeking admission to the University of Cape Coast (UCC) for the 2007/2008 academic year were turned down due to inconsistencies in their applications.

Some of the applicants had used names that were different from or had additions to the ones on their result slips, others had falsified photocopies of result slips while some failed to submit photocopies of result slips with their applications.

Reverend Professor Emmanuel Adow Obeng, Vice-Chancellor of the UCC, said this at the matriculation of 3,898 fresh students made up of 2,684 males and 1,214 females selected from 14,249 applicants. Some 252 students have also been admitted into graduate programmes as against 220 students last year and 83 students for the Organizational Development (OD) programme.

He said although sworn affidavits were attached to the change of names, they could not be accepted because additions or change of name other than which appears on the result slip rendered the application form invalid.

Additionally, non-submission of photocopies of result slips together with the application form also rendered the application invalid.

Those who submitted falsified photocopies of results slips and challenged the UCC authorities about their rejection were handed over for investigation.

The Vice-Chancellor said this year 115 students, made up 47 first, 55 second and 13 third year students were expelled for poor performance. He said 102 others in second and third years have been asked to repeat their programmes of studies and "redeem themselves before they progress to the next level".

Rev Prof Obeng said he was unhappy that because of poor performance this year's admission of females fell short of the 33.5 percent admitted last year despite the fact that the Joint Academic Board gave consideration to female applicants.

Rev Prof Obeng said it had been the policy of the UCC to increase the percentage of female admission so that in the foreseeable future it would be at par with that of male students.

Rev Prof Obeng reminded students that demonstrations, rallies, assemblies and processions held without permission were offences punishable by dismissal.

He told the students to "display their macho in scoring A's and first class" rather than in the display of negative youthful exuberance. He cautioned them against sexual harassment and that UCC was committed to a working and learning environment free of discrimination or intimidation.

"It therefore abhors any form of sexual harassment that may jeopardize the integrity of the university", he said. Rev Prof Obeng said the UCC had successfully implemented the new residential in-out-out-out policy that aims at accommodation all freshmen on campus.

He said excess beds are given to physically challenged students, core SRC executives and sports men and women, while final year students are expected to ballot for bed spaces.

The Vice-Chancellor said the new residential policy would remain in force until the UCC was able to provide adequate accommodation for all students.

He expressed the hope that this would soon come to fruition with the construction of a 488-room SRC hostel and the scheduled construction of a 60-room and 1,000-bed capacity PSI and GETFund hostels.