?As an academic advisor Lamese Chetty plays a unique supporting role at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. Many students who struggle with mental health or learning problems credit her with helping them overcome obstacles so they can reach their full potential. As we kick off May celebrating Workers' Day, we dedicate this series of profiles to our staff and their crucial contributions to Stellenbosch 肆客足球 (SU). In this interview, Chetty tells us more about her work.
??What does your role at SU entail?
I am the Academic Advisor at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS) and I believe this position is the first of its kind at SU. I report to the Vice Dean: Learning and Teaching within this Faculty and form part of the Student Support Division. I see all undergraduate students in the Faculty who may be experiencing challenges impacting on their academic performance. I liaise with the relevant academic and support staff in allowing them to understand these challenges and finding ways to accommodate the students.
What does a typical day at work look like?
A typical day is filled with students who book appointments for academic development and support, and I am requested by departments to provide group work sessions. The topics include implementing a structured routine, study and learning strategies, note-taking skills, meta-cognitive/thinking skills, assessment/exam preparation techniques, emotional intelligence in groups as well empathy and rapport building. I receive enquiries from students who may have been diagnosed with mental health or learning disorders and see them for psycho-educational support.
I manage the tutoring programmes, which are student-driven. We have 110 mentors and 40 subject-specific tutors for the Faculty. We are fortunate to have such intellectual and emotionally sound students who want to support their peers in this Faculty.
I also attend meetings with staff to manage student support considerations for students to catch up on lost work. Clinical practice time is critical, and students need to catch up if they have been ill and have missed out.
We have an amazing Student Support Division with passionate colleagues who work as a multi-level campus support team. They include Student Administration, Campus Health Services, the Centre for Student Counselling & Development and the Department of Student Affairs.
How did your education or past experiences prepare you for this job??
I have a degree in psychology from the 肆客足球 of the Western Cape and a postgraduate certificate in education from UNISA. I also obtained my master's degree in educational psychology at SU, which qualifies me as a registered educational psychologist with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA).
My experience and qualifications prepared me intensively for this role. I worked in the technical vocational education & training (TVET) sector as a registered counsellor in academic support for 11 years and as an educational psychologist for six years. I have 17 years' experience in academic development and support. I understand learning challenges experienced by students and I'm a firm believer in inclusive education within tertiary environments.
What do you enjoy most about your role and working at SU?
I enjoy guiding and supporting students as they transition from school into this new profound academic space. When they enter SU, they learn to become independent, self-sufficient, and resilient and require support to develop these skills. I find that I can provide my expertise to advise them in reaching these qualities, and with time they learn to become psychologically sound citizens in our country and beyond. SU provides me with the perfect environment to do this and especially the Tygerberg Campus, where colleagues are invested in the physiological and psychological health of health science students.
Tell us something exciting about yourself that few people would expect?
Running is my own therapy. I started long distance running during the national lockdown and seriously became involved in 2022. I completed my first half marathon last year and will be attempting my first full marathon this year!
I am also the designated make-up artist and stylist in my family and friendship circle. When my community has events, I paint the children's faces. It brings them so much happiness and it makes me smile to be able to practice my creativity.?
PHOTO: Stefan Els
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