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Rhodes University

{{Short description|University in Makhanda, South Africa}}

{{for|the university in the United States|Rhodes College}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2022}}

{{Use South African English|date=September 2013}}

{{Infobox university

| name = Rhodes University

| image = Rhodes University logo-no background.png

| image_size = 200px

| caption = Coat of arms

| motto = Where leaders learn

| established = {{start date and age|1904|5|31|df=y}}

| type = Public

| endowment = R2.2 billion (2023){{cite book |title=Annual Report 2023 |publisher=Rhodes University |url=https://www.ru.ac.za/media/rhodesuniversity/content/finance/documents/RU_Annual_Report_2023.pdf |access-date=20 January 2025 |page=109}}

| campus = Urban

| colours = {{color box|#702784}} Purple
{{color box|White}} White

| nickname = Rhodian

| coor = {{coord|33|18|49|S|26|31|11|E|region:ZA-EC_type:edu|display=inline,title}}

| former_names = Rhodes University College

| chancellor = Lex Mpati

| vice_chancellor = Sizwe Mabizela

| faculty = 357{{cite book |title=Digest of Statistics Version 14: 2010 |year=2010 |pages=A1, G7 |publisher=Rhodes University |url=http://www.ru.ac.za/static/intranet/dmu/DIGEST2010.pdf |access-date=29 November 2011 }}{{dead link|date=May 2015}}

| students = 7,005

| undergrad = 5,372

| postgrad = 1,633

| city = Makhanda

| state = Eastern Cape

| country = South Africa

| affiliations = AAU, ACU, HESA, IAU

| website = {{url|http://www.ru.ac.za/}}

| logo = File:Rhodes University Current (2013) Insignia.svg}}

Rhodes University ({{langx|af|Rhodes Universiteit}}) is a public research university located in Makhanda (formerly Grahamstown) in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa.{{Cite web|title=CHE {{!}} Council on Higher Education {{!}} Regulatory body for Higher Education in South Africa {{!}} Education {{!}} Innovation {{!}} University {{!}} South Africa|url=https://www.che.ac.za/#/moreitemdetails|website=che.ac.za|access-date=2020-05-25|archive-date=24 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200524181407/https://www.che.ac.za/#/moreitemdetails|url-status=live}} It is one of four universities in the province.

Established in 1904, Rhodes University is the province's oldest university, and it is the sixth oldest South African university in continuous operation, being preceded by the University of the Free State (1904),[http://www.ufs.ac.za/content.aspx?id=11 Brief History – UFS was established 28 January 1904 Retrieved 28 April 2011] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202223149/http://www.ufs.ac.za/content.aspx?id=11 |date=2 December 2013 }} University of Witwatersrand (1896), University of South Africa (1873) as the University of the Cape of Good Hope,{{Cite web|url=https://www.4icu.org/reviews/4239.htm|title=University of the Witwatersrand|website=uniRank™|access-date=9 November 2018|archive-date=1 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190901230140/https://www.4icu.org/reviews/4239.htm|url-status=live}} Stellenbosch University (1866){{Cite web|url=https://www.4icu.org/reviews/4236.htm|title=Universiteit Stellenbosch|website=uniRank™|access-date=9 November 2018|archive-date=1 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190901230142/https://www.4icu.org/reviews/4236.htm|url-status=live}} and the University of Cape Town (1829).{{Cite web|url=https://www.4icu.org/reviews/4228.htm|title=University of Cape Town|website=uniRank™|access-date=9 November 2018|archive-date=1 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190901230134/https://www.4icu.org/reviews/4228.htm|url-status=live}} Rhodes was founded in 1904 as Rhodes University College, named after Cecil Rhodes, through a grant from the Rhodes Trust. It became a constituent college of the University of South Africa in 1918 before becoming an independent university in 1951.

The university had an enrollment of over 8,000 students in the 2015 academic year, of whom just over 3,600 lived in 51 residences on the campus, with the rest (known as Oppidans) taking residence in digs (off-campus residences) or in their own homes in the town.

History

File:View High Street looking west from the corner of Hill Street towards the Drostdy Arch..jpeg

File:Herbert Baker clocktower, Rhodes University, 2004.jpg clock tower at the heart of the Rhodes campus. The clock tower was designed by Herbert Baker in 1910 and constructed in subsequent years.]]

Although a proposal to found a university in Grahamstown had been made as early as 1902, financial problems caused by the Frontier Wars in Albany prevented the proposal from being implemented. In 1904 Leander Starr Jameson issued £50 000 preferred stock to the university from the Rhodes Trust. With this funding Rhodes University College was founded by an act of parliament on 31 May 1904.{{Cite web|title=Rhodes University (RU/ Rhodes) – Education Magazine|url=http://educationmag.co.za/rhodes-university-ru-rhodes/|date=2017-01-10|website=Education Mag|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-25|archive-date=5 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200105095150/http://educationmag.co.za/rhodes-university-ru-rhodes/|url-status=dead}}

University education in the Eastern Cape began in the college departments of four schools: St. Andrew's College; Gill College, Somerset East; Graaff-Reinet College; and the Grey Institute in Port Elizabeth. The four St Andrew's College professors, Arthur Matthews, George Cory, Stanley Kidd and G. F. Dingemans became founding professors of Rhodes University College.{{Cite web|title=Rhodes University: History {{!}} SARUA|url=https://www.sarua.org/?q=content/rhodes-university-history|website=sarua.org|access-date=2020-05-25|archive-date=11 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160911101651/http://sarua.org/?q=content%2Frhodes-university-history|url-status=live}}

At the beginning of 1905, Rhodes moved from cramped quarters at St Andrew's to the Drostdy building, which it bought from the British Government. Rhodes became a constituent college of the new University of South Africa in 1918 and it continued to expand in size. When the future of the University of South Africa came under review in 1947, Rhodes opted to become an independent university.

Rhodes University was inaugurated on 10 March 1951. Sir Basil Schonland, son of Selmar Schonland, became the first chancellor of his alma mater, and Dr. Thomas Alty the first vice-chancellor. In terms of the Rhodes University Private Act, the University College of Fort Hare was affiliated to Rhodes University. This mutually beneficial arrangement continued until the apartheid government decided to disaffiliate Fort Hare from Rhodes. The Rhodes Senate and Council objected strongly to this, and to the Separate University Education Bill, which they condemned as interference with academic freedom. However, the two bills were passed, and Fort Hare's affiliation to Rhodes came to an end in 1959. Nevertheless, in 1962 an honorary doctorate was conferred on the state president, C. R. Swart, who (as Minister of Justice after 1948) had been responsible for the repression of opposition political organisations. The award caused the resignation of the chancellor, Sir Basil Schonland, although his reasons were not made public at the time.{{cite web|last=Badat |first=Saleem |title=Dr |url=http://www.ru.ac.za/vice-chancellor/speechespresentations/name,57995,en.html |work=Vice Chancellor |publisher=Rhodes University |access-date=2014-02-22 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140818012457/http://www.ru.ac.za/vice-chancellor/speechespresentations/name,57995,en.html |archive-date=18 August 2014 }}

James Hyslop succeeded Alty in 1963. In 1971, Rhodes negotiated to purchase the closed teacher training college run by the sisters of the Community of the Resurrection of our Lord including the buildings and grounds and a number of adjacent buildings, facilitating further expansion.

File:Rhodes University logo-no background.png

File:Rhodes Kimb.jpg

File:Rhodes University Eden Grove.jpg

Campus

{{Expand section|date=February 2011}}

During 2008 work began on construction of a new library building at a cost of R85 million, one of the largest infrastructure projects undertaken by the university, and was completed in 2010.{{cn|date=April 2025}}

Organisation and administration

{{Expand section|date=May 2011}}

= Faculties and Schools =

Rhodes has six faculties, listed below:

The six faculties are further subdivided into 30 academic departments, of which 11 form part of the humanities faculty. The humanities faculty, being the largest in the university, consists of 40% of the student intake of undergraduate and postgraduate studies, enrolling 2669 students as of 2009.{{cite web |url=http://www.ru.ac.za/facultyofhumanities |title=Rhodes University |date=18 July 2011 |publisher=Ru.ac.za |access-date=2015-05-20 |archive-date=11 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200711112035/https://www.ru.ac.za/facultyofhumanities/ |url-status=live }}

= Law clinic =

Rhodes University operates a law clinic, which operates as a firm of attorneys providing training to law students and free legal services for indigent people.{{cite web |url=http://www.ru.ac.za/law/lawclinic/ |title=Rhodes University |publisher=Ru.ac.za |access-date=2015-05-20 |archive-date=27 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130727065101/http://www.ru.ac.za/law/lawclinic/ |url-status=live }} The law clinic operates from two offices, one in Makhanda and one in Komani. The law clinic came to national attention in July 2013 when it represented 15 members of Nelson Mandela's family in their litigation against Mandla Mandela (Nelson Mandela's grandson) concerning the location of family grave sites.{{Cite web

| title = Rhodes Law Clinic defends decision to fund 'indigent' Mandelas

| last = Evans

| first = Sarah

| work = The M&G Online

| date = 24 July 2013

| access-date = 2015-05-21

| url = http://mg.co.za/article/2013-07-24-00-rhodes-law-clinic-defends-decision-to-fund-indigent-mandelas

| archive-date = 27 July 2013

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130727055614/http://mg.co.za/article/2013-07-24-00-rhodes-law-clinic-defends-decision-to-fund-indigent-mandelas

| url-status = live

}}{{cite web |first=Abongile |last=Mgaqelwa |url=http://www.timeslive.co.za/thetimes/2013/07/19/mandela-burials-fight-blights-95th-birthday |title=Mandela burials fight blights 95th birthday |publisher=Times LIVE |date=19 July 2013 |access-date=2015-05-20 |archive-date=24 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130724103310/http://www.timeslive.co.za/thetimes/2013/07/19/mandela-burials-fight-blights-95th-birthday |url-status=live }}

Academics

Rhodes is a small, highly residential university. For most undergraduates, first and second years of study are done while living in campus residences.{{citation needed|date=January 2020}}

Rhodes' academic program operates on a semester calendar, beginning in early-February to early-June, and the second semester beginning in late-July and ending late-November.

Undergraduate tuition for the first year of study in 2011 towards a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degree was R26,590 and R27,720, respectively, and the cost of board was between R35,700 and R37,600.{{cite news|title=The lowdown on higher education|url=http://www.timeslive.co.za/sundaytimes/2011/09/18/the-lowdown-on-higher-education|access-date=2011-10-29|newspaper=Times Live|date=18 September 2011|archive-date=21 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150521193355/http://www.timeslive.co.za/sundaytimes/2011/09/18/the-lowdown-on-higher-education|url-status=live}}

= Student body =

Rhodes admitted 1592 students in 2012.

The tables below show the racial and gender composition of the university for that year.

style="text-align:center; font-size:85%; margin-left:2em; margin:auto;" class="wikitable"

|+ Racial composition of student body (2012){{cite web|url=https://www.ru.ac.za/media/rhodesuniversity/content/humanresources/documents/vicechancellorwebadvert/RU%20Stats%20digest%202013.pdf|work=Digest of Statistics|title=Digest of Statistics, Version 17: 2013|publisher=Rhodes University|access-date=30 October 2015|archive-date=9 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160109121453/https://www.ru.ac.za/media/rhodesuniversity/content/humanresources/documents/vicechancellorwebadvert/RU%20Stats%20digest%202013.pdf|url-status=live}}

! !! Undergraduate !! Postgraduate !! Eastern Cape !! South Africa

Black

| 54% || 49% || 86.3% || 79.6%

Coloured

| 4% || 3% || 8.3% || 9%

White

| 38% || 44% || 4.7% || 8.9%

Asian

| 4% || 4% || 0.4% || 2.5%

style="text-align:center; font-size:85%; margin-left:2em; margin:auto;" class="wikitable"

|+ Gender composition of student body (2012){{cite web|url=https://www.ru.ac.za/media/rhodesuniversity/content/humanresources/documents/vicechancellorwebadvert/RU%20Stats%20digest%202013.pdf|work=Digest of Statistics|title=Digest of Statistics, Version 17: 2013|publisher=Rhodes University|access-date=30 October 2015|archive-date=9 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160109121453/https://www.ru.ac.za/media/rhodesuniversity/content/humanresources/documents/vicechancellorwebadvert/RU%20Stats%20digest%202013.pdf|url-status=live}}

! !! Black !! Coloured !! White !! Asian !! All students !! South Africa

Female

| 61% || 67% || 53% || 61% || 58% || 51%

Male

| 39% || 33% || 47% || 39% || 42% || 49%

= SARChi chairs =

Rhodes holds fourteen national research chairs appointed under the South African Research Chairs Initiative. This accounts for approximately 7% of the total awarded nationally in South Africa, a significant proportion given the university's small size.{{cite web|title=Rhodes celebrates new prestigious SARChI Chairs|url=http://www.ru.ac.za/latestnews/2013/rhodescelebratesnewprestigioussarchichairs.html|publisher=Rhodes University|access-date=14 October 2014|archive-date=21 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141021030527/http://www.ru.ac.za/latestnews/2013/rhodescelebratesnewprestigioussarchichairs.html|url-status=live}}

Research bodies

  • Centre for Biological Control{{cite web | title=Centre for Biological Control | website=Rhodes University | date=2014-08-22 | url=http://www.ru.ac.za/centreforbiologicalcontrol/ | access-date=2021-10-11 | archive-date=26 October 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211026160055/https://www.ru.ac.za/centreforbiologicalcontrol/ | url-status=live }}{{cite web | url=http://www.ru.ac.za/media/rhodesuniversity/content/zoologyandentomology/cbc/informationdocuments/CBC_2019_Annual_Report.pdf | title=Centre for Biological Control Annual Report 2019 | editor1-first=Esther | editor1-last=Mostert | editor2-first=Kim | editor2-last=Weaver | publisher=Centre for Biological Control, Rhodes University | access-date=11 October 2021 | archive-date=23 October 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211023224250/https://www.ru.ac.za/media/rhodesuniversity/content/zoologyandentomology/cbc/informationdocuments/CBC_2019_Annual_Report.pdf | url-status=live }}

Student life

File:RhodesUniversityVisVirtusVeritas2018.jpg

= Halls of residence =

= Media =

Three student newspapers, Activate, The Oppidan Press and Cue, have been published daily during the National Arts Festival held in Makhanda every year for several decades. Activate celebrated its 65th birthday in 2012, while The Oppidan Press was only first published in 2007, and its target readership was mainly Oppidans. The journal Philosophical Papers is edited in the department of philosophy.

Scholarly journals

Rhodes University faculties and departments produce scholarly journals, including:

Ranking

Top 2;Year (2025): University (RU) providing quality not quantity...{{See also|Rankings of universities in South Africa|Rankings of business schools in South Africa}}

In 2011, the Webometrics Ranking of World Universities ranked Rhodes 5th in South Africa and 700th globally.{{cite web|url=http://www.webometrics.info/top100_continent.asp?cont=africa |title=Top Africa |work=Ranking Web of World Universities |access-date=26 February 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091004092257/http://www.webometrics.info/top100_continent.asp?cont=africa |archive-date=4 October 2009 }}

class="wikitable"

! colspan="2" |Times Higher Education Ranking 2023 to 2024

Year

!World Rank

2023

|801–1000

colspan="2" |{{Cite web |date=2024-10-20 |title=World University Rankings 2024 (South Africa) |url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/2024/world-ranking#!/length/25/locations/ZAF/sort_by/rank/sort_order/asc/cols/stats |access-date=2024-02-27 |website=Times Higher Education (THE) |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2023-10-20 |title=World University Rankings 2023 (South Africa) |url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/2023/world-ranking#!/length/25/locations/ZAF/sort_by/rank/sort_order/asc/cols/stats |access-date=2024-02-27 |website=Times Higher Education (THE) |language=en}}

Notable alumni and staff

In academia, Old Rhodian Max Theiler was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his research in virology in 1951.{{cite web

| url = http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/medicine/laureates/1951/index.html

| title = The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1951

| access-date = 2017-11-30

| publisher = Nobel Foundation

| archive-date = 26 December 2018

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181226103449/https://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/medicine/laureates/1951/index.html%0A%20

| url-status = live

}}

= Notable alumni: general =

{{more citations needed|section|date=May 2021}}

= Notable alumni: journalists, media celebrities in South Africa =

One of the most well-known departments on the Rhodes campus is the university's school of Journalism and Media Studies, through which many of South Africa's most notable media celebrities have passed. There are also an especially high number of radio celebrities who graduated at Rhodes – many of them having spent time with the university's campus radio station Rhodes Music Radio.

  • Matthew Buckland – Media-owner and entrepreneur
  • Steve Linde (born 1960) – newspaperman
  • Anand Naidoo – Anchor and correspondent for Al Jazeera English based in Washington DC; previously with CNN
  • Jeremy Mansfield – Radio host, television presenter, comedian
  • Karyn Maughan – Legal journalist{{Cite web |last=Dayimani |first=Malibongwe |date=14 October 2022 |title=Rhodes University throws support behind alumnus Karyn Maughan over Zuma's private prosecution 'bullying' |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/news/rhodes-university-throws-support-behind-alumnus-karyn-maughan-over-zumas-private-prosecution-bullying-20221014 |access-date=2024-06-12 |website=News24 |language=en-US}}
  • Eusebius McKaiser – Social activist, author, radio show host{{cite web |title=Mr Eusebius McKaiser (Emerging Old Rhodian Award) |url=https://www.ru.ac.za/communicationsandadvancement/alumnirelations/theorunion/distinguishedalumniawards/2012recipients/mreusebiusmckaiser.html |website=Rhodes University |date=2 May 2013 |access-date=17 July 2020 |archive-date=17 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200717064627/https://www.ru.ac.za/communicationsandadvancement/alumnirelations/theorunion/distinguishedalumniawards/2012recipients/mreusebiusmckaiser.html |url-status=live }}
  • Haru Mutasa – Correspondent for Al Jazeera International
  • Zaa Nkweta – Former Carte Blanche presenter
  • Verashni Pillay – Mail & Guardian editor-in-chief
  • Toby Shapshak – Journalist and African technology thought leader
  • Barry Streek – Political journalist and anti-apartheid activist
  • Rob Vember – 5FM DJ{{cite news|title=On air for 31 years and counting|url=http://www.grocotts.co.za/content/air-31-years-and-counting-08-08-2012|access-date=21 May 2013|newspaper=Grocott's Mail|date=8 August 2012|author=Gregory de Mink|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151026084352/http://www.grocotts.co.za/content/air-31-years-and-counting-08-08-2012|archive-date=26 October 2015}}

= Notable staff =

Name controversy

The university's name references Cecil Rhodes, a British businessman who heavily aided British imperial interests in South Africa, which led to controversy starting in 2015. Protests held that year by Rhodes Must Fall led to the University of Cape Town removing a statue of Rhodes, and similar protests against Rhodes' legacy occurred at Rhodes University. Some students and outlets started referring to it as "The University Currently Known As Rhodes".[https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/rhodes-university-not-changing-its-name-yet-20171206 Rhodes University not changing its name yet] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180124070936/https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/rhodes-university-not-changing-its-name-yet-20171206 |date=24 January 2018 }}, News 24[http://www.huffingtonpost.co.za/2017/12/07/rhodes-university-will-not-change-its-name-and-people-are-outraged_a_23299776/ Rhodes University Will Not Change Its Name And People Are Outraged] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180124070845/http://www.huffingtonpost.co.za/2017/12/07/rhodes-university-will-not-change-its-name-and-people-are-outraged_a_23299776/ |date=24 January 2018 }}, Huffington Post In 2015 the university council undertook to determine whether or not the institution should change its name, as well as consider several other ways it could deal with the issues.[http://www.sabreakingnews.co.za/2015/06/01/rhodes-uni-council-approves-plans-for-name-change/ Rhodes Uni Council approves talks for possible name change] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180710145033/https://www.sabreakingnews.co.za/2015/06/01/rhodes-uni-council-approves-plans-for-name-change/ |date=10 July 2018 }}, South Africa Breaking News

In 2017, the Rhodes University Council voted 15–9 in favour of keeping the existing name.[https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2017-12-06-name-change-for-rhodes-university-rejected/ Name change for Rhodes University rejected] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180124005818/https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2017-12-06-name-change-for-rhodes-university-rejected/ |date=24 January 2018 }}, Times Live[https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/national/education/2017-12-06-rhodes-university-votes-to-keep-its-name/ Rhodes University votes to keep its name] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180124030405/https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/national/education/2017-12-06-rhodes-university-votes-to-keep-its-name/ |date=24 January 2018 }}, Business Live While the university agreed with critics that "[it] cannot be disputed that Cecil John Rhodes was an arch-imperialist and white supremacist who treated people of this region as sub-human", it also said it had long since distanced itself from the person and had distinguished itself with the name Rhodes University as one of the world's best. The main argument against the change was financial, as such a change would cost a significant amount of money and the university was already having trouble with its budget. Furthermore, changing the university's name could have an adverse effect on its recognition internationally.[https://mg.co.za/article/2017-12-06-no-name-change-for-rhodes-university-following-council-vote No name change for Rhodes University following council vote] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180124070952/https://mg.co.za/article/2017-12-06-no-name-change-for-rhodes-university-following-council-vote |date=24 January 2018 }}, Mail & Guardian

See also

References

{{Reflist}}

Further reading

{{refbegin}}

  • {{Cite book| last = Currey| first = Ronald Fairbridge| title = Rhodes University 1904-1970: a chronicle| date = 1970|location=Makhanda}}

{{refend}}

External links

{{Library resources box|onlinebooks=yes|by=yes}}

{{Commons}}

  • {{official website|http://www.ru.ac.za/}}

{{Rhodes University}}

{{Association of African Universities}}

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Category:Universities in the Eastern Cape

Category:Universities and colleges established in 1904

Category:Public universities in South Africa

Category:Buildings and structures in Makhanda, Eastern Cape

Category:Herbert Baker buildings and structures

Category:1904 establishments in the Cape Colony

Category:Naming controversies

Category:1904 establishments in South Africa