Clusters

A cluster consists of a number of residences and PSO wards that are grouped together. Clusters play a significant role in the integration and support of first year students on campus, particularly by means of mentor groups for such students. Subsequently, clusters ensure that students experience the University as a caring and nurturing place, and that residence students, day students and students who have private accommodation are integrated. Mentors are appointed to support newcomer students with adjusting to university life, and are managed in cluster context. Clusters are used increasingly as a way of organising the University and, therefore, faculties employ clusters more and more as a basis on which to form subject tutor groups. One student leader has described clusters as the creation of a living environment (the out-of-class experience) that employs the natural tendency of people to initiate opportunities to learn together spontaneously, and to sustain the practice if they live in close contact with each other. The residences and the PSO wards belong to one of six clusters on the Stellenbosch campus. The Tygerberg campus forms a seventh cluster.