The Vice-Chancellor of Sam Maris University, Supare-Akoko, Prof. Francis Ayodeji Gbore, has called for a more proactive role for Deans of Students in fostering lasting peace across African university campuses.
Prof. Gbore made this call while speaking at the 2nd International Conference of Deans of Student Affairs in Africa, which was declared open by the Dean of Students at Ghana Communication Technology University (GCTU), Accra, Prof. Micheal Nana Owusu Akomeah, who represented the institution's Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Emmanuel Ohene Afoakwa.
Prof. Gbore noted that the Dean of Students is pivotal in bridging the gap between management and students, enforcing discipline, promoting inclusivity, and ensuring security.
In his paper titled "Achieving Lasting Peace on Campus: The Roles and Responsibilities of a Dean of Student Affairs," the Vice-Chancellor stressed that campus peace is increasingly under threat due to insecurity, social vices, and poor student engagement.
He emphasized that the role of the Dean extends beyond administration to include counseling, mediation, and crisis management.
Prof. Gbore identified key duties of a Dean of Students, including acting in loco parentis to safeguard students' welfare, providing continuous orientation to curb cultism and drug abuse, liaising between students and management, enforcing rules, managing emergencies, and promoting diversity.
The Professor also urged institutions to improve information dissemination on scholarships, bursaries, and loan facilities to reduce financial pressure on students, which he said contributes to unrest.
Highlighting emerging threats such as internet fraud and money rituals involving students, political interference in student union activities, and the misuse of artificial intelligence in academic assessments, Prof. Gbore said these issues must be addressed through collaboration between student affairs professionals and other stakeholders.
"By actively engaging in these responsibilities, Deans and Student Affairs Professionals can significantly contribute to a campus environment where students feel safe, supported, and empowered, ultimately fostering a culture of peace and mutual respect," Gbore concluded.
The well-attended conference had participants from several countries on the continent, including a large number of delegates from Uganda, Nigeria, Liberia, Zimbabwe, Ghana, Rwanda, and others.
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