The Senate of the University of Cross River State, UNICROSS, has held a hybrid meeting for the first time in the history of the university. Conducted online, the meeting afforded members from the Ogoja and Okuku campuses the opportunity to actively participate in the meeting through Skype.
Francisca Bassey, Vice Chancellor of the university stated that this development is necessary as “we need to protect our colleagues from the stressful and risky to and fro trips”. This development also partially fulfills the desire of the VC to save revenue and minimize what the university spends on transportation and accommodation of Senate members who usually travel from Ogoja and Okuku campuses to attend Senate meetings in Calabar.
The Vice Chancellor also at the meeting, announced the appointment of two new Deputy Vice Chancellors; Thomas Ojikpong and Stella Maris-Okey. Ojikpong is now the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Administration, while the latter is now the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academics.
In a related development the Senate has given approval for the establishment of the Faculty of Computing. It will begin academic activities in the Department of Computer Science, Department of Software Engineering and Department of Information Technology, Faculty of Physical Sciences. Their separation is in line with the demands of the National Universities Commission, NUC.
The 120th regular meeting of the University’s Senate is the first meeting of the Senate after Bassey was confirmed as the substantive Vice Chancellor by the governor of Cross River State, Bassey Edet Otu.
