The Orange Carpet welcoming event for the first year students of the Faculty of Economic and Financial Sciences was held on the evening of 18 February 2016, at the Madibeng Lounge and Council Chambers of the University of Johannesburg.
The Orange Carpet is one of UJ’s initiatives aimed at acknowledging top achievers. This initiative allows top-performing learners early conditional admission to the University as well as to provide them with special benefits. To qualify for these benefits, an applicant must obtain an Admission Point Score (APS) of at least 40 with a performance level of 6 or higher in all of his/her Grade 11subjects. Final acceptance with Orange Carpet status, however, is dependent on the applicant maintaining these results in his/her final Grade 12 exams.
“It is a privilege and a pleasure to welcome you to this important event, acknowledging you as top grade 12 performers. It is not often that I, as Dean, get to spend time with students of your calibre” said Prof Amanda Dempsey, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Economic and Financial Sciences.
The event also served as a platform for students to meet and interact with certain key members of the Faculty as well as to become aware of vital information pertaining to them.
“If I see that you, as Orange Carpet students, are not top achievers in your June exams, I will call you to my office for an explanation” cautioned Prof Dempsey. Whilst expecting the students to be top achievers, she emphasised the importance of having a balanced life. She also advised the students to view their studies as a full time job involving 40 hours of work per week, with the rest of the time spent on chores, sport and other recreational activities.
She motivated them and stated that they must enjoy student life, and said “This experience is a once in a lifetime one, and if you miss it, it would be lost forever.”
