Terms of Reference for the Campus Health Community of Practice

Terms of Reference for the Campus Health Community of Practice

1. Status

1.1 The Campus Health COP forms part of the HEAIDS programme under the auspices of Higher Education South Africa (hereinafter referred to as HESA) in collaboration with the South African Association of Campus Health Services (hereinafter referred to as SAACHS).

1.2.A Steering Committee (SC) will form the management structure of the Campus Health COP.

1.3 The COP will determine its own functioning and will manage its owns affairs in consultation with HEAIDS and in close collaboration with SAACHS.

1.4The Campus Health COP together with the HEAIDS Director will liaise closely with the SAACHS Executive Committee.

1.5 The Campus Health COP meets at least twice a year under the auspices of HEAIDS.

1.6HEAIDS will assist the COP with logistical support and will cover meeting venue and catering costs and, the travel costs of Steering Committee members, for two meetings per annum.

1.7The meeting of other COP members' travel costs will be assessed on a needs and available resource basis.

1.8The COP and HEAIDS will jointly and timeously seek to raise funds to meet the costs of other required COP events such as workshops, colloquiums and conferences.

1.9 The Chairperson of the COP Steering Committee will send a report to HEAIDS annually and within a month of any COP event.

2. Membership

2.1Membership is on an institutional representative basis and is open to the HODs of all South African Higher Education Institutions' (HEIs) campus health services and, includes the HEAIDS Director or delegated representative.

3. Terms of office

The COP'sSteering Committee will be appointed for a three year term of office.

4. Mission and objectives

In accordance with the principles guiding a Community of Practice the Campus Health HOD forum/COP provides opportunities to:

•collaborate, network, share knowledge

•provide collective suggestions on issues relating primary health care and HIV/AIDS care, treatment and support services

•relevant to students and staff in Higher Education institution.

5.Functions (include but are not limited to)

The Campus Health HOD forum/COP will:

•Support the mission and activities of SAACHS nationally and locally

•Functions within its own management framework in consultation with HEAIDS and close collaboration with SAACHS.

•Expand the networking and collaborative support to various HEI campus health services

•Focus on holistic primary health care and HIV/AIDS care, treatment and support activities and services

•Utilize the current data as gathered for the basis of future research within the sector collectively, institutions individually and outside

6. Scope and Authority

•The Campus Health COP will function under the auspices of HEAIDS.

•This COP is not an autonomous decision making body but will focus on consultation and collaboration.

•The COP will strive to share best practices with respect to HIV and AIDS and general health related issues.