At Stellenbosch University (SU), the Information Technology (IT) Division performs regular, scheduled maintenance to ensure our digital systems remain secure, reliable and efficient. While we acknowledge that there have been instances of slow running of systems during peak times, such as the student registration period, the scheduled IT maintenance is a critical part of how we work to maintain and improve SU’s IT infrastructure. In this article, we explore why this scheduled maintenance is important and how it helps to keep the university running smoothly.
What happens during scheduled IT maintenance?
To ensure that SU’s IT systems remain secure, reliable and up to date, the IT Division follows a structured maintenance schedule. While major system upgrades take place during four scheduled maintenance weekends each year, additional maintenance activities are strategically planned throughout the year to ensure essential updates and improvements are made regularly while minimising disruptions for users.
This approach includes:
- Regular maintenance during working hours for testing and development systems, in consultation with affected group of users.
- Smaller system updates (such as specific services or applications that form part of larger systems) can be performed at any time, if they do not cause interruptions for end users.
- Thursday evening maintenance (from 20:00) for non-student-facing services, ensuring minimal impact on daily operations.
- Sunday morning maintenance (06:00 – 12:00) for systems that affect students, scheduled during a time that avoids peak usage.
- Major system upgrades will still take place during scheduled maintenance weekends, with at least 10 days’ advance notice to the campus community.
This strategy aims to balance the need for system updates with minimal disruption to daily university operations.
How are the IT maintenance weekends, specifically, determined?
IT maintenance weekends, held four times a year, are planned well in advance as part of the university’s annual calendar. Each July, the IT Division participates in the scheduling process, ensuring that maintenance periods align with academic and operational requirements. While these weekends are scheduled ahead of time, the IT team continuously evaluates evolving needs and is working on improving the process to ensure better service delivery.
What are the risks of skipping IT maintenance?
Without regular IT maintenance, systems become vulnerable to security breaches, performance slowdowns and unexpected failures. Preventative maintenance helps ensure that students, lecturers and staff can rely on SU’s digital infrastructure.
How can you stay informed?
The IT Division ensures that all stakeholders are informed well in advance of scheduled IT maintenance:
- Staff and students receive direct email notifications.
- Important updates are shared via the SU staff newsletter, social media channels and website notices.
- It is also included in the university’s annual calendar.
By staying informed, you can plan ahead and make the most of SU’s digital resources with minimal interruption.
