ABSTRACT
The previous chapter detailed the admissions trends and policies at the two universities since the early 1980s, when they were granted legal permission to admit Black students. These changes in admissions patterns have had a direct impact on the racial composition of the student body, especially at the University of Cape Town. This chapter examines the attitudes and perceptions of African, Colored, and White students regarding their university’s responsiveness to the academic needs of this diversified student population. This diverse student population, with widely varying levels of academic preparation (resulting from apartheid policies), disparate economic needs, and varied sociocultural understandings, has raised concerns about the ability of the historically White universities (HWUs) to successfully cater to the academic needs of all their students.
