The University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) has slashed its admission intake by 18 per cent for the 2015/2016 academic year owing to acute shortage of lecture rooms, the Vice Chancellor said on Friday.

The UPSA Vice Chancellor, Professor Joshua Alarbi who said this at the 2015 matriculation ceremony ascribed the fast growth of the university to its branded name, compelling authorities to expand its courses portfolio.

The University offered admission to 3,582 students out of a striking number of more than 7,234 applicants representing 49.5 per cent that sought to study diploma, undergraduate and graduate programmes for the academic season.

“Mr Chairman, at the 7th congregation of the university held on Saturday 15th August 2015, I mentioned that the intake of students for the 2015/2016 academic year will be reduced by about 18 per cent owing to constraints with lecture room facilities,” Prof Alarbi said.

The Vice Chancellor, however, outlined a number of infrastructure expansion projects the university was vigorously undertaking, including acquisition of land for expansion, a 3,500 capacity auditorium, a clinic, a 1,600 capacity modern library, to mitigate the shortfall.

Prof Alarbi advised the fresh men and women to commit themselves to their studies and also take the matriculation oath seriously to ensure it impacted meaningfully on their lives during their stay on campus.

“There is the tendency to see the oath swearing as a routine activity, hurriedly done merely to fulfil an obligation. On the contrary, however, this segment of a matriculation should be seen as an occasion to make a solemn declaration.

“Also note that the phrase ‘So help me God’ at the end of the oath can only be meaningful and effective, if you individually help yourselves by committing to abide by the requirements of the oath,” he said.

The oath enjoined students to observe the regulations of the university, obey the Vice Chancellor and the university officials, study diligently, and to seek the truth as well as promote the good of the university.