The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Joseph Ghartey Ampiah, has advised the 2018/2019 fresh students that the achievement of academic excellence in UCC requires hard work, commitment and sacrifice. Prof. Joseph Ampiah, told the fresh students to be mindful that they have entered another phase in life where there would be no control and guidance, therefore, their stay in the University would depend on the choices they make. The Vice-Chancellor gave the advice at the Matriculation Ceremony to formally receive fresh students admitted to the 2018/2019 academic year. Statistics A total of 5,962 students were admitted to pursue various programmes in the University comprising 5, 266 undergraduates and 696 postgraduates. The number is made up of 3,076 male and 2,190 female for undergraduates and 447 male and 249 female for postgraduates respectively. In terms of colleges, the Vice-Chancellor said the admission figures were as follow; College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences1, 187, College of Humanities and Legal Studies 1,922, College of Health and Allied Sciences 838, College of Education Studies 1, 319. The Vice-Chancellor said the number admitted for the 2018/2019 academic year was 14 per cent higher than that of the previous year. UCC Provides Conducive Academic Environment Prof. Ampiah congratulated the matriculants and assured them that they have chosen a very respected and noble institution. He informed them that UCC would continue to provide an environment that exposes students to an entertaining and a wide-range of learning experiences. “Our lecturers, scholars, and researchers are here not only to help you obtain that prestigious and enviable University of Cape Coast degree, but also to help expand your understanding of society and the world at large, he further assured. Prof. Ampiah indicated that “in UCC we pride ourselves in not only training students in academic work, but also in character, so that upon graduation the student is fully ready to be a responsible citizen who will contribute to national development, in a patriotic and result-oriented manner”. He called on the matriculants to imbibe the virtues of self-discipline, self-care, good mode of dressing, fidelity to their studies and work, and general comportment, before they graduate from the University. Rights and Responsibilities On students’ rights and responsibilities, the Vice-Chancellor, told them that the University was a place where they would enjoy a lot of freedom, stressing that “but that freedom often comes with some corresponding obligations. Here your freedom ends where another person’s freedom begins. So, you must not only protect your rights privileges and freedom, you must also ensure that you do not trample on the rights, privileges, and freedom of others”. Rules and Regulations of UCC The Vice-Chancellor admonished the matriculants to observe the rules and regulations of the University which have been collated in the Students Handbook, Academic Programmes, Policies and Regulations and Brochure on Graduate Studies to make their stay on campus enjoyable. “The University of Cape Coast has maintained and will continue to maintain a zero tolerance for all anti-social behaviours such as cultism, examination malpractice, hooliganism, and such other vices,” Prof. Ampiah warned. Prof. Ampiah added that, “The University has enjoyed relative peace over the years, and you are, therefore, advised to keep to the matriculation oath and stay away from activities that will constitute a threat to the peace of this noble institution of learning, as any manifestation of such ills shall be dealt with in accordance with the University rules and regulations”. He reaffirmed UCC’s commitment to helping the fresh students to achieve their dreams saying “Do your part by studying hard and adhering to the rules and regulations outlined in these books as well as other rules in the University”. The Vice-Chancellor implored the matriculants to attend lectures regularly to and take their quizzes seriously as well as completing their take-home assignments on time. He advised them to form effective study groups and participate actively in classroom activities. “All of these contribute to your overall performance and if done well, the main end-of-semester examinations will be less strenuous and the urge to engage in examination malpractice will not be there,” he explained On matters of security, the Vice-Chancellor entreated the students to be security conscious and adhere to traffic regulations on campus. He used the opportunity to appeal to the entire University Community to adhere to the new traffic regulations on campus stating “It is for the good of all of us”.