STUDENT GUIDE 2021 HEI ĀRAHI I TE TAUIRA YOUR STUDENT EXPERIENCE. IMPORTANT AND USEFUL STUFF. Studying at the University has really broadened my ideas about career options and my future. There’s plenty to explore with my degree. Zac McLeod Student, Bachelor of Arts IMPORTANT NOTICE: Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington uses all reasonable skill and care to ensure the information contained in ™ this document is accurate at the time of being made available. However, STARS matters covered by this document are subject to change due to a continuous RATING SYSTEM process of review and to unanticipated circumstances, including those 2019 caused by COVID-19. The University therefore reserves the right to make any changes without notice. So far as the law permits, the University accepts no Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington has been responsibility for any loss suffered by any person due to reliance (either whole awarded five stars plus overall in the QS Stars university ratings or in part) on the information contained in this document, whether direct or system. In addition, the University received five stars in all eight indirect, and whether foreseeable or not. categories on which it was evaluated. Contents page top image: Rebecca Renwick CONTENTS Introduction 2 Strategies for learning success 4 Supporting your studies 6 Health and wellbeing 14 Getting involved 18 Communities 22 Staying safe 28 Looking ahead 32 Getting help 36 Contacts 39 Index 46 INTRODUCTION This guide is to help give you the information you need Email to study successfully, become an active part of the A university email address will be sent to you when you university community, and have a meaningful student enrol. To access your email account, click on the email link in experience while at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University myTools. You will need to sign in to the mail system with your of Wellington. username and password. The University’s main channel of There is so much to get involved in during your time at communication is through your university email address. university and we encourage you to make the most of your www.wgtn.ac.nz/student-email time here. Whether you are studying in person or online, here as an undergraduate or a postgraduate, as a school leaver Faculty offices or after many years in a career, we will support you to pursue Go to your faculty office with questions about your degree your passions and excel in your chosen area of study. and courses, for academic transcripts, and for help with other Throughout this guide, you will find information on who you can academic matters. contact if you need help or support (go to page 39 for a full list of www.wgtn.ac.nz/faculty-offices contact details and who to ask about key topics). Info Ihonui Info Ihonui are places on campus you can go for general The University has a number of university advice, information, and assistance. There are channels for staying in touch and seven locations: making sure you are up to date with ■ Level 2, Library entrance, the Hub, Kelburn campus student life. ■ Level 1, Hunter building, Kelburn campus ■ Level 4, Murphy building, Kelburn campus ■ Ground Floor, Rutherford House, Pipitea campus Blackboard ■ Level 0, Faculty of Architecture and Design Innovation, Blackboard is an online tool that supports the delivery Te Aro campus of your courses. It provides course information and ■ Level 1, Miramar Creative Centre materials, including course administration, course outlines, ■ Level 4, 50 Kitchener Street, Auckland premises. communications, electronic course submissions, assessment, and evaluations. You can log in to Blackboard using myTools. www.wgtn.ac.nz/info-ihonui www.wgtn.ac.nz/mytools Information screens Screens on all campuses are updated regularly with student services information, upcoming events, important dates, and promotions. 2 Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington myView myView is a student blog about anything and everything to do with the student experience—from study tips and life on campus to what different clubs are doing and projects that students are involved in. www.myview.co.nz myTools myTools is the place online where you can access and manage a number of the University’s web services, including adding or dropping courses, Blackboard, CareerHub, emails, fees, grades, myAllocator, and myDegree. www.wgtn.ac.nz/mytools Keep your contact details up to date. We need these contact details so we can reach you in an emergency. www.wgtn.ac.nz/mytools Social media The University has multiple social media channels, including Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube. Follow us to keep up with news, events, competitions, information, and acknowledgements. #VicUniWgtn Be sure to share your student experience with us—tag us on Instagram and Twitter. www.wgtn.ac.nz/social-media Student newsletter We regularly email students Whītiki, a newsletter providing important information and updates from the University, resources to support your studies, and stories from our student community. STRATEGIES FOR LEARNING SUCCESS Follow these steps to set yourself up to achieve in your studies. DO IT! BE ORGANISED KEEP A ■ Attend lectures ■ Follow a study routine. BALANCE IN LIFE and tutorials on campus ■ Mark assignment due ■ Connect with people. and online. dates on a wall planner. ■ Look after yourself. ■ Do your readings. ■ Manage your money. ■ Use the Library. ■ Participate. ■ Talk about your classes 1with others. 2 3 4 WHAT RESEARCH SAYS ■ Work ethic is the number-one skill in the top 10 skills ■ Managing money is a skill you can learn and practise. rated by employers. ■ Students who have university goals that relate to ■ Regular lecture attendance increases your chances their lives, values, beliefs, and interests are more of passing and getting good grades. likely to be engaged and motivated. ■ Sleep-deprived people have 19 percent less memory ■ Students who seek help early experience better than those who sleep well. outcomes. 4 Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington KNOW WHY YOU ASK WHEN ARE STUDYING YOU NEED TO ■ Make goals to help ■ Ask sooner, rather than later. your motivation and ■ Build on what you know. resilience when things ■ Access the services that are get hard. 3 4 5available to you. SUPPORTING YOUR STUDIES Services and support are available STUDENT LEARNING across the University to help you settle The learning advisers at Student Learning specialise in helping you achieve academic success. Staff work with all in to academic life, enhance your students, from first year to postgraduate level, on academic learning experience, and achieve your writing, study skills, and mathematics. study goals. You can visit our teams on Student Learning offers: campus or get in touch online, take part ■ free academic and study skills workshops and specialist in events and workshops, and access a programmes throughout the year ■ online resources, including introductions to study skills, range of online resources. academic writing, and research ■ individual 50-minute appointments on campus and online to assist your study ■ support for mathematics and statistics learning ■ 15-minute express appointments with a learning adviser at the Info Ihonui, Level 2, Library entrance, the Hub, between 11 am and 2 pm, Monday to Friday ■ a Māori learning adviser to support Māori students in their studies ■ a Pasifika learning adviser to support Pasifika students in their studies. LEARNING WORKSHOPS AND SEMINARS Our workshops include study, writing, and exam skills as well as specialised workshops for international and postgraduate students. All students are welcome, and you don’t need to book in advance for most workshops. Workshops are held at Student Learning, Hunter Courtyard, Level 0, Kirk building, Kelburn campus. Workshops are also offered online. The full schedule of Student Learning workshops is online. [email protected] www.wgtn.ac.nz/student-learning www.wgtn.ac.nz/studyhub Student Guide 2021 7 MAKING THE TRANSITION TEST AND EXAM SKILLS TO UNIVERSITY Regular revision (within 24 hours) of your lecture notes, doing the readings, and keeping up with your workload during At university, the expectations may be different to what you the trimester will help you do well in your assessments. are used to. Student Learning will run two half-day sessions Assessments require strong course content knowledge and on academic writing and study skills. These sessions will help effective test skills. These workshops aim to help you fine-tune you adapt to the academic expectations at the University. You your performance. must register online. ACADEMIC WRITING SKILLS INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS’ You will be expected to complete different types of university SUPPORT AND WORKSHOPS assessments. Although you may also be asked to write We want to ensure our international students have all the skills reports, literature reviews, journal articles, and research and knowledge they need to be successful in their study. proposals, the academic essay is the most common written As international students, you may face new study assessment. An understanding of key academic writing challenges and opportunities. Student Learning offers skills will help you identify what markers are looking for a range of programmes to help you understand the when they grade your essays and will improve your writing. expectations of the University’s teaching staff, as well You will be able to apply these skills to other forms of as ways to meet those expectations. You will get the written assessment. Student Learning teaches a range of opportunity to meet new people and have some fun on skills to help you improve your academic writing, including campus through our conversation and cross-cultural referencing and editing, starting and planning essays, communication programmes. We will help you gain thinking critically, and writing your essay. skills and confidence in your academic study through programmes such as academic speaking, polishing your STUDY AND grammar, and preparing for academic life and study.