Weekend planning underway for progressive re-start of University of Canterbury – an update from the Vice-Chancellor
26th February 2011 7:00pm
The University of Canterbury is committed to delivering a quality full-year academic programme of teaching this calendar year. Members of the senior management team, the emergency operations team and I have spent much of today planning in order to prepare for a progressive re-start of our teaching and research programmes.
To this end we met with Civil Defence Director John Hamilton to understand the extent to which the University needs to move in tandem with the city infrastructure. While, as we’ve previously advised, we will not be in a position to start prior to 14 March, it is looking possible that at least some programmes may be commenced around that date, all going well.
We are conscious that students and their parents want some clear indications regarding the re-start date so that they can make decisions. We understand your concerns. Before allowing access to any university buildings what we need to be able to confirm is that those buildings are structurally sound and that we are able to deliver quality teaching and research programmes using those or alternative delivery platforms. We are already making plans that would allow for the compression of teaching time and the bringing forward of field-based course requirements and other off-campus “for credit” activities. We are working on all these options right now and will be in a position to provide more definitive information early next week. There are specific groups of students in different circumstances.
Study Abroad
Because “Study Abroad” students, are only here for a very short period of time, we are asking you to contact Student Services from 9am, Monday 28th February to discuss your options. You can do this in two ways:
Email: [email protected]
Visit NZi3 Creyke Rd from between 9am and 5pm, Monday – Friday and seek a Liaison Team member
International Full Fee Students
For international undergraduate full fee paying students, we expect to be in a position to communicate possible options for you by 6pm Monday 28th February.
Other Students
For bridging students, English language students, domestic undergraduate and post graduate students (both international and domestic) across all colleges, including the College of Education, we expect to be able to communicate some options for you by 6pm Wednesday 2nd March.
Refunds
There are some complicating issues surrounding requests for refunds. We are currently working through policies and procedures to assist students who wish to withdraw and will provide further information next week.
Our commitment to UC students
We are absolutely committed to ensuring that UC students are not disadvantaged as a result of the earthquake, and that whether you are a domestic, international or post graduate student, you receive quality programmes of study, research and student experience.
I would like to share a message from Singapore posted on our Facebook page, UC Earthquake Recovery.
Hi, I am a undergraduate from National University of Singapore and have just sent my application to UC for an exchange program. If all goes well, I will be in UC next semester and the news about the quake is devastating.
I hope all of you in Christchurch are safe, and it is certainly heartening to see how this facebook page is answering many people's queries, exemplifying the efficacy of the University, it's staff and students. I'm certainly still glad I made my choice to do exchange at UC. :) Stay safe:)
Student Welfare
As far as student welfare is concerned, the “Big Top” on the UCSA carpark is now open and operational. It contains
UCSA student support staff
Advocacy and welfare services
Advice/Support for hardship – help to source food/ petrol etc
Social facilities – couches, table tennis, etc
Sign up for Student Volunteer Army
No academic student services are available
Wireless internet connection, and computers in the nearby Portacoms, enabling access to UC internet services (requiring a UC login, just like the library or a temporary student workroom)
The UC Community spirit
We are now hearing some amazing stories of how the UC community spirit is operating. A visiting Professor from Stanford has provided the following story:
“We were in the cathedral when it hit, were separated, but somehow all managed to crawl/climb out of the building with only cuts and bruises. Like thousands of others, we spent the afternoon in the Botanic garden and then Hagley park.
As it got dark and started to rain in earnest, two young men came up to us and offered to take us in at their flat in Riccarton. We walked a couple of kilometers to where two other young men waited with cars. They bundled the three of us, along with a business man from Sydney, into the cars and to their home, where they had been collecting rainwater in buckets all day. They insisted on sleeping on mats in the living room and giving us their beds, plus we each had a basin of water to wash some of the dust off our faces.
The next morning they organized some breakfast, the first we had eaten in nearly 30 hours and then one of them accompanied me in a (successful) search for a medical center to get a few days’ supply of prescription medicines and eventually to locate a tiny motel, the Ascot Vale, where we found two rooms.
We were overcome by the resourcefulness and generosity of these third-year students. We are forever in their debt--and I so want the University to know of their acts of generosity, graciousness, and good humor, which we sorely needed”
A big thank you to students and staff
Thank you to these students and many others who have been supporting the community through the Student Volunteer Army. We have also appreciated the very many messages of support and offers from staff to volunteer and hope to be able to take these up within the next week.
Finally, I urge all students and staff to keep safe, look after friends and family and support one another. A very important aspect of health and safety in our current circumstances is personal hygiene. Please ensure that you wash hands thoroughly with hot water or use hand sanitizer.