Tag Archives: UC News

Notice, UC News

Submit your contacts for the 2022 QS ranking survey now

Every year as a University we collect 400 names of international academics and graduate employers to take part in the QS World University and Subject Rankings.

We are now collecting names for the 2022 survey. This year we’ve streamlined the process to submit contacts for more efficient information gathering. To submit your contacts, all you need to do is fill in the newly developed web form to provide their details – Submit your contacts by Friday 26 November using the appropriate web form for what the contact would be contributing to:

The web form also includes the following permissions options:

  • UC will request permission of your contact to share their details with QS.
  • You will request your contact’s permission to share their details with QS.

Survey responses contribute to the University’s academic reputation, making up 40% and employer reputation, making up 10% of the ranking metric.

In 2020 the University ranked 258 in the QS Global University Ranking, increasing its position from 270 in 2019 and overcoming a downward trend over the previous five years. Improving the reputation and ranking of the University is a key objective of the Strategic Vision and will contribute to attracting research funding, international academics and students at undergraduate and postgraduate level to UC.

If you have any questions about the process to collect names for the 2022 QS World University and Subject Rankings, please email phillipa.hawkes@canterbury.ac.nz

Announcements, Notice, UC News

Covid-19 | Teaching next week at Alert Level 4

Kia ora koutou, 

Following Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s announcement at 3pm today, Aotearoa New Zealand will continue at Alert Level 4 until at least 11.59pm, Tuesday 24 August. For the latest up-to-date information visit the Government Covid-19 website.

Please continue to show care and patience towards others – check in with your colleagues, friends and whānau. You may have additional family responsibilities during this time and I encourage you to look after your own wellbeing in addition to supporting others. EAP services remain open during Alert Level 4 if you require professional counselling support.

Access to campus

Campus will continue to be closed during Alert Level 4, except for the Health Centre, Pharmacy, Security and other essential services. See information below if you need equipment for teaching purposes next week.

The Health Centre is unable to accept walk-ins while we are under Alert Level 4, Please call to make a booking.

Teaching from Monday and online delivery support
From Monday, and for the rest of the week, all teaching and assessment will be delivered online. If you need assistance with AKO | LEARN or Echo 360, first check the e-Learning Help for Staff site.  You will find Zoom help sessions on this site also. The Future Learning and Development team is ready to assist you if needed, simply log a ticket through the Future Learning & Development Assyst portal. 

Respondus Monitor and Lockdown Browser are available for invigilating online assessment through AKO| LEARN quizzes.

Students have been advised to look on AKO | LEARN for revised teaching and assessment plans so please update AKO | LEARN before Monday.

Student access to devices

If students don’t have access to a device suitable for online study, or don’t have a suitable internet connection, please encourage students to email ucprotect@canterbury.ac.nz with their full name, date of birth, student ID number, current physical address, contact phone number, and an outline of their situation. They will then be contacted on the phone number provided for arrangements to be made.

Access to teaching and learning materials from campus
Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) guidance has been released today, allowing staff involved in teaching and learning activities to access campus for the purpose of collating and sending education resources to facilitate distance learning. See the announcement.

What this means at UC:

  • If you wish to collect materials from campus for teaching and learning activities, you will need to report to the Security Office, 114 Ilam Road to sign in.
  • You will need to:
    • wear a mask
    • observe physical distancing
    • have your Canterbury Card
    • have a mobile phone on your person and provide your number to the Security team
    • be prepared to wait for access (it could take time as numbers are strictly limited onsite)
  • Once you’ve signed in, you will be escorted to your office to collect your required materials
  • You will need to report back to the Security Office to sign out, then leave campus immediately.

Access to campus will be every day (including Saturday and Sunday) during daylight hours only from 8am – last departure from the Security Office at 5.30pm.

Special Test Arrangements
Students requiring special test arrangements will follow the same process as last year:

  • Students registered with Equity and Disability Service will receive an email about test arrangements for the coming week. 
  • Administrators will be contacted with protocols and information regarding Exam Special Arrangements.

The UC Covid information page is regularly updated and has a wealth of information. If you have any questions about UC’s Covid response, please email ucprotect@canterbury.ac.nz or speak to your line manager.

Read today’s all student email here. 

Thank you for your flexibility and dedication to continuing to deliver teaching and support to our students. I encourage you to take some time for yourself this weekend and do something you enjoy.

Ngā mihi

Iain MacPherson
Incident Controller

UC News

Covid-19 | Alert Level 4 information update

Kia ora koutou, 

Aotearoa New Zealand is in Alert Level 4 lockdown until at least midnight Friday 20 August; our campuses therefore also remain closed except for essential services (Health Centre, pharmacy, security).  

As we all negotiate this latest situation, please remember to show care and patience with others – we all cope in our own way and some colleagues may have additional concerns outside of work to manage. Check on each other, support others where you can, but look after your own wellbeing as well.  

Teaching and learning  

All teaching and assessments, online and in person, are suspended for the remainder of this week. This allows students to travel home if they wish to and staff to prepare online learning and assessments.  

Please prepare to deliver lectures online from Monday next week. Even if alert levels change to allow face-to-face delivery, students from outside of Canterbury may have already gone home. 

Any assessment due next week must be made available online or rescheduled. Please refer to the principles for rescheduling assessment for COVID responses here. 

A reminder that students are being advised to refer to AKO | LEARN for the latest course information, so please keep AKO |LEARN up to date, even if it is to say details will be available at a later date.  

Supervisors are asked to check in on all postgraduate students. Honours coordinators are also asked to check in with their students. 

The Contact Centre, Student Care, Academic Skills, Equity and Disability Services, UC Māori, Pacific Development Team, and other support services are all still available virtually for students. 

Prime Minister’s updates 

In the 1pm briefing today we heard that the number of community cases has risen to seven with places of interest including Central Auckland Church of Christ, Skycity Casino and Auckland Hospital. A reminder that if you have been in Auckland since 12 August to please check the locations of interest at Government Covid website – these will continue to be updated.  

Vaccination bookings open today to those aged 40 years and over (Book My Vaccine | Ministry of Health NZ (covid19.health.nz). The vaccination programmes resumes tomorrow. If you already have a vaccination booking please attend, unless you are contacted to reschedule.  

In addition to public transport, masks are to be worn at bus terminals and in taxis. You must also wear a mask when attending essential services. In short, if you have to go out, please wear a mask.  

If you are away, please return home ASAP. Please cancel any flights you are not taking so that others can return home.  

You can keep up-to-date with the latest Government information on Alert Level 4 here. The live 1pm briefing has the latest information – accessible on the Stuff, TVNZ or RNZ websites. 

We will continue to provide you with the latest information and updates from the Incident Management Team.  

Where to go for help: 

For help with online learning and assessment: The Flexible Learning Development (FLD) Team are available to help staff with questions about online delivery. If you need assistance with AKO | LEARN, Echo 360, or other tools, first check the e-Learning Help for Staff site found here. 

You can also get assistance from the FL&D by logging a ticket through the Future Learning & Development Assyst portal. Please use this system rather than emailing or phoning individuals on the team as we are working hard to prioritize and note trends in requests. Further information about workshops and staff peer support has been provided directly from the Flexible Learning and Development Team through the Ako Anamata Newsletter. 

To request being put on the essential staff list to access campus: email ucprotect@canterbury.ac.nz. 

Questions about working from home: please refer to the University’s Protocol: Working from Home for Managers/Heads and Staff specifically in relation to COVID-19

All other queries: speak to your line manager or email ucprotect@canterbury.ac.nz. 

EAP services remain open during level 4 – refer to EAP Services at Level 4 – Tū ki te tahi | Stand as one (canterbury.ac.nz).

If you have symptoms of cold or flu call Healthline on 0800 611 116 and get advice about being tested. 

The UC Covid information page has a wealth of information and is updated regularly.  

Click here to see today’s student communication. 

Thank you for your flexibility, effort and care as we strive to support our students’ learning during this time.  

Ngā mihi,

Iain MacPherson
Incident Controller

UC News

Covid-19 | Moving to Covid Alert Level 4

Kia ora koutou,

This evening, the Prime Minister confirmed Aotearoa New Zealand will move to Covid-19 Alert Level 4 from 11.59pm tonight, Tuesday 17 August.

You can keep up-to-date with the latest Government information on Alert Level 4 here.

Following the announcement by the Prime Minister, the Vice-Chancellor has activated the Incident Management Team, and the Vice-Chancellor and Incident Controllers are the decision-making authority.

The University of Canterbury campus will be closed from 11.59 Tuesday 17 August, with the exception of student accommodation and those providing essential services, which includes Health Centre staff, pharmacy staff, security, and other essential staff.

Please do not try to access campus unless you are on the essential staff list. Essential staff will be advised. If you aren’t contacted and think you should have been, please email ucprotect@canterbury.ac.nz.

Working from Home

UC staff are to work from home from Wednesday 18 August. You are welcome to collect computer equipment, including laptops and monitors, before 11.59pm this evening.

At this stage please do not remove any office furniture from University of Canterbury buildings. Refer to the UC Covid Information page for more on working from home.

Teaching and learning 
All classes have been cancelled for the remainder of this week. Tests, assignments and other assessments will not take place during this time. Course coordinators are asked to start considering rescheduling or modifying assessment to accommodate the lockdown. Students are being told to refer to AKO | Learn for the latest course information, so please keep learn up to date, even if it is to say details will be available at a later date.

Please prepare yourself for the possibility of online teaching and learning from Monday 23 August, including potentially running assessments online.

Student accommodation
The Accommodation team has been working closely with halls of residence to ensure appropriate measures are in place. Students should check with their individual hall for details.

Events and Gatherings
Under Alert Level 4 all gatherings and events are cancelled, and all venues closed.

Travel arrangements
If you are currently in Auckland, contact Orbit to make arrangements to return home as soon as possible.

If you have any University-related travel planned for anywhere in New Zealand over the next seven days you must pause these travel plans until lockdown is lifted from the whole of New Zealand.

If you have visited Auckland, the Coromandel or locations of interest (published in the Government Covid website) since Thursday 12 August you should follow isolation recommendations on the Government Covid website.

Health and wellbeing
Look after yourself and others in these uncertain and unique times. Check out the online wellbeing hub where there’s a wealth of handy information covering anxiety and stress and mind and body, for both staff and students.

People at Higher Risk
People with underlying health conditions are most at risk of Covid-19 becoming a severe illness. The University will work closely with these staff and students to ensure their individual needs are met.

If you have symptoms of cold or flu call Healthline on 0800 611 116 and get advice about being tested.

Taking this action is in the best interests of us all and as complicated as our situation is, it’s important to remember we remain in a better position compared to other parts of the world. Let’s focus on what each of us can do to ensure a return to normal life as soon as possible.

If you have any questions, visit the UC Covid information page, speak to your line manager or email ucprotect@canterbury.ac.nz. Click here to see the student communication.

We have done this before, and we will get through this together.

We will be back in touch tomorrow.

Kia kaha,

Iain MacPherson
Incident Controller

 

UC News

Latest news from the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU)

Make the most of our membership of the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU).

Included this in this month’s newsletter:

Plus some articles and podcasts that may be of interest.

Karen Mather, People and Culture (formerly HR)