Student Representation Celebration – nominate your class reps and lecturer of the year!

Every year the VUWSA Education Team hosts the annual Student Representation Celebration, an event celebrating the exceptional student representatives and student leaders at Victoria including Class Reps, Faculty Delegates, and representative group leaders who have contributed to the academic quality and student experience at Victoria.

You can help make sure we select the most deserving winners by nominating outstanding Class Reps that you feel have been going above and beyond in their role.

Click here to nominate a class rep

First ever – Lecturer of the Year category

This year for the first time we have added the category of Lecturer of the Year – this is to recognise lecturers that are positively contributing to the student experience through their teaching and support. The winning lecturer will have the most, quality nominations and will be presented the award at the annual VUWSA Student Representation Celebration.

Click here to nominate a lecturer

There are four categories to be nominated for and selected by the Education team:

• Class Representative Service Awards
• Faculty Delegate Awards
• Outstanding Contribution to the Student Experience Award
• Lecturer of the Year (NEW!)

I can’t wait to read the nominations and award these outstanding representatives in October at our Student Representation Celebration!

Jacinta Gulasekharam

Academic Vice President at VUWSA

Public service announcement – half-priced rubbish bags!

As a keen environmentalist, I’m aware that environmentalism comes in all sizes. But, I’ve always been a proponent of small things that can be done on a daily basis, from hanging out your washing instead of using the dryer, or taking a reusable coffee cup. For me, it’s about lessening our environmental impacts, but saving a few (or more) dollars is always a bonus. 

And if you’re anything like me, the sight of properly separated recycling and waste gets me a bit giddy (okay, maybe it’s better if you’re not like me…). Moving from Auckland, where rubbish and recycling is separated into wheelie bins, to Wellington, where few properties even have accessibility for such bins, it took some getting used to the bag system, what goes into each bag, and the fact you have to pay for them! 

Not as much as of recent though. In an effort to create a more student-friendly Wellington (and more beautiful Wellington), we’ve collaborated with Victoria University and the Wellington City Council to bring you discounted rubbish bags and free recycling bags (for the ‘burbs’). Along with these, a handy pamphlet (printed on 100% recycled paper – yeah, baby!), outlining what can and can’t go in each bag. 

Pop into the VUWSA office at the Kelburn and Pipitea campuses (sorry Te Aro students: you’re probably more switched on about how to reduce waste anyway though, right..?) from this week with your student ID, let them know which area you live in, and get your rubbish bags at half the cost  from anywhere else. We sell bags in either singles or in packs of five. Just so it’s fair for other students, we ask you only purchase a minimum of five per visit.  

Happy recycling!

Anya Maule

Wellbeing and Sustainability Officer 

Fostering student entrepreneurship with innovative start-ups

In January I thought up and started working on an incredibly exciting new initiative: helping students with start-up businesses. How? By finding, investing, mentoring (from start to grow to the high road), and providing support throughout the whole process.

Victoria has fantastically innovative, intelligent, creative students – we want to help them reach their potential. We want to continue building Victoria culture that fosters student entrepreneurship. A culture that positively enhances the environment we live in at the university, city, national and even international level.

VUWSA has never done anything like this before. Its structure isn’t set up for it. In this way a lot of my work has been to make sure the project works, while still fitting within our duties and obligations to you, our students.

Turns out it’s a much bigger project than I thought. I’ve spent the last eight months crawling through the highly technical and drier-than-a-dad joke areas of company and tax law; talking to businesspeople and students to get this off the ground at the VUWSA level. Each conversation has raised new questions, and each answer has led to something new – only adding to the plan.

I’m absolutely frothing to be able to say we’re almost there.

VUWSA is seeking some final professional advice to have a check over all the work that has been done so far, then we can kick off and start to work with students. I’m proud to say one student business is already talking with VUWSA, and we are actively seeking out more.

If you have a start-up idea you would like to talk about with VUWSA, drop me an email at treasurer@vuwsa.org.nz. I’m always available and eager to talk.

George Grainer

Treasurer-Secretary

A momentous Wednesday night for our Student Friendly Wellington campaign

Last Wednesday just passed we made a massive win on the Fairer Fares campaign. 

We made the extra vote needed to have majority support around the Council table on this issue. 

We co-hosted a meeting together with students from Porirua, about how the cost of public transport greatly impacts on those living in the wider Wellington region; Hutt Valley Porirua, Wairarapa, Kapiti Coast. 

Until now, one of the Councillors representing Porirua, Jenny Brash, had consistently voted against a student fare, despite the struggle faced by thousands of students in her community to get to university each day. 

Five local students spoke at the event, and each brought a unique and powerful story to the table. Saleima Samuelu spoke of her first attempt at getting a degree at Vic a number of years ago, which she had to relinquish because of the cost of getting into the city every day, and Elyjana Roach spoke of the need to design our cities in a way that people can actually get around, and have access to things like higher education. 

Each speaker was moving and persuasive, and the message clearly got through to Jenny Brash. During her response, Brash agreed for the first time to sign VUWSA’s pledge for a Student Discount on public transport!

This is a massive step forward for the Student Friendly Wellington Campaign. It means that of the current sitting councillors, we now have a majority support around the table for a 50% discount on public transport for tertiary students. 

However, the job is a long way from being done. This is all the more reason why it’s important to vote in these local body elections and ensure the supportive candidates all get elected. 

Jump on our website to see the updated list of supportive candidates, and keep an eye out for voting papers in your mailbox from the 16th September. 

Rory Lenihan-Ikin

Welfare Vice President

President's update – September 2016

Kia ora koutou everyone,

Most of you won’t remember a time when we didn’t have The Hub. Its predecessor, the Quad, was an ugly, wet and windy place.

In 2013, The Hub was created to be the ‘heart’ of the campus. With the VUWSA Trust contributing $12 million which came from compulsory student fees (VUW’s largest single donation), VUWSA aimed to ensure students were at the heart of The Hub project. Today, it’s a bustling place, with heaps of student-friendly spaces, largely thanks to the partnership between the University and the VUWSA Trust on the redevelopment project. 

The Hub has also become the heart of debate and the contest of ideas. From political debates to VUWSA’s general meetings, The Hub reminds us that as a university community, we should be acting as the critic and conscience of society. 

Next week we continue to make The Hub the heart of debate, with the Mayoral Debate next Wednesday 14 September at 1pm. The Mayoral Debate is your chance to hear whether candidates support a city that values students, and whether they support our vision for a Student Friendly Wellington. Let’s pack out The Hub to show candidates that students care about this city. 

And...we take over The Hub again on Thursday 15 September at 1pm, with the VUWSA Candidates Forum for those who are running in the upcoming executive elections. VUWSA is a crucial part of ensuring a powerful student voice at Vic and in Wellington, so make sure you attend to hear from the candidates. Also make sure that you vote when you get your voting ballot (via email) on 20 September!

We shift the focus on Monday 19 September at 4pm, with our Rant with Grant Guilford (Vice-Chancellor) and Neville Jordan (Chancellor), who will be answering your questions on fees and other parts of the student experience at Vic.

So remember to get engaged this week and participate in one (or all) of our upcoming events in your Hub. Let’s reaffirm this space as the heart of debate in our university community.

Jono

President

So many opportunities this September!

At a time when assignments are reaching their peak during the trimester, it’s always a good opportunity to reflect on how you’re doing – how are you feeling? University may seem like a constant battle between your studies, and actually being able to engage with the world outside class, but by no means it should be, especially when we’re surrounded by our very own community of like-minded individuals.

This month is a huge one for events around the university, and there are so many opportunities available for you to you engage with!

All next week, VUWSA International Student’s Association are holding an International Week, full of live events, guest speakers, a Sports Day, and probably the one I’m most looking forward to, and International Food Day! – check it out on their Facebook, because it will be amazing! 

We also have events lined up at VUWSA, beginning with our Mayoral Debate. Our Student Friendly Wellington Campaign has been running for a couple of months now, and you may have seen us online, in your lecture theaters, or in your hall of residents engaging with students about the campaign, and updating enrollments.

Behind the scenes though we’ve also been lobbying the candidates themselves – all 71  of them!. From Wellington’s Southern Ward up to Wairarapa and the Kapiti Coast!  The campaign has had some real wins already, and we’re really excited about the prospect of Rental WOFs and Fairer Fares becoming a reality!  

On Wednesday 14 September we’ve partnered with the Victoria Politics Students’ Society to host a Mayoral Debate, bringing you the chance now to push the candidates on what they stand for, and how they will live up to their promises.  PLUS, we are live streaming it online and to Pipitea!  We are collecting questions to put forward to the candidates online.

Following that on Friday are once again the Faculty Games in partnership with Recreation.  It’s still not too late to sign up to compete for your Faculty, and if you’re not the sporty type, you should still come along to support your faculty!  There’ll be prizes, and free food!  

More events coming up...

• Rant with Grant
• Blues Awards
• Gold & Supreme Club Awards

Reflecting back on the concept of community at Victoria, at VUWSA, we value the relationships we have with other groups around campus, and we’re proud of the work we have done with these groups, from hosting ArtsWeek events with MisFits, Boy Squad and other cultural groups on campus, working with PolSoc to host our Mayoral Debate, working with Faculty Groups to pull off the Faculty Games, or supporting representative groups in their campaigns. 

Victoria is blessed to have so many groups and student leaders that are passionate about making student lives better.  Although the end of year is coming up fast, it’s still not too late to make the most of all the opportunities out there!

After all, this is as much your university as it is everyone else's.

Until next time,

Nathaniel, your Engagement VP

A TEU Voices of Tertiary Education symposium update...to rugby

I've been leading some research and consultation around the Productivity Commission’s tertiary sector investigation. Here's what I told them and the people at the TEU Voices of Tertiary Education symposium:

Binding is important. Before we engage and push forward with our scrum together, there’s no point trying, unless we are all working together (looking at you, Universities NZ).

It’s a game of two halves. Fair enough going full brunt and exhausting your resources and bench before half time. I’m sure it’ll get you to the top of the table (see: Auckland Uni), but is it worth it if your team is tired and under performing in the second half? And, worst-of-all, injured for the next game? This is currently how the tertiary funding model works: make sure you win (grow your EFTS) or you’re out of the game.

We need to referee a game that's fair. The rules of the game (ie. the funding model, Studylink etc.) dictate the degree that people will be able to enjoy and play the game.

The game is only at its best when the players, audience, coaches, bench warmers, touch judges, referees, water carriers, and commentators are all being constructive about the game and leading it to a better outcome. Each person from the groundskeeper to the captain of the team has a responsibility to lead the game to its best level. Even the two teams in opposition are ultimately competing for the same purpose, to be the best at the game.

VUWSA needs you to help look at the rules of the game in September when we launch consultation on the new rules proposed by the Productivity Commission – look forward to giving you the call up in a few months. 

Jacinta Gulasekaram – Academic Vice President

Do you know your flatting rights? You will soon!

VUWSA's Welfare Team, the Community Justice Project (CJP) and more have joined forces to create the ultimate flatting guide to renting in Wellington, Know Your Rights – Flatting 101.

Following the Trimester 2 break, keep your eyes open for a new VUWSA brochure on everything you need to know about tenancy.

From finding a flat, to getting your bond back and everything-in-between, we've collected on-point student-centered advice on eco flatting, resolving issues and keeping your tenancy healthy and happy.

Have a burning question about flatting in the meantime? Connect with VUWSA's Advocacy Service or the Department of Building and Housing's Tenancy Helpline (0800 TENANCY). 

Kate Nickelchok – Advocacy Service

Education update – August 2016

Kia Ora

Thank you to all those who have volunteered to be a Class Rep! As a Class Rep, you're the first point of contact for students in your class, and your role is an integral one for ensuring basic problems are resolved through offered support and guidance. Most importantly, you're the ears and voice of the students at Victoria!

Class Representative training sessions have been running since week three, and end in week five.

If you're a class rep

It’s extremely important to attend a training session. These training sessions are vital to understanding the class rep role and how you to use VUWSA to support you and your fellow classmates.

You can sign up for Class Representative training here

If you're a postgraduate student

There is also another awesome opportunity to be a representative if you're a postgraduate student as there are current vacancies for:

• FHSS Board
• Faculty of Education Board
• Faculty of Education Academic Committee
• Faculty of Education Library Liaison Committee

These committees need valuable student input, so if you're interested please contact sue.kelly@vuw.ac.nz

Have a great week everyone!

– The Education Team

• Jacinta Gulasekharam – Academic Vice President
• Annaliese Wilson – Education Officer
• Gemma Swan – Student Representation Coordinator

Photos from Re-OWeek 2016

Re-OWeek came and went, and helped everyone settle into class – whether new or returning!

Check out the photos below...

Campus Expo – Kelburn, Te Aro, Pip

Movie Night – Monday 11 July

Speed Dating – Tuesday 12 July

The Medicine Comedy Show – Wednesday 13 July

Quiz Night – Thursday 14 July

Drax Project – Friday 15 July

VUWSA and Eyegum Collective with Yoko Zuna, A Girl Named Mo, Paddy Fred and K2K – Saturday 16 July

President's update – August 2016

Kia ora koutou

We’ve received a wave of support for our recently-launched Student Friendly Wellington campaign. Council candidates have been in and out of my office pledging their support, saying it’s refreshing to see students mobilising themselves – influencing the local body election. Students have been saying our commitments are common sense – for them to succeed at Vic they need a Rental Warrant of Fitness so their flats don’t make them sick, and a 50% tertiary discount on public transport so they can afford the bus to class. Our campaign is about creating real change in the lives of students.

Make sure you show your support by attending our Fairer Fares Forum with Regional Council candidates straight after our Annual General Meeting at 1pm next Wednesday! (Free pizza!)

For us, creating a Student Friendly Wellington goes beyond the upcoming local body election. As the University firms up its plans to double the number of students in the coming years and as the student experience goes beyond just what we learn in the classroom, a Student Friendly Wellington is crucial to our success in this City. A Student Friendly Wellington is one of our strategic goals for the next five years, and forms part of our Strategic Plan 2017-2021, which we will also be launching at the AGM on Wednesday. At the AGM, I hope to clearly define VUWSA’s purpose and declare our intentions for the student-voice moving forward. It’s up to you to hold us accountable to this so I really hope to see you there!

I know a big part of your concerns at Vic is the amount of fees and levies you pay and how teaching, learning and services can be improved. Thanks so much to the nearly 1,000 of you who completed our recent Student Services Levy and Fees Survey. The survey has helped us identify areas of improvement for the University, namely in the areas of health, counselling, career development and employment. These services are all up for review this year by the Advisory Committee for the Student Services Levy (ACSSL). We’ll ensure your views are taken into account during these reviews. 

The annual Rant with Grant (a chat with the Vice-Chancellor Grant Guilford and Chancellor Sir Neville Jordan) will happen again next month. Traditionally, this has been to discuss fees and where the University is spending them, but has also expanded so you can ask questions to our University leaders. This is set down for 19 September – more details to come!

Noho ora mai,

Jono

Jonathan Gee – President

Student Friendly Wellington – are your enrollment details up to date?

The local body elections are still a few weeks away, but in order to get your voting papers delivered, you must update your details on the electoral roll by Friday 12 August (next week!).

With 40,000 students in Wellington compared to 7,500 votes needed to win a seat on the Regional Council, we can have a massive impact on this election if we get out and vote. 

How do I enroll?

Look out for the orange men at each campus!

• Kelburn: The Hub + VUWSA Office
• Pipitea: Rutherford House Atrium
• Te Aro: Atrium, just inside the main doors

After you have filled out a form, we've got some handy drop off points so that you don't have to post it:

• Kelburn: VUWSA Reception
• Pipitea: Vic Comm Officer or VUWSA Office
• Te Aro: Main reception

If you want to vote on the Wellington issues like a student discount on buses, then make sure you have your Wellington address listed on your enrollment form!

Who should I vote for?

We’ve been asking for firm commitments from candidates who support our student friendly policies. Those who have signed a pledge in support are listed on our website here so that you know that your vote is going to make a difference on these issues.

Don't forget to come to the Fairer Fares Forum in The Hub at Kelburn next week Wednesday at 1pm if you want to hear from the candidates!

When do I vote?

Voting papers will be sent in the post from 16 September. Rather than ticking the candidate that you want, you’ll rank them all (1, 2, 3 etc) according to preference.

Let's maximise our voting power and make a real impact on these elections. We owe it to ourselves.

In service,

Rory Lenihan-Ikin – Welfare Vice President

Can you believe we’re nearly a quarter of the way through Trimester 2?!?

Re-OWeek this year made sure Trimester Two started off with a bang (before that there was a slow descent into assignments and late nights began…). Some of our Re-OWeek highlights from the VUWSA team include Drax Project, Yoko Zuna, Speed Dating, Quiz Night, and the Medicine Comedy Show at VK’s. 

Re-OWeek was only the beginning of what's started a jam-packed Trimester 2 though!

This year, in just over a week, we'll be launching out first ever ArtsWeek!!! Our campus oozes music, arts and culture; so we figured, why not dedicate a week to celebrating it all?

ArtsWeek – in action

Mon 15th August        6pm - Art session in The Hub with the Misfits Club! FREE!

Tues 16th August       5pm – A curated Art Tour of some works around our University, and a tour of the Adam Art Gallery! Drinks and nibbles provided as well! FREE!

Wed 17th August       First of we’ll have some Victoria Clubs showcasing their talents in the Hub at 12pm, followed at 3pm with a Hip Hop Workshop with the local boys from Boys Squad. FREE!

Thur 18th August       12pm – Vaughan King, the owner of VK’s Comedy and Blues Bar, is holding a FREE Stand-up Comedy Workshop right here on campus! 12pm in SU217.  Plus, anyone who comes along gets free entry to VK’s Open Mic Night that night! FREE!

Thur 18th August       7pm – Award-winning NZ composer Grayson Gilmour is holding a Film Scoring Workshop, in the Adam Art Gallery. A small performance will also be included! FREE!

Fri 19th August          Friday night we have two awesome theatre performances at Bat’s Theatre, with $14 student tickets! At 6pm is Well, a performance challenge the stigma around mental health. At 7pm is Richard II, Shakespeare’s play on King Richard, who thought he was appointed by God, but just made a bunch of shit decisions.

Make sure you follow our Facebook page to be kept up-to-date with everything happening over ArtsWeek!

And after that...

After the mid-trimester break, we'll be holding our annual Faculty Games!  Last year Commerce managed to take out the competition, but this year, it’s anyone’s game! There’ll be Turbo Touch, Netball, Football, food, prizes and an afternoon of good weather (fingers crossed), so make sure you keep an eye out for when registrations open soon!

We'll also have our AGM coming, Blues Awards, Gold and Supreme Clubs Awards, a Mayoral Debate, the Rant with Grant and more this trimester, but more on all those later! 

Until next time...

Nathaniel Manning – Engagement Vice President

Advocacy info and education update – July 2016

Pride Week – Your Rights

Gender identity is our own sense of which gender we are. Whether we identify as masculine, feminine, neither, or a bit of both.

We all have rights around how we're treated too...

Gender Identity and Medical Care

You have the right to:

• be treated with respect. If a doctor or other health professional makes inappropriate comments to you this may be a breach of your right. If they don’t give you privacy to change or a drape for physical examination this may also be a breach of your rights
• receive services of an appropriate standard. The appropriate standard is determined by the medical profession generally
• bring a support person of your choosing with you to any appointment
• make a complaint to the Health and Disability Commissioner who can also provide you with a free advocate to assist with your complaint. (The Health & Disability Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers’ Rights Regulation 1996).

Toilets

You have the right to:

• use the toilet of the gender you identify with. Genderqueer and Trans* toilet rights may be a big debate in the States, but here in New Zealand that shouldn't be the case.
• access a toilet you feel safe in at school and at work – this may include a gender neutral toilet. (Human Rights Act 1993, s42; Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992). 

Correcting your records

You have the right to:

• have your gender and title respected. You can be required to provide proof of your identity, but you should not be asked to provide more proof than a cisgender person. If an organisation is insisting on a higher standard for you because you are transgender, you could make a complaint to the Human Rights Commission. You could also speak to Community Law about other options that might be available. An exception to your general right to correct your records is your birth certificate. More info available at VUWSA’s Advocacy Service and Community Law (Privacy Act 1993, Priniciple 7; Human Rights Act 1993, s42)

Like what you're reading, and want to know more?

For more information on Trans* and Genderqueer Rights, visit VUWSA’s Advocacy Service or your local Community Law Centre.

Information used with permission from Wellington Community Law

Class Representatives Update

Trimester 2 is nearly upon us and so is your chance to become a Class Representative!

What's a Class Rep?

• Class Reps are an important link between students and staff, ensuring any issues are resolved quickly and easily. They are the first point of contact for students and ensure the student voice is heard at all levels of the University.
• Another great part about being a Class Reps is the ability to gain points for VicPlus. 

How to become a Class Rep – give it a go!

• If you'd like to be a Class Rep, make sure you attend your lectures in the first week – this is when your lecturer is likely to ask for nominations.
• Make sure you put your hand up – take the opportunity – as it poses an awesome environment to engage with your lecturer and consult with them on anything that can be improved. 

So put your hand up, take an opportunity and become a leader. 

Got questions about becoming a Class Rep? Email src@vuwsa.org.nz

Fairer Fares on public transport – where are things at?

Politics can be frustrating. Back in 2013 after VUWSA spent years campaigning for a student discount on public transport, the road block seemed to clear and finally things started moving.

But as a result of some sneaky political manoeuvre by a powerful local councillor three years on, we find ourselves worse off than we were before: stuck with the most expensive student transport of any major NZ city.

Despite this, we keep pushing ahead because we know how much a discount on public transport means to students. Time again, the issue that is consistently raised with us is the need for a student discount on public transport. This was reinforced earlier in the year when this student petition got over 3,500 signatures.

The time is ripe for another big push to get this over the line in the Local Body Elections this September when the transport decision-makers get elected.

What's happened so far this year?

• In May we presented our case to the Regional Councillors, as part of their consultation on the annual plan.
  • Councillor Sue Kedgley, an unwavering supporter of our policy, put it to vote. And as they have often done, the others supported it in principle, but have not yet prioritised the money for it.
• A few weeks later, the Council seemed to have warmed to the idea, but crumbled to legal advice that said they could no longer implement it due to lack of consultation – despite years of public arena discussions; and as outlined in various annual plans and transport plans.

Anyway, this is where we're currently at. We have a Council that claim to like it, but want other people to fund it.

Our job now is to get loud over the next few months. To make it clear this City needs a public transport discount if it's serious about valuing students.

We need to make this an election issue, and then we need to vote in candidates who will make it happen. This might sound out of reach, but it truly is not. With around 4,000 votes needed to win a seat on the Regional Council, the many thousands of Vic students have the ability to swing it, and show that we are an important voice in this city.

Don’t be silenced and let old people make decisions! Watch this space and let's get bus fares over the line in 2016. 

Rory Lenihan-Ikin – Welfare Vice President

Stress Free Study Week supports thousands

Our first Stress Free Study Week of the year has come and gone. During the week we served approximately 3,000 breakfasts and 4,500 lunches across three campuses; 500 dinners at Kelburn; and had three SPCA and one Kitten Inn visits – we couldn’t have done this without our volunteers and many supporting organisations giving their time and money serving and helping at these events, for free.

Why do we run Stress Free Study Week?

1. One of our main reasons behind why we run Stress Free Study Week is to decrease student hardship. We’re well aware that many students live below the poverty line. Running this event gives all students the chance to have nutritious food in their bellies – and not have to worry about budgeting their often tiny student allowances on what they’ll eat that week that week.
2. Another reason for running Stress Free Study Week is to help decrease student stress. Exam study is stressful! And we know what it’s like to juggle a full schedule and different priorities, as well as manage the pressure of achieving good grades so that students come out the other side with a degree. We run Stress Free Study Week twice every year to give students the support they need and give them that edge while studying for exams.

Look out for another SFSW near the end of October

We’ll be running another Stress Free Study Week at the end of October.

If you have any ideas about how to make it even better, let us know too! Email kelburn@vuwsa.org.nz.  

Rory Lenihan-Ikin  – Welfare Vice President

Warm up your flat – #AsktheAdvocate

Did you know...

That grants are available through Warm Up New Zealand: Healthy Homes for ceiling and underfloor insulation for rental properties occupied by low-income tenants. Your landlord can get 50% off the cost of putting insulation into your flat? All you need is a community services card!

• Information about the new installation laws
• Information on funding for insulation

Up to 90% of students qualify for a Community Services Card. If you receive a student allowance you should have received a Community Services Card in the mail. Even if you do not receive a student allowance, you may still quality – it’s based off of your income – not your parents.

Apply for a Community Services Card

• Download the application form
• Read about Community Services Cards

How to work with your landlord for a warmer flat

Option 1

• As a tenant, you can register your interest for the insulation grant online
• A local insulation service provider will get in contact with you check eligibility and provide a quote.

Option 2

• Your landlord can also register their interest in the grant online  

Ready to start the discussion with your landlord?

Use our email/letter template

Have questions? Contact VUWSA’s Advocacy Service

President's update – July 2016

Kia ora koutou katoa,

Hope you’ve been having a good break!

The Executive have reached the halfway mark at VUWSA, which means our Half-Year Reports will be available online very shortly. The Half-Year Reports are a form of self-evaluation that each Executive member completes to remain accountable to you. It’s important you know what your student representatives are doing to get the best deal for you.

But even more than an accountability mechanism, our Half-Year Reports are an opportunity to do some good-quality reflection. Like you, the Executive juggles study on top of their VUWSA commitments; and for some, part-time jobs as well. This concoction of busyness can often mean there is very little time to think, and only time to do.

We’re busy, working alongside our committed VUWSA staff, creating real wins for you in the form of projects, events and advocacy.

Some great wins so far this year include ensuring the student experience is front and centre in the planned outsourced Foundation Studies programme (more in Jacinta’s post below), getting some hot air around Fairer Fares (check out Rory’s post below) and delivering a successful OWeek earlier in February.

However, for VUWSA to be successful, we can’t be just about doing.

As the saying goes, ‘A goal without a plan is just a wish’. For us to deliver on our goal to get the best deal for students, the Executive will be doing some serious planning over this weekend at our mid-year retreat. Our intended outcomes from this retreat includes getting into the nitty gritty of our strategic plan (ready for consultation and a launch of a five-year plan at our AGM in August), planning consultation around the Student Services Levy and tuition fees (more on this in my Salient column next week), as well as planning for our Student Friendly Wellington campaign in the lead up to the local body elections.

We’ve also done some planning around our line-up of other events and projects for the second half of the year. We have our annual classics, such as Re-OWEEK, Faculty Games, the AGM, Blues Awards and the Student Representation Celebration; but we’ve also put together a line-up of new events for 2016, including Arts Week, Mayoral Debate, and the inaugural Golds Awards (which will recognise outstanding clubs and club leaders). Hopefully you can take part in one or two (or all) of our upcoming events!

And hopefully over the break you had some time for reflection and planning.

Heoi anō tāku mō nāianei (that’s all for now) – and all the best for your first week of classes!

Jonathan Gee – President

Re-OWeek welcomes you to T2 – with a full event lineup!

Trimester 2 is already here, but that doesn’t mean you have to dive straight back into your strict late-night study regime.  All of us at VUWSA are ready to help you celebrate the return of classes, and help ease you back into things.

To welcome new and returning students, we have a full on week lined up including:

• Monday Movie Night, with a movie decided by YOU!  Entry is just $5 – with free popcorn – so come see a classic on the big screen.

• On Tuesday, check out our Speed Dating, for the chance to make some new mates (I don’t know why we didn’t call it Speed Mating?).  Also, you never know, you could meet somebody extra special….

• A must-attend in your weekly schedule, The Medicine Comedy show at VK’s is only $5 for students, and it happens every Wednesday at 7pm!

• Test out your smarts at our annual ReO Quiz Night. This year we’ve upped the prize pool; and have local comedian, Jerome Chandrahasen, in to MC the night.  Also, unlike your exams, you won’t even have to spend the night before studying!

• Local lads Drax Project are taking a break from the studio to put on another awesome show on at Bodega (R.I.P). Tickets are only $15 and selling fast. These boys keep getting bigger and bigger, so don’t miss out!

• And we’re closing the week with a night of awesome indie music in collaboration with the Eyegum Collective at San Fran.  Headlined by Yoko-Zuna and supported by A Girl Called Mo, Paddy Fred, and K2K, the party is going to be going all night long.

We’ll also be giving out freebies during the week, so check out the full line up here and follow everything on Facebook.

And in case all that wasn’t enough, UniQ have just announced their event line-up for Pride Week in the second week of trimester. If it’s anything like last year, it’s well worth checking out! 

Nathaniel Manning – Engagement Vice President

VUWSA and V-ISA’s recommendations for outsourcing Foundation Studies – will Victoria follow?

VUWSA and VUWSA International Students' Association (V-ISA) put forward a joint submission outlining what we wanted a third party provider to follow in the processes concerning students, since Victoria University decided to fully outsource the Foundation Studies.

Read Outsourcing Pathways Creates Winding Degrees

Our aim was for student’s attending Foundation Studies delivered by a third party provider to get equivalent support, and the same level of educational quality as in-house students.

The emphasis in our submission was the importance of maintaining and enhancing the student experience across Foundation Studies.

To reduce our doubts about outsourcing, V-ISA and VUWSA came up with a set of recommendations, ensuring that Foundation Studies students have a fair chance:

• Access to services through a modified student services levy.
• Student representation through a system of class reps and the ability to run for student executives.
• More available student accommodation to keep up with student demand.
• A constructive review of the current programme for the new provider.
• Student feedback processes integrated into the new system.
• A clear conflict resolution process.
• Consideration for bus passes for students; and access to facilities and services at Kelburn campus.
• An orientation process to integrate students into the VUW community.
• Programme accreditation through the Vice Chancellor’s Committee or the Committee for University Academic Programmes similar to the accreditation process followed for our in-house programmes.
• Contingency to re-integrate the programme in house if the target goals of the outsourced provider have not been met.
• For the Foundation Studies programme to be tailored to students’ needs.
• Specialised services for refugees.
• Scholarships be made available to Foundation Studies students’.

The university has released their final Foundation Studies change proposal after all the consultation including the two rounds V-ISA and VUWSA submitted on.  

What is SUPER exciting is the inclusion of most of our recommendations for the student experience being passed onto those in negotiation with the third party providers. Ie) VUW listened to our recommendations and will mostly be included in the third party provider like we wanted!

I can tell you all that I am so happy with this outcome to ensure the student experience is saved and replicated in this third party provider. The hours spent on the submission, researching and collaborating on these recommendations has really paid off.

Such a huge win, with many thanks to all those that contributed to the very long and anger inducing process. VUWSA and V-ISA have got this as a win for students and I am proud at how we worked so well together.

This whole process has shown me how important it is to make sure our student groups work together to support our students, ensuring we get the best outcome from our educational investment.

Jacinta Gulasekharam – Academic Vice President