You can tell it’s getting near to the end of the year when the crowds of exam-stressed undergrads dissipate and you suddenly don’t have to wait in line for coffee/elevators/toilets. But for those of us who don’t work to semester times, you’ll need to be aware of some service limitations over the Christmas / New Year period.
The university’s last official day is Friday 14 December 2018, and we will reopen on Monday 7 January 2019. During the closedown period, most services, offices, and buildings shut down; and only a skeleton staff remains on campus. However, you can still use some postgrad facilities on a limited basis. Here are the specifics.
Graduate Research School: The GRS office will close at noon on Friday 14 December 2018 and reopen at 8:30am on Monday 7 January 2019.
Faculty PG Offices: Generally, these will be closed during the official university closedown period; but check with your faculty for specific times if necessary.
PG study rooms: Central Postgraduate Study Rooms (WU415/WU416, AL210, MA206 for postgraduate students including doctoral students, as well as MH206 specifically/only for doctoral students) will be accessible by authorised swipe access card over the break. Faculty Postgraduate Study Rooms (e.g. AR109) will not be accessible. Services such as cleaning and restocking supplies will be limited – so please bring what you need and take your own rubbish out when you leave.
Libraries: The libraries stay open another week into the closedown, but are then shut for two weeks. The City, Akoranga, and South campus libraries will all close at 5pm Friday 21 December 2018 and re-open 8am Monday 7 January 2019. Of course, you can still use the library website to view e-books and access online journal articles during that time.
We hope you can take a good break and enjoy some time off; but we also know that everyone’s schedule is different and some PG students will want or need to work through the holidays. If that’s you, you’re not alone. In fact, 30 PhD students and researchers worked through the night on campus last New Year’s Eve! If you’re working on campus during the closedown and need assistance, you can call AUT Security on 0800 AUT SAFE or (09) 921 9997. They will have staff on hand 24/7 to help if you get stuck, or if you need an escort to walk you to your transport after hours.
