Kia ora Graduate Research Students,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here we are, three weeks and some\ndown the track with the Level 4 \u201clockdown\u201d and hopefully soon to transition to\nAlert Level 3. This Update #5 outlines some important further support for you\nas we work to find ways to help you continue to make progress with your\ngraduate research degree aspirations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Remember, our teams at the Graduate Research School, Faculty and School Postgraduate Offices and your supervisors are here to help you. Please email us at grs@aut.ac.nz<\/a> if there is anything we can do for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n New Zealand COVID-19 Alert Levels<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n It appears likely that New Zealand\u2019s\nCOVID-19 Alert Level 4 will be lifted sometime in the next week. Under Level 3\nwe will continue to have restrictions around gatherings of people, social\ndistancing protocols and restrictions on travel (amongst other things). This\nwill inevitably further disrupt and delay graduate research student\u2019s ability\nto gather data, access laboratories and meet with others. However, we may be\nable to approve some graduate research students accessing campus facilities\n(such as laboratories) when it is safe to do so and where access to these facilities\nis critical for you to be able to continue to progress. We will advise you what\nyou are able to, and not able to do, as soon as we have clarity on these\nmatters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can find the latest information\non COVID-19 from New Zealand\u2019s COVID-19 information website<\/a> and via AUT\u2019s COVID-19 update page<\/a> (and\ndoctoral candidates can also access the AUTi COVID-19<\/a>\nintranet page).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Implementation of a Fees-free Research Project\/Dissertation\/Thesis\nExtension Paper<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n AUT has approved the enrolment of\ncurrent graduate research project\/dissertation\/thesis students (who are\nenrolled in a research project, dissertation or thesis paper of 30 points or\ngreater in March\/April 2020) into a COVID-19 extension paper for a maximum period\nof up to 90 days from the expiration of their current research project\/dissertation\/thesis\nenrolment paper. Students will not have to pay tuition fees for this extended\nenrolment. Details are as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Financial Support Options<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Financial hardship grant<\/em>:\nAUT\u2019s Student Hub manages a short-term financial hardship grant which can be\nmade available via application for deserving students. Graduate research\nstudents (domestic and international) are eligible to apply. For more specific advice\nand information of potential sources of financial support for students please\nemail: studenthub@aut.ac.nz<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n NZ citizens and residents<\/em>:\n\u201cKiwis\u201d have a range of government support available to them via Work and Income\/ Te Hiranga Tangata<\/a>. These include such things as help with living\nexpenses and other forms of financial support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Extensions\nto student allowances<\/em><\/a>: (recently announced by the New Zealand government)\nonly apply to domestic (New Zealand citizens and permanent residents)\nundergraduate students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Extensions\nto student loans<\/em><\/a>: (which can be accessed by graduate research students)\nannounced by the New Zealand government only apply to domestic (New Zealand\ncitizens and permanent residents) students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Essential\nservices work restrictions for international students lifted<\/em><\/a>: The maximum hours full time international students\nare permitted to work on their student visas has been lifted for work\nconsidered as \u201cessential services\u201d such as supermarket work and work in the\nhealthcare sector. International students employed in these roles may work\nfull-time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Stay Connected<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Graduate\nResearch School is offering a number of \u201cStay\nConnected<\/strong>\u201d opportunities. These will be offered via Zoom and are as\nfollows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Coffee with Annalise<\/em>: <\/strong> If\nyou have any questions related to research support, or you just want company to\nchat about your day over coffee, drop in for a chat with GRS staff member\nAnnalise Davidson.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The\nonline drop-in sessions are scheduled on:<\/p>\n\n\n\n *Sessions\nmay change subject to demand<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Korero with the Dean: <\/em>Prof Mark Orams, Dean of the Graduate Research School will be offering online \u201cdrop-ins\u201d for graduate research students and supervisors for Q&As. Further details on dates and times will be available next week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Graduate researcher\u2019s wellbeing: <\/strong><\/em>Emiliana Faapoi, Postgraduate Student Support Advisor with the Graduate Research School, will be offering one-to-one sessions for graduate research students who are feeling anxious and isolated during this challenging time. Further details on dates and times will be available next week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Online Resources and Learning Opportunities<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Graduate Research School is continuing to develop and offer online resources for graduate research students and their supervisors on the Student Digital Workspace (SDW)<\/a> and here on Thesislink<\/a>. Have a look, you may find these resources helpful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Communicating With Your Supervisors<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n We encourage you\nto stay in regular communication with your supervisors (a minimum of a weekly\n\u201ccatch-up\u201d is recommended). <\/p>\n\n\n\n