Kia ora Graduate Research Students,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This\nUpdate #6 provides guidance for you with regard to Level 3 and additional information\nrelevant to support, changes and opportunities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
New Zealand COVID-19 Alert\nLevels<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n New\nZealand\u2019s COVID-19 Alert Level will change to Level 3 at 11.59pm Monday 27\nApril. Under Level 3 it\nis expected that graduate research students and AUT staff continue to work from\nhome\/remotely whenever possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You\ncan find the latest information on COVID-19 from New Zealand\u2019s COVID-19\ninformation website<\/a>\nand via AUT\u2019s COVID-19\nupdate page<\/a> (and doctoral candidates\ncan also access the AUTi\nCOVID-19<\/a> intranet page).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Access to and use of AUT\nCampus Facilities Under Level 3<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Some of you may be hoping\/expecting that you will be able to access AUT campus facilities in a Level 3 scenario (i.e. from Tuesday 28 April). AUT will not be re-opening its campuses and will only be permitting access via application and in special circumstances (note that all your electronic access swipe cards have been temporarily disabled).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Applications to access any campus\nfacility (including AUT Millennium) should be made via your Primary Supervisor\nand you must provide these special circumstances. Approval for these\napplications will be considered by the relevant Head of School and the decision\nmade by the Faculty Dean.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you are granted permission to access\na campus building you will need to download the AUT app because it will be needed to enter and exit\nspaces around the University. This is to allow us to meet Government tracking requirements\nfor contact tracing. The app only records the scanning of QR codes and the\ninformation is only stored by AUT, for the purposes of contact tracing. The AUT\napp can be downloaded from the Apple\nStore<\/a> and Google Play<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tech Central Access for Students who\ndo not have Internet or Computers at Home<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Tech Central will reopen on Tuesday 28 April\nat the City Campus (WA409A), North Campus (AL125) and South Campus\n(MA202\/MAPODS). Hours are Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. Students must apply online<\/a> (Note: Due to physical distancing requirements, space\nis limited). <\/p>\n\n\n\n Contact tracing will be in\nplace and the spaces will be fitted with distancing markers and hand sanitiser.\nEquipment will be cleaned between each use. Contactless student ICT support\nwill be provided by freephone: 0800 288 428<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Relocating AUT Equipment to Home<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n If a graduate research student\nwishes to relocate AUT equipment to their home (such as computers, testing\ndevices, tools) they must seek specific permission via their primary\nsupervisor. The primary supervisor must obtain written permission via their\nHead of School and Faculty Dean to access a campus and relocate this equipment.\nAgain, this will only be approved in special circumstances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Accessing AUT IT Services\nfrom Home<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n AUT\nhas created an opportunity for you to remotely access AUT computers from home.\nThis may be useful for you if you wish to access data\/software that is stored\non the AUT computing system. You can find out more information on this via this video tutorial<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Fees-free Research\nProject\/Dissertation\/Thesis Extension Paper<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Enrolment\ninto the COVID-19 fees-free\nextension paper<\/a>\noccurs on completion of your current enrolment at\nthe request of your primary supervisor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n AUT Doctoral\nand Vice-Chancellor\u2019s Doctoral Scholarships<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Current AUT funded doctoral scholarship students may apply to have their\nscholarship extended<\/a> for the period of their enrolment extension. These applications\nmust be made via the AUT Scholarships Office (scholarships@aut.ac.nz)<\/a> and will be\nconsidered on a case-by-case basis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Currently\nEnrolled International PhD Students Overseas<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) has relaxed the\nrequirement of a maximum of 12 months overseas for research related activities for\ninternational PhD students paying domestic tuition fees. This only applies to\nthe period of time affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. When it becomes possible,\ninternational PhD students will be expected to return to New Zealand to\ncomplete their PhD programme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Amendments to\nResearch Ethics Approvals<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n All existing AUTEC approvals<\/a> for research\nwhich brings researchers into close proximity to human participants are\nsuspended until New Zealand is placed in below Alert Level 2 (ie. Alert\nLevel 1 or zero\/no alert level). Graduate research students and their\nsupervisors who wish to amend their research to collect data using more\ndistant\/remote means can put in an application to\namend their AUTEC approval<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Financial Support Options<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Financial\nhardship grant<\/em><\/a>:\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\nadvice and information on potential sources of financial support for students\nplease email: studenthub@aut.ac.nz<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Stay Connected<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Graduate Research School is offering a\nnumber of \u201cStay\nConnected<\/a>\u201d opportunities.\nThese will be offered via Zoom and are as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Coffee with Annalise<\/em>: <\/strong> If you have\nany questions related to research support, or you just want company to chat\nabout your day over coffee, drop in for a chat with GRS staff member Annalise\nDavidson. The online drop-in sessions are scheduled on:<\/p>\n\n\n\n *Sessions may change subject to demand<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Korero with the\nDean: <\/em>Prof Mark Orams, Dean of the Graduate Research School will be offering\nonline \u201cdrop-ins\u201d for graduate research students and supervisors for Q&As.\nThe next scheduled session is 10-11am Wednesday 29 April: Access\nthrough Zoom <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Online Resources and\nLearning 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>. In particular, you may find this resource on \u201cDoing Fieldwork in a Pandemic<\/a>\u201d helpful in re-thinking your research plans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Health and Wellbeing<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Emiliana Faapoi, Postgraduate Student Support Advisor with the Graduate Research School, is offering one-to-one sessions for graduate research students who are feeling anxious and isolated during this challenging time. Please contact Emiliana to make an appointment: emiliana.faapoi@aut.ac.nz<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n To book an appointment with Student Counselling and\nMental Health please phone (09) 921 9292 or email counselling@aut.ac.nz<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n The next Wellness Toolkit session focuses on \u201cBuilding\nresilience \u2013 Self-care and self-compassion\u201d and is on Wednesday 13 May, 3pm \u2013\n4.30pm via Microsoft\nTeams<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Employment\nand Tenancy Issues Support<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The AUT Students Association (AUTSA) Advocacy Team can help you if need advice and support with regard to your rental accommodation and\/or employment. The team can be contacted via email advocacy@aut.ac.nz<\/a>\u00a0or text\/call 021 195 1178.\u00a0 Information about other services they provide can be found on the\u00a0website<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Assistance\nfor Graduate Research Students Supporting Whanau\/Families<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Students with family,\nespecially our international students with children who may not have enough\nmoney for food can find out about organisations who are providing food parcels\nto those in need on this website COVID-19 Auckland Support Advice and Resources<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fun Stuff to Do When You Are Taking a Break<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Studio 55<\/a> is the official \u201cmaker-space\u201d of the AUT Library. They are\noffering fun and creative projects which people can do from home during their\ndown-time. They are also on Facebook<\/a> and Instagram<\/a> and encourage people to share ideas or photos of their\nmasterpieces.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n