{"id":8094,"date":"2020-06-05T17:03:58","date_gmt":"2020-06-05T05:03:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thesislink.aut.ac.nz\/?p=8094"},"modified":"2020-06-05T17:04:02","modified_gmt":"2020-06-05T05:04:02","slug":"covid-19-info-for-research-students-update-11","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thesislink.aut.ac.nz\/?p=8094","title":{"rendered":"COVID-19 Info for Research Students: Update #11"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Kia ora Graduate Research Students,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thank you for the positive feedback we have received\nregarding these regular updates. We recognise that it is often difficult as a\ngraduate research student to find out answers to questions that are relevant to\nyou. These updates are an attempt to support you and it is nice to know that\nthey are being helpful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through our online drop-in sessions, emails and\nother communications we have learned how difficult this period has been for\nmany of you. We have also been impressed by how you have adapted, persevered\nand found a way through these challenges. Achieving a graduate research degree,\nwhether at masters or doctoral level is difficult. This has been made even more\nso due to COVID-19. For each of you, successful completion will represent a\nsignificant achievement because you will be part of a very special cohort of\ngraduate students: Those who achieved their masterate or doctorate during the\n2020 COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep your eye on the prize. You will get there, even if the disruption for you has been significant. As always, please let us know what we can do to help you via grs@aut.ac.nz.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Change\nto Alert Level 1 Imminent<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The NZ government will be announcing if<\/strong>\nwe will move to Alert Level 1 on Monday 8 June. The transition to Alert Level 1\nwill not make a substantive difference to AUT decisions that have already been\nmade. Specifically, that Semester 1 will be completed primarily using remote\nlearning (online). Semester 2 (beginning 20 July) is when campuses will re-open\nfor face-to-face teaching and normal university services and access to all\ncampus facilities will resume.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Access to Campus Facilities During\nAlert Level 2<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Graduate\nresearch students and AUT staff are asked to continue to\nwork remotely if at all possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If\naccess to a campus facility is crucial for your work you can apply for\npermission to access a campus building\/facility via the following\nprocess: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Request access via your Primary Supervisor<\/em>. You will need to demonstrate the reasons why returning to a campus building\/facility is essential for your work as a graduate research student.\u00a0<\/li>
  2. Your Primary Supervisor, if they support your request, will need to\u00a0seek approval from their relevant Head of School\u00a0<\/em>(or line manager). The ultimate authority to approve requests sits with the relevant Faculty Dean.\u00a0Your School\/Faculty must also have a COVID plan that covers the individual workspace you wish to access.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>
  3. If your request to access a campus building\/facility is\u00a0approved, you then need to\u00a0fill out the\u00a0<\/em>AUT On-site\u00a0Access\u00a0Request Form<\/em><\/a>.<\/em>\u00a0Please note: If you are unable to access the form using your student login, your primary supervisor will need to complete the form on your behalf.<\/li>
  4. The AUT Estates\/Security department will then contact you with instructions on how to arrange your visit(s) to campus.\u00a0<\/li>
  5. Before\u00a0coming\u00a0on campus\u00a0download\u00a0the AUT mobile app and \u201ctag in-and-out\u201d of all spaces on campus, by scanning the QR code at key access points.<\/em> You can download the AUT app from the\u00a0App Store<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0Google Play<\/a>\u00a0onto your smartphone.\u00a0<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Protocols\nfor social distancing (minimum of one metre from others), hygiene (e.g.\nfrequent hand washing; coughing\/sneezing into your elbow; no sharing of\nequipment\/work stations without appropriate cleaning) must be strictly followed\nwhen on campus (or elsewhere).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Start Your Day With Karakia and Learn Waiata on Wednesdays<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    AUT Assistant Pro-Vice\nChancellor Dr Valance Smith is leading a karakia (blessing\/prayer) to begin\neach week-day for our AUT whanau (family). If you wish to join in with this kaupapa\n(customary practice) please link\nin via Zoom<\/a> (use the password: autaia) at 9am each week-day. In addition, starting\nthis week is \u201cWai Whai\u201d \u2013 online waiata (songs). Learn about M\u0101ori culture through waiata. Led by the Office of M\u0101ori Advancement every Wednesday from 11:30am-12pm. Link in via Zoom<\/a> (password: autaia).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Virtual 3MT competition<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Enter the 2020 AUT Three Minute Thesis\n(3MT) Competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    This year’s competition is being held\nonline, and applications are now open.<\/p>\n\n\n\n