Off Campus

As a member of EXMSS you will receive an electronic magazine that gives you insider knowledge of what is happening with distance learning support, scholarships, changes in funding, and changes in academic regulations. If there is a new service being offered, new scholarships and publications, or changes in rules that will affect you, then Off Campus is your information source. No more sifting through the morass of information to find what’s useful. Off Campus filters the dross and gives you what you need to know.

Off Campus will also encourage you in times of difficulty. Heartening stories of student success will inspire you to succeed and offer connections to other students in your region. If you study abroad this is the ideal way to stay connected with Aotearoa and perhaps find out that there are distance students in your part of the world.

The EXMSS website

This service is provided to all students. An information hub that directs you to the services you need. The EXMSS website provides a buy/sell service, and access to Review It! comments about papers students have taken.

The EXMSS Facebook page

If this is your preferred method of keeping in touch then members will find links to all the topical issues here. Increase your connections and options of support by taking part in the continual cycle of Facebook discussions.

Representation and Advocacy

As a member of EXMSS you will have access to advocacy that engages at the highest levels of Massey. If your issue is taking too long to resolve, or has not had the outcome you feel you deserve, the President of EXMSS is ready to champion your cause.

The EXMSS President is also striving to improve courses that fail to satisfy students. By being a member of EXMSS you are supporting Review It! and the quality assurance of papers at Massey. If you have had a dud paper let EXMSS know and we can alert other students and ask for a review of the paper to be carried out.

The EXMSS President also speaks up against legislation that reduces opportunities for part time and distance study. EXMSS believes the current Ministry of Education focus on full time youth students is flawed. Political pressure to change this negative tack, through strategic partners (such as the New Zealand Union of Students Associations) and media discussion, is part of the EXMSS strategic plan. Your membership ensures the voice of distance students is heard in Government and at the highest levels of Massey University. The EXMSS President is a member of Massey Council, and the Tertiary Academic Audit Unit, and sits on the Learner Advisory Committee at the Tertiary Education Commission, and the Ministry of Education’s E-Learning Reference Group.

EXMSS supports opportunities for all students including Maori and Pacifika students. EXMSS is affiliated with Te Mana Akonga (TMA), the national union for Maori students and actively supports TMA lobbying and messages that align with EXMSS goals.

Extramural Student Support Trust Scholarships

EXMSS has oversight of the Extramural Student Support Trust. This trust awards scholarship to distance students each year. You must be a member of EXMSS to apply for the Extramural Student Support Trust awards.

Graduation Dinner

Each year EXMSS hosts a Graduation Dinner at Wharerata, the fabulous historic function centre on Massey’s Manawatu campus. The dinner is attended by graduates, their families and friends, and Massey dignitaries, with a guest speaker chosen for their style and flair. Graduates are encouraged to share their stories in a friendly environment where the music, food and people come together to provide the perfect celebration for distance student graduates.

Campus shuttle for distance students

For EXMSS members the Supershuttle between the Airport and Massey’s Palmerston North Campus will be heavily discounted. You will need to present your EXMSS membership number (also called an Order Number) and some sort of personal ID to get the discounted rate. Discounts for other campus shuttle services are also being negotiated.