Extramural President's Blog » Advocacy

Free Membership: get benefits and support the student voice

ralph — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 08:29:13 +0000

For the first few months of 2012 membership of EXMSS will be free! If you are enrolled for 2012 I advise you to join EXMSS now. Membership is for the academic year.

EXMSS has been preparing for this transition and has funds to cover the shortfall in 2012. Membership benefits include a super-cheap shuttle service to and from the Manawatu campus, insider knowledge, through the e-zine Off Campus, about what’s going on in the tertiary sector and behind the screens at Massey, access to high-level advocacy support, and the EXMSS scholarships, plus other giveaways.

Become part of the EXMSS community

Members are also supporting a student voice that raises the concerns of distance, part-time and adult students at national level and within Massey. These students, particularly part-timers, are singled out as underachievers by the Government and that needs to stop. Massey is caught in the middle and has effectively been forced to reduce its distant student numbers or risk millions in government funding. All because the Government doesn’t get the role part time study has in our society.

Services delivered to all students will eventually be delivered independently of EXMSS, although during the 2012 transition period some may still be managed by EXMSS.

I am pleased to say that EXMSS has a clear strategic plan, clarity about the services it wishes to provide to its members and good strategies for providing an independent voice for distance and part time students. The first EXMSS media release is taking shape and the details of the great deal in shuttle services will soon emerge. Stay connected and stay strong!

Representing Students’ Views to the University

ralph — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 08:13:04 +0000

Does student representation matter? Does it matter whether there are students involved in decisions about course regulations, the support services offered, or how students receive their coursework?

Massey staff often seek the input and advice of students. They see the need for a student view. Supporting their view, the Government has stipulated in new legislation that students must be involved in decisions about student services. So it seems the answer is yes, it is important to have students involved.

Students need a mechanism for engaging with the University

But what about students? Do they see the need for student representatives to be engaged with the University about issues that affect students? If the University is going to seek student opinion then won’t Massey just ask students when they need too? Isn’t that good enough?

Well, no. It is not good enough for an institution where adults are being taught. Research shows that institutions that engage with students as adults and provide opportunities for students to influence their learning environment rate best for student satisfaction and success.

Feedback that is provided by disparate comments without full understanding of context, and consequences is not student engagement. At worst it can be used to justify institutional goals, at best it will support initiatives that benefit students in an ad hoc manner.

An organised, connected and resourced group of elected students can provide coherent and accurate feedback to the University. Such a group will understand the context of what they are being asked and the impact of what they are saying. This is where students can influence their environment, and prevent student feedback being used for out-of-context purposes.

So it matters that students are involved, but importantly, it matters how they are involved. I will be advocating for a Student Council to be set up for the purpose of representing students to Massey. This body will have representatives elected from the entire student body and will advise Massey on matters that affect students.

It is the student associations that carry the responsibility of moving to a representative system that is not connected to association membership and allows all students to have a voice in their learning environment. This will be a key goal of the President of EXMSS in 2012.

Financial Support for Quake Hardship

ralph — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 05:36:43 +0000

EXMSS is proud to announce the creation of a $10,000 student support fund specifically for those Massey students who have been affected by the Christchurch earthquake. This is a shared initiative with both the Extramural Society and Massey University pledging up to $5,000 to help these students get back on track. Awards will be made through the existing Student Assistance Programme which is administered by EXMSS. Email Anne@exmss.org.nz or connect to http://exmss.org/services/hardship-assistance/ for more information. I personally would like to thank the University for their contribution to this fund which is one of many support initiatives Massey has actioned this week.

Canterbury students requiring financial support to assist them in their pursuit of study. Contact Anne@exmss.org.nz or check our website www.exmss.org . The criteria for awards may differ slightly from that indicated in the standard SAP forms.

Get Involved in your Learning Community

ralph — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 03:11:52 +0000

The EXMSS Extramural Area Representatives (EARs) came together at a conference this weekend. An amazing eclectic group of volunteers, these people willingly give their time to provide assistance to students living in their local area. On many occasions the issue can be resolved by the EAR. EARs are also able to direct students to the best people to resolve issues that need your contribution such as access to loans and allowances, programme advice, changes in programme and personal support.

The EXMSS EARs will be at the orientation meetings that Massey’s Centre for Teaching and Learning offer at the start of each semester. These meetings are valuable. They discuss the skills you will need to be successful in your studies. Our EARs will offer all those who attend these meetings a FREE Academic Writing Guide and inform you of services like the FREE Supershuttle from airports to campuses and the support you can receive through your student society such as the hardship grant and scholarships.

The key message they will deliver is to get involved in your learning community: visit the EXMSS website regularly, contact your peers through class lists and approach Massey and EXMSS about the services they offer. Everyone is keen to help you succeed. If you hit a barrier there are many ways to tackle it. If you don’t know where to start then just phone 0508 4 EXMSS and ask for EXMSS.

All the best for your journey and we look forward to connecting as you progress.

Want to contribute? Contact Anne@exmss.org.nz and put your hand up to be an Area Representative.

Making the Connections

ralph — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 02:13:57 +0000

It’s all about getting everything in its place: your study material, the library, your lecturer, student support… It all needs to be easily accessible. Not only are you expected to soak up the study material but your organisational and time management skills are about to be tested. Welcome to extramural study.

Where do I find out about academic writing and referencing? What’s this about assignment pre-reading? Where is my extramural orientation meeting? Searching the library databases, voice recognition software, professional proofreading and transcribing, do I really need Abrams? There are so many issues, steps and hassles to distract you at the outset of the year it is hard to focus on the study. Even so, it might even be nice to check out the campus and get involved in some of the orientation events.

EXMSS can help. The website is current, check it regularly. If the Massey website has confounded you, use the EXMSS free-phone (0508 439677) or email info@exmss.org.nz and speak with someone who knows. Find out what we offer and use it!