Overview
The Academic Division | Te Wāhaka Matua Mātauraka is a service division led by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic). The Academic Division comprises the following units:
Student Services
Student Services comprises the Career Development Centre, Chaplaincy, Disability Information Support, Te Huka Mātauraka – Māori Centre (for student support), Pacific Islands Centre, Proctor and Campus Watch, Te Whare Tāwharau (sexual violence and prevention support centre), Student Health Services, the Locals Programme, and Recreation Services, Social Impact Studio.
Student Experience
Student Experience comprises Student Administration, Student Development (student advising), Timetables, Examinations, Graduations, and Scholarships.
Academic Committees and Services
Academic Committees and Services manages a range of academic and research approval processes with a key task providing secretarial support and coordination for a variety of high-level academic and research committees along with various other Committees of Senate and the University Council.
Quality Advancement
Quality Advancement manages and administers internal reviews process, Graduating Year Reviews, Graduate and Student Opinion surveys, teaching evaluations, and academic audit processes.
Higher Education Development Unit (HEDC)
HEDC is an academic department led by an HoD. They provide higher education training workshops for academic staff and peer review of academic teaching. It includes the Student Learning Development Centre which runs Peer-Assisted Student Study (PASS) programmes.
Te Huarahi – Pathway and Te Puna o te Kī - English Language Centre
Te Huarahi – Pathway and Te Puna o te Kī - English Language Centre offer two main pathway qualifications for entry into university bachelor's degree studies: the Diplomas in Arts and Science, and the Foundation Studies Certificate. These programmes prepare students for entry into all types of degree, including upskilling postgraduate and undergraduate students in the use of English.
University Library
University Library, led by the University Librarian, provides high quality information resources and services to staff and students, through the Central Library, Medical/Dental, Hocken (housing the Hocken Collections), Robertson, Law, and libraries in Southland, Wellington, and Christchurch.
Distance Learning
Distance Learning offers opportunities to study remotely.
Continuing Education
Continuing Education offers a variety of not for credit short courses and events.
Summer School
Summer School provides the opportunity to take papers for academic credit in six weeks.
Our people
Professor Stuart Brock
Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic
Stuart Brock is the Deputy Vice- Chancellor (Academic). Prior to coming to Otago, Stuart held various senior roles at Victoria University Wellington including Head of the Philosophy programme, Deputy Head of the School of History, Philosophy, Political Science and International Relations, Associate Dean (Students, Postgraduate Research, and Academic Programmes), the Vice-Provost (Academic), and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic).
He has taught courses in critical thinking, epistemology, metaphysics, and the philosophy of literature at both Victoria University of Wellington, and Princeton University, and has published important works on fiction and metaphysics.
Stuart’s research interests are in the areas of metaphysics, philosophy of language, philosophy of literature, and philosophy of the emotions. He received his PhD from Princeton University in 2002 and previously taught at Western Washington University in the United States.
Email dvc.academic@otago.ac.nz
Amanda Mabon
Executive Assistant
As Executive Assistant, Amanda provides high-level confidential executive support and advice, and is the first point of contact for the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic.
Amanda manages the Deputy Vice-Chancellor's appointments, meetings, and email correspondence, including all the administrative processes regarding the DVC s/ PVC s Advisory Group and other committees and working groups supported by the DVC Academic.
Amanda joined the DVC Academic Office in March 2023, having worked as an Executive Assistant in the University since 2000.
Amanda Mabon
Executive Assistant to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic)
Tel +64 3 479 8883
Email dvc.academic@otago.ac.nz
Julie Weaver
Senior Analyst Research and Policy
Julie joined the Academic Divisional office in February 2023 as the Senior Research and Policy Analyst. In this role Julie provides strategic research and policy advice and analysis to support the delivery of the University’s strategic objectives.
Prior to joining the Academic Divisional office Julie has held a variety of academic and professional roles at the University of Otago.
Julie Weaver
Senior Analyst Research and Policy
Tel +64 3 479 9426
Email dvca.analyst@otago.ac.nz
Professor Tim Cooper 
Dean, Learning and Teaching
Tim Cooper has been at the University of Otago since 2005. He teaches the History of Christianity in the Theology Programme and researches seventeenth-century English religious history. Over recent years he has assumed a number of leadership roles, first as Associate Dean (Academic) for Humanities, then Head of the School of Arts, and now Dean of Learning and Teaching. He has served as the University’s representative on the Committee for University Academic Programmes since 2018. He has won both a University of Otago Teaching Excellence Award and an Ako Aotearoa National Tertiary Teaching Excellence Award.
Tim Cooper
Dean, Learning and Teaching
Email deanlt@otago.ac.nz
Visit Tim Cooper's Theology staff page
Dr Paul Baker
Director English Language Centre – Te Puna o te Kī
After completing his doctorate at the University of Otago in 1995, Paul embarked on a career in teaching English to speakers of other languages which now spans more than 25 years. After several leadership roles including Assistant Head of Studies and Head of Academic Programmes, Paul was appointed Academic Manager of the University of Otago Language Centre in 2010, responsible for the operation, management and quality of all Language Centre programmes. He was appointed to the role of Director, English Language Centre │ Te Puna o te Kī in 2021.
The Language Centre delivers a variety of English-language programmes both face-to-face, in purpose built facilities on campus, and online to students around the world. Students can take the next step on their academic journey through the Language Centre through programmes designed to lead either into Pathway or directly into both undergraduate and postgraduate study at Otago (English for Otago). The Centre also provides shorter-term English-language programmes to international institutional partners and universities to assist them in their own English-language programmes.
Dr Paul Baker
Director English Language Centre – Te Puna o te Kī
Tel +64 3 479 5869
Email paul.baker@otago.ac.nz
Garry Chronican
Director Otago Pathway – Te Huarahi
After graduating from the University of Otago, Garry started his career teaching high school Mathematics. He progressed to Head of Department Mathematics, Deputy Principal and Director of International Students. During that time, he had stints as a Mathematics Adviser and Assessment Facilitator at the Dunedin College of Education.
Garry was appointed as Academic Manager, University of Otago Foundation Year in 2014. In that role he was responsible for the operation and management of the Foundation Year Academic Division and ensuring excellence across all facets of the teaching and learning programmes. He was appointed to the position of Director Otago Pathway │ Te Huarahi in 2021.
Garry Chronican
Director Otago Pathway – Te Huarahi
Tel +64 3 479 8734
Email garry.chronican@otago.ac.nz
Margaret Morgan
Director Quality Advancement
Margaret Morgan is the Director, Quality Advancement and leads the Quality Advancement Unit (QAU) which has responsibility for the University's ongoing cycle of academic and administrative reviews, core institutional student and graduate opinion surveys, quality forums, improvement grants, external academic audit and liaison with the Academic Quality Agency for New Zealand Universities (AQA).
Margaret has an MA (Otago) and DipArch/RecMgmt (Monash). She has held a variety of administrative roles at the University and joined the QAU as its first Director in November 2010.
Margaret Morgan
Director Quality Advancement
Tel +64 3 479 8229
Email margaret.morgan@otago.ac.nz
Jo Gibson
Director Student Experience
Jo is the Director ofStudent Experience at the University of Otago, a role she has held since June 2019.
Student Experience includes responsibility for Student Administration (academic integrity, admissions, course and records management, examinations, graduation, research/doctoral administration, scholarships awards and prizes, student records), Student Development, and Timetables.
Jo holds a BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science degree, an MA in Student Support and Management, an MSc in Management and Law (International Business), and the PRINCE2 Foundation and Practitioner project management qualification. Jo also holds the A1 Assessor qualification. Jo is Vice Chair of the Universities NZ Community of Practice focused on Student Administration and Academic Services.
Tel +64 212 79 5137
Email director.studentexp@otago.ac.nz
Claire Gallop
Director Student Services
Claire Gallop is Director of Student Services which covers a wide range of support services for students. Claire has responsibility for the Proctor's Office and Campus Watch, Student Health, Recreation Services, Māori Centre, Pacific Islands, Disability Information and Support, Career Development Centre, Including the Social Impact Studio, and Te Whare Tāwharau. Her role also includes responsibility for oversight of the Compulsory Student Services Fee and managing the relationship with OUSA as a provider of services for student services as well as working with the Chaplaincy Trust Board for the provision of Chaplaincy Services.
Claire began her University Career at the University of Auckland where she gained an MA(Hons) in Political Studies. She has had a variety of academic and professional roles at the University of Otago and started as Director of Student Services in 2022.
Tel +64 3 479 8355
Mob +64 21 0369 668
Email studentservices.director@otago.ac.nz
Summer School and Continuing Education – To be advised
The Director of Summer School is responsible for the planning, development and operation of the annual Summer School teaching period, maintaining a robust and viable programme in accord with policy, best practice, and the overall interests of the university. The role currently has oversight of the University's Continuing Education Programme.
TBA
Director Summer School
Tel +64 3 479 9181
Email summer.school@otago.ac.nz
Mike Wall
University Librarian
Mike is the University Librarian with responsibility for the strategic direction of library services, including the Hocken Collection, six physical libraries and the digital services and infrastructure that contributes to the University's research, education, and external engagement.
He joined the University in 2021 and has over 30 years of experience in libraries in the UK, including at the universities of Bristol and Durham, leading service transformation especially related to digital content delivery, research information and library space design.
Mike Wall
University Librarian
Tel +64 3 479 8933
Email mike.wall@otago.ac.nz
Contact for further information
Tel +64 3 479 8883
Email dvc.academic@otago.ac.nz