The campus Student Affairs Office and the Associate Dean Student Affairs for Dunedin, Christchurch and Wellington are the first contacts for medical students needing to talk to someone about their course of study or pastoral care. The Student Affairs Office handles routine requests like leaves of absence, but is also an independent adviser on pastoral care issues including physical and mental health, financial stress, academic remediation, and complaints.
Early Learning in Medicine (ELM) student support
Your first port of call if you are having academic difficulties is to talk with your tutor. Module convenors, the Assessment Programme Convener or Mr Tony Zaharic (Associate Dean and CELM Director) may also be able to help.
The Student Affairs Office is responsible for ELM students' personal and well-being care. If you are having academic difficulties, the Associate Dean of Student Affairs can talk about it with you, help identify any background factors that may be contributing and look at alternatives for help. The Office also follows-up some academic matters such as absences, the impact of exam results, the class division process, withdrawals, and readmissions. If you are having doubts about whether medicine is the right course for you, the Student Affairs Office is a good place to go to discuss it.
If you have matters affecting your academic performance or well-being, please get in touch early to see how the Student Affairs Office can help.
All personal matters are treated in confidence.
Advanced Learning in Medicine (ALM) student support
Christchurch
The University of Otago, Christchurch (UOC) Student Affairs Office provides support to students to work at their best ability throughout their training. Please contact the Office if you have any issues affecting your academic performance or wellbeing. All personal matters are treated in confidence.
Additional services for Christchurch-based students
Dunedin
Your first port of call if you are having academic difficulties is to talk with your teachers or attachment convener. Dr Steve Gallagher or Professor Jo Baxter (acting ADME 2023) or Megan Anakin (Education Adviser) may also be able to help.
The Otago Medical School Student Affairs Office is responsible for Dunedin ALM students' personal and well-being care. If you are having academic difficulties, the Associate Dean of Student Affairs can talk about it with you, help identify any background factors that may be contributing and look at alternatives for help. The Office also follows-up some academic matters such as absences, the impact of exam results, withdrawals, and readmissions. If you are having doubts about whether medicine is the right course for you, the Student Affairs Office is a good place to go to discuss it.
If you have matters affecting your academic performance or wellbeing, please get in touch early to see how the Student Affairs Office can help. All personal matters are treated in confidence.
Additional services for Dunedin-based students
Wellington
The University of Otago, Wellington (UOW) Student Affairs Office provides support to students to work at their best ability throughout their training. Please contact the Office if you have any issues affecting your academic performance or well-being. All personal matters are treated in confidence.
Additional services for Wellington-based students
Complaints
The University is committed to providing an environment of safety, respect and dignity so members can participate fully in all aspects of University life. Students who feel that this is not being met by their learning environment have various options available for recourse. Students might prefer to discuss the issue with other students including student reps who can take the issue to the relevant Staff Student Committee, Curriculum Sub-Committee or ADSA.
Module conveners or Heads of Departments are also a good place to start.
The Student Affairs Office is an option to initially discuss matters that students consider should be drawn to the University's attention. Students may also choose to contact the University's Ethical Behaviour Network for confidential advice, or follow the procedures set down in the University's Ethical Behaviour Policy. DHB complaint processes are also available to students, but best to talk about it with your convener, the ADSA or the Dean as a first step.
An informal reporting process, that doesn't involve official complaint, is available through the Student Support Moodle page (EVENT Reporter). There is an electronic form that can be filled out anonymously. All reports are considered by an independent team, who may recommend to the Dean that some informal discussion is initiated with the teacher concerned.