Tutorials
The Department prides itself on its tutorial system, which is designed to give students maximum assistance with the learning process. Weekly tutorials are an important feature of all our 100, 200 and 300 level papers. They are small enough in size — at most 30 students — to allow discussion of assignments, tests, exams and clarification of matters raised during lectures. Most have a tutor and demonstrator present to answer your questions. Details of tutorials are announced at the start of each paper.
Resources
Blackboard
Blackboard is a learning management system that allows you to access paper information and lecture notes, communicate with your tutor and class members and submit assignments.
You can log in to Blackboard here using your University of Otago username and password.
Class Representatives
At the beginning of each paper your class will be asked to elect a class representative. Make a note of how to contact this person. Pass on any feedback on your papers — both good and bad — to the representative. Class representatives report twice each semester at meetings organized by our Directors of Studies, and we guarantee to act quickly to try to resolve any problems that they bring to our attention.
Student support on campus
Do you need on-going support, or just a little advice to help in your study or personal life? The University of Otago offers resources and services in a variety of areas to all students and staff.
- The Māori Centre offers support for Maori students in the form of extra tutorials, study skill seminars and help with exam preparation. The Centre also holds books and old exam papers that may be helpful, and operates from a Kaupapa Maori base. The Maori contact of the department is Dr Phillip Wilcox.
- The Pacific Islands Centre is a welcoming environment designed to help all students of Pacific descent to make the most of their time at University and offers tutorials for certain stats and maths papers. The Pacific Islands contact of the department is Dr Tilman Davies.
- The International Office offers a full range of services from recruitment and admission, to the pastoral care of international students. The Department also offers special assistance for students whose primary language is not English through Dr Austina Clark.
- The Disability Information and Support Office provides learning support, advice, advocacy and information to students with permanent, recurring or temporary impairments. If you have a disability or condition that may adversely affect your studies please let your lecturer or tutor know. They are reliant on you to make your needs known and will try to meet those needs where they can. The Department also has a staff member, Leanne Kirk, whose responsibility it is to advise and advocate on behalf of students with disabilities.
- The Student Learning Centre provides academic support, free of charge, to all students studying at Otago
- The Career Development Centre is a one-stop career resource for students and employers
- Student Health is a team of qualified professionals providing high quality health care to students of the University of Otago