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Students back on campus

Monday 27 February 2012, 6:05PM

By Massey University

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Students are welcomed to the new Student Central at the Albany campus.
Students are welcomed to the new Student Central at the Albany campus. Credit: Massey University
First year students participate in team building exercises during Let's Get Going at the Manawatu campus.
First year students participate in team building exercises during Let's Get Going at the Manawatu campus. Credit: Massey University
Creative Arts students and staff in the Museum Building's Great Hall at the Wellington campus.
Creative Arts students and staff in the Museum Building's Great Hall at the Wellington campus. Credit: Massey University

The first semester is now in full swing at Massey with students back on all three University campuses.

Students returned to the Manawatu campus last Wednesday as the Let’s Get Going programme kicked off the academic year.

The programme offers first years guidance to ease their transition to university life. It includes campus tours, information on support services, academic support, recreation and health.

Along with introductory seminars from each of the University’s academic colleges last week, students also got to have some fun at a comedy gala featuring Ben Hurley, Jeremy Elwood and Nick Rado.

More than 1250 students and family members attended the Welcome Ceremony at Arena 2 in Palmerston North, where first year students were welcomed to the University by Vice-Chancellor Steve Maharey and University Registrar Stuart Morriss.

Meanwhile, in Albany, about 500 new students and their families and friends were welcomed at the outdoor plaza of the stunning new Student Central building.

The crowd, including academic and general staff, as well as student Uni-Guides, gathered in the late afternoon sunshine for an informal welcome, beginning in Mäori by campus kaiwhakaruruhau (regional adviser Mäori) Donald Ripia and the campus waiata group, followed by speeches from Assistant Vice-Chancellor and University Registrar Stuart Morriss, and Student Life Manager Paul Fenton.

The new students then attended college presentations indoors, and campus tours with Uni-guides.

The $15 million first stage of the building, dubbed Student Central and designed by architects at Warren and Mahoney, will provide a campus heart and hub for students. It has a food hall, café and retail outlets as well as offices for the Albany Students’ Association, student services such as health and counseling, as well as space for student clubs.

Further south, it was standing room only at the powhiri for first year students at the university’s historic Museum Building in Wellington. That evening, Campus Registrar Deanna Riach and Massey At Wellington Students’ Association President Ben Thorpe teamed up to serve dinner to the new students and their parents at Tussock Café in the Student Centre. This year’s intake includes international students from over 20 countries.

On Thursday, individual colleges welcomed their students. Many of Massey’s Wellington offerings continue to prove popular and Pro Vice-Chancellor Creative Arts Claire Robinson says applications for 2012 almost met the record level of 2011 despite declining school leaver numbers.

On Friday, Wellington students attended “101” workshops on Massey, studying at university, critical thinking and problem solving, all designed to get their university experience off to a great start.

This week in the capital, Orientation is happening at some of Wellington’s off-campus venues, and there’s a special recognition lunch for those new students who won Massey scholarships.