A student at Auckland University of Technology (AUT) says she "simply can't afford" to study full time under the university's new plan to extend the academic year amid the COVID-19 crisis.
AUT announced on April 1 it will now finish teaching six weeks later on December 20 following a reshuffle to how courses are delivered. Students will now be taught in eight block courses where they complete each of their papers in four weeks, instead of averaging eight papers across two semesters.
The university says block-learning is "designed to reduce pressure" for students, but one AUT student told Newshub implementing the new changes has been "kind of a shit show".
The student, who has asked to not be named, says she feels "very anxious and uncertain" about the structural changes to learning and can't afford to study in the extended academic year.
"I'm not working now [because of the lockdown], and if I couldn't be working in November and December then that really sets me back."
She wrote a letter to AUT's Chancellor John Maasland saying most students "can physically not afford to study" in November and December since they rely on the Christmas period for full-time hours. She also says there are single mums who "can't afford to be at university" until five days before Christmas.
"Unfortunately, if you chose to continue with this structure for 2020 I will have to opt-out and complete two extra papers next year instead," her letter says.
"This is extremely disappointing and makes me feel very anxious that I am being forced to do this, but I have to pay for rent and groceries."
Before the nationwide lockdown came into effect, five weeks of lectures had already been delivered. But with the new block-learning system, courses will start from scratch on April 27.
"Why are we waiting around until the end of April to do university and to start the whole year again, when now most of us aren't working… Isn't this the perfect time to be knuckling down and doing stuff?" the student told Newshub.
She says she isn't opposed to block-learning but believes the change will cause a lot of angst among students.
"It is a massive change happening at a time where there is already so much uncertainty and we have been given very little warning. A global pandemic is not the right time to introduce a new way of learning, especially when we can't have it broken down and explained to us in person."
She says the situation has been confusing and communication from AUT has been "so poor".
"They pretty much dumped this massive change on us, and then we couldn't get hold of anyone. The communication has just been so poor. No one really knows what's going on."
She says AUT's Student Hub sent a long email to students on Wednesday that didn't go into a lot of detail.
"There were a lot of unanswered questions. When I messaged the students' association, they said they've been told to redirect all questions to the Student Hub account.
"It's kind of a shit show to be honest."
AUT Vice-Chancellor Derek McCormack and student president Sisifa Lui said in a joint statement on Wednesday that block-learning helps students have a sense of consistent achievement when they continually earn credits throughout the year.
"With block-learning, you can immerse yourself in one paper at a time. It’s a more focused approach to learning and assessment… Say 'goodbye' to the stress of juggling multiple papers and having assessments due at the same time," they said.
They also praised the flexibility that block-learning offers, saying students can study whenever and wherever they want.
McCormack and Lui also addressed concerns that some students might have issues with the move to online learning.
"We are aware that some students may have difficulty accessing online and digital content. We are working to assist these students with alternative methods."
They say students will be given a weekly update from them up until the virtual orientation on April 23 and 24. The updates will include how the university will recognise students' learning so far in 2020, what papers will be available, advice for part-time and conjoint degree students, and information for students who need to complete placements for their qualifications.
