College Handbook - Section A
Contents
Contact details
| Principal | Dr Edwina Ridgway | (02) 6773 5701 |
| Assistant Principal | Mr Jason Wall | (02) 6773 5396 |
| Administrative Officer | Mrs Ann Geake | (02) 6773 6700 |
| Vincent Blokker | B010 | 6704 |
Resident Fellows
| Mark George | A100 | 6710 |
| Miriam Hicks | A200 | 6711 |
| Jayden McGhie | B100 | 6713 |
| Lauren Brumby | B200 | 6714 |
| Matthew Velcich | C008 | 6715 |
| Chris Finn | C100 | 6716 |
| Melissa Daugelat | C200 | 6717 |
| Tom Mitchell | D100 | 6718 |
| Jessika Kinny | D200 | 6719 |
Academic Support Team
| Natasha Schumacher | Senior Academic Mentor & Business |
| Carly Marie Joyce | Education |
| Anthony Willis | Law & Arts |
| James Botfield | Sciences |
| Trish Dutta | Medicine & Health |
| Stefanie Darke | Arts (Psycology & Criminology) |
DSRAC
| Brodie Rumsby | President |
| William Pepper | Vice President |
| Erin Thomson | Secretary |
| Andrew Duver | Treasurer |
| Sarah Steele | MB Representative |
| Stephanie Watson | MB Representative |
| Mitch Smith | PT Representative |
| Samuel James | PT Representative |
| Jacob McArthur | SFK Representative |
| Jaimee Lindley | SFK Representative |
| Lareina Rettke | Social Representative |
| Georgie Langham | Social Representative |
| Cassie Goodhand | Marketing & Merchandise |
| To be adviced | Fresher Social Representative |
| To be adviced | Fresher Social Representative |
College Fellows
Welcome to Drummond & Smith College
We all hope that Drummond and Smith College is more than just a place to sleep and eat for you. As a student, you need to be able to perform well academically as well as grow socially. All students are encouraged to attend specific tutorials, such as essay writing and study preparation, as organised by the Academic Support Team to better their academic performance. Our support program is flexible and residents are encouraged to seek as much assistance as they feel they need from Academic Mentors, their Resident Fellow, or the Senior Resident Fellow.
Naturally, attending University is about academic success but, at the same time, students need to balance their life so that they can get the best possible results. We encourage all residents to take part in the sporting, cultural and social opportunities available at Drummond and Smith College. These extra-curricular activities are the source of great experiences and, eventually, fond memories for College residents.
What we stand for
At Drummond and Smith College we have a friendly, caring and responsive community. We aspire to excellence in all aspects of University life including academic, sporting, social and cultural endeavours. Our College values are integrity, responsibility, self-discipline, democracy, equity, trust, tolerance, environmental awareness, altruism, enthusiasm and fun. We respect ‘difference’ and appreciate true community involvement.
A place for many pursuits
Drummond and Smith College successfully participates in many sporting and cultural activities including inter-collegiate competitions. Despite the fact that none of these activities are compulsory we have an outstanding record of success in both the President’s Trophy (male) and the Mary Bagnall Trophy (female) sports competitions. We also enjoy our involvement in the inter-collegiate cultural pursuits. The Drummond & Smith Residents’ Association Committee (DSRAC) provides the organisation to achieve these ends.
We participate in community support programs such as giving blood, Clean-Up Australia Day, Red Shield appeal and many other charities through participation in events such as the Hawkesbury Canoe Classic.
Our residents are offered opportunities to develop skills for life through opportunities to become involved in numerous committees, both within the University and the College. Importantly, College residents are both elected and appointed to positions within College and carry the responsibility of representing their members at all levels. By election to Committees such as the DSRAC, the Food Committee and the College Ball Committee, residents have a respected presence in the actual direction of their College.
Drummond and Smith offers a supportive and safe environment where students can comfortably look after their own personal needs but don’t have to commit themselves to time consuming tasks such as meal preparation or general house cleaning.
The Members of our College
Resident Students – “Residents”. The majority of current Drummond and Smith College members are students studying at UNE. We welcome both undergraduate and post-graduate students, including international students.
Affiliated Students – “Affiliates”. Affiliates are non-resident students that associate with the College through affiliation with the Drummond and Smith Residents Association. Affiliates are often ex-residents that pay a subscription to the DSRAC to participate in cultural competitions, play sport with us and attend our social functions.
Non-residents must apply to the DSRAC for affiliation, which, in turn, must be approved by the Principal. Affiliation does not entitle non-residents to the use of College facilities such as computers, laundries, showers etc.
College Fellows – “Fellows”. The Fellows of Drummond and Smith College are generally non-resident members who have been invited to join the College from the University staff and the community. Fellows offer academic assistance and other expertise to aid the College and its residents. In 2001, a donation of $2500 allowed us to purchase a sea kayak for the College. This group has also donated items such as the Stereo VCR in the main common room; and more recently a sizable donation to assist with purchasing new televisions for eight Common Rooms in the College.
Students are encouraged to suggest people whom they feel would make a valuable contribution to the College by becoming a College Fellow. The Senior Resident Fellow and all members of the Resident Support Team are Resident College Fellows.
Staff Roles
Principal
The Principal is ultimately responsible to the Vice-Chancellor. The Principal is responsible for ensuring the good order of the College including student welfare, finances, staffing, current and long term maintenance, and liaising with all appointed and elected members of the College in providing a harmonious community in which all residents can live and work.
Assistant Principal
In addition to supporting the Principal in running the College, one of the main responsibilities of the Assistant Principal is to oversee the academic activities of College residents. This entails the organisation of Academic Mentors, and rosters of regular mentoring sessions within the College. After exam results have been released, the AP helps evaluate progress, and offers advice regarding your future prospects. The AP will take responsibility for student related matters in the Principal’s absence.
Administrative Officer
The Administrative Officer works closely with the Principal and Assistant Principal on all aspects of the administration of the College, particularly with the provision of specific expertise through the promotion of sound financial and human resource administration.
Appointed Positions
Senior Resident Fellow
The Senior Resident Fellow (SRF) holds a senior leadership position across all aspects of College life. The SRF takes responsibility for the duties of the Resident Fellows on a day-to-day basis, and liaises regularly with the Principal and Assistant Principal on matters of students’ welfare and academic progress. The SRF lives with other students in the College and can be called on any time of the day, and taking particular responsibility after Office hours.
Resident Fellows
These positions are annual appointments and involve two main responsibilities. Firstly, the Resident Fellow is allocated a floor, and is responsible for the well being of the members of that floor and the encouragement of a successful mix of academic, cultural, social and sporting involvement by the residents. Secondly, out of College Office hours the Resident Fellow is responsible for the security of the residents and the College premises, and to see that social activities do not disturb other students.
A Resident Fellow is appointed for his/her personality, responsible attitude and academic ability. She/he may be expected to assist in academic areas under the co-ordination of the Senior Resident Fellow. Your Resident Fellow (or any other Resident Fellow) should be your first port of call in times of trouble. Resident Fellows deal with excessive noise or other disturbances within the College. Please co-operate with them at all times - this is not a pleasant job for them, but they need to do it if the College is to be a pleasant place for everybody in which to live and study.
At all times there is a Duty Resident Fellow, who has specific duties concerned with the running of College when the College Office is closed. The Duty Resident Fellow’s name, Flat number and telephone extension can be found on a board outside the Academic Mentor’s Office and on Resident Fellow notice boards. In an emergency, or if you have locked yourself out of your room, or if you need any other practical assistance, see the Duty Resident Fellow.
Senior Academic Mentor
The Senior Academic Mentor (SAM) is appointed for the qualities of his/her academic work and the commitment shown to the College and wider community. The SAM forms an important connection between the Assistant Principal and the team of Academic Mentors. The SAM is responsible for the effective operation of the Academic Mentor team to ensure than students have an academic support system within the College.
Academic Mentors
Academic Mentors are appointed to assist in specialised academic areas. They are usually senior students of the College and are required to help students on a face-to-face basis usually via a weekly mentoring session. The Academic Mentors assist in identifying student learning needs, and with the Senior Academic Mentor , coordinate additional support where possible.
Please see your Academic Mentor if you are having any difficulties with your academic work. The Academic Mentors and the SAM are also available to advise you where to seek the most appropriate assistance.
Residents are requested to let the Senior Academic Mentor or the Academic Mentors know if they need support or guidance or have suggestions for special topics. Academic meetings are advertised on the notice board near the dining room and they will be held in various locations around the College.
IT Officer
An IT Officer is appointed to maintain the day-to-day operation of the computing facilities within the College and provide troubleshooting advice and technical support to College Members in regard to the UNE network.
Marketing Officer
The Marketing Officer will actively promote the College in all marketing activities. He/she will represent his/her College on the Residential System Marketing Committee, and is required to coordinate and participate in marketing programs on campus, in the local community and in schools to benefit the College and UNE Residential System
Keeping Residents Informed
Residents must regularly check their UNE email account. Important College and University messages will be delivered through this email system.
Notices
Please read the notices that are posted around College to keep students informed about College matters. Each block and every floor has its own pin board, in addition to the one in the Dining Hall.
Floor Meetings
Attending weekly Floor Meetings is the best way to stay in touch with happenings around College. Your RF will advise you of when your Floor Meeting will be held each week. It is vital that you attend these meetings to stay abreast of College matters.
Phone Messages
Messages to all residents are often left on the phone system. It is, therefore, advised that you check your phone messages regularly so that you don’t miss out on important information.
Whiteboards
The College Dining Hall and its Foyer have whiteboards for important notices to all residents. Every College room also has it's own whiteboard.
Please use discretion when writing on whiteboards as your message is being displayed publicly. Similarly, try to make messages inoffensive by not using foul language or being sexually explicit. Residents that leave harassing or offensive messages or pictures on whiteboards will face disciplinary action and/or the matter will be referred to the University Equity Office. Please only use whiteboard markers on whiteboards. Use of permanent markers will result in a cleaning charge being issued.
Accommodation Procedures
Acceptance into College
Your residence will be contingent upon your enrolment in tertiary study or by arrangement with the College Principal as a visitor, guest or consultant. You must advise the Principal if your enrolment within the University or TAFE changes.
Criteria for re-admittance to the College
Residents are accepted into College on an Annual Terms and Conditions document which must be signed. Application for any subsequent year will be contingent upon four major criteria providing the resident is enrolled in tertiary study or is accepted by the Principal under other arrangements.
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Academic Commitment throughout the year including attaining satisfactory academic results (minimum of 50% pass of full unit load).
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Financial responsibility in meeting your commitments as set down in the Fees Schedule.
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Contribution to, and participation in, the life of the College and its members.
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Personal Conduct.
For each resident, Senior members of the College will be asked to advise the Principal annually on the following: Your College commitment, social involvement within the College, social involvement with your floor members, academic commitment, general standard of behaviour and demonstrated leadership qualities. This will form part of Criteria 3 and Criteria 4 in considering your application for residency in any subsequent year.
Sign in to College
When you sign in at the beginning of the year you will be issued a set of keys and a meal card. You must return the keys at the end of each term but please keep your meal card until your final departure.
Inventory Sheets
On arrival your Resident Fellow will complete a room inventory sheet (Check in/out form) for your room. You are advised to check this carefully before signing it. This inventory sheet will be checked again upon your departure and any missing items, damage or graffiti will be paid for by the resident. If you change rooms during the year, another inventory sheet will be completed for your new room. You are encouraged to report any damage that you believe has occurred during external periods to your Resident Fellow as soon as you return each term.
Signing In
Our residents are welcomed back into College from vacation after 2pm on the day before enrolling, or the commencement of their academic program each term. This allows our cleaners time to ensure you return to a clean room. Please see the Resident Fellow on duty to sign in and get your keys. Failure to correctly sign in or out will result in a penalty equivalent to three (3) days accommodation.
Prior arrangements must be made with the College Office if you wish to arrive earlier than 2pm.
Signing Out
Our sign out time is 10am for departure. During vacations the College takes in external students and guests that study via distance. Since your room may be required during your vacations, please complete the following prior to departure:
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Pack up your room
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Place items you are not taking with you in the cupboard above your wardrobe or see your Resident Fellow so they can be locked in the Box room in your block.
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Fold used linen and your blankets or doona and leave them at the foot of your bed for the cleaners to collect.
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Empty your rubbish bin
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Remove any stickers and all blu tack that you have placed in your room.
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Clear your whiteboard/pinboard and remove all posters etc.
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You must sign out in the Sign In/Out book and leave your keys in the Key Return Box located on the lower floor of your block or hand them directly to an RF. Do not give your keys to any other students or the cleaners to hand back for you. Do not lock your keys in your room.
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Failure to complete the 'sign in or out' procedure (above) correctly will result in a penalty equivalent to three (3) days accommodation. Please speak to your Resident Fellow if you are still unclear about signing in/out.
Failure to complete the 'sign in or out' procedure (above) correctly will result in a penalty equivalent to three (3) days accommodation. Please speak to your Resident Fellow if you are still unclear about signing in/out.
Rooms
Room Content and Decorating Rooms
Residents are welcome to decorate their rooms as they wish providing that any decorations are not permanent or offensive in any way. Posters are welcome provided that they are not pinned to the walls and all traces of blu tack are removed at the end of each term. If blu tack removes paint, a charge may be raised for any necessary repairs. Do not pin or nail anything to walls or doors. The remaining marks diminish the aesthetics of the room for following residents.
Hooks that screw into the wall, are nailed in or use permanent adhesives are not permitted. If residents wish to use hooks in their room they are asked to use only replaceable style hooks with a pull-tag for removal. Televisions, radios, stereos, computers etc. are permitted in rooms. Likewise, refrigerators are permitted as long as they have a drip-tray underneath to prevent moisture reaching the floor. Home brew kits are prohibited in college. Electric heaters and cooking equipment are not allowed in rooms. Electric jugs are permitted if they have an automatic cut-off switch.
Room Changes
From time to time residents may wish to change their location in the College. Providing there are no other demands on a vacant room, a resident may request to move by completing the appropriate form which is available from the Office.
Leaving outside the terms of your agreement
Residents who may be considering leaving the College before the end of the academic year are reminded of the Terms and Conditions of the Residence Agreement accepted when applying for a place in College, and the conditions governing leaving. This agreement is detailed in on the Drummond & Smith website under the section ‘Handbook’. Leaving College can affect the rate at which rent is payable. Please check with the Office if you have any questions.
Telephone System and Voice Mail
Once your Communication Fee has been paid, your telephone, voicemail and IT connection will be activated which will enable you to receive calls, make calls within the university and use the internet.
To activate outgoing calls you will be required to place a credit on your account in advance. You can pay online though UNE Residential Services, but you must advice them via email that you wish your nominated amount to be placed on your telephone account. Otherwise, you can pay in cash directly to the UNE cashier. A minimum of $20 will be accepted. Please note that the phone system runs through the University PABX.
NOTE: Abuse of phones and pin numbers will incur a $55 (GST incl) fine plus any further costs as are appropriate to the incident and/or may be referred to Telstra or the Police.
Reverse Charge calls
Accepting a reverse charge call is not permitted on this system. Any phone on which a reverse charge call is accepted will automatically incur an administrative charge of $55 (GST incl) for each ‘offence’ plus double the cost of the phone call.
To Make an Outgoing Call
Dial 0 to get an outside line (you will hear the dial tone), then the number you want to call (you will then get another dial tone) at this point put in your PIN to become connected.
To call other colleges or any number within the University, leave off the “02 6773” from the beginning of the phone number. The last four digits are the UNE extension number (eg. D&S Office x6700). Simply dial these four numbers.
Checking your telephone account
On request, a print out of your telephone account is available, for a small charge. If you require an update on your account at any time just dial extension 5100 and follow the recorded directions.
Voicemail
To set up your answering service please dial 2000 and follow the prompts. It is advised that you make your password the same as your PIN number.
Fax Services
The Drummond and Smith College Fax number is (02) 6773 6999. Residents can use the service through the office. Costs of faxes are available from the office.
Some General Points on Telephone Usage
It is illegal to use a PIN allocated to another person without their expressed permission. Nuisance calls and messages often cause distress to the recipients and should not be made. It is possible to trace nuisance calls if you are having a problem with them. Notify your RF for assistance.
Unwanted Calls
Always hang up immediately on an unwelcome caller. If an unwelcome caller persists contact the Office as soon as possible. Given that most calls can be traced, and that permanent line traces can be put in place, there is an excellent chance of identifying unwanted callers. To maintain all College members’ privacy please don’t give out other peoples’ phone numbers. The Office and RST operate on this policy to help ensure you do not get unwanted calls.
On-line Computer Connection
Each study bedroom is wired to the UNE computer network. Connection through this service enables residents to access the Local Area Network and Internet using their private computer. Details of requirements for access and the charges associated with this service are available from UNE’s Information Technology Directorate. For questions regarding the UNE network, please see the College IT Officer.
Use of Electrical Equipment
Residents wishing to use their own electrical equipment in University owned Residences are to have the items ‘safety tagged’ before use. This applies to all electrical equipment.
Please note that double adaptors are not to be used in the college due to fire risk. Power boards are acceptable; however, these are also regarded as equipment, which will require tagging. It is suggested that you use a power board with individual switches for each outlet and that any spare outlets are covered with the appropriate safety plugs. The fire brigade has advised that doing so will substantially reduce the risk of electrical fires.
Please advise the College Office if you do not have all electrical items in your room tagged. Please ensure that an electrician tags your items before your arrival at College.
Refrigerators
Residents are permitted to have “bar” sized refrigerators in their rooms, however, they should ensure that there is a drip tray underneath and that the House Staff are able to clean behind it on a regular basis.
College Address
All mail to residents should be addressed to:
Resident’s Name
Drummond and Smith College
University of New England
Armidale, NSW 2351
Mail Distribution
Your mail is placed in the pigeonholes in the main foyer at about 2.30pm Monday to Friday. Large items as well as registered and certified mail are held in the Office. The office bag for outgoing mail is cleared at about 1pm Monday to Friday.
During the holidays, all mail is held unless you have made arrangements with the office to redirect it. Redirection costs $1 and requires you to fill in a sheet of labels provided by the Office.
Fees
The College fees are advertised on the College website. The fee schedule on the website also provides you with information over payment in instalments. For any queries about Fees, please contact the Central Administration Office.
UNE Residential Services
University of New England
Armidale, N.S.W., 2351
(02) 6773 3370
(02) 6773 3766
rescentral@une.edu.au