30 January 2012

RMIT Update - No. 04/2012, 30/01/2012

Read about the latest developments with the Swanston Academic Building, our new Freedom of Information officer, language and academic skills support, free personal training for City Fitness members and more…

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Project updates

Swanston Academic Building

Construction of the Swanston Academic Building, RMIT's largest building to date, has progressed in great strides. Building works are six months ahead of schedule with the new building opening in Semester 2, this year.

The 35,000 sq m, 11-storey building is located next to the Oxford Scholar Hotel, near the corner of Swanston and A'Beckett Streets.

SAB will house the College of Business staff and students. The building will also provide teaching facilities for the University community, with several venues simulating real-world environments to enable teaching and learning closely aligned to industry best practice. In all, 6 lecture theatres, 70 flexible teaching and learning spaces, and 9 specialist learning venues will be added to RMIT's City campus.

The building - which has a Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) 5-star Green Star Education Rating, has been sustainably designed, with a high-performance façade, grey water recycling, solar hot water and a Building Management System that remotely monitors water and energy consumption. The Swanston Academic Building will also provide large, informal spaces exclusively for students, as well as landscaped indoor gardens and retail outlets.

[Source: Projects, Property Services]

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In brief

New compliance education webpage

Today the new look compliance education web page (login required) goes live. Please note the Supporting Documents tab is still under construction and further information will be added in the coming weeks.

Staff are encouraged to visit the new site and bookmark it for future reference. Feedback is welcome. We hope the improvements will make it easier for staff to access and understand mandatory employment-related compliance education requirements.

[Source: Jasmin Barker, Human Resources]

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Apply online system migration

Information Technology Services (ITS) is scheduled to migrate the Apply online system to Central Authentication Service (CAS) this Friday, 3 February. CAS will allow users access to other CAS enabled web-based applications without having to repeatedly provide their login details. More information on CAS is available on the RMIT CAS FAQs web page. The upgrade will involve only minor changes to the Apply system.

[Source: Nevine Khalifa, Admissions, Academic Registrar's Group]

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Performance Workplan drop-in labs

Would you like support using the Performance Workplan online? Why not along to one of our drop-in labs and receive support from HR staff. Drop in to one of our local labs to:

• Find out about the new Performance Workplans online
• Get advice about any aspect of workplanning processes at RMIT
• Build your confidence in the system and start to build your workplan
• Gain a better understanding of resources and support that is available.

[Source: Amanda Cartisano, Human Resources]

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Orientation information sessions

In addition to the welcome events and Big O Days on offer during orientation this year, there are also a range of information sessions and activities available to help students get started at RMIT. These include:

• Essential Arrival Information sessions for international students
• expert advice on finding work, housing and managing finances
• Study and Learning Centre drop in sessions
• assistance from ITS and the Library
• and much, much more.

During O-week (21-23 February) there will also be late afternoon informal social events at Pearson and Murphy's courtyard and surrounding areas that will be open to all.

A complete schedule of activities, including dates, times and locations is available on the student orientation website, so please encourage students to go along to a session, join in and make the most of orientation.

[Source: Fiona Ellis, Director Student Services and Chair, Orientation Steering Committee]

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Freedom of Information (FOI)

Following the resignation of the University's Freedom of Information Officer, Kathy Bramwell (Senior Manager, Compliance) will be taking on this role temporarily until a replacement is appointed. All requests for information submitted under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Vic) should be forwarded to Kathy for processing until further notice. If you would like further information on FOI or how the processes work at the University, please do not hesitate to contact Kathy on 53551.

[Source: Kathy Bramwell, University Secretariat]

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Language and academic skills support

Do you want to improve the retention and success rates of your students? Are you finding it increasingly challenging to cater for the diversity of your students?

The Study and Learning Centre provides language and academic skills workshops customised to your discipline's requirements. SLC workshops can address some of the issues that your students face. Past topics include:

• Introduction to academic study
• Reading and note taking
• Writing the first assignment

Please contact Barbara Morgan for further details or fill in the workshop request form.

[Source: Barbara Morgan, Study and Learning Centre]

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Interested in Postgraduate Study?

The Postgrad Expo is on this Wednesday, 1 February. If you or someone you know is interested in postgraduate study, consider the Postgrad Expo. Learn more about RMIT's sought-after postgraduate programs or contact Info Corner to discuss study options.

[Source: Jacqueline Partridge, Marketing and Communications]

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Producing video content for RMIT

Do you want to commission or produce videos for RMIT but are not sure where to start? Sign up for the Producing video for RMIT developME training workshop (login required) in March and we'll take you through the whole process from the initial idea to publishing it on YouTube.

This workshop is for those making or managing the production of videos for marketing and/or communications purposes for RMIT. The workshop will take you through the lifecycle of making a video, from the initial planning stage, to shooting, editing, exporting, delivery and promotion of the final video. It will also include live demonstrations.

Compulsory requirements for all RMIT videos will be covered, such as branding, accessibility, and copyright. An overview of available online and offline resources will also be given.

[Source: Dan Murphy, Marketing and Communications]

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New RMIT Diploma of Management short course

For those who already have management experience or aspire to a management position, these practical courses provide key concepts to help you develop the skills to advance your career. You can obtain an accredited qualification on successful completion of three short courses:

• Diploma of Management - Financial Management
• Diploma of Management - Project and Risk Management
• Diploma of Management - Recruit and Manage Staff

For more information visit the short courses website or call 58111.

[Source: Lucia Brisolla, RMIT Client Services]

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Platform Technologies Research Institute lecture

Platform Technologies Research Institute will host a Distinguished Lecture on Intelligent Systems: An Assessment of the Past and the Prospects for the Future presented by Professor Okyay Kaynak, Director of the Mechatronics Research and Application Centre at Bogazici University, Istanbul, Turkey.

Date: Friday, 3 February
Time: 10am – 11.30am, morning tea provided
Venue: Research Lounge, Building 8, Level 5, City campus
RSVP: via email

[Source: Petra Van Nieuwenhoven, Platform Technologies Research Institute]

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Qualitative Interest Group

This informal and supportive discussion group meets monthly, convened by Adjunct Professor Lyn Richards.

Topic: When is a project really qualitative?
Date: Tuesday, 7 February
Time: lunch from 12.15pm with discussion from 12.30pm to 2pm
Venue: Graduate School of Business and Law Board Room (Building 13, Level 4, Room 2)

The meeting will discuss the boundaries of qualitative projects. Some questions to be considered:

• Do you recognise a really qualitative project when you meet one?
• What happens to method when a qualitative project is no longer guided by qualitative methods?
• Is there a no-researchers-land where qualitative methods no longer apply but no other methodology is guiding the researcher?

All interested in qualitative research issues are welcome to attend. No need to RSVP but if you wish to be added to the email list for this group, please email Lyn Richards.

[Source: Marita Shelly, Graduate School of Business and Law]

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Zazen: Zen Mediation and talk on living zen

Join RMIT Chaplain Seikan Cech to experience a break from the stress of your work life and enjoy the art of just sitting - one of the simplest ways to be. All welcome.

Date: Every week starting Tuesday, 31 January
Time: 12.30pm - 1.30pm
Venue: Spiritual Centre, Building 11, City campus.

Please note that this replaces the session that was held on Wednesdays last year. For more information contact Robina Bamforth, on 52317 or email.

[Source: Robina Bamforth, Student Services]

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Free personal training for City Fitness members

City Fitness is giving away free Personal Training Sample Packs to the first 50 members who book in.

Our new personal trainer, Lee, will help you reach your goals with a thorough consultation and postural assessment followed by three half-hour training sessions in the gym. Visit our reception team to book in for your sample pack today, as they will sell out fast. Bookings will not be taken over the phone.

Not a member? Full-time, fixed-term and continuing staff can salary sacrifice their membership and receive great tax savings. Call us on 52874 to find out more about these offers. This offer is limited to one sample pack per person, per year and only available until sold out.

[Source: Melanie Sordello, RMIT City Fitness]

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How to contribute

Contributions to this newsletter must be sent as an unformatted email message with no attachments to rmit.update@rmit.edu.au before 2pm on Thursday for distribution on Monday. The word limit for contributions is 150 words. Do not send personal items, press releases, items that require uploading to the web or repeat articles. View Writing for RMIT Update guidelines (login required).

Only items that relate to the University's core activities will be published. To ensure RMIT Update is distributed on time, we cannot accept late contributions.

The deadline for the next edition, No.05 2012, is 2pm Thursday, 2 February for distribution on Monday, 5 February.

If you have any comments or queries, please email rmit.update@rmit.edu.au. RMIT Update is produced by Marketing and Communications (login required).

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Your thoughts, comments and suggestions will help us provide content that is relevant to you.

Please email your feedback to rmit.update@rmit.edu.au.

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Useful links

Other useful RMIT web sites are available from the staff essentials web page.

More news is available on the news for staff web page.

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