Commencing Students
Offers will be mailed out from late January onwards. Once you have received your offer of a place in the Open Foundation by Distance program, the first steps you need to take to accept your offer and complete your enrolment are:
1. Set up your student IT account here
2. Enrol in your semester 1 courses at My Hub
Your letter of offer and the Step by Step Enrolment Guide enclosed with your letter contain detailed instructions for these steps. If you have any difficulties with Online Enrolment, please contact the Foundation Studies office.
Once you have completed your Online Enrolment, you need to:
Purchasing your textbooks
You will find a list of textbooks prescribed for each OF by Distance course here. These textbooks can be purchased online by visiting the Co-op Bookshop.
You will need to register as a Co-op customer before you purchase books online. See the information for ‘Students’ on the Co-op site.
You may also become a Co-op Bookshop member. This is not mandatory and costs a one-off fee of $20. Membership entitles you to a range of benefits, including discounted prices. Look under ‘Membership’ on the Co-op site for more info.
Ordering your student ID card
To obtain your student card you need to complete a Student ID Card Mail Request form and mail it to the Foundation Studies office.
Important: You must send copies of 100 points of ID and a passport-sized photograph with your completed form. These documents (including the photograph) must be verified by a Justice of the Peace in order for us to process your student ID card request.
Week Zero
What is it?
Week Zero is the first week of your courses. We introduce you to the Blackboard online environment and to the key people, information and skills you will need to become a successful student.
When is it?
Week Zero will open online in Blackboard on Monday 20th February, 2012.
What do I need to do?
You can log in to Blackboard from 9am on 20th February using your student number (e.g. c1234567) and the student IT account password you set up in step 1 above.
The web address for Blackboard was sent with your letter of offer (see 'Starting your studies in Week Zero' flyer). You can also click on the link above.
Once you log in, you need to select ‘Open Foundation by Distance’ under My Other Sites.
During Week Zero you will need to spend at least 1-2 hours each day (Monday to Friday) completing sets of activities and information on Blackboard. So you need to log in daily – but you can complete each day’s material at any time of the day or night that suits you.
Any questions?
If you have any difficulties logging in to Blackboard in Week Zero, or for any other enquiries relating to enrolment, student cards or textbooks, please contact the Foundation Studies office.
Other Important Information
Community Library Information Sessions for OF Distance students
Community libraries in the Hunter, Upper Hunter, South Coast and Mid North Coast areas of NSW will be holding information sessions especially for OF by Distance students in Week Zero and Week 1 of semester.
They start on Monday 20th February, so check this list to find out where and when the sessions are being held.
These aren't compulsory, but we encourage you (if you live nearby) to attend a session to find out what your local library is keen to help you with, such as:
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getting comfortable with Blackboard,
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how to use online databases for research (either local library or University databases), and
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the types of resources and facilities you can access at your local library.
The list also includes the names and contact details of people you can speak to at any time during semester if you need help with research or accessing online systems.
Academic Support Workshops
There will be a full-day workshop on the Callaghan campus and on the Port Macquarie campus early in Semester 1. The workshop gives you the opportunity to meet your lecturers and fellow students, ask questions about your course material, and receive help with accessing the facilities available to you as a University of Newcastle student.
You are invited to attend one of the following workshops:
- Saturday 17th March at the Callaghan Campus
- Saturday 31st March at the Port Macquarie Campus
Please note that attendance at the Academic Support Workshop is not compulsory but we encourage you to attend.
Further information about the workshop content and how to register your attendance will be sent at the start of semester.
You should also note that there will be a Revision Day held at the end of the semester on the Callaghan campus to help you prepare for your final examinations.
Examinations
Please note that formal examinations in Open Foundation by Distance are a compulsory part of the course. At the end of each semester you must sit exams in both of your courses in order to successfully complete the program.
Exams will be held during the exam periods in June and November – see here for dates. The exams are 2 hours in duration, and will be held under supervision at a location as near to your place of residence as possible (within 2 hours’ travel)..
You will be notified of the exact times and locations of your exams approximately 4 weeks in advance.