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June 04, 2008 The Fly Student News Bulletin No. 9, 2008Read about how to access your personalised exam timetables, registering for offshore graduations, competing in the global student entrepreneur awards, how to buy discounted Microsoft Office software, extensions to the City campus cafeteria and lots more …  The latest 3D multiplayer game created by RMIT University students, The Hope of Ruins, has been launched. Eighteen postgraduate Animation and Interactive Media students worked in teams to turn a concept sketched on paper into a 3D real-time multiplayer game that has several levels and special effects. The concept of the game revolves around a poem called Ozymandias written by Percy Bysshe Shelley about the rise and fall of humanity. 1. A message from the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Students)With exams starting very soon, the end of the Semester is nearly with us. City campus students can now find a haven amongst the hustle and bustle of the city at the Alumni courtyard which has recently gone green. The courtyard, next to the Old Melbourne Gaol, now has environmentally sustainable, soft, synthetic grass that can be recycled at the end of its lifespan. The use of this product will save 16,000 litres of water per week and 300,000 litres of water over a six-month period that it would otherwise be using if natural grass had been laid in the Courtyard. You can use the Courtyard to relax with a book on a sunny day, eat lunch al-fresco with your friends, have study group discussions or just chill out in between classes. Remember to check your personalised timetable from the Exams web page, so you can get to the exam venue with plenty of time to spare. There is also an exams FAQ page where most of your questions about exam time will be answered. For those of you finishing your RMIT studies this semester, we offer you our best wishes and urge you to stay in touch through RMIT Alumni. The Fly has instructions on how to order a Statement of Completion, and how to register for an Offshore Graduation Ceremony if you are an international student or have family and friends overseas. As Semester Two starts soon, we are well into preparations for students commencing their programs with us mid-year. The Orientation Volunteer Program is looking for people to help new students get acquainted with RMIT and our approaches to teaching and learning. This is a good way to meet students from different programs while at the same time easing new students into the ways of RMIT. [Source: Joyce Kirk, PVC Students]  Page menuGotta know2. Personalised exam timetables online from Monday, 2 JuneThe Semester 1 exam period runs from 10 - 27 June. Exam timetables are now available to view on the Exams web site. From Monday, 2 June, personalised exam timetables are also available to individual students, via the Enrolment Online site. A personalised exam timetable will be available to all students with centrally scheduled exams during the formal exam period. Your personalised exam timetable will include the following details for each exam:
To access your personalised exam timetable, login to Enrolment Online. For more details on how to login, download and print your personalised timetable, go to the My exam timetable web page. For more information, visit the Exams home page regularly or refer to the Exams FAQs on the Ask RMIT site. [Source: Kirstie Williams, Exams, Awards and Graduations, Academic Registrar’s Group] Page menu3. Apply to graduate at RMIT Offshore Ceremonies in SeptemberAre you due to complete your studies this semester? If you have completed your program of study, or will complete by the end of Semester 1, you may be eligible to graduate at an RMIT offshore ceremony in September. If you are an international student or if your family and friends live overseas, this is a great opportunity to celebrate your graduation with them in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur or Hong Kong. If you wish to graduate in an overseas graduation ceremony, you need to apply to graduate by Monday, 30 June. If you do not apply to graduate by 30 June, you will not be able to attend an overseas ceremony this year. The RMIT overseas graduation ceremonies will be held in the following locations:
For any enquiries about offshore ceremonies please email graduation@rmit.edu.au. [Mirna Bitar, Exams, Awards & Graduations, Academic Registrar’s Group] Page menu4. Finished your studies?Do you need a Statement of Academic Completion? A Statement of Academic Completion (SAC) is a statement that confirms you have completed all academic requirements of your program at RMIT. You can order this statement upon completion of your program as part of the graduation process. You may need to order a SAC if:
How to order a SACDegree students, complete the online form. TAFE students, contact your School. Master by Research and PhD students, contact the Graduate Research Office. A SAC costs $18 (not applicable to TAFE or Master by Research/PhD students). For more information, ring the Student Administration Support Line on 9925 8980, 8.30 am - 5pm, Monday to Friday, or visit the Hub on your campus. [Source: Mirna Bitar, Exams, Awards and Graduations, Academic Registrar’s Group] Page menu5. Ask RMIT – find the answers you need 24/7Do you sometimes need to ask a question about your enrolment, exams, results, fees or other RMIT information outside normal business hours? Do you just want a quick answer to a question, but you're not sure who to ask? You don’t have to wait until RMIT is open to ask for help with your student admin issues. Ask RMIT is a web site featuring more than 500 frequently asked questions (FAQs) and answers on common topics. You can search by keyword or browse through the main topics. It is a fantastic source of information that you can access anytime online, 24/7. If you have a question that is not answered by the FAQs, you have the option to ask a question by sending an online query to RMIT’s Student Administration team. An RMIT staff member from the Student Admin Support Line staff member will get back to you with an answer by email. Go to the “Ask a Question” tab and complete the form with your question, whenever you need advice. Don't forget, during business hours you can also call the Student Admin Support Line from 8.30 am - 5pm, Monday to Friday, on 9925 8980 or visit the Hub on your campus. [Source: Cassandra O'Leary, ARG Communications, Academic Registrar's Group] Page menu6. Basketball court on Bowen StreetIn the interests of safety, students should play only basketball on the basketball court in Bowen Street on the City campus. An RMIT employee was recently injured by a ball that was kicked by a student playing soccer on the Bowen Street basketball court. To avoid further incidents like this, students should use RMIT recreational facilities only for their proper purposes. Students on the City campus who wish to play soccer can use the Alumni Courtyard, which is located next to the Old Melbourne Goal and faces on to Russell Street. Enter the courtyard from behind Building 15, which is located behind Buildings 5 and 7 on Bowen Street. [Source: Alison Blackburn, Property Services] Page menu7. Bollard installation on Bowen StreetNew bollards are being installed at the La Trobe Street end of Bowen Street this week. For the duration of this work, vehicles will not have access to Bowen Street. The bollard installation is expected to take place from 7am on Thursday, 5 June and will finish by close of business, Friday, 6 June. If there is inclement weather, these works may be rescheduled. We apologise for any inconvenience these works may cause. For more information, please contact Gina Cerritelli, City Building Coordinator (phone: 9925 3889 or email: gina.cerritelli@rmit.edu.au). Additionally, the City of Melbourne will reconstruct the footpath on the corner of Swanston and La Trobe Streets, in front of the Hungry Jacks fast food outlet. The works will begin this Friday, 6 June and are expected to be completed by Monday, 16 June. The works will commence daily at 7am and will finish at 4pm. To minimise disruption to students and staff, workers will endeavour to complete all components of the project that require the use of jackhammers and saw cutters by 9am each day. [Source: Alison Blackburn, Property Services] Page menu8. City campus cafeteria extending outdoorsThe student and staff cafeteria and recreation areas in Building 8 on the City campus are being extended into an outdoor space that faces onto bustling Swanston Street. Large picture windows will replace the current glass-brick wall on the façade of Building 8. The windows will open up onto a spacious, smoking-free balcony where students and staff can eat, converse and watch the passing parade of people. Work is currently underway. Students and staff can still access Level 2 of Building 8 via the stairway from the Swanston Street footpath, but some necessary scaffolding that the builders have erected has narrowed the entranceway into the building. The balcony space is earmarked for completion by the end of July. For more information, please contact Brad Bartlett, Client Relations Manager with Property Services, on 9925 3463. [Source: Alison Blackburn, Property Services] Page menuCampus talk9. Global Student Entrepreneur AwardsThe Global Student Entrepreneur Awards Australia Program is a highly-regarded competition for undergraduate students who own and run a business while attending university. Nominees compete against their peers from across Australia in August, with the winners representing their country at the 2008 GSEA Global Finals Competition in Chicago, USA, on 5 and 6 November. A good idea isn’t enough: improve your pitching skills, deal confidently with tough questions about your business and connect with like-minded student entrepreneurs from across Australia. If you win the national competition, you’ll have the opportunity to share in more than $US100,000 in prizes at the Global Finals. The nomination deadline is 1 August. View details. [Source: Georgia Powick, Office of PVC (Students)] Page menu10. Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics eventsDo you have an interest in understanding sustainable regions or building capacity and competitiveness in Australia’s transport? If you do, then there are two events later this month that may interest you. The Federal Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government is hosting two conferences in Canberra: the biennial Regional Perspectives Conference on 16 and 17 June and the annual Transport Colloquium on 18 and 19 June. To help students attend these events, the Bureau is offering a substantially reduced student registration fee: $385 for the colloquium (full price $990) and $220 for the conference (full price $440). [Source: Georgia Powick, Office of the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Students)] Page menu11. Engineering Student of the Year International CompetitionThe Third Annual Engineering Student of the Year awards close on 13 June. The competition is open to any full or part-time engineering student pursuing a recognized academic degree such as Bachelor of Science, Master of Science or PhD. Boeing sponsors the worldwide competition, which is held annually in association with the weekly aerospace publication Flight International. Entries are evaluated and judged by a panel of former Boeing senior engineering leaders. The winning student’s work must be judged as likely to impact the future of aerospace engineering in such areas as new or enhanced systems, processes or tools; new levels of performance; improved life cycle costs; new capabilities; or other areas. The winner will receive an expenses-paid trip to this year’s Farnborough Airshow as a guest of Boeing. The award will be presented during the week-long UK airshow as part of Flight’s 100th anniversary celebration on 15 July. [Source: Emma Hodsdon, Boeing Australia] Page menu12. 2008 Google Anita Borg ScholarshipThe 2008 Google Australia Anita Borg Memorial Scholarship aims to encourage women to excel in computing and technology, and become active role models and leaders. Scholarships for female undergraduate and graduate students will be awarded based on the strength of candidates' academic background and demonstrated leadership. Scholarship winners will each receive a $5,000 scholarship for the 2009 academic year and an expenses-paid trip to the 2009 Grace Hopper Conference in the United States. Remaining finalists will receive $1,000 each. In addition, all finalists and scholarship recipients will be invited to an expenses-paid networking retreat at Google's Sydney Engineering centre in September. It will include workshops with a series of speakers, breakout sessions and social activities, and will provide an opportunity for all finalists to meet and share their experiences. View details. Applications close 13 June. [Source: Wai Chee Yau, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering] Page menu13. Call for Orientation volunteersWant to help welcome new students in semester two? Join the Orientation Volunteer Program and become part of the amazing team who will make Mid-year Orientation a success. By volunteering you will make new friends, learn new skills, get a certificate from the Vice-Chancellor and have your volunteering at RMIT recognised on your academic transcript ... and much more! [Source: Denya Lanzini, Transition] Page menu14. Alumni Courtyard opens up the City campusThe Alumni Courtyard on the City campus has recently gone green – literally. The Courtyard has been laid with environmentally sustainable, soft, synthetic grass that can be recycled at the end of its lifespan. The use of this product will enable RMIT to save 16,000 litres of water per week that it would otherwise be using if drought-resistant grass had been laid in the Courtyard. The Alumni Courtyard is an ideal recreation space for students. Use the Courtyard to relax with a book on a sunny day, eat lunch “al-fresco” with your friends, engage in light recreation activities, have study group discussions or just chill out in between classes. The Courtyard is located next to the Old Melbourne Goal and faces on to Russell Street. Staff and students can enter the courtyard from behind Building 15, which is located behind Buildings 5 and 7 on Bowen Street. The Courtyard will also be used for University functions. In addition, the National Trust’s Justice Precinct traverses the Alumni Courtyard as part of its visitor tours. [Source: Alison Blackburn, Property Services] Page menu15. Lunch time Forum: Why is Town Planning Important?The National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) and RMIT will be holding a lunch-time forum: Why is town planning important? The guest speaker, Meredith Withers, holds a Masters Degree in Urban Planning from Melbourne University and has worked as a planner in Melbourne for more than 30 years. Ms Withers is currently director of her own town planning consultancy, Meredith Withers & Associates, and is also a former member of VCAT and Planning Panels Victoria. She is currently a member of the Priority Development Panel, which provides advice to the Minister for Planning on major projects in activity centres to implement Melbourne 2030. Ms Withers has worked for the State Government in a variety of planning related positions and has run a very successful planning practice specialising in planning approvals for major projects including the Australian Synchrotron, the new Royal Children’s Hospital, the Royal Melbourne Showgrounds, and the Carlton Brewery project as well as major developments in the CBD and St Kilda Road.
Date: Wednesday, 25 June Staff and students are welcome to attend and listen to what should be a very informative presentation. There is no charge for this forum. Bring your own lunch. Tea and coffee will be provided. As places are limited please register your interest to attend with Angela Thorley on 9925 2415, by Wednesday, 18 June. [Source: Janet Burton, Property Services] Page menu16. Want to improve your research skills and save yourself lots of time?Are you confused about Library e-resources? Do you know which databases are the best ones for your area? How good are your research skills? Do you always find what you need? Become the competent, confident researcher you want to be. Attend Library skills training now. View details. [Source: Carmen Riordan, RMIT University Library] Page menu17. Discounted Microsoft Office Ultimate 2007 softwareDue to popular demand, Microsoft has just made the “It’s Not Cheating!” offer permanent. This allows students to buy the new Microsoft Office Ultimate 2007 for $75 outright or $25 for one year. Microsoft Office Ultimate 2007 contains the latest versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc as well as the following new features/programs: Microsoft Office Groove 2007 allows you to upload, share and modify files with students and staff members online. Learn more about Microsoft Office Groove. SmartArt graphics, a new feature of Word 2007 (and instant preview options in PowerPoint 2007) helps you design professional presentations in just minutes. Lean more about SmartArt in Microsoft Office Word 2007. Microsoft Office OneNote 2007 is digital notebook where you can store and search notes and information quickly. Learn more about Microsoft Office OneNote. Click here to buy Microsoft office Ultimate 2007. A copy of the trial CD is also available from Student IT Services (IT support desk) on the City campus at Building 48, Level 2, Student PC laboratory. [Source: Fernando Silva, ITS] Page menu18. Get more out of your uni experience … volunteer with RMIT LEADDo you want to get more out of your uni experience? Each year, more than 800 RMIT students develop their leadership skills through a range of volunteer programs. Volunteers are now being sought for programs in second semester. Volunteering is a great way to meet new people, discover your potential and shape the future. Students taking part in RMIT volunteer programs also receive official recognition from the University. Whether you want to support a student new to Australia, assist with Orientation, help others improve their language abilities, represent the student body, coordinate events with industry professionals, organise a team sport, design sets for RMIT productions or simply develop yourself – we have a place for you. For more information about how to volunteer at RMIT, please contact lead@rmit.edu.au. [Source: Lydia Grobler, Student Services] Page menu19. “Making Connections” Foundation Studies Mentor Program currently recruitingAre you searching for a meaningful way to fill your spare time and receive recognition for it? Are you looking for a way to express your caring nature and be awarded for it? Are you looking to develop your leadership and communication skills? If you have answered Yes to the above questions, then you would love what we have to offer. The Foundation Studies Mentor Program is currently recruiting volunteers to mentor new students beginning in June. Foundation Studies students are all young international students who are new to Australia and RMIT. We are looking for enthusiastic, compassionate and outgoing individuals who would be willing to commit some of their spare time to help our new students in their transition to a new country and environment, and a different culture, by offering them friendship and guidance. The new recruits will receive a half-day training to prepare them in their role as a mentor, and will be awarded an accredited LEAD Certificate after participating in the Mentor Program and volunteering a minimum of one hour a week in addition to the training. If you are interested, please email merlina.vanceva@rmit.edu.au. [Source: Merlina Vanceva, RMIT University International College (RUIC)] Page menu20. Miss the news?Did you know Library databases contain more than just e-books and e-journals? With Informit’s TVNews you can search for and download a variety of free-to-air news broadcasts and current affairs programs, from Cutting Edge to Today Tonight. Access Informit and other great Library online resources. [Source: Carmen Riordan, RMIT University Library] Page menuStudents in the news21. Student success stories
For more stories about RMIT University, visit Openline, RMIT’s online magazine. Catch up with the latest news on RMIT staff achievements, research, international news, staff publications and general announcements. To contribute story ideas for Openline, contact the Media and Communications office on 9925 1801 or email openline@rmit.edu.au. [Source: David Glanz, Media and Communications] Page menuArts, sport and fun22. BARFF After DarkThe Border and Region Film Festival has a new addition, BARFF After Dark, screening in August and is looking for new films. BARFF After Dark is for mature audiences. BARFF After Dark will be screened on Saturday, 30 August, in Albury's new Library Museum. And because it is an indoor screening, BARFF After Dark will be classification-exempt. Please read the Entry Guidelines for BARFF After Dark to make sure your film still meets the criteria for selection. The Border and Region Film Festival began five years ago and promotes emerging film-makers throughout regional Australia. It is an exhibition displaying some of regional Australia's best films. [Source: Vivien Naimo, Murray Arts Inc] Page menu23. RMIT Postgraduate Environment Network Green DrinksAll RMIT postgraduates with an interest in environmental issues are invited to come along to meet like-minded students and generally have a good time at the RMIT Postgraduate Environment Network Green Drinks.
Date: Friday, 6 June [Source: Georgia Garrard, School of Global Studies, Social Science and Planning] Page menu24. Graduating students’ exhibitionCut and Sew, an exhibition of works by graduating fashion RMIT students, showcases two years’ of work.
Date: Monday, 23 June [Source: Gertha Imelda, School of Fashion and Textiles] Page menu25. SYN subscriberthonLove what you hear on 90.7FM, see on C31 or engage with at syn.org.au? Subscribe to SYN and support youth independent media – including the work of RMIT students and the RMIT community. SYN’s Pledge day is Friday, 13 June. Subscribers hear first about SYN opportunities, including how to get trained and involved in radio, TV and online media. The special Subscriberthon Week benefits – the free zine that gets sent out to new subscribers – will be extended to RMIT students until the pledge date. How to subscribe:
[Source: Georgia Powick, Office of the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Students)] Page menuYour contributions26. Contribute to the FlyThis is the last edition of The Fly for semester 1, 2008. The next edition of The Fly student news will be published on Wednesday 9 July. Contributions are due by 2 pm, Thursday 3July. Email submissions to studentnews@rmit.edu.au. View the ‘How to contribute’ instruction. Page menuDon’t forget27. Check your RMIT email accountDo you check your RMIT email account? It is your responsibility to regularly check your RMIT University email account for important information and announcements about the administration of your program. If you don’t check your email account regularly you may miss out on important information and reminders about your enrolment, census dates and other key deadlines. Log in to view your RMIT email account. Page menu28. Check out RMIT University web sitesUseful RMIT web sites are available from the Student essentials web page. Page menu29. Feedback to The FlyYour feedback about The Fly is welcome. Your thoughts, comments and suggestions will help us provide content that is relevant to you. Please email your feedback to studentnews@rmit.edu.au. Page menu
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