• Attendance is expected at scheduled activities including tutorials and laboratories to receive credit for components of the course.
• Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including tutorials and labs will not be available as recordings.
• The course will not include live online events including group discussions and tutorials.
• The tests will be in-person and invigilated.
• The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Taught courses use a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas to provide students with learning materials including reading lists and lecture recordings (where available). Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

The content and delivery of content in this course are protected by copyright. Material belonging to others may have been used in this course and copied by and solely for the educational purposes of the University under license. You may copy the course content for the purposes of private study or research, but you may not upload onto any third-party site, make a further copy or sell, alter or further reproduce or distribute any part of the course content to another person.

Students are expected to adhere to the guidelines outlined in the Health and Safety section of the Engineering Undergraduate Handbook.

For the laboratory sessions, all students must be inducted in the laboratory room. The students must wear closed shoes and PPEs (lab coats, safety glasses and gloves) at all times. PPEs will be provided by MDLS.

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.

Similarly, research students must meet the University’s expectations of good research practice. This requires:

• Honesty - in all aspects of research work
• Accountability - in the conduct of research
• Professional courtesy and fairness – in working with others
• Good stewardship – on behalf of others
• Transparency – of research process and presentation of results
• Clarity - communication to be understandable, explainable and accessible

For more information on the University’s expectations of academic integrity, please see the Academic Conduct section of the University policy hub.

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about taught courses is made available to enrolled students in Canvas.

Students may be asked to submit assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.

• Students must sit the exam to pass the course. Otherwise, a DNS (did not sit) result will be returned. 
• Students must score at least 40% in the final exam AND at least 40% in the combined coursework. Otherwise a maximum of a D+ grade will be awarded. 
• A passing mark is 50% or higher using the standard University of Auckland grade boundaries and rounding system. 

Feedback on taught courses is gathered from students at the end of each semester through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions. Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students. In addition, class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Feedback received in 2024 (20% response rate) included the following:

Strengths Highlighted by Students:

• Course Structure: Students appreciated the three separate tests and no final exam, which allowed them to focus on specific topics.
• Labs and Practical Learning: Labs were frequently noted as beneficial for reinforcing lecture content.
• Relevance of Content: Students valued the course’s coverage of contemporary environmental issues.
• Instructor Support: Lecturers were seen as approachable and explanations were clear.

Challenges Identified:

• EIA Project Timing: Many students found the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) project challenging, especially as it coincided with other major assignments and tests towards the semester's end.
• Lab Organisation and Guidance: Some students felt the labs were disorganised, particularly the noise and air quality lab. Suggestions included more training for lab assistants and clearer lab instructions.
• Content Volume and Pacing: The large content load, particularly in qualitative sections, was overwhelming for some students, with a request for a more balanced workload distribution across the semester.
• Guest Lectures: Mixed feedback on guest lectures; some students found them beneficial, while others felt they disrupted study flow, especially when close to tests.

Suggestions for Improvement:

• Better Lab Preparation: Students suggested more support for writing lab reports and using tools like Excel.
• Revised Project Scheduling: Shifting the EIA project earlier in the semester to avoid workload conflicts.
• Engagement Activities: Ideas such as using interactive tools (e.g., Kahoot or Mentimeter) to reinforce learning and reduce reliance on slide-heavy lectures.

The teaching team took all the suggestions on board carefully and will make the following updates for 2024: 

• Noise and air quality lab will be redesigned
• EIA report will be released earlier
• Tests replaced by module quizzes and a final exam
• Training resources for skills like Excel, report writing, referencing etc. will be provided in week 1.
• Teaching team will use more engagement tools in lectures as suggested.

Feedback for this year not yet received.

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Tuākana is a multi-faceted programme for Māori and Pacific students providing topic specific tutorials, one-on-one sessions, test and exam preparation and more. Explore your options at Tuakana Learning Communities.

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor. Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website.

We all go through tough times during the semester, or see our friends struggling. There is lots of help out there - please see the Support Services page for information on support services in the University and the wider community.

If your ability to complete assessed work is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due. If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page. This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter.

Students with concerns about teaching including how a course is delivered, the resources provided, or supervision arrangements, have the right to express their concerns and seek resolution. The university encourages informal resolution where possible, as this is quicker and less stressful. For information on the informal and formal complaints processes, please refer to the Student Academic Complaints Statute in the Student Policies and Guidelines section of the Policy Hub.