The statutory body representing the country’s universities “categorically” rejects comments that none of New Zealand’s universities have implemented the Pastoral Care Code following the death of a student in Canterbury.
A student at Lincoln University was found dead in the halls of residence on the first day of the new semester on Monday.
The student’s death is not considered suspicious and will be referred to the coroner, a police spokesperson said. Police were unable to comment on how long she may have been dead before her body was found.
It’s believed the student was aged in her late teens and in her first year of study.
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In response to the student’s death, Greens tertiary education spokesperson Chlöe Swarbrick said questions in Education and Workforce select committees had revealed that none of the eight universities had implemented the Pastoral Care Code.
The code was expanded and updated following the death of Mason Pendrous. Pendrous had been dead for up to a month when he was found in his room at Sonoda Village at the University of Canterbury on September 23, 2019.
On Wednesday, Universities New Zealand chief executive Chris Whelan said the student’s death was “felt across the entire sector”.
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An investigation into the student’s death is ongoing. (File photo)
“We categorically reject the assertion that none of the universities have implemented the Pastoral Care Code that came into effect on January 1, 2022.”
All universities had reported they were compliant in “most areas of the code”.
“Where they are still working, as the code permits, individually or collectively to implement some outstanding aspects, it mostly relates to new requirements to collate and report publicly on how they are doing in areas such as complaints resolution, student voice and Te Tiriti o Waitangi.”
Universities were providing the New Zealand Qualifications Authority as code administrator with regular reports on progress in closing these remaining gaps, he said.
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“To date, there has not been any suggestion that progress is inadequate, or that outstanding gaps are creating undue risk to students’ safety and wellbeing.”
Lincoln University had its mid-year break from June 27 to July 15. Semester 2 began on Monday.
The university’s vice-chancellor Professor Grant Edwards earlier said the university was “deeply saddened” by the “unexpected death” of a student in their room.
“We are working closely with the family, who has requested privacy, and with our student and staff community.”
Lincoln University has seven fully-catered halls of residence, all owned and run by the university. Every hall has at least one residential assistant living on site.
In 2019 Education Minister Chris Hipkins introduced the Education Pastoral Care Amendment Bill following Pendrous’ death.
His death sparked a major overhaul at UC and an independent investigation by former High Court judge Kit Toogood QC, who found that the company that runs Sonoda, Campus Living Villages (CLV), did not chase up concerns about Pendrous’ academic engagement and left no staff on site after an organisational restructure.
Stuff approached each of the country’s eight universities for comment about the Pastoral Care Code.
University of Waikato director of student services Mike Calvert did not agree with Swarbrick’s comments and said much of what was in the code was already in place at the university.
“There are a great many initiatives that the university has undertaken since the code came into effect as part of our programme of continuous improvement in learner wellbeing and safety.”
The initiatives included the adoption of a mental health first aid training programme that equipped participants with the skills to support someone experiencing “a mental health challenge or crisis”.
Five university facilitators have been trained to deliver the course that covered mental health challenges including depression, anxiety and problematic substance use, and mental health crises including trauma, psychosis, and non-suicidal self-injury. By 2023 nearly 300 university staff will have completed the programme.
University of Otago vice-chancellor Professor David Murdoch said they were “highly compliant” with the code.
“The vast majority of the code relates to things the university already had in place, including in our residential colleges and in the support of international students, and has in most cases been done for many years.”
Other universities are yet to respond.
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