About Arana
Arana is a University of Otago Residential College occupying an historic administration building and purpose-built residential blocks. Arana also manages a number of renovated villas, bungalows and even studio apartments in restored professorial mansions. Among this diverse range of accommodation, options can be found to suit the needs of almost all students at any level of tertiary study. The relaxed atmosphere at Arana is legendary.
Arana College has first class facilities. We have a variety of recreational facilities, comfortable open-plan common rooms and floor lounges, a state-of-the-art computer suite, excellent study facilities, and beautifully landscaped grounds, top-notch cuisine and first-rate staff. Understandably, our high quality facilities combined with our perfect location on campus mean positions in Arana are highly sought after by first year and senior students from New Zealand and around the world.
Arana stands overlooking the northern aspect of the University Campus, only three minutes' walking distance from the historic Registry building. The address of Arana College is 110 Clyde St, Dunedin. A map below shows exactly where Arana is located.
We are within five minutes walk of all campus lecture theatres, libraries, departmental offices and assorted computer and study facilities. George Street, Dunedin's main street and home to shopping, cafes, and nightlife, is only ten minutes scenic walk through the well-lit campus area and museum grounds. Our pleasantly landscaped grounds are close to the Botanical Gardens, and only a few minutes from the Unipol Sports Centre, with a complete array of fitness and leisure facilities.
History
Arana College opened in 1943 and is one of the original student Residential Colleges
at the University of Otago. As such it has a rich and interesting history. The
Administration Office building, on the present Clyde Street site was the former home
of Sir James Allen, the University of Otago Vice Chancellor 1903 -1909 and
Chancellor 1909 -1912. Sir James was also an important New Zealand statesman,
being a Member of Parliament, Minister of the Crown and Acting Prime Minister.
Arana perpetuates Sir James' last name, translated into Maori. The founder and first Warden was the Rev. Dr. Harold W. Turner. The Turner Wing of the modern Arana complex is named after him and was opened at the beginning of 1994. For many years the residents of Arana were accommodated in the converted World War II nissen huts and it wasn't until 1962 that the major construction work that resulted in the current ‘Main Block’ began. Much of this work was paid for by the Colombo Plan, a scheme that was designed to increase intra-commonwealth cooperation through education.
The opening of the Bates and Colombo wings for accommodation in 1968 completed the main design for Arana College. By 1968, the number of residents was around 140, but this continues to grow through the acquisition of property on the streets that surround the main grounds. Today we have some 390 residents. Arana College has produced many notable high achievers in most of the different fields of human endeavour, some of the better known of these include kiwi comedian Jon Gadsby, and child cancer researcher, Prof. M.D. Holdaway.
During 2002, Warden Jamie Gilbertson and the Arana Management team undertook a review of all systems at Arana. Money was won for a new Boiler and Boiler-House in 2003 and this was constucted in 2004. As well the Arana team made a significant capital bid for new accommodation buildings as well as kitchen and dining room. After a demanding year of construction in 2005, three new facilites opened just in time for the 2006 season. Leithview housing 60 residents, as well as Rawiri housing 100 residents and a new kitchen, dining room and common rooms.
Our Staff
The Arana community is led by the Warden Jamie Gilbertson. The term Warden is a traditional description for a person who supervises and leads schools, colleges like Arana and some other institutions. The Warden is responsible for all aspects of the running and day to day management of Arana, its residents and staff.
The Deputy Warden is Patrick Chong. Patrick along with the Senior Sub Warden leads the Sub Warden team, who provide pastoral care and support for residents as well as the management of discipline. Patrick is responsible for the provision of learning support and manages the tutorial programme and the Tutors. As well Patrick has oversight of the Night Warden (Bruce Stephens) and College Porter (Jane MacDonald) who look after security and pastoral care of the residents during the night-time hours.
The Food Services Manager is Hilary Van Zoelen. Hilary is responsible for all matters related to food, the running of the dining room and the kitchen/dining room staff. Jude Murray is the Assistant Food Services Manager and Jude deputises for Hilary when required.
The Finance and Administration Manager is Jane Dawson. Jane is responsible for budgeting and financial planning and reporting, the management of capital and Jane oversees the administration team who manage the day-to-day reception functions and management of fees and accounts. This team consists of Anne Cleminson, Jude Loza and Susan Nicholson.
The Property Manager is Colin Nicholson. Colin is responsible for all buildings and plant, and oversees all maintenance, furniture and equipment as well as repairs.
Colin is also the Health and Safety person for Arana. The maintenance person is Tom McEntyre and Tom fixes things that are broken and does a great job with the grounds.
Arana has a Council, who provide advice and support for the Warden primarily. The Council Chair is Professor Alan Geare. Council members represent a cross section of University and community groups and they are: Shimrath Paul, Phil Handcock, Lyall Hanton, Claire Cook, Pearl Barron.
Each year two Presidents are appointed by the Warden. The Warden and an advisory committee consider the applicants and any voting that takes place prior to making these appointments. There is a female and a male President.
The Stuart Fellow is an appointment at Arana where the appointee will usually be undertaking study at a Masters or PhD level at Otago University. The Fellow assists with scholarly and collegial life in the College.
University of Otago
The University of Otago, founded in 1869 by an ordinance of the Otago Provincial Council, is New Zealand's oldest University. The new University was given 100,000 acres of pastoral land as an endowment and authorised to grant degrees in Arts, Medicine, Law and Music.
The University opened in July 1871 with a staff of just three Professors, one to teach Classics, English Language and Literature, another having responsibility for Mathematics and Natural Philosophy, and the third to cover Mental and Moral Philosophy. The following year a Professor of Natural Science joined the staff. With a further endowment provided in 1872, the syllabus was widened and new lectureships established: lectures in Law started in 1873, and in 1875 courses began in Medicine. Lectures in Mining were given from 1872, and in 1878 a School of Mines was established; this later became the Department of Mineral Technology and was transferred to the University of Auckland in 1987.
The University was originally housed in a building (later the Stock Exchange) on the site of John Wickliffe House in Princes Street but it moved to its present site with the completion of the northern parts of the Clocktower and Geology buildings in 1878 and 1879. The School of Dentistry was founded in 1907 and the School of Home Science (now Consumer and Applied Sciences) in 1911. Teaching in Accountancy and Commerce subjects began in 1912. Various new chairs and lectureships were established in the years between the two world wars, and in 1946 teaching began in the Faculty of Theology. The School of Physical Education was opened in 1947.
A federal University of New Zealand was established by statute in 1870 and became the examining and degree-granting body for all New Zealand university institutions until 1961. The University of Otago had conferred just one Bachelor of Arts degree, on Mr Alexander Watt Williamson, when in 1874 it became an affiliated college of the University of New Zealand. In 1961 the University of New Zealand was disestablished, and the power to confer degrees was restored to the University of Otago by the University of Otago Amendment Act 1961.
Since 1961, when its roll was about 3,000, the University has expanded considerably (in 2002 there were some 18,000 students enrolled) and has broadened its range of courses to include undergraduate courses in Surveying, Pharmacy, Medical Laboratory Science, Education, Teaching and Physiotherapy, as well as specialised postgraduate courses in a variety of disciplines.