The University of Otago has signalled its support for the School Strike 4 Climate protest, but says the university will be open as usual, and students will need to decide whether they want to miss classes to attend.
The Otago University Students' Association appealed to the university earlier this week to endorse involvement in the march from the Union Lawn to the Octagon on September 27.
A spokeswoman from Victoria University of Wellington said staff had been asked to record their lectures and to make reasonable accommodation for students who miss lectures or tutorials to attend the event, in the same way as would occur if they were absent for illness.
However Otago vice-chancellor Prof Harlene Hayne said students would have to decide whether they could miss class, based on their individual circumstances.
"In many cases we expect there will be alternatives that would allow catching up on any material missed, but this will depend somewhat on the nature of the scheduled activity," she said.
For a lot of students and staff, participation would be able to be fitted around university commitments, she said.
"Staff who have work commitments and who strongly wish to participate should discuss this with their manager."