It was an issue that was first identified by the university’s Student Learning Centre director Dr Jacques van der Meer in 2009, when he said it was difficult for Dunedin locals to get into a residential college, and as a result, they did not experience the same level of community and collegiality as residential students.
So a few years later, the Locals programme was established to give them that sense of belonging, and help ensure their transition to tertiary study was as smooth as possible by providing mentors to talk to and connections with fellow students who were on similar journeys.
Now, a decade later, the organisation is celebrating its 10th birthday this year and is the biggest student community on campus.
Former Queen’s High School pupil and Locals head Maya Pitcon said life for her had come a full circle.
Because she was from a Dunedin secondary school, she was unable to get into a college and she experienced that feeling of being an outsider, first hand.
So she became a member of the first cohort of 60 students to join the programme at its inception in 2013.
"I’ve been a part of the first Locals cohort, done every volunteer role, was the deputy head and am now the head of Locals.
"It’s been my whole adult life. I wouldn’t be who I am today without Locals."
Today, about a quarter of all students chose to live at home, flat or board in their first year, and Locals supported about 900 first-year students, she said.
"Our cohort has grown exponentially, largely because we now include all first-year students who don’t live in a college, irrespective of what city or country they call home," she said.
As a result, the programme was also the most diverse student community on campus.
She said Locals was their community — a community for students, run by students.
"It’s driven by a team of volunteers and Locals leaders — second or third-year students who were in the Locals programme in their first year.
"Locals leaders organise a range of events throughout the year, covering social, volunteering, academic support activities and participation in intercollegiate competitions.
"The leaders are the heart and soul of Locals."
University student services director Claire Gallop said Locals had firmly cemented itself at the university.
"It is fantastic that the programme is 10 years old, and its importance and longevity is testament to the hard work by the past and present heads of Locals and the student leaders."
