Course Reading Expectations: Waikato Reading Lists
These expectations guide how course readings should be selected, described and delivered through Waikato Reading Lists and the Learning Management System.
Principles for course readings delivery, copyright practice, and student access
Platform-agnostic. These principles are intended to hold regardless of which platforms or licences the University uses.
1. Student access and consistency
Students should be able to reach all of their readings directly from their paper page in the Learning Management System regardless of where they are hosted.
2. Importance Tagging
All course readings should be tagged for their importance to learning, using the scheme agreed by Education Committee in November 2025, so that students know what to prioritise. The agreed tags are:
- Required: readings that all students are expected to complete, central to the learning outcomes and assessment.
- Recommended: readings that support and deepen understanding, which students are encouraged to engage with.
- Optional: additional readings for students who wish to explore the topic further.
3. Workload and reading expectations
Staff should weigh the volume and difficulty of set readings against the paper's workload expectations. Required readings should be manageable and aligned with the learning outcomes and assessment. Excessive required reading should be avoided.
5. Accessibility and equity
Readings should be selected and delivered in ways that give every student fair access.
Preference should be given to:
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open access resources
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licensed electronic resources
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Library-held material
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accessible formats
Where a required resource is available only in print, staff should consult the Library about alternatives or digitisation.
6. Diversity of perspectives
Where appropriate to the paper, readings should expose students to a range of viewpoints, methods, voices and knowledge systems, including M膩ori, Pacific, Aotearoa New Zealand, Indigenous and international perspectives.
7. Quality and currency
Readings should be relevant, authoritative, and pitched at the appropriate level.
Staff should review reading lists regularly so that material remains current and continues to support student learning.
8. Copyright 糖心TV and licensing
All readings must comply with copyright law, licence terms and University policy.
Staff should use approved institutional systems so that copyright material can be managed, reported and retained as required by the University鈥檚 licences.