Caroline Freeman College, Otago

Caroline Freeman College residents take part in the annual CFC Portrait Painting competition, one of the many in-house competitions on the college's annual calendar.

The Dunedin City Tertiary Accommodation Trust established what was City College in the year 2000 to provide accommodation for students from the University of Otago, Otago Polytechnic and the Dunedin College of Education (now University of Otago College of Education).[1]The college was built to resemble a traditional English-style residential college with gardens, courtyards, arched entryways and covered walkways. The residential apartments surround the central common areas of the complex. These common areas include student lounges, dining room, art/music room, study areas and a library. [2] The college has extensive garden and courtyard spaces. It is the only fully-catered Otago college based around apartment groups, having 214 rooms spread around 38 four-, five- and six-bedroom apartments.[1]

The College “houses”, Hepburn, Sandland, McKenzie, Ford, McIvor, Mitchell and Dawson, are named after the owners of the Original Crown Land Grants of Block 34 North Dunedin in 1858.

At the start of 2018, College ownership transferred entirely to the University of Otago, and the College was renamed (from City College to Caroline Freeman College), to honour Caroline Freeman, the University of Otago's first female graduate.[3] Since the start of 2018 the college has been a residential collegiate community for predominantly first-year students of the University of Otago. [4]

Caroline Freeman College is notable for its diverse student population with residents from over 125 different secondary schools from throughout New Zealand and overseas. The residents study a broad range of subjects at the University of Otago. The college has a management structure consisting of the Warden, Senior Tutor and Resident Tutor. The senior management are supported by a team of sub-wardens, senior students who live in the college and provide pastoral welfare and care to the residents. The college also has a team of affiliated staff members who provide maintenance, catering, cleaning service and administration.

Caroline Freeman College offers an extensive programme of social, cultural, sporting and volunteering opportunities both within the college and as a part of the University of Otago Inter-Collegiate events and competitions.

Academic support is provided through an in-house mentoring programme which matches each resident with a senior member of staff, the provision of formal tutorials in key subject areas and the promotion of general study skills and formation of small study groups.

Residents of Caroline Freeman College are collectively known as "Freemanites" or "Carolinians".

• Caroline Freeman College website

The McIvor Courtyard in springtime. Caroline Freeman College has extensive gardens and outdoor areas.