Photo caption: Heather Couch, Academic Quality and Records Team Leader.
After more than 30 years working at Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury (UC), Heather Couch is preparing to cross the stage as a Bachelor of Arts graduate - a moment nearly a decade in the making.
Heather, now the Academic Quality and Records Team Leader, began her BA studies in 2016, taking just one course per semester while working full-time and raising her family. “I hadn’t studied since I left high school,” she says. “I thought I’d start with one paper and see if I could actually do it.”
What began as a small test quickly grew into a long-term commitment. “I’ve always loved history, and then I discovered anthropology. I enjoyed learning about people and societies, so I just kept going - one paper at a time.”
Heather’s long career at UC began in 1992 in the Faculty of Law, where she started as an administrator and progressed through a range of roles supporting students. Today, part of her role is to lead the team responsible for academic records and graduation processes.
Her experience as both a UC staff member and student has given her a unique perspective. “I’ve spent years supporting students, so it’s been really valuable to understand things from the student point of view,” she says. “Even things like graduation - being part of organising it is one thing, but experiencing it yourself is completely different. You see what works, and what really matters to students.”
Balancing study alongside a demanding career and family life wasn’t always easy. Heather and her husband Dave, who also works at UC, raised three children while she studied, including caring for a son with high needs. “There were definitely some challenges along the way,” she says. “My husband took on a lot to support me, especially at home.”
During her degree, Heather also navigated significant family events, including her second son undergoing major heart surgery. “There were a few hiccups, but I never really considered stopping. It just became something I was committed to finishing.”
Heather’s journey also ran parallel with her children’s time at UC, two of whom graduated before her. “They used to laugh that I was still studying after they had completed their qualifications, but studying alongside them meant I understood what they were going through as well.”
Despite the long timeline, Heather says the key was consistency rather than intensity. “I structured my study so I could manage it alongside everything else. I never took a semester off, but I also didn’t overload myself.”
Now, as she prepares to graduate, Heather is taking a moment to reflect and enjoy the milestone. “It’s a real sense of achievement,” she says. “It’s boosted my confidence and shown me that I can do it.”
While she briefly considered continuing to Honours, for now, she’s content to close this chapter. Instead, Heather is looking forward to more time with family, including travelling and helping her children work on their first homes.
“I hope my story encourages others to consider study, even in small steps. You don’t have to take on a whole degree all at once. Even one course can make a difference. Just give it a go,” she says.
