COVID protocols, tax help, VIU Games and more
As the number of COVID-19 cases start to rise across the province again, we need everyone to support the health and safety of our community and prevent outbreaks by committing to following the current COVID-19 protocols for on-campus activities. These include completing a self-assessment before coming to VIU campuses/facilities, wearing a mask, maintaining a distance of two metres from others, following directional signage and respecting posted occupancy limits. Your particular course may also have other protocols in place that need to be followed for any face-to-face activities. If you aren't sure what they are, please ask your professor.
As the vaccination schedule continues to roll out and we transition to a new normal for the fall semester, the protocols for keeping our community healthy and safe – on top of the safety and risk reduction provided by the vaccine – will also start to shift. VIU is continuing to work with the Public Health Office, the Ministry and other post-secondary institutions to plan this transition and ensure appropriate protocols will be in place to support the safety and health of our community. As soon as we know what those changes will look like we will share that with you through this enewsletter.
Need to know
Cheer on the Mariners at the Sport BC Awards 📣
The VIU Mariners Women’s Volleyball team and Mariner Karoline Tormena are finalists in the Sport BC 54th Annual Athlete of the Year Awards. Join VIU’s Dance Team in cheering for them on Thursday, March 25. Tormena, a volleyball player, is a finalist for Athlete of the Year, and the volleyball team is up for Team of the Year. Join The Warm-Up at 6:30 pm starring some well-known Canadian athletes.The awards live stream starts at 7 pm.
Free financial literacy workshops for VIU students 💰
The Canada Revenue Agency is offering two free webinars just for VIU students to help you get ready for tax season. The Financial Literacy Presentation takes place on March 31 at 9:30 am, and the Post-Secondary Students & Financial Literacy Presentation takes place April 8 at 9:30 am.
Mount Benson Market temporarily moving to Cafeteria 🍏
The Campus Store is closed March 26 to April 1 so we will be moving the market temporarily into the Upper Cafeteria. Don’t go hungry! Just head to Building 300.
Connect
Online student art exhibitions 💻
Visual Arts students are showcasing their work in two online exhibitions. While The View Gallery has been closed this year due to COVID-19 and students have been learning in a hybrid online format, they have still been busy creating. View the exhibitions on the gallery’s website.
Culture Night
Join Services for Aboriginal Students on Wednesday, March 24 at 7 pm for the final Culture Night of the year, featuring special guests Patrick Aleck (Xwaluputhut) and Madelaine McCallum. Everyone welcome. Visit the Facebook event page for more details.
Bring Your Own Crafts event ✏️
Work-op students Ashley & Jordan with Services for Aboriginal Students would love for you to join them for a Bring Your Own Craft Night on Zoom. Click on this Zoom link at 5 pm on March 31 to join.
Networking Skills to Launch Your Career 📈
Did you know 85% of jobs are secured through networking? Ten Thousand Cofees has teamed up with RBC Future Launch to offer a special workshop event. Find VIU at tenthousandcoffees.com and reserve your spot today!
Follow along with the VIU Games
The VIU Games are in a virtual setting this year and they consist of 14 teams of 4 competing to hoist the Chassels Cup. Three challenges are released weekly throughout the month of March and teams submit their videos by the following Sunday. The team at the top of the leaderboard on March 31 will win their choice of Skydiving, a Pacific Sands Getaway, a Spa Package or Whale Watching. Follow along on Fun@VIU’s Facebook page!
Feathers – A Workshop with VIU Elder Stella Johnson
Learn how to make yarn feathers with VIU Elder-in-Residence Stella Johnson on March 31 from 2:30 – 4 pm! Each participant will need two balls of yarn that have three or more strands together. Students who register can request to be provided with yarn (register by March 24). Register now.
CREATE 2021
There’s only 19 days till CREATE 2021! Last-minute thoughts about registering? It’s not too late. Register by Friday, March 26! There are more than $13,000 in prizes to be won. Stay tuned to the next edition of the Student Pulse to learn how you can attend and check out what your peers have been up to. There are even some attendee prizes up for grabs!
UVic League of Legends presents Viking Abyss
The UVic League of Legends Club has partnered with Vikes eSports to bring you Viking Abyss on Friday, March 26 at 5 pm. This event will feature a 1v1 Howling Abyss format in a best of three, single-elimination, winner-takes-all competition!Visit the tournament homepage for more info and to register.
Consent and the Impacts of Pornography
Join the Thrive team on March 29 from 11:30 am – 1 pm to learn more about consent and the impacts of pornography. This free event will be a great opportunity to learn more for yourself and skills for talking about sexuality and sexual health. Feel free to join anonymously. Register on Eventbrite.
Creating Supportive Communities for Survivors of Sexual Violence
Join the Thrive team at a virtual workshop featuring award-winning short films, mindfulness activities and a panel discussion with students and others about the mental health impacts of sexual violence. All VIU students are welcome at this free event on March 30 from 1 – 3 pm. Register on Eventbrite.
Liberating our Thinking about Masculinity
Join the Thrive team at this virtual workshop that uses the power of poetry and film to unite folks in community, connection and conversation around mental health topics related to the culture of masculinity. VIU students of all genders are welcome at this free event on March 30, from 8:30 – 10:30 am. Register on Eventbrite.
Becoming a medical doctor 👩⚕️
Interested in a career as a medical doctor? Come to this moderated panel discussion on Wednesday, March 24 at 7 pm to hear from VIU graduates who are medical doctors, or doctors-in-training. Learn from their experiences, what medical school is like, and how VIU helped them on their journey. Questions are welcome. Register on Eventbrite.
Services & supports
Thinking about dropping a course?
A friendly reminder from the Advising Centre that March 31 is the last day for academic penalty-free withdrawal from Spring semester (or 8-month courses that started in September), OR to change from credit to audit (or vice-versa). It is a good idea to check in with an Advisor before making any changes to your timetable. You can contact Advising at our Daily Zoom Drop In, by phone or by email.
Survey: Off-campus & international student travel ✈️
VIU wants to hear from you! Fill in a quick 10-15-minute survey on how VIU can better support students in off-campus activities and international travel for the chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card, Fujifilm Instax mini camera, a pair of MPOW noise cancelling headphones, a Keurig K-Mini coffee maker or a Lintelek Fitness Tracker watch.
Success Coach services
VIU’s Success Coach is available to meet with you one-on-one between now and the end of May. Explore the benefits and impacts of success coaching and book an appointment online, or email Sharon.Kelly@viu.ca if you want help booking an appointment.
Earn credits in just 7 weeks! ☀️
Summer Session 2021 registration appointments are available now! Summer Session classes are going ahead in an alternate course delivery model. These seven-week courses starting in May or June can help you finish your program faster or reduce your course load for the upcoming year. Take a look at the Summer Session website for full details.
Help us improve our website
We are inviting you to help us re-organize the content on our website! We are looking for students to provide insights into how they search for information on the website, and what they search for most frequently. All of the information collected is confidential, and individuals are not identified in any reports resulting from this interaction. Help us out!
Students’ Union Campus Pub online ordering 🍔🍟
Whether you’re pressed for time or just thrive on efficiency, you can now place your pickup orders through the pub’s online ordering app. Help support student jobs and food service for the campus community, come visit us at the pub!
Call for papers for VIU’s undergraduate academic journal
VIU’s Compass Rose undergraduate journal is looking for excellent academic essays and visual artwork from Social Sciences and Arts and Humanities students for its Spring 2021 issue. The Compass Rose presents undergraduate responses to a broad scope of human questions. Deadline is noon on April 2.
Access to read and write software
If you are a VIU student with a documented disability, registered with VIU Accessibility Services, and have a Reader or Scribe exam accommodation, you can access FREE Read and Write software to use on your home device between now and the end of April 2021. It is compatible with VIU Learn and most electronic document formats. For more information email accommodatedexams@viu.ca.
Inclusion, Democracy and Reconciliation Medal Program
The Lieutenant Governor’s medal program was expanded from students enrolled in one-year certificate programs only, to also include two-year diploma and four-year undergraduate degree programs at public post-secondary institutions in British Columbia. Want to be considered? Get your prof or program chair to help you fill out a nomination form.
What you didn't know that you should know about living with a partner 👯♂️
Join Erin Brook, a VIU alumni and owner of Brook Law in Nanaimo, for adiscussion on your rights and obligations living with a partner, on March 30. For more information or to register for this webinar, please email alumni@viu.ca or text/call 250-713-9654.
Mark your calendars
Fill out your Scholarship, Award and Bursary Profile by March 31
“The scholarship I received has been instrumental in my success and enjoyment at university, as it has allowed me to attend VIU without worry of financial problems or having to work extra to pay for school. It has allowed me to focus on working towards my dream of becoming a medical doctor.” - Katrin, second-year Bachelor of Science student
Want to get yourself in the running for some help with paying for school? Learn how to apply in 4 easy steps. If you want more support, Media Studies work-op student Robbie Thompson made a video outlining the process in more detail.
Got an article idea for the blog? Email students@viu.ca.