Student Pulse News: Wednesday, June 1, 2022

June is an important month in our community. It marks both Indigenous History Month, during which we mark the rich history, heritage, resilience and diversity of First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples across Canada. It is also Pride month in many of the communities VIU serves. We will be sharing VIU stories, resources and notices about events throughout the month in recognition of both. 

The image above is of Demitria Rae Rounis, one of our 2022 valedictorians. We are spending the next week highlighting each of our valedictorians on the VIU Blog in the lead-up to convocation on June 23 and 24. 

Need to know

Are you biking to school this week? 🚴‍♀️

Go By Bike Week and Commuter Challenge Week happen May 30 to June 11. Choose your favourite mode of active transportation and join your VIU peers in a little fun for the benefit of the environment. Watch the VIU social media channels and VIU Sustainability Facebook page for details. In the meantime, register for free at the links below:

• Create a Go By Bike account and join a VIU team so we can keep track of our collective impact.
• If you’re not a bike commuter, join the Commuter Challenge and look for Vancouver Island University as a workplace. 

VIU Meet-up at the 2022 Pride Festival 🏳️‍🌈

The Nanaimo Pride Society is hosting a Pride Festival at Maffeo Sutton Park on Sunday, June 12 from 1 to 6 pm. VIU’s Positive Space Alliance (PSA) invites all members of our community to meet up at the festival from 2 to 3 pm. Wear your VIU apparel and look for the PSA banner to join in the fun!

Campus store updates 💸

• A massive clearance sale runs until June 3 at the Nanaimo campus store.
• A reminder that convocation gown pick-up and drop-off will be at Nanaimo campus store.
• The Cowichan campus store will be closed June 6 for the summer and will reopen prior to the Fall Semester.

Connect

CampVIU 🏀🏐⚽️

Got a little who needs something fun to do this summer? Registration is open for campVIU. Camper favorites returning this year include Shorts in Sports, Mariners Multisport and both Athlete and Leadership Development as well as Mariners in Training Programs are making their return. They will be joined by an all-new camp series: VIU Jr. Learn more and register on the VIU Mariners website.

Tips to demonstrate allyship 🏳️‍🌈

Every June, people around the world celebrate Pride month. The VIU Positive Space Alliance encourages our community to renew their commitment to creating spaces that are safe and inclusive for 2SLGBTQ+ members of our communities this year. On the VIU Blog, the PSA shares some ideas that can help you demonstrate that you’re an ally.

Volunteer with Youth 20/20 Can 

Are you between 15-29 and looking for a fun, hands-on volunteer experience in Nanaimo that makes a difference? Check out Youth 20/20 Can. Come join us to make difference! Follow our Instagram and Facebook pages for more info.

Supports & services

Thrive student wellness 👥

Are you passionate about promoting wellness and mental health or working towards building a more supportive, connected, healthy VIU campus culture? Keep up to date about Thrive employment activities, events, wellness peers supports and more on the Thrive webpage.

SafeTALK Workshop 🗣

Learn and practice powerful life-saving skills during the LivingWorks safeTALK Workshop on June 10, from 9 am to 12:30 pm at the VIU Cowichan campus, Room 210. This workshop is open to all VIU staff and students, and no prior training is required to participate. This workshop is not recommended for people who have had a recent suicide loss. Register on Eventbrite.

Watch movies for free 📽

VIU students can access streaming movies on Criterion on Demand, thanks to the VIU library. Watch films like Wonder Woman 1984, Mortal Kombat and Godzilla vs Kong. The library at the Nanaimo campus is open 24-7 with a VIU card with access to printing, self-checkout stations and bookable audio-visual and group study rooms. Get in touch or check out our FAQs page for more information.

Student loan info 💰

Planning for the 2022-23 academic year? Be sure to check out Government Student Loans and Grants. Student loan funding and grants are available for eligible full and part-time students. There are also many non-payable grants for which you will be automatically assessed when you apply for a student loan. Applications open in mid-June/early July 2022. 

National Accessibility Week  

May 29 - June 4 is National Accessibility Week, and this year’s theme is “inclusive from the start.” In recent years, VIU has made several changes to make our Nanaimo campus more accessible. These include:  

• The establishment of the Universal Access Committee 
• The stair-free campus map
• Barrier-free bathrooms, including in the Main Cafeteria (B300) and the Library (B305) 
• The exterior wayfinding project currently underway 
• Adding subtitles to our online townhalls
• The website is undergoing a project to make it more accessible.  

Deals

Did you know that as a VIU student you have access to exclusive discounts in your community and across the province? Download the Deals App, administered by the VIUSU and the BC Federation of Students, to learn more. Today’s featured businesses:

• Longwood Brewery: Enjoy 10% off in-house beverages, growler fills and off-sales.
• Modo Yoga: Get 10% off various packages.

COVID-19 updates

COVID-19 illness protocols are important to follow 😷

It has come to VIU’s attention that students are coming to campus and class when they are sick with COVID-19 or have COVID-19 symptoms. The COVID-19 pandemic is not over and there are still protocols in place if you have ANY symptoms of illness. Coming to campus or class when you have even one of the following symptoms – sore throat, recent onset of a cough, runny nose, fever, chills, nausea, diarrhea – is against VIU student COVID-19 illness policies and puts your fellow classmates, your instructors and the entire university community at risk of serious illness. Just because you are not seriously ill doesn’t mean you won’t spread COVID-19 to someone who could become seriously ill. Help keep everyone around you safe. If you have any symptoms, even mild ones you must:

• Test yourself with a Rapid Antigen Test, even if symptoms are mild (e.g. runny nose, fever and/or chills, sore throat, recent onset coughing, diarrhea). Rapid tests are available for FREE from most pharmacies. 
• Stay home when you are sick, even if symptoms are mild.
• Notify your instructor that you will be away from class.
• If you get sick while you are on campus, go home immediately and take a rapid test as soon as possible.

Questions about how long you need to stay home if you test positive? Check out these details from the BC Centre for Disease Control.

Campus events

Stay on top of what's happening at VIU. Find ways to get involved: 

• Campus Events website
• Co-curricular involvement app
• VIU Students' Union app