VIU Student Pulse News: June 30, 2021

We are thrilled to share that on Thursday, July 1, 2021, the province moves intoStep 3 of the BC Restart Plan. This has implications for VIU health and safety protocols. We are working through these changes now and will let our community know early next week what Step 3 means for on-campus activities.

Need to know

Funding options to pay for university 💰

Paying for university can be challenging. The good news is, there are lots of options available to help you manage expenses and reduce costs while having a great university experience. Our Financial Aid Access Specialist shares some tips in her latest blog post.

Online Student Record System access unavailable June 30 - July 5

A gentle reminder that starting TODAY at 9 pm, the online Student Record System will be UNAVAILABLE until July 5 at 6 am to allow the university to transition to a new Finance Information System. This means that you won’t be able to add, drop or even see your course enrolments, or any other details you would normally access from your online student records. Don’t worry, this will not affect access to VIULearn course environments, but if you need information from your student record in the next few days, please grab it now!

Garden club’s idea selected as contest finalist 🥇

The dream of creating an edible native plant species garden on campus has earned VIU’s Community Peace Garden Club a spot as a finalist in theNourishing Innovation challenge co-hosted by VIU, as well as a People’s Choice Award. Check out their video pitch and this writeup on the VIU Students’ Union website. Pitch Event postponed! Due to the heat wave and school closures, the Pitch Event (supposed to be June 28) will be moved to a later date. Anyone can attend as an audience member to hear the finalists pitch their ideas to the panel of judges.

Connect

Participate in an SDG simulation game

What would you do if you were in charge of a country? VIU's Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region Research Institute (MABRRI) is inviting people to learn about the choices required to build a future based on the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals during a social simulation game session held July 20 and 21, 4-7 pm. To learn more visit MABRRI’s website. To register email Courtney.Vaugeois@viu.ca.

Announcing the 2021 recipients of the Mike Coleman Award for Citizenship ⭐

Congrats to Adam Smith and Taylor Aichelberger, who are this year’s joint recipients of the Mike Coleman Award for Citizenship. Every year Mike Coleman, former mayor of Duncan, donates $250 and a keeper trophy award to a Vancouver Island University (VIU) Cowichan campus student. The award is to recognize students who have demonstrated good citizenship within the campus and the community. Read more about Adam and Taylor.

Volunteer at RockVIU new student orientation 🙋

Are you interested in welcoming new students as they start their university journey? RockVIU 2021 is looking for volunteers who bring a variety of abilities, personalities, backgrounds and expertise to help out August 23 to September 3, 2021. Learn more and download the application form on the RockVIU website.

Join VIU’s Student Ambassadors for Summer Warm-ups 😎

New to VIU? Join us for the 2021 Summer Warm-Ups, available in a hybrid format this year! VIU Student Ambassadors are excited to show you around and give you the inside scoop to get you started on your journey as a new student at VIU. There are several dates and times available in August to join us in-person, as well as virtual options via Zoom. Register via Eventbrite.

Free summer camp for Indigenous youth ☀️

A free summer camp for Indigenous youth in Grades 7-12 will connect students with culture, build community and make the transition to university easier. Know a high school student who might be interested in attending? Forward them this news story about the camp!

Where will I live while attending VIU? 🏠

So you’ve registered for your classes and now you’re looking forward to having a bit of fun and down time before you start university. Great! But before you head out on your summer adventures, there’s one more thing you should be thinking about now – where are you going to live? Here are 5 tips to help you find the right fit.

Choosing a major

“What are you taking?” A seemingly simple-enough and common question post-secondary students receive from their peers, friends and family. But how does one arrive at the point where they can answer this clearly and confidently? And how does choosing a “major” differ from the specific degree you hope to obtain? When do you need to declare a major, and what does this process even look like? Find answers to these questions and more in this post on the VIU Blog.

English courses make great electives

Interested in delving into the intersections of popular culture and literature? Or perhaps you’re more compelled by environmental literature? Want to explore Indigenous perspectives? VIU’s English department offers great options such as these and many more for students in diverse programs. If you’ve completed your first-year courses or have third-year standing, check out all our offerings.

Science and Tech Introduces new courses for all students

Science and Tech is pleased to introduce three new courses, and one classic course, for students looking for breadth in their educational journey. 

• Do you ever wish you had a deeper understanding of modern physics? Give SCIE 312 Concepts of Relativity and Quantum Physics a try!
• Want to learn more about the aquaculture industry and aquaculture practices around the globe? If you have taken Biology 11, check out AQUA 101 Introduction to Aquaculture! 
• And if you have a science background, you may also want to look at AQUA 342 Finfish, Shellfish and Crustacean Health. Both AQUA courses are part of the new Minor in Aquaculture that can be part of your preferred degree.
• Lastly, if you desire some outdoor adventure in your timetable while learning about this planet we all call home, check out GEOL 111 Discovering Planet Earth. It may not be new this year, but it is a classic worth checking out!

Mark your calendars

RockVIU: New student orientation 🎉

From August 23 to September 3, 2021, RockVIU: New student orientation is happening, with a mix of online and in-person events to get you connected to services, supports and each other. Check out the RockVIU 2021 trailer for more.

Supports and services

Are you registered yet? 💻

Calling all new students who have NOT registered for BOTH semesters, Fall 2021 and Spring 2022. Watch this Web Registration Tutorial (no sound) to learn how to register for classes on your student record. If you require additional assistance with web registration or course planning, connect with an Educational Advisor, by phone, email or daily Zoom Drop-In.

Service updates for Nanaimo and Cowichan campus libraries 📖

The Nanaimo Library is accessible 24/7 365 days a year with a VIU ID card. In-person service at Cowichan Library ends for the summer on Wednesday, June 30 and re-starts on Monday, August 23. Looking for research help over the summer? Contact us for assistance.

External awards with upcoming deadlines 🏆

External awards include scholarships, awards, and bursaries that are available to all students through agencies unaffiliated with Vancouver Island University. To get you started, Financial Aid & Awards has compiled a list of some with upcoming deadlines that you may qualify for.

Join our new Wellness Peer program! 🧠

Are you passionate about promoting wellness and mental health? Interested in developing skills to aid in a future career in the helping professions? Apply to be a volunteer with VIU’s new Wellness Peer program and build your resume while contributing to a healthy and supportive VIU campus culture! All details can be found on the Wellness Peers homepage.

Taxes and financial literacy for post-secondary students 💰

Taking care of your tax and benefit affairs can pay off! You could get a tax refund, benefit and credit payments, and may even be eligible for things like the GST/Harmonized Sales Tax credit. But how exactly do you accomplish this? The CRA is hosting two live webinars this summer (one in July, and one in August), to help students learn how to do just that. The presentations take place on July 13 and August 12, and both run from 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm. Questions will be answered live. For international students, presentations will take place on July 15, and August 17, from 1:30 pm to 2:45 pm. Visit the CRA’s web registration homepage for more info.

Be scam smart 👀

As sure as tax season comes every year, so too do scammers who attempt to play off people’s trust and good nature when it comes to sharing personal information. Learn how to recognize common types of scams and how to identify legitimate communications through Canada Revenue Agency webinarsthis summer. These presentations take place on July 19 and August 18, and both run from 1:30 to 2:15 pm.

New resources for preventing and responding to sexual violence

BC post-secondary students and staff now have more resources to help prevent and respond to sexualized violence and misconduct on campuses. The Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Training Series, developed by BCcampus, offers awareness and training resources in four areas: consent and sexual violence; supporting survivors, accountability and repairing relationships, and active bystander intervention.

Need to upgrade? 

Are you interested in upgrading courses to meet the prerequisites for a program or a course? We can help you with that, and we have many delivery options! Contact Academic and Career Preparation at acp@viu.ca or 250-740-6425.