MyVIU student news: September 18, 2024

September 18, 2024

Campus Events: Therapy Dogs, Socials & Snacks

We are excited to introduce you to the new look and feel of the student newsletter! Each edition of #MyVIU will include a student shoutout section. If you want to nominate someone for this section, just shoot us an email!

It's mid-September and there are lots of events and activities to get involved with. You may also be searching for some help with specific courses, research or the direction of your education. And did you miss the Career Fair last week? Connect with the Career Studio for help with resumes, cover letters, interview prep and career exploration.

Need to know

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day

Join us on September 27 as we gather to remember, honour and respect every child who didn’t come home, every residential school Survivor, and their families and communities. We will walk together from the quad to the Malaspina Theatre, where learning will take place. We will then gather for soup, bannock and orange heart cookies. Event takes place from 9 am to noon. Learn more.

Commuting to VIU’s Nanaimo campus?

The Nanaimo campus can be a busy place during the academic year, especially if you’re parking on campus during peak times (Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings). We have some tips to help you get here whether you’re taking transit, biking, walking or driving. Read the tip sheet.

Wellness Peers ☕

Need a little canine therapy, or to chat with another student who gets what being a student can be like? You can visit the Wellness Lounge at the Nanaimo campus library for free tea and hot chocolate, fidgets, adult colouring, friendly chats with the wellness peers and cuddles with therapy dogs. Available Tuesdays to Thursdays. Learn about fall hours.

Student shoutout

Meet John Christoffersen

"As a mature student I was surprised by the collaboration and support I received from the students, some of whom have become friends outside of VIU."

John Christoffersen began his post-secondary journey at VIU in 2001 with plans to pursue a business management certificate. He put his education on pause in 2006 due to life and family responsibilities at the time. Then, in May of 2020, John decided to return to VIU. John graduated from the Bachelor of Business Administration program with a major in Human Resources and has now been accepted into VIU’s Master of Community Planning program. Read John’s story.

Connect

Consent Week

VIU is participating in National Consent Awareness Week, which takes place from September 16 to 20. This week provides a valuable chance to reflect on, advocate for, and celebrate consent as a fundamental aspect of all relationships, not just intimate ones. Stay updated through the Thrive team's social media.

Safer Campuses for Everyone

Take this self-paced, online training where you will learn about the importance of consent in all relationships and how to intervene to prevent sexual violence. By taking the course, you contribute to a safer campus while engaging in skill development. Check the Thrive website to learn how to enrol in this course and to enter to win a $500 tuition credit on October 31.

VIUSU Breakfast Bar ☕

The VIU Student's Union knows that being a student comes with many costs, so the Breakfast Bar was launched to help with food security on campus. Stop by Building 193 during office hours from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm for a free coffee or bowl of cereal.

Indigenous student mixer

On September 24, VIUSU’s Indigenous Students Rep Leah Vaisanen is hosting a mixer from 5 to 8 pm in Shq’apthut. Connect with peers, listen to a live DJ, play games, eat yummy food and enter to win prizes.

Shape VIU’s future by sharing your stories

You can help shape the future of VIU. How? Share your experiences during the upcoming Provost’s Circle roundtable discussions. The discussions start on October 3 and run until December 10. There are nine 90-minute sessions to choose from and we ask that you only register for one session to allow as many people as possible to take part. Register for a session.

VIU gym hours 🏋🏽

Visit the gym’s front desk and register to receive your free gym membership. This gives you access to the gym’s weight room and exercise facilities. The gym is open:

Weekdays: 8 am to 9:30 pm
Weekends: 10 am to 4 pm on Saturdays and Sundays

Positive Space Alliance Socials ‍‍🌈

VIU’s Positive Space Alliance socials are back! Join us for a fun, inclusive space open to everyone of any sexual orientation and gender identity. Come play games or just hang out and meet some new friends. The Positive Space socials take place every other Wednesday from 12 to 1 pm in Building 250, Room 402. The next one is September 25.

Threadbare exhibit 🎨

VIU’s View Gallery presents Threadbare, an exhibit by Connie Michele Morey. Threadbare runs until November 1 with an opening reception and artist performance on September 20, from 4 to 6 pm at View Gallery. The gallery is open Tuesday to Friday, from 10 am to 4 pm during exhibits.

Volunteer as a tutor with VIU

You can make an impact and help your fellow students succeed academically by becoming a volunteer tutor. Tutors provide one-on-one support to VIU learners in areas such as English, trades, dental, computer skills, math, sciences, ESL and much more. To become a volunteer tutor, please fill out the online VIU Tutor application. Get experience for your resume and build your skills!

Young Scientist Program 🧑🏽‍🔬

Are you passionate about science, education and making a difference in the lives of immigrant and refugee children? Join our Young Scientist Program at MOSAIC BC.We’re looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help design and create engaging health science booklets. Learn more.

Health Literacy Program

Are you skilled in design and passionate about improving health literacy among immigrant and refugee women? We are seeking dedicated volunteers to join our Health Literacy Program team supporting newcomer women at MOSAIC BC. Help us create informative and visually engaging infographics about the BC healthcare system! Learn more.

Indigenous Sharing Circles

VIUSU Indigenous Students Rep Leah Vaisanen is hosting a series of sharing circles for communication, sharing, connection and crafting. Snacks provided. Open to all Indigenous students. The events are all in the VIUSU clubhouse in Building 193, Room 217 from 4 to 6 pm on October 8 and 29, November 19 and December 3.

Indigenous Crafting Series

Learn about traditional Indigenous crafts and get a chance to try your hand at them on October 15 and November 19 in Shq’apthut, 4:30 to 6:30 pm. Snacks and refreshments provided. Facilitated by Daisy Elliot and hosted by VIUSU.

Supports & services

VIU Off-Campus Housing information and support 🏡

Have you just moved into rental accommodation? Is your contract correct? Did you pay any additional fees? Did you do a condition inspection report? Avoid possible issues at the end of your tenancy by understanding these essentials. Find out more in the latest Off-Campus Housing blog post. Access information and support about finding housing and roommates, temporary accommodation and contracts, fees and tenancy Issues. Visit the Off-Campus Housing homepage, contact Off-Campus Housing or book a meeting.

Opting out of health benefits

To opt out of your health benefits you must do so prior to the deadline. The deadline is the same day as your health and dental plan fees are due. For semester-based programs, this is two weeks after your term starts. If you are a trades student, it’s 30 days after the start of your program. Unsure? Check your student record for your health and dental payment or opt out deadline. Opt out at Student Health BC.

Academic advisor changes

The Academic Advisors Jen Christoffersen and Dale Hunt, who were previously located at Shq’apthut – A Gathering Place are now located in the Advising Centre, Building 200, with the Advising Team. Educational advisors are available to support students on all three campuses. For more information on drop-in hours and how to make virtual, in-person, or phone appointments, check out Advising.

Fall Semester bulletin

Check out the Fall Semester Bulletin from the Office of the Registrar. You can find answers to FAQs about the Fall Semester, important dates and how to pay tuition fees.

Get your VIU card 📚

We hope you’re enjoying your first few weeks of classes! If you still need to get your VIU card or want to learn more about other library services, check out our Getting Started Guide for all the info you need to get your year started right. Don’t miss our Study Skills display, virtual or in person at the Nanaimo campus, loaded with resources to help you succeed this semester!

Good Food Box

Did you know we have a Good Food Box pickup depot on the VIU campus? Order your Good Food Box for $15 and pick it up at the VIU Students’ Union (Building 193) on Thursday afternoons. Stay healthy this semester with a weekly or bi-weekly box full of fresh fruit and vegetables at a discounted cost. Sign up online.

Do you know the signs of an overdose?

Do you know how to tell when someone is having an overdose? Look for these signs and symptoms:

Not moving, unresponsive
Slow or no breathing
Choking sounds
Tiny pupils
Blue or gray lips
Cold and clammy

If someone is having an overdose, call 911 right away. Your positive action could save a life. The Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act protects people who call 911 about overdoses. Learn more about how to prevent, recognize and respond to an overdose on the provincial government’s new Respond to Overdose website.

Peer Supported Learning 🤓

Peer Supported Learning, or PSL for short, offers free, regularly scheduled, informal study sessions led by a senior student who has been successful in the course. You can:

Get your questions answered and practice using and studying course content.
Develop different learning and study skills.
Connect with other students in your class or program.
We look forward to seeing you at our sessions! To find out more, contact psl@viu.ca.

Student email tips and FAQ

Are you wondering when to use your @my.viu.ca email address to log into services and when to use your student number? Use your @my.viu.ca email as the username to sign into Microsoft 365 apps, websites and VIU Single-Sign On (SSO) pages. For any other logins at VIU use your student number as a username. Have more questions? Check out our FAQ on new VIU student emails.

Save with TD Insurance 💰

Take advantage of your student benefits through the TD Insurance Meloche Monnex Program, which gives you access to preferred insurance rates on home, condo and tenant coverage. For more information or to get a quote visit TD’s website for VIU students.

ASIST Workshop

ASIST is an internationally acclaimed two-day workshop that prepares participants to provide suicide first aid interventions. It is open to VIU staff and students on September 20 and 21, from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. To register visit VIU Thrive.

Canada Revenue Agency webinars 🏦

The Canada Revenue Agency is hosting live webinars on MS Teams so you can learn about benefits, credits and services. Upcoming webinars include:

September 19, 10 to 11 am, benefits and credits for international students. Join here.
September 24, 1 to 2 pm, benefits and credits for persons with disabilities. Join here.

Conference funding 💸

Are you planning to share your research at a conference this fall? You may be eligible for the Scholarship, Research and Creative Activity conference funding. Visit the website and connect with Vanessa.Moraes@viu.ca if you have any questions. Deadline is September 20 for conferences between May 1 and December 31, 2024.

Undergraduate research grants 💰

The Social Sciences Division of the Council on Undergraduate Research offers undergraduate research grants of up to $400 for students presenting their research at national or international, discipline-specific meeting (in person or virtually) during the 2024-25 academic year. Deadlines: October 31 for fall and April 20, 2025, for spring 2025. More info here.

Mark your calendar

Join us at VIU Fest on October 5

Looking for some free fall fun? VIU Fest is our biggest community event of the year, and all current students are invited to check it out! The event features live music, a pumpkin patch, science demos and lots of food and beverage options, including a patio beer garden for the adults with the best views in town. There will also be lots of prizes and giveaways. Want to get some more volunteer experience on your resume? Sign up to volunteer. Visit the VIU Fest website for more info.

A human rights-based approach to environmental and social sustainability amongst marginalized communities

On September 25, Mark Berlin and Timothy Hodges, Professors of Practice at McGill University's Institute for Study of International Development, along with Lea Nicholas-MacKenzie and Sashia Leung, Canadian Technical Advisors (Alinea International), will explore three case studies to show evidence of the emerging, powerful role human rights an play as a change catalyst in environmental and social policy making to the benefit of marginalized communities. Learn more.

Stay in the know

Check out the VIU Safety App 🤳

One of the easiest ways to find out what’s happening on campus during an emergency or snow closure is through VIU’s Safety App. Download the app (it’s free!) and be sure to enable push notifications. If anything is happening on campus relating to safety, health or emergencies that you need to know about, you will get an automatic notification. Watch the VIU Safety App informational video.