Current Students

We hope you’re having a spook-tacular October! If you’re haunted by thoughts of missing out on the Halloween fun happening around campus, never fear, this newsletter has you covered. 🎃

What began as a way to combat feelings of isolation and boredom during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic has now morphed into a budding side business for Elise Cole.

Elise is a second-year Kinesiology student at VIU and says it was a photo contest offered as part of the university’s 2021 Create Conference that prompted her to pursue her artistic side.

“I’ve always loved artwork and painting,” she says.

As mid-terms approach, we wanted to check in to see how everyone is doing. Need some extra help? We share some resources below. What about a break from studying? We’ve got some suggestions for you. If you’re not sure where to go, you can always start by hitting reply to this email. 

Vancouver Island University’s ‘su’luqw’a’ Community Cousins Aboriginal student mentorship program is celebrating its 10^th anniversary in September 2021. In honour of this important milestone, we are sharing stories of people closely connected with the program every month leading up to the anniversary. Stay tuned for a celebration of this important milestone in February 2022 – when we hope to be able to gather in-person.

How have the first three weeks of class been going? We know this is a busy time of year and even more so this year as we all adjust to learning and working back in-person.

With more than 120 programs to choose from ranging from trades certificates and diplomas, to undergraduate and graduate degrees, it's safe to say there's plenty of opportunities to discover a variety of places, courses and connections at Vancouver Island University.

September 30 is an annual statutory holiday to commemorate the history and ongoing trauma caused by residential schools. On this day, we honour those who were lost and the survivors, families and communities who continue to grieve.

Now that we’ve been back for a couple weeks, we wanted to remind you to take advantage of all the supports, services and connection events available to you, some of which are detailed below. Not only will this help you academically, but it’s a chance to meet new friends, expand your network and enjoy a more fulfilling university experience.

We have more details to share about the BC government's Proof of Vaccination Program.

Starting September 13, you will need to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination to access certain activities and locations. At VIU, this includes the pub, the gym, indoor organized events not related to your educational program, and on-campus student housing. Learn more in this note.