Current Students

Back to school is just a few weeks away! We want to make sure you’re ready, so this issue of the Pulse includes info on events that will help you settle in (check out RockVIU and Summer Warm-ups) as well as links to resources to help you get familiar with everything you need to know, like how to get your student card and books. If you have any questions, you can always simply reply to this email. 👋

As a new academic year draws near, Island Health wants to ensure that every student is protected against COVID-19. Immunization is easier and more convenient than ever. Please review the information below for instructions and information.

Do you need one or more doses of vaccine?

COVID-19 protection requires two doses of vaccine. Anyone who needs immunization can book an appointment in advance or simply walk in to any COVID-19 immunization clinic within Island Health to receive a dose quickly and easily.

For third-year Visual Art student Enigye Amarkah, expressing oneself isn’t about being limited to one particular medium.

“I don’t like to specify my style because sometimes when you want to express yourself, it’s going to work better as a sculpture, or it’s going to be a good photograph, or it will be a painting, so I don’t like to focus on just one aspect,” says Enigye, whose name translates to "Happy," a moniker he more commonly goes by.

Irlanda Gonzalez Price, head of Student Affairs, wants to remind you about the supports and services available to you – both on campus and virtually – as we transition back to a new sense of normal.

Denman Moody was working in Victoria in an industry she didn’t love, and was considering returning to university when a chance encounter with a family friend during a summer camping trip changed the direction of her life.

Her family friend had graduated from Vancouver Island University’s Fisheries and Aquaculture Technology Diploma program and told her how much he loved the industry and how many opportunities the training opened up for him.

A decision made “on a whim” has turned into a new career path for Julia Blair.

“I had been struggling for a few years through my 20s to find something that felt like a good fit,” 30-year-old Julia says. 

A decision to switch from pursuing a Certified Professional Accountant (CPA) designation to the recreation and tourism field paid dividends for Monir Shahzeidi.

Monir recently finished a Master of Arts in Sustainable Leisure Management at VIU. Beyond just graduating, however, she is also recipient of this year's Governor General’s Academic Gold Medal award.

Campus tours are a big part of every new student’s journey and while they are an important way to get to know the school you’re planning on/thinking of attending, they can be a little overwhelming. Here are some helpful tips to ensure you leave with the information you need and how to find out more.

Show up on time!

Campus tours are only for a short amount of time, and we wouldn’t want you to miss any opportunity to see our lovely campus or get your questions answered.

Reprinted with permission from The Discourse

Vancouver Island University (VIU) attracts international students from around the world and from various different climates. For Lurana McClure Rodriguez, who grew up in Puerto Rico, Vancouver Island’s environment felt like the closest home away from home. Wanting to study something design and arts-related, interior design gave her a wide range of opportunities to learn and specialize in. Now, at the end of her degree, Rodriguez finds that her final grades aren’t the greatest achievement.