VIU Student Pulse News: April 7, 2021

We hope you can join us for a Student Q&A about Fall 2021 on May 4 starting at 6:30 pm. As well as answering your questions, the event will feature an introduction by VIU President and Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Deb Saucier, and a short presentation by Irlanda Gonzalez Price, Associate Vice-President, Student Affairs. More information about this event will be in upcoming editions of the Pulse.

Need to know

VIU Day in the Life Black and White Photo Contest 🐄

Win a GoPro HERO5 or a VIU hoodie in the VIU Day in the Life Black and White Photo Contest on Instagram. For one day only on April 8, post black and white photos of your life as a VIU student and tag them with #VIULife on Instagram to enter! We’ll repost our favourites and choose three winners in a random draw.

Check out student research and creative activities at CREATE 😃

CREATE happens April 12-15! It’s a great way to escape the end of the semester for an hour, but still learn lots! For every session you attend as an audience member your name will be put in a draw for some great swag. The person who attends the most sessions will win the “I Learned the Most at CREATE 2021” Award. Make sure to download the CCR app first! Don’t forget to check out these online VIU student CREATE exhibits and vote for your fave!

• Student Research Seen (cool pics of research)
• Student Creative Activity Seen (cool pics of creative activity)
• Research Posters
• Infographics

Digital Survival Kit and Stressbusters 🐶

Exam season got you stressed? VIU student ambassadors and staff from various departments have collaborated to put together some online resources, from pet therapy, to recipes, to playlists, to finance tips, to help you get through. Visit Keep Well for the collection.

COVID Protocols for On-Campus Activities 😷

A reminder that VIU has a number of protocols in place for any on-campus activities, from filling out an assessment before coming to campus, to mask guidelines, to building occupancy limits. We made a video last fall to outline the key protocols, check it out!

Connect

Positivity Photo Project 📸

VIU’s Faculty of Social Sciences invites you to take pictures on three themes – ode to joy, the positive power of pets and Spring has sprung – to win prizes. Submit entries, specifying the theme, and a caption or story (if you like) to viussphotosubmissions@gmail.com. Open to VIU students only. Submitted photos will be shared on Social Sciences social media accounts.

Short talks about research 

Learn more about undergraduate research opportunities at VIU on April 13 from 2-3 pm when VIU students are challenged to tell the story of their research Pecha Kucha-style (20 images shown for 20 seconds each). Students come from a variety of disciplines, including biology, education, psychology, interdisciplinary and community planning. High school students are welcome. To register as a student or as a class, email Kim at SocSci_Admin@viu.ca.

Online student art exhibitions 🎨✏️

Visual Arts students are showcasing their work in two online exhibitions. While The View Gallery has been closed this year due to COVID-19 and students have been learning in a hybrid online format, they have still been busy creating. Visit the View Gallery exhibitions.

Nuu-chah-nulth protocol session 

Join VIU Elder-in-Residence Barney Williams Jr. on April 8 from 11 am - 1 pm on Zoom for an introductory Nuu-chah-nulth protocol session. Barney Williams is a VIU Elder-in-residence, and Nuu-chah-nulth and Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations member. Register on Eventbrite.

Energize yourself 😴

Feeling tired? Join Noelle Hanuse for holistic energy care on April 28, 12 - 1 pm. Understand, transform and energize your whole being! Perfect for end-of-semester stress. Register on Eventbrite.

Seeking students who identify as LGBTQ2S+ 🌈

If you are currently a student at Vancouver Island University and identify as LGBTQ2S+, student Deja Symington would love to hear from you. Participation in the survey is completely voluntary and will remain completely confidential. The study is examining how the transition to a hybrid learning model is impacting LGBTQ2S+ students’ sense of community. Take the survey.

Thrive at VIU 🧠

As the end of semester crunch hits, don’t forget to check out the Thrive Facebook and Instagram pages for lots of tips on staying well. And join our Move for Mental Health Campaign on Instagram starting April 6 to win some awesome prizes!

Symposium for Young Scientists 🙋‍♀️

The Society for Canadian Women in Science and Technology is hosting a national competition for women science students across Canada with a first prize of $1,000. Women enrolled in undergraduate, graduate and PhD STEM programs and who are 35 years or younger are invited to apply. Deadline is April 15 at 11:59 pm. Competition guidelines and eligibility requirements on the SCWIST website.

Supports and services

Let us know what you think about the #VIUBlog! 

To help us better serve our growing audience, please complete a short survey. It should only take 5-10 minutes.

Help with course selection

Reminder to continuing students: The VIU Timetable for Fall 2021 and Spring 2022 goes live on April 26. Anyone needing assistance with course selection can call, email or use Advising’s daily Zoom drop-in. 

Join the Elders for tea and a chat ☕️

The schedule for the tea and chats with VIU Elders-in-Residence has been updated for April. All students are welcome to call or chat on Zoom with an Elder – see the attached schedule for times and contact information.

Code Blue phones being removed 📞

VIU will be removing Code Blue phones at the Nanaimo, and Cowichan campuses and at the Deep Bay Field Research Station. Code Blue phones were installed more than 10 years ago and gave users a direct line of communication to emergency services at a time when many students and employees did not have cellular phones. Over the last couple of years, no one has used the Code Blue phones for the intended purpose. Learn more.

Free financial literacy workshop for VIU students 💰

The Canada Revenue Agency is offering a free webinar just for VIU students to help you get ready for tax season. The Post-Secondary Students and Financial Literacy Presentation takes place April 8 at 9:30 am.

Success Coach services 🙌

VIU’s Success Coach is available to meet with you one-on-one between now and the end of May. Explore the benefits and impacts of success coaching and book an appointment online, or email Sharon.Kelly@viu.ca if you want help booking an appointment.

Help us improve our website 💻

We are inviting you to help us re-organize the content on our website! We are looking for students to provide insights into how they search for information on the website, and what they search for most frequently. All of the information collected is confidential, and individuals are not identified in any reports resulting from this interaction. Help us out!

Indigenous Intern Leadership Program

Are you an Indigenous student at VIU thinking about what comes after graduation? Join Indigenous Navigators for an info session on the Indigenous Intern Leadership Program on Tuesday, April 13, 1 - 1:30 pm. Zoom meeting ID: 618 0989 9045, Password: 231275.

COVID-19 updates

New FAQ page for Fall 2021

Do you have questions about what’s happening for Fall 2021 and what safety precautions VIU is taking in the return to campus planning? Bookmark ourFrequently Asked Questions page, where we will be sharing the most up-to-date information as it becomes available.

VIU supports available

We know many students are struggling with increased anxiety due to the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the province. It is important to remember that following the province’s current health and safety protocols is key to protecting ourselves and our peers, loved ones and communities. It is also important to reach out if you need help and to remember that there are numerous resources for VIU students, including counselling and support services for students.

Vaccine registration

Did you know the provincial government now has an online COVID-19 immunization registration system? Fill out the form and get invited to book an appointment when you are eligible. Learn more. 

Mark your calendars

Preparing for online exams 💻

The exam period runs April 19 – 28 this year, and, like Fall 2020, many students will be writing exams online – the same way they have been learning all term. Check out this VIU Blog post that outlines some strategies for preparing for different types of online exams.