VIU Student Pulse News: June 2, 2021

June is National Indigenous History Month in Canada and we begin by remembering and honouring the 215 children who were stolen from their families and killed by the Government of Canada while at the Kamloops Indian Residential School. Flags at VIU remain lowered until further notice in recognition of the Indigenous children who were killed while at the school, as well as the families and communities impacted. We wanted to remind you to reach out for support from VIU Counsellors if you need to. Services for Aboriginal Students can be reached at 250-740-6510; Toll-Free at 1-888-920-2221 ext 6510; or email sas@viu.ca. More resources are listed in this statement from VIU President Dr. Deb Saucier. Please also watch this video message from VIU Elder-in-Residence Maxine Matilpi.

Need to know

Register for the Vancouver Island Leadership Conference 💥

Students across BC will gather this June for a series of keynote talks and strength-building workshops. This year’s theme is “Igniting Change” and will focus on how you can take action to positively influence your community on a local, national and global level. Events take place on Mondays and Thursdays from June 7 - 24, 2021. Register now for this free event.

Public Health Order Restrictions Lifting 🙂

On May 25, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry announced the easing of some of BC’s public health orders. Read more about the reduced restrictions. Stay tuned to the Pulse to learn more about how BC’s four-stage re-start plan will look for VIU.

Info about Fall 2021 🍂

Missed our May 4 information event for all students? You can view the recording here! And if you’re an international student, view the recording of the May 13 Q&A event for international student-specific questions.

Connect

Celebrate our 2021 graduates! 🎓

Tune in on Thursday, June 24 at 2 pm to cheer on our 2021 graduates in the virtual graduation celebration event. There will be some surprise guests, fun videos and a few of the more traditional elements of a convocation ceremony. Watch via the VIU Facebook page and like and follow our event to learn more.

Semélshun Aboriginal Graduation Recognition Ceremony 🎓

Graduating Indigenous students and their families are celebrating their accomplishments on Friday, June 4 starting at 11 am. RSVP to Kim.Warkentine@viu.ca if you want to join!

Volunteer with Youth 20/20 Can Project 🙋‍♀️

If you are between 15 and 29 years old you are invited to join the Youth 20/20 Can Project connecting youth volunteers in Victoria, Cowichan, Nanaimo, Courtney, Campbell River and Powell River. The project is youth led so come share your passions, get involved, have fun and help shape the community.

English courses make great electives! 📖

From film studies and television narrative, to young adult lit and an intro to advanced professional writing, there are lots of options for students from other disciplines to explore their passion for a particular genre or hone their skills in writing. 200-level courses require six credits of first-year English, and 300-level courses require third-year standing in any program. Visit VIU English for more info.

Campus Nutrition and Food Security Contest 🍏

Last chance to enter! Nourishing Innovation is seeking ideas from VIU students to develop innovative solutions to address food security on campus. The contest runs May 6 to June 6 and there are $4,500 in prizes for finalists and $4,500 for winning teams. Read contest rules and how to participate on Nourishing Innovation’s website.

The Politics of the Pandemic

Yes, it’s happened – VIU profs are already creating courses exploring the impacts of COVID-19 on society. Join Political Studies Professor Dr. Alex Netherton in exploring what we have been going through over the past year in this third-level course. To register, access web registration using your online student record.

New psychology course just added for summer

Looking for an additional course to round out your academic year? PSYC 498A: Selected Topics in Psychology: Human Brain Disorders is taught by Darren Hannesson. More info.  

Supports & services

Community partnership grant 💰

Are you taking a course this fall that involves partnering with someone in the community? You may be eligible for a small grant! Email Kendra.Stiwich@viu.ca to find out if your course/project qualifies. Deadline is June 15, so act fast!

Library Services 📖

The Nanaimo Campus Library is accessible 24-7, 365 days a year with a VIU ID card. Need ID? Get one by submitting your selfie through My Student Record. Looking for research help? Contact us here for assistance.

Advice on choosing courses ❓

Need some assistance with choosing courses for the Fall 2021 and Spring 2022 semesters? Consider joining Web Registration and Course Selections Sessions presented by Registration and Advising. Or Connect with an Advisor by email, phone or daily Zoom Drop In.

International Education’s Webinar Wednesday series 💻

Join a pre-arrival orientation session presented by VIU International Student Advisors. Dates and times will be posted in the WorldVIU Monthly Event Calendar, in the Co-Curricular Involvement App and in the International Point of VIU enewsletter.

Coming to Canada 🍁

Are you preparing to come to Canada for Fall 2021? Join VIU staff from immigration, advising, homestay/housing, residence and admissions as they walk you through what you need to know to prepare to come to Canada. They will also be answering your questions as they assist you in your preparations. Date: June 2, 2021, 9 am - 10 am. Pre-registration required.

Info on student loans 💰

Doing some financial planning for the 2021-22 academic year? Be sure to check out government student loans and grants. Student loan funding and grants are available for eligible full and part-time students. There are also many non-repayable grants for which you will be automatically assessed when you apply for a student loan. Applications open in mid-June for the next academic year.

Don’t forget to apply for external awards 🥇

External awards include scholarships, awards and bursaries that are available to all students through agencies unaffiliated with Vancouver Island University. To help minimize student debt, check out our categorized list of awards.

Campus Store hours ⌚️

The Campus Store and Print Shop are going to summer hours of 8 am to 3:30 pm starting Monday, May 10, 2021, to Friday, July 30, 2021. The store hours will go back to 8 am to 4:30 pm on Tuesday August 3, 2021.

Interested in attending McGill after VIU? 

If you are applying for Fall 2022, check out the McCall MacBain Scholarships! If you think this is an opportunity for you, connect with Kendra.Stiwich@viu.ca. Applications open June 16. Attending an info session is always a good idea too!

Canada Revenue Agency live webinars 💰

The Canada Revenue Agency is pleased to host the following live webinars in June:

• Post-Secondary & Financial Literacy Presentation on June 8, 2021, from 1:30 pm - 3 pm PST: Learn about some of the benefits you may be eligible to receive.
• International Students Presentation on June 10, 2021, from 1:30 pm - 3 pm PST: Learn about some of the benefits you may be eligible to receive as an international student.

Register for these free webinars.

COVID-19 updates

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 our Frequently Asked Questions page, where we will be sharing the most up-to-date information as it becomes available.  

Mark your calendars

You're Invited: Chancellor’s Installation livestream June 17 💻 

You're invited to the Installation of VIU’s third Chancellor – Kekinusuqs, Dr. Judith Sayers. This event will be held virtually on Thursday, June 17, 2021, starting at 11 am. For more information on Chancellor Sayers, details about the event and how to watch the livestream, please visit the Chancellor’s Installation webpage.

Pride Month 🌈

June is #pridemonth in Nanaimo! In celebration of Pride 2021, Kids Help Phone has created an online space for 2SLGBTQ+ youth and allies to get support, learn more and build connections about Pride, sexual orientation, gender identity and more. Check out some virtual events in Nanaimo through the Nanaimo Pride Society and Vancouver Island Regional Library! Whether you’re in Nanaimo or somewhere else, check out your local activities to show your pride!