VIU Student Pulse News: March 10, 2021

Yesterday, we shared the news that VIU is now planning for a safe return to on-campus instruction for Fall 2021. Read VIU President Dr. Deborah Saucier’s letter. While we are still in the planning phases and don’t have many details to share yet, our first priority will be the health and safety of our community. Stay tuned to this newsletter to learn more in coming weeks.

Need to know

Free financial literacy workshops for VIU students 💰

The Canada Revenue Agency is offering two free webinars just for VIU students to help you get ready for tax season. The Financial Literacy Presentation takes place on March 31 at 9:30 am, and the Post-Secondary Students & Financial Literacy Presentation takes place April 8 at 9:30 am.

Follow along with the VIU Games 💻

The VIU Games are in a virtual setting this year and they consist of 14 teams of 4 competing to hoist the Chassels Cup. Three challenges are released weekly throughout the month of March and teams submit their videos by the following Sunday. The team at the top of the leaderboard on March 31 will win their choice of Skydiving, a Pacific Sands Getaway, a Spa Package or Whale Watching. Follow along on Fun@VIU’s Facebook page!

Be a valedictorian this June 🎓

Calling all graduating students! Don’t forget to apply for your chance to be a valedictorian for our virtual Graduation Celebration on June 25. Apply by March 15. Learn more on the Valedictorian Selection website.

Brief Mitel Phone System outage 📞

There will be a brief Mitel phone system outage on Wednesday, March 10, from 5 – 9 pm, for two 5-10-minute intervals. Mitel phones will have a fast/busy signal and voicemail will be unavailable during these brief windows.

Connect

Mariners Minute ⚽️🏀🏐

What does being a Mariner look like during COVID? Four Mariners will reflect on their journeys in the latest Co-Curricular Record Talk session on Thursday, March 11. Register on Eventbrite.

It’s not too late to register for CREATE 😊

Don’t miss your chance to participate in VIU’s largest showcase of student research and creative activity, with more than $12,000 in prizes being given out this year. Sign up now. New highlights this year:

• Rant-like-Rick: Make a point, intelligently, in two minutes.
• Zoom or #TwitterPosters
• Photography Contest

Need help with your submission? Check out the Tips and Workshops page.

VIU’s Got Talent ⭐️

Ready to showcase your talents to the world? Send your audition tapes tofun@viu.ca by 11:59 pm on Wednesday, March 17 to be part of VIU’s Got Talent. Vote for the acts you want to see in the finale on the Fun@VIU Facebook page. Three acts will make it to the live finale on April 9!

Hot Drinks Hot Topics ☕

Join the Talk to Me team for a Hot Drinks Hot Topics event on March 18 from 4 – 5 pm. Join us for great conversation and connection. Learn more on the Talk to Me Facebook page.

Consent and the Impacts of Pornography 

Join the Thrive team on March 29 from 11:30 am – 1 pm to learn more about consent and the impacts of pornography. This free event will be a great opportunity to learn more for yourself and skills for talking to young people about sexuality and sexual health. Feel free to join anonymously. Register on Eventbrite.

Movies for Mental Health – Creating Supportive Communities for Survivors of Sexual Violence

Join the Thrive team at a virtual workshop featuring award-winning short films, mindfulness activities and a panel discussion about the mental health impacts of sexual violence. All VIU students are welcome at this free event on March 30 from 1 – 3 pm. Register on Eventbrite.

Poetry for Mental Health – Liberating our Thinking about Masculinity!

Join the Thrive team at this virtual workshop that uses the power of poetry and film to unite folks in community, connection and conversation around mental health topics related to the culture of masculinity. VIU students of all genders are welcome at this free event on March 30, from 8:30 – 10:30 am. For more details and to register click here. 

Becoming a medical doctor 👩‍⚕️

Interested in a career as a medical doctor? Come to this moderated panel discussion on Wednesday, March 24 at 7 pm to hear from VIU graduates who are medical doctors, or doctors-in-training. Learn from their experiences, what medical school is like, and how VIU helped them on their journey. Questions are welcome. Register on Eventbrite.

Call for talent: student art showcase 

Colleges and Institutes Canada wants to showcase student talent on the walls of the organization’s national office at the Chateau Laurier in Ottawa and invites students from colleges and institutes across the country to submit their artwork. Each winner receives a monetary prize of $350. Learn more on the Student Art Showcase homepage.

Supports and services

Earn credits in just 7 weeks! ☀️

Summer Session 2021 registration appointments are available now! Summer Session classes are going ahead in an alternate course delivery model. These seven-week courses starting in May or June can help you finish your program faster or reduce your course load for the upcoming year. Take a look at the Summer Session website for full details.

Students’ Union Campus Pub online ordering! 🍔

Whether you’re pressed for time or just thrive on efficiency, you can now place your pickup orders through the pub’s online ordering app. Help support student jobs and food service for the campus community, come visit us at the pub!

Need advice on declaring majors/minors? 

Are you a BA or BSc student who has not yet chosen your major/minor area(s) of study? If you are still undecided, feel free to chat with an Educational Advisor by email, phone or Zoom. If you have made a decision and are ready to officially “declare” your major or minors, you can contact your BA/BSc Degree Advisors directly. The goal coding in your student record may help you get into upper-level courses.

LinkedIn and resume building 

The Student Leadership Circle is hosting Linkin’ in to the World, a workshop on LinkedIn and resume building, on Monday, March 22 from 5:30 – 6:30 pm.Register on Eventbrite.  

What’s new with work experience opportunities

VIU’s Centre for Experiential Learning helps students find meaningful work experience opportunities. Find out more about the activities and opportunities for students that have taken place over the last year in the Spring 2021 CEL Newsletter.

Survey: Off-campus & international student travel 📱

VIU wants to hear from you! Fill in a quick 10-15-minute survey on how VIU can better support students in off-campus activities and international travel for the chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card, Fujifilm Instax mini camera, a pair of MPOW noise cancelling headphones, a Keurig K-Mini coffee maker or a Lintelek Fitness Tracker watch.

Professional development for student researchers 

We are developing a program that students will be able to include on their Co-Curricular Record. Learn more research skills and get VIU CCR credentials! Right now we need some student input. Please fill out this questionnaire about what types of pro-d you would like to see.

Services for Aboriginal Students

Staff in Services for Aboriginal Students provide culturally appropriate services to Indigenous students with one-on-one student appointments for advising, first-level counselling, financial aid, scholarships, funding options, career counselling, daycare and housing. Meet the staff in this fun video.

Access to read and write software

If you are a VIU student with a documented disability, registered with VIU Accessibility Services, and have a Reader or Scribe exam accommodation, you can access FREE Read and Write software to use on your home device between now and the end of April 2021. It is compatible with VIU Learn and most electronic document formats. For more information email accommodatedexams@viu.ca.

Tuition Waiver Program funding

If you have aged out of the care system, you may be eligible to have your tuition and mandatory fees paid for through either the BC Provincial Tuition Waiver Program or the VIU Tuition Waiver Program. Get more information on eligibility and requirements at the Tuition Waiver Program homepage.

Supports at VIU Cowichan

Have you met the friendly support services staff at VIU Cowichan? Learn more about the services offered and meet the staff in this video.

Medal Program for Inclusion, Democracy and Reconciliation

The Lieutenant Governor’s medal program was expanded from students enrolled in one-year certificate programs only, to also include two-year diploma and four-year undergraduate degree programs at public post-secondary institutions in British Columbia. Want to be considered? Get your program chair to help you fill out a nomination form.  

Career advice to get you working

Now more than ever, job searching, resume writing and interviewing skills are key to every students’ success in the job market. These quick, fun and interactive webinars will help you develop confidence in your career journey. Log on to theStudent Employment homepage and click on events to view upcoming webinars.

COVID-19 updates

Mask FAQs 😷
VIU has created mask FAQs that will help guide you in choosing a good face covering as well as understanding all the different aspects of wearing a mask when you are attending VIU’s campuses/facilities.

Mark your calendars

Fill out your Scholarship, Award and Bursary Profile by March 31

“When I received the award, I cried a little bit in relief. It helped take the stress off and I was able to focus on my studies. As a result, I really excelled.” - Marissa, fourth-year Geoscience student

Want to get yourself in the running for some help with paying for school? Learn how to apply in 4 easy steps. If you want more support, Media Studies work-op student Robbie Thompson made a video outlining the process in more detail.

Wednesday, March 30 is … 

The last day for academic penalty-free withdrawal from a Spring semester course or to change from credit to audit (or vice-versa) in academic programs. It is also the last day for academic penalty-free withdrawal from full-year courses.