Current Students

Dr. Karissa Patton’s journey as a historian of gender, health and activism began as an undergrad student when she learned that contraception was criminalized in Canada and other countries in the past.

“I was a young woman and I just took for granted that I had access to birth control,” says Karissa. “I wanted to learn more about activism around birth control and reproductive rights.”

Exams are around the corner. As a student, I’m hunkered down attempting to fill my brain with the necessary information to pass exams and finish assignments. But sometimes I find it impossible to make my study sessions productive.

The distractions are endless. My phone is always buzzing and the next to-do on my Google calendar is popping up, all while I try to learn 10 more accounting formulas. But I’m here now, dedicated to creating a more productive study session. A session that leaves me feeling capable of finishing the semester, but also not completely drained after.

The big story this week is the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association Women’s National Basketball Championships, happening right here in the VIU gym this weekend. 

“Where should I study after high school?” Facing down this question can be overwhelming. There are so many choices, so many different programs and fields of study, and how can you ensure a university culture is the right fit? We asked eight students why VIU is working for them and got their answers on video.  

From professors who know your name and engage with you in meaningful ways, to getting involved in research or clubs in areas of passion, to getting hands-on learning experiences in their field of choice, here’s what they said:

Culinary Arts students at VIU Cowichan recently served up a multitude of soups with a side of community spirit.

It was all a part of the program’s Soup Challenge – a two-day event that brings together flavour, creativity and skill to give back to the community in a unique way.

Growing up with a brother who has non-verbal autism, Brant Cartwright recalls “always feeling off” about the limited representation of people living with disabilities that he saw in both media and the fashion industry.

The fifth-year VIU Bachelor of Education student felt compelled to search out companies with inclusive employment and representation practices.

“It is shocking how little has been done,” Brant says.

In celebration of National Work-Integrated Learning Month, the Centre for Experiential Learning (CEL) wants to bring awareness to the various career and work-integrated learning services VIU has to offer.

Looking for work while going to university can be a stressful and time-consuming task. Seeking a job that is relevant to your program of study can make the search even more complicated. The good news is that VIU has its own online job board that offers thousands of opportunities specifically geared towards students and their programs of study.

This is a check-in. How are you really doing? Recent world events, specifically Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, are causing an increased level of angst for many of us, whether we are directly impacted by this war or not.

Phishing, gift card scams, fake email address, text messages pretending to be your boss - call it what you will but this type of fraud cost Canadians $54 Million last year.  

The good news is that most frauds can be prevented by being aware of the methods used by fraudsters and spotting them early. 

International Women’s Day, on Tuesday, March 8, celebrates the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women and girls. It is also a time to raise awareness and take action for women’s equality and to work towards a world that is free of bias, stereotypes and discrimination.