Current Students

As you may have heard, the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Training has announced some additional health and safety protocols for on-campus activities. The additional guidelines are that masks are required in indoor public areas on campus, including lobbies, hallways, stairwells, elevators, classrooms and labs, and accessing some non-essential services on campus will now require proof of vaccination. We know that many of you have questions and we will provide more details as we learn more.

Michaela Medina has always loved art.

However, it wasn’t until last year that she found her medium – ceramics. She was introduced to the “ancient simplicity” of the art form during a course with VIU Visual Art Professor Scott Leaf.

“Ceramics has, to a certain extent, allowed me to let go of my fear of failure and rigid perfectionism so I could truly explore and discover my artistic style,” she says.

Dear VIU Community,

A warm hello to each of you as we all prepare to return to campus after a year and half that has brought many changes and challenges, and perhaps some comforts. Since the beginning of the pandemic in early 2020, we have had to put together a new puzzle of how our study, employment, home and social lives are going to work and how we are going to manage. This has not been simple!

Writing a résumé is tough work for even the most seasoned job seekers. When you’re a student or recent grad with limited work experience, it’s even tougher. It’s the classic conundrum: you need experience to get a job, but you need a job to get experience.

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.