It’s Fall Study Days for academic programs at VIU – are you using this time to get caught up? If so, our student blogger Samantha Allan has interviewed the experts and put together some tips on how to use time more effectively in her latest blog post. While there are no classes this week, supports and services are fully available, and many of them will be in the same spot next Tuesday (November 15) for the Nanaimo campus library’s Long Night Against Procrastination. Keep reading for more details.
Finally, our Mariners men’s and women’s soccer teams are in the national championships starting today! Join us in cheering them on through the @VIUMariners and @VIUniversity social channels!
Need to know
Follow VIU Mariners Soccer at the CCAA National Championships ⚽️
Starting today (Wednesday, November 9), the PACWEST provincial champion Mariners are competing at the CCAA Women’s Soccer National Championships in Saint-Lambert, Quebec and the CCAA Men’s Soccer National Championship in Vancouver, BC. All games will be live streamed. Show your support for the Mariners on social media!
Long Night Against Procrastination 📚
As you head into the final stretch of the term, VIU’s Nanaimo campus library wants to help set you up for success. Come to the library on November 15 from 5:30 to 11:30 pm to access VIU service providers, including library staff, the Writing Centre, Student Wellness Peers, Thrive volunteers, Peer Supported Learning, Indigenous student mentors, the Career Studio, IT helpdesk and Advising. There will also be hot drinks and food to keep you energized, and health and wellness activities for when you need to take a break.
Severe Weather at VIU ❄️
Over the past week, our region has experienced heavy rain, heavy winds and snow. Don’t forget to take a moment to review VIU’s Severe Weather Procedures. This outlines what times and how we communicate if we have to close a campus due to weather. Also, check out student blogger Samantha Allan’s blog post on what to do in different scenarios caused by severe weather and what to wear. Her post also includes a section on VIU’s Safety App, which is your tool to stay on top of what’s happening on our campuses.
Remembrance Day
VIU will be closed on Friday, November 11 for the Remembrance Day statutory holiday. The Nanaimo campus library is always open and accessible with your student card. Looking for a way to honour the day? Check out VIU’s Nanaimo Remembers project, or find an in-person ceremony near you on the Royal Canadian Legion website.
Connect
VIU Mariners Basketball Home Opener: Friday, November 18 🏀
Hoops, there it is! Cheer on the VIU Mariners women’s and men’s basketball teams for the first time at the VIU Gym this season on Friday, November 18 as the Mariners battle the Douglas College Royals. Last year, both teams achieved undefeated regular seasons, so join us at the gym to find out what they have in store for 2022-23! Enjoy a pre-game VIUSU tailgate party before the women tip off at 5 pm followed by the men at 7 pm. Free admission for VIU students.
World Origami Day
On Monday, November 14 the Faculty of Social Sciences is hosting a wellness event in honour of World Origami Day (November 11). The event is in the atrium of Building 356 from noon to 3 pm. Try your hand at creating a cute origami piece. Supplies provided.
Movies for Mental Health 🧠
Developed by Art With Impact, Movies for Mental Health – Sexual Violence Focus is a film-based workshop that focuses on exploring the mental health impacts that sexual violence can have on individuals and communities. Join us on December 2, from 10 am to noon at Building 320, Room 105. Register here. Check the Thrive web page and social media for more details.
Student research survey
Students in the Psychology 204 Research Methods class are looking for students who have experienced a disability during their time at VIU, whether visible or invisible and permanent or temporary. Participants don’t need to have accessed Accessibility Services to participate in this study. The study is confidential and anonymous and will take about 30 minutes. Responses accepted until November 18. Fill out the survey via Google forms.
Travel from Cowichan to Nanaimo and back – on the bus! 🚌
Did you know there is bus service between Nanaimo and Cowichan and it's only $7.50 (per trip)! The 70 Nanaimo-Cowichan Express can also get you to and from the Nanaimo Airport in no time. You can buy NCX tickets or passes from a vendor or pay cash when you hop on a bus. Visit BC Transit’s Route 70 NCX page for fares and vending locations.
Read The Navigator 💻
The Navigator’s November issue comes out Wednesday, November 9! Are you looking for a unique student view on VIU and community news? Visit The Navigator Student Press, VIU’s fully student-run online news magazine. Read, watch and listen to the stories that matter to you as students.
Student Conference Funding 💰
Did you know you can apply for funding to go to a conference? Next deadline: January 20, 2023, for conferences between September 1, 2022, and April 30, 2023. If you have any questions, please contact Vanessa.Moraes@viu.ca.
Talking about consent workshop
November is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Help raise awareness about this critical issue by joining the conversation about understanding and respecting consent. The workshop will be presented by Sexual Health Educator Kerri Isham on Thursday, November 17, from 4:30 to 6 pm. For more details, stay tuned to the VIU Thrive homepage and social media channels.
Supports and services
Career Studio Grand Opening
Career Studio is a new campus service that opened in the fall of 2022 that assists VIU students with writing resumes and cover letters, interview preparation, searching for jobs and exploring potential careers. Located in Building 255, Room 204, it is staffed by a career services specialist and students called career peer facilitators. The Centre for Experiential Learning is planning a grand opening for the studio on Monday, November 21 from 11 am to 1 pm.
CareerConnect Career Fairs - November 22, 23 and 24
Are you curious about where your degree could take you? The VIU Career Studio is hosting three career fairs to connect VIU students with local employers, alumni and VIU services that can provide additional educational and career guidance! Each of these events will connect 20 different employers with up to 150 students over a three-hour period. All events take place in the Royal Arbutus Room from 2 to 5 pm.
- CareerConnect: What to do with your BBA - Tuesday, November 22
- CareerConnect: What to do with your BSc - Wednesday, November 23
- CareerConnect: What to do with your BA – Thursday, November 24
To register for a one-hour time slot to connect with employers at any of these events, register via CareerVIU’s student dashboard. If you have any questions or difficulty registering, please email careerstudio@viu.ca.
CareerVIU
Hey VIU! Thousands of local employers are looking for talented future leaders like you. Many of these employers post their jobs on CareerVIU. Access CareerVIU now and check back regularly for new part-time and full-time, on-campus and off-campus, as well as volunteer and paid opportunities.
Career Studio library kiosk
Need help with job search, resumes and cover letters, or career exploration? Book an appointment with a Career Peer at the Career Studio kiosk in the library. Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9:30 to 11:30 am. Log in to CareerVIU with your student ID to book an appointment or simply drop by!
Position statement on climate action and sustainability
Vancouver Island University has released a position statement on climate action and sustainability to recognize that universities have an essential role in taking meaningful action to address climate action and sustainability. In support of its position, VIU has also signed on to the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Accord.
Finance tips and tricks
Learn financial tips and tricks from the industry’s best on Thursday, November 24 from 1 to 4 pm. Hosted by VIU Financial Aid & Awards, this free event’s presenting partners include: Royal Bank of Canada, Integral Wealth Management and Wealth Simple Foundation. Each partner will be sharing advice on different topics. Learn more [need link].
Virtual workshop: Tips to stop procrastination
Are you putting things off and suffering the consequences? If you struggle with procrastination, this virtual workshop can help. You’ll learn tips to stop procrastinating and get things done. November 23, 4 to 5 pm. Access the link on VIU’s Events page.
Thrive at Cowichan campus
The VIU Thrive wellness team will be at the Cowichan campus Wednesday, November 23 from 11 am to 1 pm. They’ll be sharing info about events, activities and resources to support your mental health and well-being!
Free Store for VIU Cowichan students
It’s like going shopping, but for free! Come “shop” for clothing for all ages, small household items and non-perishable food. It’s all happening in Room 140 on November 24 from 12 to 3 pm.
Naloxone Training - Cowichan campus & Cowichan Trades Centre
The HealthyU Cowichan nurses will teach you how to recognize an overdose and how to respond with your free Naloxone kit. In only 45 minutes you can learn to save a life. Dates, times and info for both The Cowichan Trades Centre and Cowichan campus can be found on the VIU Cowichan events calendar page.
Report an accessibility issue
The Universal Access Team is committed to reducing barriers on campus! If you notice an access issue on campus, please let us know by filling out this online form or using the VIU Safety App. When you click on “Accessibility Information” you will find the “report an access issue” button.
VIU Off-Campus Housing
Did you know VIU has an office that can help you with information and support with tenancy issues? Common problems include:
- rent and deposit disputes
- loss of quiet enjoyment
- (overnight) guests
- property maintenance
- pest infestations (such as cockroaches, bedbugs and mice)
We’re also here to help with house hunting and temporary accommodation. Visit Off-Campus Housing, email housing@viu.ca or book a meeting.
Job search supports for after you graduate
An important part of career planning is getting ready to job search after you finish upgrading your skills. ETHOS Career Management Group offers a variety of programs and services to help you successfully find work. We offer programming that meets a variety of different needs, in flexible environments. Available for current students. Learn more.
Get cyber safe
Digital books and e-reading devices can make reading more accessible, but they can also present new cyber threats. Make sure you know how to read digital books securely and how to protect yourself from online scams by learning about the three tactics to look out for. Check out SecureIT@VIU for topical security information that is just as relevant for your home life as your life at VIU.
Connect with an educational advisor
Who are education advisors and how do we support you? Find out by watching Why Connect with Advising. Connect early and connect often by Zoom drop-in, in-person in Building 200, by phone or email.
Canada Graduate Scholarship – Master’s program
Are you registering in a full-time graduate program at the master's level in Canada in fall 2023? Check out the CGS-M award program that offers scholarships for graduate students undertaking research either in health, natural sciences, engineering, social sciences or humanities. Application deadline is December 1. Please connect with Vanessa Moraes for more info and support with your application.
Shut up & write!
Sessions for grad students are Tuesdays from 4:15 to 5:15 pm starting November 1.Need to carve out some dedicated writing space? Come to the Writing Centre (fourth floor of the library, Building 305) for an hour and get to it. Bring whatever you are working on. A facilitator will be around at the end to answer any questions.
Mark your calendars
Transgender Awareness Week
November 13 to 19 is Transgender Awareness Week. The transgender flag will be raised at the Nanaimo campus from November 14 to 17. On November 18, the flag will be lowered to half-mast for Transgender Day of Remembrance (Sunday, November 20) to honour and remember those we have lost due to acts of anti-transgender violence and hate.
Come to the quad on Friday, November 18 from 11 am to 1 pm and write a message of support that will be added to a display. Please join the Positive Space Alliance to honour those we have lost, share a message of support or inclusion, and learn about how we can use language to create more gender-inclusive spaces.
Withdrawing from classes
Semester didn’t go quite as expected? If you want to withdraw from a Fall Semester course, Monday, November 28 is the deadline for academic penalty-free withdrawal or to change from credit to audit (or vice versa). Questions? Visit viu.ca/registration.
Soup & Bannock Lunch & Learn: November 15
Join Marcia Turner, Associate Vice-President, Indigenous, VIU, as she discusses decolonizing education and Indigenizing the academy: understanding the Declaration Act and Truth and Reconciliation Commission's
Calls to Action in the post-secondary context. Free soup and bannock are served at 11:30 am and the presentation will start at 12 pm. Register on Eventbrite.
COVID updates
COVID-19 and prevention measures at VIU
COVID-19 is still prevalent in BC. Review VIU’s Communicable Diseases Plan and personal measures you can take to help prevent the spread of COVID on our updates and info page.
Deals
Did you know that as a VIU student you have access to exclusive discounts in your community and across the province? Download the Deals App, administered by the VIUSU and the BC Federation of Students, to learn more. Today’s featured businesses:
- Vessi: 20% off services.
- Good food: 10 free meals for new customers
Campus events
Stay on top of what's happening at VIU. Find ways to get involved: