VIU Student Pulse: April 19, 2023

Exam period is on now until April 26 for academic programs. Good luck to all students writing exams over the next week – you’ve got this!
 
Also in this issue:

• VIUSU Breakfast Bar
• Work at VIU this summer
• External award deadlines

Photo caption: More than 60 Indigenous graduates attended Semélshun, the Aboriginal graduation recognition ceremony, last Friday at the Snuneymuxw gymnasium. Congrats to all our graduating students! To all graduating students: check out the note below from the VIU Alumni Association about the perks of staying in touch! 

Need to know

Work at VIU this summer 💼

Summer 2023 Work-Op postings are now available for viewing on CareerVIU. You need to be enrolled in one summer class or have completed at least nine credits in the Spring Semester and be continuing full-time in the Fall. Please be sure to follow the application instructions that are included in the posting to ensure your application will be considered. Good luck!

Breakfast @VIUSU 🍎

The VIUSU Breakfast Bar is ready to fuel your exam week! During exam period, we’ll be open bright and early at 8:30 am. We know finals can be tough, so we want to make sure you start your day off right. Swing by our office to grab a free coffee, tea, fruit or cereal to power up before you hit the books or head to the gym to write your exams. We’re here to help you ace those finals with extra exam supplies and a delicious and nutritious breakfast! 💪📝

New LinkedIn group for VIU students seeking employment 💻

The VIU Career Studio has just launched a LinkedIn group for students seeking employment. Join the group to access job postings, event details and information to help VIU students from all programs get connected with employers and organizations relevant to their area of study.

Main cafeteria closure 🥪

With fewer students and staff on campus, the main cafeteria (Building 300) will be closed this year from May 1 to August 26. During the shutdown period, catering will be available and summer hoteling/student groups will continue to have their food needs met. Coffee and grab and go food items will be available through the Campus Store and Starbucks during the Summer Semester.  

• Starbucks hours: 8 am to 3 pm, Monday to Friday.
• Campus Store hours: 9 am to 4 pm, Monday to Friday.

The cafeteria seating area will remain open and available to students and employees as a meeting and study space. 

Connect

CREATE ⚗️

CREATE 2023 was a success! Well done, students! Huge thanks to all participants, volunteers, sponsors and our CREATE student team for another amazing celebration of student research and creative activity. Check out the CREATE website by the end of April for the full list of Award winners.

Graduating this June? You are now a VIU alum 👥

Your program at VIU is finished ... now what? Welcome to the VIU Alumni Family! 

• Step 1: Download the VIU Alumni Perks App: The VIU Alumni Association has worked hard to put together a growing list of discounts from local, national and international businesses for our alumni. Find this and alumni events, contests, job postings and professional development opportunities on the app.
• Step 2: Stay Connected: Fill in the Get Connected form on the alumni website to update your alumni profile. You can choose how we contact you, and what you want to see from us.
• Step 3: Follow us. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedInand make sure you never miss out on alumni news, discounts, events, and contests!

Road trips 🚌

Join the Cultural Connections Road Trips team on exciting adventures to awe-inspiring locations. Every semester, we prepare a schedule of seasonal weekly Road Trips activities available to all registered VIU students. Take a look to see what activities we have planned for you this semester! Highlights for summer session:

• May 13: Malahat Skywalk and Ladysmith
• May 27: Tofino bear or whale watching
• June 3: Go karting and Coombs

Local hikes 🌲

Each semester we head outdoors and explore some of the most scenic and awe-inspiring local hiking trails Nanaimo and has to offer! The Local Hikes program is designed to encourage confidence and creativity in participants, while at the same time aiming to forge a connection with nature and a desire to protect it. Each hike is only $2. Some upcoming hikes:

• May 5: Cable Bay Trail
• May 12: The Abyss
• June 2: River hatchery
• June 9: Linley Valley

Write for the Nav next fall 🗞

Want to learn more about VIU and the community from a student perspective? Visit The Navigator Student Press. VIU’s entirely student-run online news magazine. Read, watch and listen to the stories that matter to you as students! The Nav will be hiring for new positions this fall, so visit our website in the upcoming months for more information.

Identity and belonging in multicultural BC

What does it mean to “belong” in British Columbia, a place so often recognized for its multiculturalism? What is multiculturalism in the first place and how do our identities connect to it? Witness and listen to youth as they share their responses to these questions in relation to Project Director Alice Mũrage'sWorld's Within Report. Together, we’ll reflect on how we can nurture a stronger sense of belonging in our communities. Event is on May 6 from 10 am to 1 pm. Register now.

National Day of Mourning

Health and Safety Services would like to invite members of the VIU community to the National Day of Mourning observance that VIU holds annually.  This event is held on April 28 every year to remember workers who have died because of an incident in the workplace.  The event starts at 11 am in the Jardin des Quatorze located on the east side of Building 460. The event will also be offered over Zoom to allow all campuses and employees to observe.

Going on a trip this summer? 🏖

Did you know your health and dental benefit coverage includes travel insurance for trips of up to 90 days? If you’re planning on taking a trip this summer, make sure your account is active and registered. For more info on your plan, visit the website or email healthanddental@viusu.ca.  

Supports and services

Career Studio 🎒

Are you looking to secure a summer job or volunteer position in the coming months? Stop by the Career Studio in Building 255, Room 204. Our team can assist with resumes, cover letters, interview preparation and all other career-related needs. Drop-in for an appointment between 9 am and 3 pm. 

Conference funding 💰

The next conference funding deadline is May 19, 2023. If you presented, or are planning to present, at a conference between January 1 and August 31, check out the conference funding website for more info. Email Vanessa.Moraes@viu.ca if you have questions.

VIU Gym: Adjusted hours for final exams and summer ⏱

Looking to plan a workout in at the VIU Gym? Please note some adjusted hours for the final exam session and through the summer. From now until April 27, the weight room is open from 12 to 1 pm and 4 to 7:30 pm. There will be no open gym floor hours and the facility will be closed on weekends. After the final exam period, the gym will switch to summer hours: 8 am to 8 pm, Monday to Friday.

Library services 📚

Are you studying for exams or finishing up any assignments? Find a good study spot in the library at the Nanaimo campus which is open 24-7 with VIU card access. Printing, self-check-out stations and audio-visual and group study rooms are available. Check out our FAQ page for helpful answers to your most popular questions about our services. Our summer hours start April 24. The Nanaimo campus service desk will be open Monday to Friday, 9 am to 4 pm and the Cowichan campus hours are Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4 pm. If this is your last year at VIU, be sure to check out our offerings for Alumni.

Watch out for tax scammers 📱

Although many BC and Yukon residents are getting better at identifying and avoiding tax refund scam calls and texts, they continue to be very prevalent. The Better Business Bureau is reminding consumers to keep their eyes peeled for scammers posing as the Canada Revenue Agency trying to trick people into identity theft and in extreme cases, taking control of your bank account. Read more.

Job postings on 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.

VIU Off-Campus Housing 🏘

If you are new to VIU, moving out of Residence or a returning student looking for a new rental property, Off-Campus Housing can provide information and support with a range of off-campus living resources:

• Finding Housing & Roommates
• Temporary Accommodation
• Contracts, Fees & Tenancy Issues

Visit the OCH blog, Off-Campus Housing homepage, email housing@viu.ca or book a meeting.

🛡️Protect yourself before you Connect yourself🛡️

Do you get a little chill thinking about the dozens of login credentials you have set up throughout the wilderness of the internet? If so, don’t worry – you aren’t alone. Learn how to protect your personal data in the digital age. Join Michael B. Jordan and Tessa Thompson and Train to be an Internet Bodyguard!

Canada Learning Bond website ⌨️

The Financial Aid and Awards department has revamped the VIU Canada Learning Bond site. We greatly appreciate student input on the new look. Please visit the site and complete this brief survey, you will be entered to win a VIU Campus Store credit! The draw will take place June 1. Please have the survey completed on time to be entered! 

Scholarship info

External award deadlines ⏰

Looking for some money to continue school? There are several application deadlines for external awards coming up. Visit the Financial Aid website for more scholarship info.

• Katherine McParland Bursary, $1,000. Deadline: April 30, 2023.
  This award assists young adults (18 to 25) who have experienced housing instability and who are pursuing an education in social work or community services.
• Federation of Community Social Services of BC Youth Education Bursary, $2,000. Deadline: May 5, 2023.
  The bursary assists young people that are or have been in care and want to pursue a career in the fields of human and social services.
• Canadian Hearing Services National Scholarship, $3,000. Deadline: May 26, 2023.
  Canadian Hearing Services is Canada’s leading organization serving Deaf and hard-of-hearing Canadians.
• AMI Robert Pearson Memorial Scholarship, $3,000. Deadline: May 31, 2023.
  The scholarship program is open to Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada with a permanent disability who are currently registered in and returning to a full-time program of study at an accredited Canadian post-secondary college or university.
• Betty Spalton Scholarship, $1,500. Deadline: May 31 every year.
  The Betty Spalton Trust Fund was established in 1999 to provide financial support to individuals obtaining an education in fields associated with the road building and heavy construction industry.

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. Featured deal:

• Happipad: $20 off your first month's rent.

Campus events

Stay on top of what's happening at VIU. Find ways to get involved: 

• Campus Events website
• VIU Students' Union app