VIU Student Pulse News: August 21, 2024

Welcome to the first edition of the student newsletter for the 2024-25 academic year! We publish every second Wednesday. Watch this space for important information from us to help you have a successful year. The start of classes is just around the corner! Are you new to VIU? You'll want to sign up for RockVIU new student orientation.
 
In this issue:  

• Back to school events 

• Work on campus this year 

• New student emails 

Need to know

VIU Games 🤾‍♂️

The 2024 VIU Games are on September 7, from 10 am to 5 pm, on the Nanaimo campus. Fun@VIU organizes the games in collaboration with RockVIU. Compete in teams of eight to 10 members for fun prizes. Tickets are $10 and include lunch and snacks. Games during the event include a dodgeball tournament, flash knowledge quiz, treasure hunt, a three-legged race, music trivia and more. Space is limited. Register here. Follow Fun@VIU on Instagram. 

The new VIU student emails are here! 💻  

The IT department is excited to announce that new VIU student email addresses are now integrated with your computer account. If you did not receive the login instructions sent earlier this month by email, please follow these steps:  

• Sign in to the student record and confirm the email address on file. This address is where the information would have been sent.  

• If you don’t have an email on file, please add one. Once you do our system will update overnight and send you an email with the next steps.    

The new VIU email address will give you full access to Microsoft 365, OneDrive and VIU Teams account. VIU is transitioning from Zoom to Teams, so you may need that for your classes! Don’t want to check another email? You can set up your new VIU email account to forward to your preferred email address. Learn more.

Student shoutout

Meet Bryan Lamprecht 🌼 

Bryan Lamprecht, a VIU Biology student, is working to save a rare flower, the Hosackia pinnata, which is also the City of Nanaimo’s official flower. Bryan is collaborating with Dr. Jasmine Janes to protect the flower, which is red-listed in BC and Canada. He believes this work is crucial and his way of positively impacting the environment. 

“This work is hugely important because the planet is really in a bad spot right now and one person can’t save the world, but I feel like this is my way of doing my part. Being out here and actively having an impact on the environment, that for me is why I want to do this,” says Bryan. Read Bryan’s story on the VIU Blog.

Connect

Frosh Week 2024 🥞🎶 

The VIU Students’ Union’s Frosh Week events introduce students to the campus and the greater community. Learn more. Events take place September 10 to 12:  

• September 10: Pancake breakfast 

• September 11: Paint your Frosh!  

• September 12: Outdoor concert, barbecue and beer gardens   

SWAG Week 

Come visit the Students’ Union booth from 10 am to 2 pm during the first week of classes to learn about campus clubs, how to get great deals and discounts from local businesses, enjoy some free coffee and snacks, and pick up your free SWAG! We’ll have back to school supplies including free pens, highlighters, day planners, water bottles and more to make sure you’re ready for the semester! 

• September 3: Find us in front of the VIUSU building (Building 193) on the Nanaimo campus and at RockVIU Cowichan 

• September 4: Find us in front of the main cafeteria (Building 300) 

• September 5: Find us in the upper RBC Plaza near the bus loop (next to Building 200) 

Get active at the VIU Gym 🏋🏽 

The VIU Gym (Building 190) is your headquarters for athletics and recreation on the Nanaimo campus. VIU students can sign up at the front desk for a free gym membership that is valid from September to April. This allows use of the multi-court gym floor, weight room and a multi-purpose fitness and exercise room. Changerooms and locker rentals are available. 

VIU Mariners Soccer home opening weekend ⚽ 

Kick off a new year of collegiate sport with the VIU Mariners! Our varsity men’s and women’s soccer teams take the pitch for their home opening weekend on September 7 at Beban Park Turf and September 8 at Q'unq'inuqwstuxw Stadium at Nanaimo District Secondary School (right beside VIU). Women’s games start at 12:30 pm while the men play at 3 pm. Admission is free. Visit GoMariners.ca for all varsity schedules. 

Positive Space Alliance Socials ‍‍🌈 

VIU’s Positive Space Alliance socials are back! Join us for a fun, inclusive space open to everyone of any sexual orientation and gender identity. Come play games or just hang out and meet some new friends. The Positive Space socials take place every other Wednesday starting September 11, from 12 to 1 pm in Building 250, Room 402. 

Mediation, prayer and reflection rooms 🧘🏽 

Students have access to meditation, prayer and reflection rooms on the first floor of Building 200 on the Nanaimo campus. These rooms are available to students and employees and are shared by people of a variety of religious, spiritual and other reflective beliefs and practices. Do you need after-hours access? Please email MedAndPrayer@viu.ca with your full name and student ID number. 

Suicide Prevention Day 

Join this pop-up event on September 10 from 11 am to 1 pm outside the main cafeteria, share messages of support and learn more about how to contribute to building a safer community around campus. 

Wellness Peers ☕ 

Starting September 17, you can visit the Wellness Lounge at the Nanaimo campus library for free tea and hot chocolate, fidgets, adult colouring, friendly chats with the wellness peers and cuddles with therapy dogs. Available Tuesdays to Thursdays. Learn about fall hours. 

Supports & services

Undergraduate research grants 

The Social Sciences Division of the Council on Undergraduate Research offers undergraduate research grants of up to $400 for students presenting their research at national or international, discipline-specific meeting (in person or virtually) during the 2024-2025 academic year. Deadlines: October 31 for fall and April 20, 2025, for spring 2025. More info here. 

StrongerBC future skills grant 

The StrongerBC future skills grant covers up to $3,500 per person for eligible short-term training programs. See a list of eligible courses and more info on VIU’s StrongerBC future skills grant homepage.  

Suicide Crisis Helpline 📲 

When you need a safe space to talk, 9.8.8 is here to listen. If you’re thinking about suicide, or worried about someone you know, call or text the Suicide Crisis Helpline at 9.8.8 for support. Help is available in English and French, 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Whatever you’re struggling with, you are not alone – 9.8.8 responders are here to help you find a way through. 

ASIST Workshop 

ASIST is an internationally acclaimed two-day workshop that prepares participants to provide suicide first aid interventions. It is open to VIU staff and students on September 20 and 21, from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. To register visit VIU Thrive. 

Safer Campuses for Everyone 

Take this self-paced, online training where you will learn about the importance of consent in all relationships and how to intervene to prevent sexual violence. By taking the course, you contribute to a safer campus while engaging in skill development. Sign in to your VIU Learn account, locate the course in the Discover tab, and enrol. Finish the modules and email your completion certificate to Thrive@viu.ca to enter for a chance to win a $500 tuition credit.

E-bike service on campus 🚲 

Evolve E-Bike Share is now available at VIU, next to the bike parkade at the transit exchange. 
With 17 Evolve Parking Zones in town, you can easily ride from here to there in a fun and sustainable way. Getting started with Evolve E-Bike Share is easy with just a few simple steps: 

1. Download the Evo app and sign up  
   (Pro tip: select “E-bikes/E-Scooters” only when signing up to skip driver’s license requirement) 

1. Unlock an e-bike by scanning the bike’s QR code or clicking on a bike pin within the app 

1. Wear a helmet and start rolling, ride anywhere and return it to any Evolve Parking Zone in town. 

New members can use promo code Nanaimo for 30 free minutes when signing up! Learn more.

Canada Revenue webinars 🏦 

The Canada Revenue Agency is hosting live webinars on MS Teams so you can learn about benefits, credits and services. Upcoming webinars include: 

• September 10, 1 to 2 pm, benefits and credits for Indigenous persons. Join here. 

• September 19, 10 to 11 am, benefits and credits for international students. Join here. 

Next Steps webinar 

VIU academic advisors are here to help you! In this recorded Next Steps webinar, they explain waitlists, prerequisites, how to add or drop courses, academic load, important dates, financial aid and other support services. Rock VIU team members also explain how orientation works. Check out the webinar. 

VIU Off-Campus Housing 🏡 

Are you new to renting privately or looking for a new rental? Get information and support. Off-Campus Housing can help you with: 

• Finding housing and roommates  

• Temporary accommodation  

• Contracts, fees and tenancy issues  

Read the VIU blog post for more details. Visit Off-Campus Housing, email or book a meeting  

Career Studio 👩🏽‍💻 

Kick off the academic year with your career in mind! At the Career Studio, we’re here to help you enter with curiosity and leave with confidence. Need help exploring career paths, job searching, polishing your resume or prepping for an interview? We’ve got you covered! Log into Experience Hub today to book an appointment with a career peer for advice, resources and insights to help you succeed from day one. Your journey at VIU is more than just classes – it's the start of your career story. Let us help you share it! 

VIU Experience Hub 💼 

The Experience Hub is VIU’s online student services and experiential learning platform. Log in using your VIU single sign-on credentials, to access the following student services: 

• book appointments with advisors 

• access career services 

• find on and off campus employment opportunities 

• register for on-campus career events 

Check out the VIU Safety App 

One of the easiest ways to find out what’s happening on campus during an emergency or snow closure is through VIU’s Safety App. Download the app (it’s free!) and be sure to enable push notifications. If anything is happening on campus relating to safety, health or emergencies that you need to know about, you will get an automatic notification. Watch the VIU Safety App informational video.

Conference funding 💸 

Are you planning to share your research at a conference this fall? You may be eligible for the Scholarship, Research and Creative Activity conference funding. Visit the website and connect with Vanessa.Moraes@viu.ca if you have any questions. Deadline is September 20 for conferences between May 1 and December 31, 2024. 

McCall MacBain scholarship 

Applications for the McCall MacBain Scholarship are open! McCall MacBain Scholars connect with mentors and participate in an interdisciplinary leadership program while pursuing a fully funded master's or professional degree at McGill University. Deadline is September 25. Connect with Vanessa.Moraes@viu.ca if you plan to apply.

Mark your calendars

Important upcoming deadlines 🗓️

• September 2 is the last day for full withdrawal from the Fall Semester with a 100% refund.
• September 10 is the last day of active waitlist for Fall Semester courses. 
• September 16 is the last day for a full withdrawal from the Fall Semester with a 90% refund and the last day for a partial withdrawal from the Fall Semester with 100% refund for individual courses. 
• September 17 Fall Semester fees are due.