VIU Student Pulse News: November 3, 2021

November is always a busy time at uni, with tests, final projects and exam prep looming. If you’re feeling like you need a little extra support these days, VIU offers many resources to help you not only survive but thrive. All you need to do is reach out. And hey, a few days off next week during fall study days will also help, right?

Need to know 

VIU launches new Strategic Plan 📖

VIU’s new 2021-2026 Strategic Plan, People, Place, Potential presents our vision and direction over the next five years. Please read the plan and become familiar with this exciting new direction for VIU, which was developed from conversations with more than 2,000 people in our community. Learn more on the Strategic Plan website and be sure to watch the video.

Therapy dogs and Wellness Peers! 👥🐾

Feeling the crunch of mid-terms, class projects and the slow creep of final exams? Why not connect with a Wellness Peer for more support? The Wellness Peers are students just like you, who are trained to listen and provide support. Connect with them in the library on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. And every Tuesday and Wednesday, the therapy dogs join the Wellness Peers from 12:30 – 2 pm. Check out our webpage for more info.

Nanaimo Remembers 📺

Watch Nanaimo Remembers, a video memorial project created by VIU in collaboration with Nanaimo Community Archives to display the names of more than 200 local soldiers who died during the First and Second World Wars.Community partners will display it across the city until November 11.

Connect

WorldVIU Days is underway! 🌍

This week-long celebration explores how culture influences the way we make sense of the world. If you haven’t had a chance yet, be sure to check out one of the many events taking place this week as part of it, including a simulated refugee experience and a Hip Hop panel discussion. See the full list of eventshere.

Mariners women's volleyball home opener 🏐

Come cheer on the Mariners women's volleyball team this Friday November 5 at 6 pm during their home opener against the Camosun Chargers. The match will be preceded by a special banner-raising ceremony to mark the team's CCAA National Championship victory in 2020.  

West Coast Fresh Coast Bus Tour 🚌

Join Cultural Connections as we depart from Nanaimo and make our way around the Pacific Marine Circle Route (loop). Our stops will include Lake Cowichan (quick snack & stretch break), Harris Creek (old growth Sitka tree, more than 80 metres tall), Port Renfrew (1 hr of free time to explore/eat), China Beach (2.5 hrs of hike & beach time) and Sooke (1.25 hrs of free time to explore/eat). Learn more.

VIU Games: Volunteer opportunity 👥

Are you interested in meeting new people, being a part of an exciting in person event or looking to gain volunteer experience? We would love your help at the VIU Games on November 28! If you are interested, please fill out this Google doc form.

Listen to A Sound Constitution 📻

Craving some new radio programming? VIU Nursing students host a show calledA Sound Constitution that delves into a different community health topic every week. Listen on CHLY 101.7 FM on Thursdays from 2-3 pm.

Rande Cook at the View Gallery

The View Gallery is thrilled to present an exhibition of new works from Kwakwaka’wakw multimedia artist Rande Cook. The exhibition runs until November 27. The gallery is located in Building 330 at the Nanaimo campus. Gallery hours: Tuesday to Friday, 10 am to 4 pm, and Saturdays, noon to 4 pm. To learn more, visit The View Gallery’s website.

November is Domestic Violence Awareness Month 

Join us to raise awareness about, and take action to stop, intimate partner violence. To learn more, follow Thrive on Facebook or Instagram (#viuthrive) and watch for our booth in the quad to learn more about the Moose Hide Campaign and how to get involved.  

All Together Now - The Mid-Island Edition 

Performances of All Together Now - The Mid-Island Edition are running at VIU's Malaspina Theatre Friday, November 12 at 7:30 pm and Nov. 13 and 14 at 2 pm and 7:30 pm. The musical features seven local performing arts groups, including VIU's Satyr Players Club. Profits will be shared among participating groups with 10% going to VIU's Mike Taugher Memorial Scholarship. Pay what you can pricing. Buy tickets for live performance at Evenbrite or to attend by livestream here.

Supports & services

Study space with a view 📚

It is one of the top study spots at VIU’s Nanaimo campus and it’s always ready to welcome you. The fourth floor of the library features comfortable and varied seating with unmatched views of the surrounding ocean and mountains to help inspire your study session – or give you a nice visual break. You can also relax in the third-floor entrance lounge by the fireplace and soak in that “home away from home” feeling. Have any library-related questions? Contact us!

Got questions about the next step in your education journey? 👥

Are you in Exploratory Studies (EXPO)? What is next for you? Chat with an Advisor about your goals. Connect with an Advisor by phone, email, Zoom and in-person.

Looking for work? 🧰

Did you know that VIU has its very own online job-posting board? CareerVIU is available to all VIU students and alumni. With more than 3,000 employers registered, a variety of new opportunities are posted daily. Registering for CareerVIU is quick and easy – all you need is your SRS username and password! Learn more about CareerVIU by visiting studentemployment.viu.ca.

Canada Revenue Agency workshops 📲

From financial literacy 101 for post-secondary students, to a presentation on Canadian income tax for international students, to how to be scam aware, the Canada Revenue Agency has a number of upcoming free webinars available to VIU students. Don’t miss out on a tax benefit or credit, and get your questions answered live! Register for these webinars online.

Here2Talk available 24-7 🖥

COVID-19 has made the return to campus a challenging one for everyone. To support students with mental health challenges, the BC government has made Here2Talk available to all students registered in a BC post-secondary institution. Here2Talk is a 24/7 mental health counselling and referral service that is easy to use, with options to reach out by phone or chat through an app. It provides students with confidential, immediate support, vital information, as well as referrals to helpful services available on their campus or in their communities.  

Canada Graduate Scholarships 💵

Going to grad school? Already in grad school? You may be eligible to apply for the Canada Graduate Scholarship worth $17,500 for one year. More info is available on the Graduate Scholarships homepage or by emailing Kendra.Stiwich@viu.ca. Application deadline is December 1.

Mark your calendars

Fall semester study days 📚

Don’t forget that November 8-12 is Fall Semester Study Days for academic programs.

Important deadline for withdrawal 📜

Monday, November 29 is the last day for academic penalty-free withdrawal from a Fall semester course or program, or to change from credit to audit (or vice-versa) in academic programs.

COVID updates

Masks and vaccine cards on campus

Curious about where you need to wear a mask or produce your BC Vaccine Card? VIU’s Health and Safety Services has created a handy chart to answer these questions.

Capacity limits removed 

There are no capacity restrictions on indoor organized gatherings. Proof of vaccination is required for organized gatherings with more than 50 people. A BC Vaccine Card is required to access: theatre/concerts; the gym; athletics; some indoor organized events; and student clubs. 

Mask mandate extended 

The mask mandate from the BC Public Health Office has been extended. Everyone five years and older must continue wearing a mask indoors in public spaces. Visit our Mask FAQs page. 

COVID-19 illness protocols

Wondering what happens if you are diagnosed with COVID-19 or you have been in contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19? Island Health has information available on their website for both of these scenarios: 

• What to do if you have been in contact with a person with COVID-19
• I have tested positive