Current Students

When Mikaila Tombe began her post-secondary career, she was initially unsure what to do with her degree. Now, she’s combining her interests and talents into a new study for her undergraduate thesis.

A fourth-year VIU Psychology honours student and a musician, Mikaila has always been interested in the reasons behind why people respond the way they do to certain types of music.

In this issue of the Student Pulse newsletter: 

• Participate in CREATE
• Long Night Against Procrastination
• Transgender Day of Visibility: call for submissions

Need to know

CREATE conference 🔬

The largest on-campus showcase of student research and creative activity starts April 3! How to participate: 

Fourth-year VIU Geography honours student Sierra De Buysscher-Nailor has taken a special interest in understanding climate change.

An aspiring beekeeper, Sierra wants to develop a better understanding of the risks she will be facing in upcoming years as she starts her beekeeping journey. She is researching the impacts of climate change on the health and habitat of the western honeybee.

Using climate modelling data, Sierra is looking at how increasing temperatures will impact honeybees.

Taryn Walker graduated from Vancouver Island University in 2021 with a Bachelor of Hospitality Management. After working in various positions in the hospitality and tourism industries, she is now VIU’s Alumni Relations Coordinator.

This blog series shares the stories of VIU alumni to help inspire the next generation of learners. In this blog, Taryn tells me more about her career path and what skills she has acquired over the years that have come in handy in other positions.

For many students, the end of the academic year means giving notice on rental housing. With final exams and assignments mounting, it’s easy to lose sight of some important deadlines and checkboxes for doing this right. And for most of us, that means getting that security deposit back, right?

The VIU Mariners women’s volleyball team is trying for a fifth national gold medal at the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association’s 2023 national championships, which VIU is hosting. VIU’s first game is today at 6 pm in the gym. Come dressed in blue and cheer on our team! And Happy International Women’s Day and Happy Holi! Watch for the VIUFA Women’s & Gender Equity Committee and VIU Students' Union handing out flowers to women attending the game tonight, and the Holi celebration starts at 4:30 pm. See below for more details. 

Canada’s senior population is growing, which is why Master of Community Planning student Alicia McLean is researching how communities can be managed to best support older adults. She is conducting this research with the help of a BC Graduate Scholarship.

Alexis Gardner graduated from Vancouver Island University in 2019 with a Bachelor of Arts, major in Sociology, and minor in Gender Studies. Alexis originally thought she would become a counsellor or professor but then found a passion for community outreach and social innovation. She is currently employed in the social service industry with Big Brothers and Big Sisters in Victoria, as their Senior Mentoring and Outreach Coordinator.

Are you making the most of your Study Days break from classes? The library and other key services remind you to check in with them this week if you need support. Read on to learn more.

One of the things that makes Vancouver Island University unique is its success-focused approach to education throughout every part of the student experience, from academics to campus life to interactions with faculty and staff outside of the classroom. This approach recognizes that every single person’s learning journey is unique and requires individualized attention. With that in mind, VIU has created some unique supports to help you navigate key points in your educational journey. Here are five services you may find yourself using at one point or another.