Free counselling service launches for post-secondary students
April 17, 2020
The government of British Columbia has launched Here2Talk, a new mental health counselling and referring service for post-secondary students. The service offers confidential, free single-session services by app, phone or online chat, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. “Until now, post-secondary students have never had access to 24/7 provincewide mental health support services,” said Melanie Mark... Read more
President's Awards for Service Excellence Open for Nominations
April 16, 2020
The announcement below went out on Wednesday, April 15, announcing the new set of awards for VIU employees. Please consider nominating a worthy colleague or team of colleagues. Dear VIU employees, I am happy to share with you some great news, and to confirm commitment to our People Plan, by announcing new Presidential awards - the President’s Awards for Service Excellence. These awards will... Read more
The President's Awards for Community Engagement and the Provost's Awards for Scholarship, Research and Creative Activity Open for Nominations
April 16, 2020
In 2018, Vancouver Island University established awards to celebrate excellence in community engagement and scholarship, research and creative activity to complement the existing awards for excellence in teaching design and practice. These awards align with the institution's core values of discovery, engagement, achievement and celebration as identified in the Academic Plan: Promoting and... Read more
UPDATE: COVID-19, April 15
April 15, 2020
There are so many different ways our community is supporting each other – thank you! We loved this idea that came from VIU’s Student Wellness Promoters. They wanted to support students living in residence and in homestay placements throughout Nanaimo who are away from their families and may have limited connections to them right now due to the COVID-19 pandemic. To show these students they are... Read more
UPDATE: COVID-19, APRIL 9
April 9, 2020
The long weekend is upon us. For some, it’s a time to celebrate important faith-based holidays such as Easter and Passover and for others, it’s a special time to get together with family and friends. This year, the long weekend will look very different for many of us as these activities will happen virtually rather than in-person. VIU President Dr. Deb Saucier wishes everyone a healthy and happy... Read more
Update: COVID-19, April 6
April 6, 2020
In today's update, we wanted to share that music is one of the things helping VIU President Dr. Deb Saucier get through these difficult times. And because #MusicIsMedicine, she has co-created a playlist with Registrar Fred Jacklin. Listen to the April Fools ?!? tracks on Spotify. Also - we wanted to highlight that VIU’s Elders-in-Residence will be continuing to offer support or words of... Read more
BC Government Supporting Indigenous Students with Emergency Assistance
April 3, 2020
Vancouver Island University (VIU) is pleased to share the news the provincial government has announced an additional $1.5 million in emergency supports for Indigenous students. “We are pleased the province is providing additional support to our Indigenous students,” says Jennifer Christoffersen, VIU Services for Aboriginal Students Coordinator/Education Advisor. “For several years, the... Read more
Province boosts emergency funding supports for students
April 2, 2020
Vancouver Island University (VIU) is excited to share the news that the provincial government is providing $3.5 million to post-secondary institutions to boost their emergency bursary funds for students in need. “In these extraordinary times, we are so grateful that the provincial government has stepped up with this additional money,” says Irlanda Gonzalez Price, Associate Vice-President of VIU’... Read more
UPDATE: COVID-19, APRIL 1, 5:45 PM
April 1, 2020
OVER THE NEXT FEW UPDATES, WE WILL BE SHARING NEWS ABOUT DIFFERENT WAYS YOU CAN KEEP CONNECTED WITH FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES DURING THIS TIME. Today you’ll see in our 'New Items' section for students and employees information about online activities, including free and/or by donation yoga classes. And employees, we will soon be re-launching our employee enewsletter - VIU Voices - to keep... Read more
UPDATE: COVID-19, MARCH 30, 5:40 PM
March 30, 2020
WE WANTED TO START TODAY’S UPDATE BY SHARING A VIDEO MESSAGE FROM DR. DEB SAUCIER, VIU PRESIDENT AND VICE-CHANCELLOR, WHO IS WORKING FROM HER HOME OFFICE. SHE WANTED TO SHARE HER APPRECIATION FOR OUR AMAZING COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND EVERYONE’S WILLINGNESS TO WORK TOGETHER AND SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER AS WE TRANSITIONED TO ALTERNATE LEARNING DELIVERY AND WORKING REMOTELY. As well, we emailed information... Read more