What to know about orientation, Community Leaders and upcoming events
It’s almost time for your move-in day at VIU Student Housing at the Nanaimo campus! We are getting ready to welcome our newest batch of students with move-in and orientation days events and activities. Are you joining us this fall at VIU, and staying in Student Housing? Keep reading to learn more about what you could expect during the first few weeks!
As a VIU alum who spent three years living in Student Housing, I can confidently say that living on-campus positively impacted my academic journey. But don’t just take my word for it: current Student Housing student staff members Jordan Muchenje and Couy Dacosta share their experiences and tips for moving into student housing, and what makes this adventure so memorable.
Orientation overview
We are just days away from the start of RockVIU: Student Housing Orientation & Welcome Week, and the VIU community has a packed schedule of activities to get you acquainted with the university, meet your new housemates and explore what Nanaimo has to offer.
Some of the upcoming activities of note include the Connect Fair, a movie night, the Riddle Master Scavenger Hunt and a HUGE game of capture the flag. You won’t want to miss these activities! Be sure to review the schedule on the RockVIU Student Housing website to stay on top of all the fun events.
One of Senior Community Leader Jordan’s favourite memories from orientation was actually a routine building meeting! Community Leaders occasionally host building meetings for announcements and information, but there is no shortage of fun during fall semester meetings.
“We did a bingo game, which was a ‘human bingo’ where everyone had to mingle and find common interests with each other,” she remembers. “The room was loud and chaotic, but in the best way. You could feel the energy. People were laughing and having a great time, and that made it such a memorable experience. It was lovely to see everyone connecting and enjoying themselves.”
Community Leaders – who are they?
By now, you probably know what building you will be moving into. But did you know that you will have experienced students living in your building as well? Community Leaders – or as we like to call them, “CLs” – are student leaders who live and work in the Housing community. They are trained to help students a variety of different ways. CL Couy has some great insight about what CLs can offer to students:
“We act as both problem-solvers for disagreements between residents or keeping community standards upheld, as well as acting as support staff. We plan events to encourage students to get involved in social environments, provide connections to resources such as financial assistance, mental health support, accessibility, Indigenous support, academic support and more! We are also great listeners and are here to help support you through tough times as best we can.”
Couy has some different examples on how CLs help new students during those first days living away from home.
“We can physically help you move things into your room, help you learn to navigate the community and the campus. We can also assist if any early problems arise in the move-in process, such as a disagreement with roommates, or provide support if you feel homesick or overwhelmed by living alone for the first time.”
If you are moving into Student Housing, be sure to get in touch with your Community Leader. Whether you have questions about Student Housing, concerns about academics or are looking for the best hang-out spots around Nanaimo, they’ve got you covered!
Upcoming events
The Student Housing Community Life Team provides programming throughout the year. These events are full of various activities to get students involved. Whether it be sports events, craft nights, carnivals or holiday celebrations, the team ensures that each moment spent on-campus is one to remember.
What Jordan loves most about Student Housing is the effort that staff put into making students feel welcome through community events.
“The entire concept of student leadership is also something I really appreciate. Having someone who is a bit wiser and more experienced to turn to for support is incredibly helpful, especially during your first year when you're away from family and everything familiar. For me, that leadership support was key in making me feel comfortable and welcomed. It also encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone and engage in activities I wouldn’t have otherwise considered. Overall, it’s the genuine effort they make to ensure people feel supported, connected and involved in the community through diverse events that I value.”
Jenna Gill recently graduated from Vancouver Island University with a Bachelor of Arts, with a Major in Digital Media Studies and a Minor in Languages & Culture (Romance Languages). She now works with VIU’s Office of Future Students as a Recruitment Officer.