In the Community

a person holds a face mask in their hands, while wearing gloves

VIU Professors Examine the Social Impacts of Wearing Masks

November 6, 2020

Expert Commentary: As the number of businesses and organizations implementing mask-wearing policies and guidelines increases, we were curious about some of the effects of this new way of interacting with one another. Dr. Lindsay McCunn, a VIU Psychology Professor, and Maureen O’Connor, a VIU Bachelor of Science in Nursing Professor, share some thoughts. Wearing a mask is one way to minimize the... Read more


VIUSpidey

#VIUSpidey Brings Halloween and Happiness to Quiet Campus

October 28, 2020

Any little thing that can lift spirits and help people feel connected is important right now. That belief was the driving force behind the 12-foot spider in its web that is currently perched on top of Building 120 at the bottom of the Nanaimo Campus, just off Fourth Street. It is a labour of love, done entirely by volunteers in Facilities Services and Campus Development who donated their time and... Read more


Whitney Wood Women's Pain

Women’s History Month at VIU

October 28, 2020

When it comes to Women’s History Month, VIU has a lot to celebrate as well as a lot to reflect on. The accomplishments of women are everywhere around the institution. From senior leadership in administration, across the academy, throughout all offices and initiatives, as more than half the employee population, women play a major role.   President and Vice-Chancellor, Dr Deb Saucier, newly... Read more


Dr. Eve Stringham, Dean, Science and Technology

Q&A with Dr. Eve Stringham, Dean, Faculty of Science and Technology

October 28, 2020

Dr. Eve Stringham joined Vancouver Island University as Dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology on June 1, 2020. Despite having little access to VIU’s campuses and facilities, she has grasped the reigns of her faculty with enthusiasm, vision and empathy as she leads her faculty members and employees through paths unknown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Tell us a little bit about yourself and... Read more


Photo by Gerd Altmann

Congratulations!

October 19, 2020

We are so happy to celebrate the amazing accomplishments of our colleagues! If you have something you want us to share, please send your items to Alyson.Winks@viu.ca. Check out the list for this issue below.  Forestry Students A team of students from VIU's two-year Forestry Diploma program won the Student Quiz Bowl competition at the Canadian Institute of Forestry's (CIF) Annual General Meeting.... Read more


Zoom fatigue

Back by Popular Demand: Work Well-being Practices

October 1, 2020

This time of year is traditionally busy at VIU, throw a pandemic in the mix and it can get overwhelming quickly. With that in mind, we wanted to remind everyone about the work-related well-being practices the Human Resources Department shared in the summer. While it can be hard to stick to these guidelines, we encourage everyone to do their best and help mitigate Zoom-fatigue and email overload.... Read more


VIU Working Remotely Chronicles: Our Favourite Things

June 8, 2020

June's Working Remotely Chronicles is about our favourite things of working from home. Whether it's a lunch time walk with a furry friend, the view from the home office, or flowers from the garden, our community shows some of the best parts of each day.  Read more


Strategic Plan

Our Community’s Thoughts on VIU’s Strengths

June 8, 2020

By Alison Van Rooy, Senior Advisor for Strategic Planning and Institutional Initiatives In this article, I’d like to give an update to the VIU community about the progress so far in our engagement around The Future We Want to See, the conversation to help VIU craft its new strategic plan. What has happened so far? Since early March, and with thanks to the enthusiasm of the VIU community, some 700... Read more


Welcome

Welcoming New Employees

June 8, 2020

We are so glad to welcome all VIU employees who have received their first regular appointment since January, 2020. We sincerely hope you are all settling into your roles well and finding VIU to be a fun, supportive place to work.  Gerri McEwen Kristin Smart Ember Cathers Megan Lebeuf Kimberley Switnicki Marissa Smith Wynand Steyn Lidia Surman Cynthia Lange Sanchit... Read more


Strategic Marketing Zoom

Strategic Marketing is here to Help with Summer and Fall Projects

June 8, 2020

By Shari Bishop Bowes, Manager, Strategic Marketing   Hello out there to our colleagues across VIU who continue to work from home! The Strategic Marketing team, like most employees at VIU, has settled into remote work and we just wanted to share a hearty shout-out to you all for embracing this “new reality” and going above and beyond to support our students and each other. The dedication and... Read more