A RockVIU thank you

Dear VIU community, 

A heartfelt thank you to all employees and students who made this year’s RockVIU new student orientation a welcoming and memorable experience for our new students. 

Whether you helped with the Connect Fair, Campus Adventures, Faculty Block Parties, virtual information sessions, the Help Desks, or through countless other moments of support, each of you played a role in helping students feel at home and ready to begin their VIU journey. Establishing a sense of belonging has the large benefit of supporting a student’s connection to campus. 

A special thanks goes to: 

• The RockVIU Planning Committee, with representation from across campus: (RockVIU Leads Telanie Moolman and Robin Lemmens, Centre for Experiential Learning & Student Engagement; Mike Bauche, Student Housing; Elissa Miranda, VIU Students’ Union; Brittany Salmon, Office of Indigenous Education and Engagement; Chris Yeast, Student Affairs; Cynthia Murphy and Shubham Mattas, Cultural Connections and VIU International, Jenn McGarrigle, Strategic Communications, and Vanessa Moraes,SCRA and Graduate Office. 
• The Theatre team (Robin Boxwell and Leon Potter) for their creativity with signage and use of the theatre. 
• The Facilities team for their tireless efforts to prepare our spaces. 
• Melanie Jeffs for her expertise and support with the RockVIU website. 
• And the many staff and student leaders who worked behind the scenes to make an institution-wide event of this scale possible. Special kudos to the student staff team and the 40+ student volunteers  

This fall, more than 600 students registered to participate in RockVIU activities and events across campus. As we gather feedback and review participation numbers, we are committed to improving RockVIU each year to ensure it remains a signature experience that supports student success, connection and the retention and persistence of our students on campus. A big congratulations to our Faculty Block Party winner, the Faculty of Science and Technology.  If you have feedback or questions please send an email to welcometocampus@viu.ca  

Thank you again for your energy, creativity and commitment to welcoming our students to VIU. Your efforts make a difference in shaping the start of their journey. 

With gratitude,  

Danielle Johnsrude 

Director, Centre for Experiential Learning & Student Engagement