Current Students

For Ezat Haidary, a brand-new program at Vancouver Island University is already having a life-changing impact.

Called Trades Pathways for Newcomers, the program launched in September and supports newcomers looking for a career in the trades by ensuring they have the skills, knowledge and supports to successfully transition into the educational programs that will get them there.

At this point in the semester, things are BUSY. And maybe you are realizing the semester didn’t quite go as planned. It might be time to connect with an academic advisor or check in with the Financial Aid and Awards staff, who are eager to spread the word about some upcoming scholarship opportunities. Keep reading to learn more. Also check out this beautiful photo from the Diwali celebration during WorldVIU Days.
 
Also in this issue:

In the last 50 years, we went from long division to solving math problems with a calculator, from referencing a dictionary to using spellcheck and from memorizing information to being able to call it up instantly on a mobile phone.

The newest addition to this list: using tools like ChatGPT to write everything from essays to speeches. We’re living in a time when artificial intelligence is used by people in many fields to make tasks easier and complete them in less time.

We are in thick of the busiest time of the semester. It’s okay to feel a little overwhelmed right now – there’s lots on the go between assignments coming due, events on campus and other commitments.

In October, Vancouver Island University shared its plan to manage a $20.2-million deficit for the 2023-24 academic year. It lays out how VIU will return to a balanced budget in three years.

We sat down with VIU’s Provost, Dr. Mike Quinn, who oversees all academic programming at VIU to ask him about VIU’s deficit and what impact it will have on your programs and courses. 

As temperatures get colder, VIU’s Health and Safety Services team has some tips to keep you on your feet. Snow and ice can present a greater risk of slipping and falling. Here are some best practices:

As a student, you are probably juggling many classes, jobs and activities. When mid-term time rolls around, stress levels can reach a peak. The best solution is to do more with the time you have, not try to make more by skipping on sleep.

Emma Peterson and Lizzy Schafers visited remote BC parks this summer to count and catalogue plants. Their work was part of a biodiversity survey research project overseen by Dr. Jasmine Janes, a VIU Biology Professor.

The summer research experience allowed both students to gain hands-on skills outside a classroom setting. For Lizzy, a Bachelor of Science student majoring in Biology, the experience reinforced her plans to go to grad school and study botany. 

A new collection of academic essays published by VIU’s Liberal Studies program examines issues of morality, love and death. 

The Compass Rose: Explorations in Thought is an online collection of essays written by undergrad students at VIU and at other institutions. 

It’s a joint project between the Liberal Studies Department and the Alexandro Malaspina Research Centre. The goal is to help students gain real-world work experience that relates to what they learn in class.

The semester is ramping up and mid-terms are in full swing for many. Are you making your mental health a priority?