Student Affairs

COVID-19 UPDATE: VIU transitioning to alternate course delivery and assessment.

In response to the evolving COVID-19 situation, Student Affairs will continue to support students in a hybrid model.

Introducing VIU Cares, a new daily Zoom chat for current students. Need to chat or connect? Have questions? Join our daily Zoom sessions for a Live Chat with VIU staff members. These sessions start April 14 and run daily from 3-4 pm. Learn more and get the link to join here: https://viu.zoom.us/my/viucares. 

Keeping Student Record Info Up-to-date: As correspondence between VIU employees and students is increasing, we ask all students to ensure that their email, mailing address and security passwords are up to date. For some specific services, students will need to know their security information. For example, Financial Aid will ask students to answer their security question to verify identity before conducting a phone meeting with them. To update, please log into My Student Record.

Please see some important information below for contacting Student Affairs areas: 

• Advising (For appointments, please email advising@viu.ca)
• Assessments and Exam Services (External Exams: assessments@viu.ca. Accommodated Exams: accommodatedexams@viu.ca) 
• Athletics and Recreation (Please email gym@viu.ca) 
• Centre for Experiential Learning (Please email CEL@viu.ca)
• Co-operative Education (Please email CEL@viu.ca) 
• Conduct (Please email conduct@viu.ca) 
• Counselling Services:

  • Distance counselling for VIU students is available through VIU Counselling Services from Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 4:00pm. To book an appointment:

    • For Domestic Students
      • Call 250.740.6416;
      • Leave a voice message with your name, student number, and email.
      • Please ensure your phone number and email match your student record. If this information does not match your student record, please update your student record (link to: https://students.viu.ca/SRS/mystudentrecord.htm).
      • You will be contacted by Counselling Services to set up an appointment. 
    • For International Students
      • Email Counselling.International@viu.ca (this email is only monitored Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 4:00pm).
      • Indicate your name and student number only (the auto-reply from the email will indicate next steps).
      • Please ensure your phone number and email match your student record. If this information does not match your student record, please update your student record.
      • You will be contacted by International Counselling Services to set up an appointment. 

    • If you are experiencing a crisis, you can reach out to the Vancouver Island Crisis Line via phone at 1‑888-494-3888 (24/7), text or chat at 250-800-3806 (6-10pm); Kuu-us Crisis Line (24/7); and YouthInBC online chat (noon to 1 am)

    • Additional suggestions for supporting yourself through this time can be found here - VIU Supports for Student and Employees.

    • The Government of British Columbia has launched Here2Talk, a new mental-health counselling and referral 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. Please see: https://here2talk.ca/home. 

• Disability Access Services (Please email DisabilityAccessServices@viu.ca)
• Financial Aid and Awards (Please email financialaidInfo@viu.ca) 
• Health and Wellness Centre (250-740-6620):
  • The Medical Clinic on VIU’s Nanaimo Campus remains open on an appointment basis only. Patients can continue to leave a message at 250-740-6620 to a book telephone appointments.
• Office of Co-Curricular Engagement and Learning (Please email Omar.Karim@viu.ca or ccr@viu.ca) 
• Peer Supported Learning (Please email Shelley-Anne.Gajda@viu.ca)
• Services for Aboriginal Students (Please email sas@viu.ca) 
• Student Success Coaching (Please email Sharon.kelly@viu.ca) 
• Student Support and Intervention
• Know More: Sexual Violence and Sexual Misconduct

In Nanaimo

Building 200, 900 Fifth Street
Website: Nanaimo Campus Student Affairs - Services

In Duncan

Building 700, 2011 University Way
Phone: 250-746-3509
Website: Cowichan Campus Student Affairs

During the COVID19 situation, services are available by telephone, email, and online. The department number 250-746-3509 is monitored for messages during office hours.

We invite you email advising.cowichan@viu.ca. for an Educational Advisor/Counsellor to contact you by email, phone or Zoom meeting.  Please provide your full name, phone number, student number (if applicable), best times to reach you during our regularly scheduled work week and your preferred way for us to contact you.

Educational Advisor/Counsellors will be available Monday - Friday from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm.

Until further notice, we will not be offering face-to-face service at VIU.

In Powell River

Building 610, Room 118, 100-7085 Nootka Street
Phone: 604-485-2878
Website: Powell River Campus Student Affairs

VIU Student Affairs provides a wide range of services and supports to prospective and enrolled students and plays a critical role in supporting successful student engagement and learning. Historically, Student Affairs in higher education has focused on the holistic development of students through the provision of programs and services that extend learning beyond the classroom. VIU Student Affairs, through a responsive, student-focused approach accepts this responsibility and is committed to its achievement.