VIU IN THE NEWS – MARINERS NAMED BEST IN BC

By Josh Aldrich, Nanaimo Daily News April 23, 2013 The Vancouver Island University Mariners received two more honours this weekend as they were named team of the year by Basketball B.C. and Matt Kuzminski received a coaching excellence award. The Mariners surprised many by winning the Canadian Colleges Athletic Association national championship as a Pacific Western Athletic Association wild card team in Montreal in March. Star guard Brandon Jones carried the team during their post-season run, earning most valuable player … Continued

COMMUNITY DIALOGUE SERIES TO BE PLANNED ON "RISING TO THE CHALLENGE OF RECONCILIATION"

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, April 3, 2013 NANAIMO, BC A coalition of community leaders have formed a working group to begin planning a series of dialogue sessions to address the theme of reconciliation and racism prevention in Nanaimo. This was the outcome of a dialogue session held today at Vancouver Island University. In the presence of VIU’s First Nations Elders, those in attendance addressed the theme of “Rising to the Challenge of Reconciliation: Building a Stronger Community.” Co-hosted by Snuneymuxw … Continued

VIU (Vancouver Island University) Introduces Graduate Diploma in Online Learning and Teaching (OLTD)

Distance learning is one of BC’s educational growth areas and teachers with expertise in this rewarding field are in popular demand. The OLTD program was designed in cooperation with professionals and school district distance learning principals to meet the needs of today’s 21st Century online learners. This innovative, two-year part-time, fully-online, 30 credit program, develops confident educators competent in the use of existing and emergent technologies to optimize online learning and teaching opportunities for diverse learners in equally diverse environments. … Continued

VIU APPOINTS NEW DEAN, FACULTY OF CAREER AND ACADEMIC PREPARATION

Jean Maltesen has been appointed to the position of Dean, Faculty of Academic and Career Preparation (ACP). The faculty includes programs such as Adult Basic Education, Literacy and Adult Special Education as well as the Aboriginal University Bridging Program, University College Entrance Program and Tutor Training Program. Maltesen has been successfully performing the duties of Interim Dean in the Faculty since October 2011 and has worked at VIU for almost 20 years. She’s held teaching, governance, labour management and leadership … Continued

Vancouver Island University to receive new skills training equipment…

From a new dishwasher to a state-of-the-art forklift, VIU’s trades programs got a much needed boost Tuesday, as the government pledged $1.46 million towards new skills training equipment at Vancouver Island University The funding is aimed at tackling  B.C.’s labour shortage in the skilled trades. The government has promised to give $17 million towards equipment for skills and training programs. In the next 10 years, one million jobs will open up in B.C. with 43 percent of those being in … Continued

VIU addressing Canada's Skills Shortage

NANAIMO, BC – Vancouver Island University (VIU) is committed to working to address Canada’s skills crisis by training and educating leaders of tomorrow. That was the message from VIU President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Ralph Nilson in a luncheon address to the Greater Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce today. Referring to a September 24 report from the Canadian Chamber of Commerce called, “Canada’s skills crisis: what we heard”, Nilson said VIU is working to address the key recommendations in this paper, by … Continued

LOCAL DONOR BEQUESTS $500,000 TO VIU

“If you are educated, you are free.” Stanislaw Radzik  Those were the sentiments of the late Stanislaw Radzik who made a bequest of more than $500,000 to create bursaries for VIU students. A bequest is a common planned giving donation, where donors include instructions in their will for part or all of their estate to be left to an institution such as VIU. Mr. Radzik placed a high value on post-secondary education and, realizing the financial worries of today’s students, … Continued

LOCAL PHILANTHROPIST DONATES $350,000

Thanks to the generous support of local philanthropist Sidney Sharman, VIU nursing students will now be able to get critical hands-on experience in a state-of-the-art nursing simulation lab to be built on the Nanaimo campus. Sharman’s donation of $350,000 combined with initial funding from Windsor Plywood ensures the funds are now secure to complete this critical project. “I think there’s no better profession to support than nursing. After all, everyone needs a nurse, from the minute they’re born, to the … Continued

Ministry of Advanced Education launches new International Education Strategy at VIU

BC’s Advanced Education Minister Naomi Yamamoto launched the BC government’s new International Education Strategy at Vancouver Island University on Monday, May 28. As part of the strategy, Minister Yamamoto announced $5 million for scholarships and research internships to assist students embarking on an international education experience. Vancouver Island University President Dr. Ralph Nilson said each year, the City of Nanaimo hosts over 1,000 VIU international education students who live in home-stay accommodation with families across the community. “In a city … Continued

Personal experience fuels VIU BSc. grad student’s medical aspirations

Two significant events sparked William Cope’s dream of becoming a doctor – a rare childhood illness that left him partially paralyzed and his father’s battle with Parkinson’s disease. His dream is about to become reality. Cope has been accepted into Cornell University’s prestigious Weill Cornell Medical College, an Ivy League medical school in New York City. He’s one of approximately 20 students selected from more than 6,000 applicants. The class will ultimately be made up of just over 100 students. … Continued