UVic is still making the grade in 2008's national report card
The University of Victoria has again received high marks across the board from two major Canadian reporting agencies. Maclean's magazine and the Globe and Mail newspaper, two major institutions of Canadian media, recently released their annual reports on the pros and cons of Canadian universities.
Fresh Minds offers a fresh look at UVic for prospective students
The University of Victoria launched a new event aimed at connecting with fresh-minded high school students this term. The Fresh Minds Symposium, a one-day event held on November 3, was UVic's first opportunity for B.C. high school students from grades 9 and 10 to travel to Victoria to hone their skills in sustainable leadership in a convention-style format.
Master’s grad works to bridge violence with dialogue
When Megan Jerke saw the power of dispute resolution at work during time spent at a peace and reconciliation facility in Ireland, she was hooked. Jerke had originally planned to study law, but her time in 2003 at the Glencree Peace and Reconciliation Centre, a facility birthed 30 years ago from the violent conflict in Northern Ireland, changed her mind.
First-year students set their sights high with Peak UVic this fall
Up to 400 first-year residence dwellers were determined to reach new heights this autumn, participating in the University of Victoria’s first-ever Peak UVic life and study skills program. “Lots of universities do something like a ‘Residence 101’ and the idea behind Peak UVic is similar, but we’re hoping that ours covers a bit more ground content-wise,” explains Michelle Maynard, coordinator of residence programs at UVic’s ResLife office.
Locally-grown business models for sustainable communities
Dr. Ana Maria Peredo (business) brings an award-winning perspective to the academic field of business and management, informed by years of living and working among the poor in her native Peru and in regions from the Andes to the Arctic.
Emergency alert system comes to UVic
UVic Emergency Alerts is a new system that allows the university to quickly and efficiently contact students and employees with important information and instructions during an emergency. The system allows UVic to send messages to members of the university community by email, telephone and mobile text messaging.
Board approves deficit management plan
At its June 24 meeting, UVic’s board of governors approved a strategy to deal with the provincial government’s $4.2-million reduction in the university’s operating grant that was announced in March.
Hawks’ nest part of living laboratory
They may not know it, but four Cooper’s hawk chicks and their nest near the Cunningham Building are part of a long-term regional study. Former Ministry of Environment wildlife biologist Andy Stewart has been banding Cooper’s hawk chicks at and around UVic for the past 14 years. Some years he finds up to five nests on campus, but this year counted only one.
Community garden planting seed in academic programs
Tucked off of McKenzie Avenue, the UVic Campus Community garden is a little green space that offers a break from the hectic pace of life, a bit of exercise and a great connection to the wider Victoria community.
Diversity month celebrates multiplicity on campus
With over 10 per cent of full-time University of Victoria students coming from countries other than Canada, UVic's student-base is just about as diverse as our country itself. To celebrate campus multiplicity, UVic dedicated the month of March to a series of lectures, conferences, festivals and other events promoting awareness of diversity on campus and across the world.
International students receive valuable Canadian connections through Co-op Program
International students attending Canadian universities face unique challenges, from getting established in a new country to overcoming possible language barriers. Even working can be tricky to arrange, since international students must arrange for a work permit if they want to work off campus. Fortunately, UVic’s Co-operative Education Program helps students apply for special co-op work permits that allow them to seek four-month terms of paid work in their field.
Next steps for diversity at UVic
Every year the University of Victoria recognizes the issue of diversity through the celebration of Diversity Month. The month of March had the campus thriving with cultural activities, foods, sounds and discussion forums hosted by both the institution and student-run groups.
UVic ombuds office celebrates 30 years of behind-the-scenes advocacy
The University of Victoria’s 30-year-old Office of the Ombudsperson is the first place students should seek out academic advice according to UVic student and archivist Tina Argue.
Residence students take up the green charge
On a chilly Sunday morning in January, 125 of the University of Victoria's finest student leaders gathered to hone their leadership skills, network and build connections at a day-long conference honouring their accomplishments.
Writer's block (and its subsequent brilliance) exposed
Why would anybody want to watch someone else write? You might think that it would be tedious and boring, yet many people showed up at the University of Victoria’s David Strong Building on Jan. 26 to do just that.
UVic engineering co-op student earns job with NASA
In Cambria Hanson’s first-year mechanical engineering class, a professor drew an inverted triangle on the board to represent everything students would learn and highlighted its tip to show what proportion they would actually use in the workplace. But while working on a project for NASA last fall, Hanson used everything in the triangle and more.
Remembering Montreal's victims of violence
Members of University communities across Canada will come together in early December to remember the 14 women who were tragically killed on December 6, 1989, at École Polytechnique in Montreal.
Mastering the mysteries of academic writing
Good writing doesn’t come easily. Even the seasoned pros constantly work at it, creating multiple drafts to get it right. So it's hardly surprising when first-year students find writing their first university level essay intimidating.
UVic establishes faculty council for first-year professors
First-year classes are tough at any university. For one, these foundational courses make for some of the most packed classes on campus, with upwards of 300 enrolled students per class in some faculties at UVic. Add to that the reality that most of these students are in transition - from high school learning to university education, from home-cooked food to cafeteria or do-it-yourself meals and from care-free teenage life to maybe, someday soon, adulthood.
