3 minute read
Rhonda’s Corner
I have to admit the fall term is my favourite time of year. Students arrive motivated by their big dreams of making the world a better place, and that “first day of school feeling” so filled with optimism and adventure permeates until the snow begins to fall! I am energized by the intensity with which our students committed to their studies and Vic life.
Vic’s ambitious and exciting plans for our beautiful campus reached a milestone when the Board of Regents approved the creation of a new student hub in the Goldring Student Centre. It will bring together the Office of the Dean of Students and the Office of the Registrar and Academic Advising into one central location, so students have better access to writing support and health and wellness resources.
Speaking of which, I was very proud to sign on to the Okanagan Charter this fall, which commits the University to embedding health into all aspects of campus culture—across the administration, operations and academic programs. This is especially important because we are seeing some students struggling with balancing university coursework while navigating pressing issues like climate change and geopolitical events. Most are also of a generation that spent a significant portion of their high school years isolated due to the pandemic, and some students still struggle with social engagement. We will continue to invest in critical health and wellness programs for students, given this reality.
I have also had the opportunity to really focus my lens on research. I moved my own lab onto Vic U’s campus to work with our students on technology and cognition topics, including artificial intelligence and other computer/human communication challenges. Keep your eyes out for a few upcoming publications! I am very excited about the research taking place throughout Vic U. We have a robust academic community of professors and fellows who understand well the vital role research plays in a high-impact university. The Canadian government’s 2023 Report of the Advisory Panel on the Federal Research Support System also supports this intensified research effort, stating a need to “buttress a strong, well-funded research enterprise with a system that is agile and capable of addressing emerging research, economic and societal needs and interests in an efficient and effective way.” I will be adding supports to Vic U’s research ecosystem in the coming years.
I look forward to sharing some research stories with you in future editions of Vic Report. I wish all of you a wonderful holiday season!
