NIC Orientation - Winter 2022

• Welcome!

   

• NIC’s commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion

   

• Welcome to NIC Live Virtual Sessions
  • Join us for a fun and engaging session to welcome you to the NIC community. At this session you will have an opportunity to meet other students, receive a brief recap on important information previously shared in our Let’s ConNICt Orientation, chance to win fabulous prizes, and more! This session will be held from 10 – 11 am PT on Thursday, January 6 and another on Wednesday, February 16th from 6:30 - 8:00pm PT. Email studentlife@nic.bc.ca to register.
• Welcome to campus
  • If your studies require you to be on-campus we will be pleased to provide you with an in-person welcome at our Orientation booths on each of our campuses! Be sure to stop by to say hi and pick up some useful information, NIC swag and a complimentary snack!
    • Campbell River
      • Watch a video tour of our Campbell River campus
    • Comox Valley
      • Watch tour of our Comox Valley campus
    • Port Alberni
      • Watch a video tour of our Port Alberni campus
    • Mixalakwila (Port Hardy)
      • Watch a video tour of our Mixalakwila campus

• Health & Safety

  The safety of students, employees and visitors is a priority at NIC. While it is exciting that many classes will resume on campus this fall, the anticipation of being around groups of people again may provide a level of anxiety for some. NIC is committed to following the Public Health Orders issued by the province of British Columbia, and measures will be in place to ensure everyone’s safety. Please visit our COVID-19 Safety webpage for more information. All NIC community members are expected to follow the safety protocols in place; failure to do so may be in violation of the Community Code of Academic, Personal and Professional Conduct (Code of Conduct).

• Personal Supports

  NIC offers many personal supports to assist you with any number of struggles you may encounter. Visit Student Life and Support Services for a list of personal and academic supports.

   

• Consent and Sexualized Violence Support

  North Island College (NIC) is committed to providing all members of the college community with a safe and secure environment free from all forms of sexualized violence. NIC will ensure that survivors and those impacted by sexualized violence are supported when addressing any Disclosures or Reports under the Sexualized Violence Prevention and Response policy.

   

  Examples of Everyday Consent

  • respecting boundaries of your friends, colleagues, classmates, and partners
  • respecting someone’s privacy and asking before sharing personal information
  • asking to take or share a photo of someone other than yourself
  • asking for clarification if you are unsure something should be done

  Consent in an Online World

  • all instructors must notify students that their lecture is being recorded before the beginning of class
  • respecting someone’s preferred means of communication is a form of consent. Example, emailing instead of instant messaging
  • sending unsolicited photos or videos without consent is a form of harassment
  • sharing received personal photos or videos without consent is a form of harassment
  • continuing to message someone when they are not returning your messages is a form of harassment

  Learn more about:

  • Consent
  • Relationships and boundaries
  • Being an active bystander
  • How to support a survivor of sexual violence
• Indigenous Supports

  NIC offers a variety of supports to assist Indigenous students on their college journey, including Elders in Residence, Indigenous Navigators, and the Aboriginal Scholars program. Visit https://www.nic.bc.ca/indigenous-students/ for more information.

• Healthy Relationships

  Establishing and maintaining healthy relationships is an important part of college life, as well as life in general. The following videos will provide some tips and strategies on how to look after your own needs, as well as how to maintain good relations with instructors and substances.

  • Yourself

     

  • Your Instructor

     

  • Drugs and alcohol

     

• Supports for Success Live Virtual Session

  Join us for a live virtual session on Wednesday, Jan 5th from 10:00 – 11:00 am PT where you will learn about all the personal and academic supports available to you as an NIC student, including Counselling, Library & Learning Commons, Department of Accessible Learning Services, Financial Aid, Advising, and more! Can’t make this session? No worries, this session will be recorded and placed here afterwards! Email studentlife@nic.bc.ca to register.

• Academic Integrity

  Academic Integrity means behaving with honesty and truthfulness in all work presented towards an academic credential or other academic-related activities. In this session, we will outline common misunderstandings and useful strategies to avoid academic misconduct.

   

• Advising

  Educational advisors can help you create an educational plan based on your specific education and career goals. Advisors have information about educational requirements for different college programs, courses, certificates, diplomas, and degrees. They are here to help you investigate programs and courses, explore financial aid options, make a university transfer plan, fill out applications and more. Visit our Advising website for more information and to book an appointment.

• Rights & Responsibilities

  NIC is committed to fostering a culture of integrity, mutual respect, and responsible behaviours. When you become part of the NIC community, you can expect a welcoming, safe, and inclusive environment. With that right – also come responsibilities – from being ready for learning to conducting yourself in a respectful and considerate manner. Visit our Rights and Responsibilities webpage for information on your rights and responsibilities, as well as information on NIC policies and procedures. It is also your responsibility to know the Key Dates of the Academic and Schedules and Deadlines.

• Library & Learning Commons

  Discover how to access the academic services and resources available at the Library & Learning Commons including research help, writing support, math support and peer tutoring.

   

• Learn Anywhere

  Are all or some of your courses being offered digitally? If so, we encourage you to visit our Learn Anywhere website for a variety of resources to help you be successful in a digital learning environment.

• Navigating NIC’s Digital Learning Platforms Live Virtual Session

  Join us for a live virtual session on Wed, Jan 5th from 1:00 – 2:00 pm PT where you will learn how to access and navigate various learning platforms, including myNIC, NIC email, Blackboard, and more! Please email studentlife@nic.bc.ca to register. Can’t make this session? No worries, this session will be recorded and placed here afterwards!

• Supports for Success Live Virtual Session

  Join us for a live virtual session on Wednesday, Jan 5th from 10:00 – 11:00 am PT where you will learn about all the personal and academic supports available to you as an NIC student, including Counselling, Library & Learning Commons, Department of Accessible Learning Services, Financial Aid, Advising, and more! Can’t make this session? No worries, this session will be recorded and placed here afterwards! Email studentlife@nic.bc.ca to register.

• Student Engagement Opportunities

  There are numerous opportunities for students to become involved at NIC. We encourage you to read the weekly Student Life Newsletter that is sent to your NIC email every Monday as it contains a wealth of information, including details on latest events and activities. We also encourage you to join the NIC Student Life Facebook group and follow the NIC Student Life Instagram account.

  We are planning some wonderful events and activities for the upcoming term, including:

  • Thrive Month (a month-long series of events and activities to promote positive mental health)
  • Brave Spaces (a series of panel discussions on important societal issues)
  • On-campus activities (movie nights, trivia, scavenger hunts, etc.)

  Visit the Student Life website for more details on how to become involved.

• Student Leadership Team

  Build your leadership skills through a series of workshops, volunteer opportunities and social activities. Email studentlife@nic.bc.ca for more details.

• North Island Students’ Union

  As a student at NIC, you are a member of the North Island Students’ Union (NISU) and entitled to all the benefits of that membership! The Students’ Union offers services to support members while advocating for high quality, affordable, and accessible post-secondary education. Your Students’ Union also facilitate campus life events, continually working to make your time at NIC as rewarding as possible. For additional information, including health & dental plan details, visit http://nisu.ca/.

• Student Employment Services

  NIC students can access a wide range of employment services and opportunities, both during college and after graduation. Our student employment services staff can help you with all things career-related including resume writing and interview skills. We can connect you with businesses and organizations that are seeking new employees and share tips on how to secure your dream job. Visit https://www.nic.bc.ca/student-life-support-services/student-employment-services/ for more information.

• Community Resources

  In addition to NIC’s student services, our communities across the north island are home to some amazing organizations, businesses, and resource centers that provide additional services to support student success. Check out what services are available in the resource sheets below:

  • Campbell River
  • Comox Valley
  • Port Alberni
  • Port Hardy & Area

   

• Join our Live Virtual Peer Drop-in Sessions!
  • Want to learn tips and tricks from a fellow NIC student? Then join our Peer Drop-in Sessions where you will get to meet our student Campus Life Assistants. This is a great opportunity to meet other NIC students and to hear directly from NIC students on what to expect.
  • These sessions will be offered from 6:30 - 7:30pm PT: Dec 1, Dec 15, Dec 22, Jan 5, Jan 12, Jan 19, Jan 26. Email studentlife@nic.bc.ca to register.

Visit our Parents & Supporters webpage for information for parents and family members.

• Dual Credit Orientation Overview

  All the information provided during NIC orientation sessions applies to Dual Credit students! We encourage you to explore as many orientation topics as possible in preparation for your term start. Read below to learn about how NIC supports Dual Credit students specifically.

• How does NIC support Dual Credit Students?
  • Student Preparedness

    Welcome Package- A Dual Credit Student Welcome Package is mailed to the student’s household. We encourage students to review it with a parent/guardian/supporting adult. This package includes a welcome letter from student life, a check list of important action items and deadlines to prepare you for the start of term, and a list of virtual orientation events. The welcome package can also be viewed digitally here: www.nic.bc.ca/dual-credit

    Welcome Email- Before the start of term Dual Credit students will receive a welcome email from NIC that includes a reminder to complete items on the check list prior to the first day of class.

    Tours- Prior to the start of term, all Dual Credit students studying face to face on campus will have the opportunity to participate in a campus tour. If your school is not already taking part, connect with your high school careers counsellor or email futurestudents@nic.bc.ca to book a tour.

  • Student Support and Services

    Services Available at NIC- As part of the NIC campus community, Dual Credit students can access all the student supports and services available, such as counselling, peer tutoring, library and learning commons, learn anywhere, financial aid/advising, and more.

    Resources for NIC students can be found here: www.nic.bc.ca/audience/current-students/

    How to Access Services- Dual Credit students may initiate access to these resources themselves, they can request assistance from an NIC instructor, connect with a student life representative by emailing studentlife@nic.bc.ca, or reach out to their high school.

  • Student Progress

    At NIC student success is supported by instructors, department chairs and program coordinators, deans, student services, and college administration. Dual Credit students have the added benefit of continued support from their high school.

    The following communications structures have been implemented to support Dual Credit student progress:

    • Communication with Instructors/Department Chairs- We encourage frequent communication between students and their instructors. Please feel free to reach out to your instructor and introduce yourself, and if comfortable, identify yourself as a Dual Credit student.
    • Communication with High Schools– NIC liaises with school district careers coordinators and school careers counsellors to deliver dual credit. For schools that do not have these resources, NIC will communicate with a designated school admin. NIC provides mid-term progress reports upon request from the high school and liaises with district partners to support student success and experience.
    • Communication with Parents/Guardians/Supporting Adults- The student’s high school is responsible for communication with the student’s parent/guardian/supporting adult regarding their student account and academic progress. We encourage all students to connect with their high school with student specific questions or concerns about Dual Credit.
  • Additional Dual Credit Resources:

    Incoming/Current Student Resources- There is a dedicated section available on the Dual Credit webpage for Current/Incoming students that covers “Need to Knows” and “Frequently Asked Questions” specifically for Dual Credit students.

    Counsellor/Coordinator Resources- There is a dedicated section available on the Dual Credit webpage for high school/school district members supporting Dual Credit students. This section covers “Need to Knows”, “Frequently Asked Questions” and important forms and links.

    Find these resources here: www.nic.bc.ca/dual-credit