Two students are sitting in a classroom, looking off into the distance and smiling

VIU Cowichan campus

At the Cowichan campus you’ll find dedicated faculty, small class sizes and close-knit community to support you in your academic success and well-being.

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Walking together

At the Cowichan campus small class sizes and hands-on learning creates real connections—with other students, with faculty, the community, and with the land. 

We focus on Q’ushin’tul (Walking Together). Q’ushin’tul is a Hul’qumi’num word that translates to Walking together. It's an Indigenous approach to education that promotes academic success and student well-being. 

"The spirit of Q'ushin'tul is to walk together in everything: education, employment, and life. At VIU we are walking together with students to create a balance of education and values based in indigenous ways of knowing and being." – VIU Elder Hwiem' (Marlene) Rice

Programs and Courses

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Cowichan Programs and Courses

Student Support Services

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Cowichan Student Services

Cowichan Campus and Facilities

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Cowichan Campus

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What's New

VIU News

Alum of the Month: Jennifer Lindley

It was while working at a job in another field that Jennifer Lindley decided she wanted to try a different career path. She thought the Forest Resource...

Celebrate autumn during Milner Gardens & Woodland’s Scarecrow Spectacular

What: Scarecrow Spectacular  When: October 25 to 27, from 11 am to 3 pm Where: Milner Gardens & Woodland Experience the beauty of fall at Milner Gardens...

VIU Professor’s new book explores identity and reconnection through reclamation

Dr. Georgina Martin is hosting a book launch on October 22, from 4:30 to 6:30 pm, at VIU’s Malaspina Theatre at the Nanaimo campus.  Dr. Georgina Martin’s new...

VIU-led project working to protect Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region ecosystems

Eastern Vancouver Island is one of nine eco-crisis regions in Canada. Only about three per cent of the land in the Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region (MABR) is...

Cowichan VIU Events

Oct
11

Open Mic Night

At Malaspina TheatreCome out to our Open Mic Night at the theatre. Singing,  Dancing , Poetry. . . We have a little bit of everything. Doors open at 6:…
Oct
17

Great British Columbia Shakeout Earthquake Drill

Earthquake preparation is important for everyone in our region, a seismically active zone, so all of VIU’s campuses participate. The annual Great British…
Oct
18

SafeTALK Workshop October 18, 2024

SafeTALK is a face-to-face workshop featuring powerful presentations, audiovisuals, and skills practice. At a this session, you'll learn how to prevent suicide…
Oct
18

All Things Language: Linguistics of VIU

Arts and Humanities Colloquium SeriesYoichi Mukai, Modern Languages StudiesThis talk will introduce two of VIU's linguistic initiatives: The Linguistic…