New Student Guide for Computer Science at VIU
This page is designed to answer all of your questions, or direct you to where you can find answers, as a student that’s new to the program.
How Do You Get in Touch with Your CSCI Instructor(s)?
This will vary from instructor to instructor, or technician. The CSCI Faculty page is updated each term, including information such as an instructor’s:
home web page (or a link to VIULearn, if that’s their main landing point)
office hours
email address (usually the best way to contact an instructor)
Depending on an instructor's preference, they may host office hours in-person, online, or both.
How Do You Access Your CSCI Course Page(s)?
Computer Science instructors host course information on either their home web page (linked to on the CSCI Faculty page) or VIULearn. These course pages include important information, such as:
Course Syllabus
Assignments and due dates
Links to course resources like video lectures
If your instructor is using VIULearn, and you need help accessing it, VIU’s Centre for Innovation and Excellence in Learning (CIEL) has a Student Support page that covers the topic.
How Do You Access the CSCI Labs?
VIU has multiple Computer Science labs, including:
The First Year Lab (B315-102)
The Upper Year Lab (B315-115)
The Shared Lab (B315-114)
The Project Lab (B315-215)
Students can access the labs using their VIU student card. Which labs you can access is determined by where you are in the program.
Your instructor will go over further details regarding lab use and Linux accounts during your first lab period.
CSCI Help Centre Course on VIULearn
The CSCI Help Centre Course is a course on VIULearn that you’ll be added to as a computer science student. It’s a collection of resources and documentation that should answer many of the questions you might have, now or in the future. Topics vary from learning how to approach lab assignments to advanced functions in C++.
The Help Centre
A few weeks into the term, we will have Help Centre students who can help with things like:
Being stuck on a first-year lab
Simple tech questions (Linux related, debugging, resetting your cache)
The Help Centre is run at scheduled times in one of the labs, and on Discord, for quick problems.
CSCI Student-Run Discord Server
You’ll get an invite to the CSCI student-run Discord server from your instructor(s). There are specific channels for each CSCI course, where you can ask your instructor(s) and classmates questions. For serious/timely issues, use email, as not all instructors check Discord frequently. The server also has student-only channels and channels to talk to Help Centre students and technicians.
Computer Science Technicians
At the start of term, your best source of help will be the CSCI technicians (contact information is on the CSCI Faculty page). The technicians can help with things like:
Resetting your CSCI password if you’ve forgotten it
Problems connecting to the CSCI servers
Technology Needed for Learning at VIU
VIU’s IT Service Desk has a helpful Tech Guide for all VIU Students, which includes how to access free resources (like Microsoft Office 365), how to set up your VIU email, and much much more. The IT Service Desk is also there to assist you with issues.
Computer Services at VIU
For general help with accessing all services on campus, see the VIU Technology website.
Centre For Innovation and Excellence in Learning - learning tools and resources
Sci-Tech Helpful Links (password protected)