The Ring

The Ring is the University of Victoria’s community newspaper. Its purpose is:

• to advance the mission and objectives of the university as articulated in the strategic plan
• to inform members of the campus community about news and events of interest to them and
• to help build a sense of community among faculty, staff and students at UVic.

Learn more about The Ring and access the print archives and advertising rates and schedule.

Latest stories

Campus Greenway weaves from west to east

The Ring

The westernmost segment of the Campus Greenway project stretches from Gordon Head Road to Ring Road. The entire greenway runs through the centre of campus, for a total distance of 1.3 kilometres, and when complete will be a multi-modal route for pedestrians and cyclists between Sinclair Road and Gordon Head Road.

Earth, climate and clouds

The Ring

Climatologists have a Precambrian problem: early in Earth’s history the sun was dimmer, but the Earth wasn’t colder.

University Drive pathway opens

The Ring

The University Drive Connection Pathway is now open after undergoing major upgrades, including installation of a new two-way bike path, separate pedestrian path, new lighting and crosswalk improvements. The project is the first of seven major active transportation network improvements to be completed as part of the Campus Cycling Plan, and the first step in developing an All Ages and Abilities (AAA) Cycling Network on campus.

Citizen scientists rise to the challenge

The Ring

On the rural properties of 19 citizen scientists in Metchosin, the work of verifying whether flying insect biomass is declining will soon be underway for another season. The Metchosin homeowners involved in University of Victoria entomologist Neville Winchester’s research were first recruited as citizen scientists in 2018.

Climate solutions focus

The Ring

Marine ecologist and conservation biologist Julia Baum awarded UVic’s President’s Chair Award for her research and teaching excellence.

Top newsmakers of 2020

The Ring

2020 was like no other—and the UVic community kept doing what we do best. Here are just a few of the many stories that helped shape a year of news.

CFI boosts UVic research

The Ring

UVic projects received a total of $640,002 in funding from the Canada Foundation for Innovation’s (CFI) John R. Evans Leadership Fund.

New student housing and dining project

The Ring

Construction begins on UVic's Student Housing and Dining project The initiative will create 621 new student housing spaces, plus a modern 600-seat dining hall, classrooms and conference space.

Field school on a cargo bike

The Ring

As COVID-19 turned the world upside-down, urban geographer Cam Owens had the immense task of shifting his International field school into an online course. The fourth-year geography course, Sustainable Cities, has been a surprising success considering how rapidly Owens had to adapt the field school to an online environment.

UVic ranked as a global leader in climate action

The Ring

A global impact ranking released today by Times Higher Education (THE) evaluating universities’ global contributions towards meeting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) puts UVic among the world’s top tier of leaders in climate action, and among the world’s top 100 institutions overall in contributing to a sustainable future for the planet. THE ranked UVic fourth among the world’s universities for climate action—meaning research and action taken to understand and respond to the global challenge of climate change.

New purchasing code of conduct

The Ring

The university’s Purchasing Services department has developed a new Supplier Code of Conduct (SCoC). The code sets out ethical standards of conduct for UVic suppliers while supporting the university’s commitment to sustainability. 

Sustainability action plans show path forward

The Ring

The university’s Sustainability Action Plan guides efforts across campus to achieve greater sustainability in operations. The close-out report on the 2014-2019 plan, now available, shows that UVic has reduced operational greenhouse gas emissions 25 per cent below 2010 levels, while natural gas consumption intensity has decreased by 22 per cent. A new plan sets sustainability goals and actions until the end of 2021, when a broader Climate and Sustainability Action Plan is expected to be available.

Food production in time of climate crisis

The Ring

An interdisciplinary team of UVic and international scholars is exploring how vulnerable communities can build local and regional governance of food systems in the context of climate crisis. They met recently on Vancouver Island for a workshop that launched the Four Stories About Food Sovereignty project.

Short-term investment policies to get update

The Ring

In its continuing commitment to promote a sustainable future, the university is updating two policies related to its investments and is inviting feedback from interested faculty, staff and students. Goals of the review include continuing to achieve UVic’s investment objectives, updating responsible investment practices and aligning each of the policies within the university’s Strategic Framework. Consultations will continue through October.

STARS gold for sustainability

The Ring

UVic has been rated as one of North America’s most sustainable universities, according to the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education.

The human benefits of marine protected areas

The Ring

Marine protected areas are well known for protecting biodiversity, but their effects on people who use the oceans are debated. Now a new review—led by University of Victoria marine conservation scientist Natalie Ban and 12 co-authors—illustrates that these protected areas can also support human well-being.