Staff ambassadors

Participation as an ambassador for convocation is encouraged by the president of the University of Waterloo. Requesting time off is necessary and approaching your manager in a timely manner inquiring about this opportunity is important.

This frequently asked questions page can be shared with your manager to answer many of their questions.

It is important to highlight to your manager the professional and personal development you will gain as an employee, the skill you will bring back to your current role and the opportunity to assist in the major milestone for all students on campus — what we all work hard to see achieved!

See Policy 16: Overtime, University Support Staff to understand the approach the University of Waterloo takes when it comes to time in lieu.

If you participate as an ambassador for a ceremony outside of regular business hours (evening and weekend ceremonies) you may or may not receive time in lieu for your commitment. If time in lieu is not granted by your manager, you can still donate your time to an evening or weekend ceremony. Please still consider participating at convocation if time in lieu is not approved by your manager.

Convocation is a celebratory milestone and is an opportunity for campus community ambassadors to share in the celebration and link their work directly to this milestone.

This is a professional development opportunity for your staff. Convocation volunteerism offers the opportunity for staff members to work with a cross-functional team to learn new skills, hone current ones and experience different opportunities that could shape their career trajectory. Depending on the ambassador role your staff member takes on they would learn the following:

• Leadership skills
• Customer service skills
• Organizational skills
• Relationship development skills
• Time management skills
• Communication skills, etc.

Convocation volunteerism is also an opportunity for your staff member to connect and network with other staff on campus, only strengthening the campus community.

Convocation ambassador will receive a letter of recognition from the president of the University highlighting their contribution to convocation that can be used during your staff member’s performance review.

When you approve a staff member to become an ambassador for convocation, the employee's home department will release them for the hours required. See the ceremonial timelines below. It is your discretion as to whether lieu time is granted to your staff member for hours worked outside of regular business hours (i.e., evening and weekend ceremonies).

For shifts worked outside of the employee’s regular business hours, it is recommended the home department honour time in lieu for the hours worked. The amount of lieu time calculated can be determined based on the ceremony timelines found below. A typical ambassador shift is approximately 4 hours in length.

Should you decide not to provide time in lieu for ambassador hours worked in the evenings and on weekends, it is then a decision for your staff member as to whether they would like to donate their time to convocation. Convocation would still benefit greatly from any staff member who chooses to donate their time — feel free to encourage this participation.