Tuesday, July 14, 2015

Waterloo looks to "lean higher" with conference

The University of Waterloo is hosting the international Lean Higher Education Conference in partnership with the Lean HE Hub (UK). The conference runs on Thursday, September 10 and Friday, September 11, 2015. The theme of the 2015 conference is Driving Lean Change in Higher Education and will explore successes, approaches to implementations, tools, and techniques, and overcoming roadblocks through four key ideas: 

• Beginning the Lean Journey;
• Lean:  Tools, Tips and Techniques;
• Driving Lean Change; and
• Building Capacity and Partnerships.

There will be a broad array of participating institutions attending and presenting at the conference that are currently using Lean methodology within higher education. It will be an opportunity to meet and exchange ideas with Lean practitioners from other universities and colleges internationally—some who are advanced in the Lean journey and others who are at the beginning. Highlights from the agenda’s (forthcoming) confirmed presenters include:

• Lean model cell: Driving fast and radical change - HAN University, Netherlands
• Lean Model and Frameworks, Lean Tools and Techniques, Lessons Learned – St. Andrew’s University, Scotland
• What Works Here? Lessons Learned and Shared Experiences – Carleton University, University of Notre Dame, University of Michigan
• Improving MBA Student Recruiting Process through use of Value Stream Mapping – University of North Alabama
• Where is the evidence-based support for Lean Higher Education? The research, the challenge, the opportunities? -  Dr. William Balzer, professor, and author of Lean in Higher Education – Bowling Green State University, Ohio
• From Integrated Project Delivery to Lean Operations – St Jerome’s University

"We invite you consider attending this noteworthy event and hear how universities, colleges, and other public institutions, are engaging employees and using Lean initiatives for better results, streamlined processes, and engaged customer service outcomes," says a note from Organizational & Human Development.

Registration for the Lean HE Hub conference is currently open with an Early bird registration rate ($600 CAD) in effect until Friday July 31.

Researchers take Ontario's French history to YouTube

University of Waterloo research assistants Sarah Reilly and Monika Sosnowski are currently filming and starring in a new bilingual YouTube channel called L’Ontario français et ses premiers textes (Early Ontario French Narratives) in an effort to deepen understanding of French Ontario history and its inseparable connection with aboriginal history.

Reilly graduated from Waterloo with a French Honours degree and completed a year at Queen's University's Faculty of Education. She will be continuing her studies this fall in Waterloo's French Studies program.

Sosnowski, a Kitchener native, completed her studies in the French Teaching Specialization program at Waterloo this past year. She will be attending the Faculty of Education at Nipissing University this fall. 

They began by researching elements of 17^th and 18^th century Ontario history, including: 

• Early dictionaries of Ontario’s indigenous languages by Gabriel Sagard and Jean de Brébeuf;
• La Salle’s extensive commercial trade on the Great Lakes; 
• Pastedechouan, an aboriginal boy sent to France by Champlain;
• ​French and Aboriginal conceptions of dreams; and
• Cartography of the Great Lakes and the lower Grand River by René de Galinée.  

“It’s easy to dismiss this part of our collective memory,” says Waterloo professor, François Paré. “Yet the voyageurs were the first witnesses and participants in an era of contacts with indigenous peoples. That alone continues to define what we are today”.

Sarah and Monika have managed a successful Facebook page, but their foray into YouTube has been the most rewarding. “The ability to be able to share this information to a wider audience is exciting,” says Sarah. “It is also a wonderful opportunity to spread history that is often overlooked.” 

The videos are filmed around Kitchener-Waterloo with locations that include the Huron Natural Area and St. Jacobs Mill Race Trail, the Toronto Carrying Place, along the Grand River (called La Rapide in 17^th century Ontario) and on Lake Erie by the Dollier and Galinée wintering site of 1669 in Port Dover. 

With six videos already posted and many more to come, there’s something on this channel for everyone, from local history buffs to educators.

Tuesday's notes

New Science students and their families will be on campus tomorrow for Science 101. Science 101 is a one-day event that invites new Science students and their families to come to campus before classes start. Students and their families will engage in programming identified by Science as important for a successful transition. Over 200 new Science students and their families will be on campus starting at 9:00 a.m. and they will be parking in the back of Lot C. If you’re on campus tomorrow and happen to see some of our new students and their families, make sure you say hi and welcome them to Waterloo.

A man was arrested on campus Saturday afternoon after witnesses saw him secretly recording a female library patron in the Davis Centre Library’s quiet study area.

Witnesses say he was using a mini-camcorder, which he monitored from a smartphone. Police were called and the accused was confronted as he left the Davis Centre. He was apprehended on the ring road.

The 27 year-old Brampton man has been charged with voyeurism, committing an indecent act, and possessing a controlled substance. He appeared in court Sunday.

The University of Waterloo has safety resources available including a personal safety guide on the UW Police web site, as well as sexual assault resources.