Wednesday, March 23, 2016

Waterloo maintains global rankings in top subjects

The University of Waterloo maintained a total of eleven subjects ranked in the top 100 in the world and three among the top 50, according to results published yesterday.

The rankings, published by UK firm Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), put Waterloo 26^th in the world for its work in Computer Science and 29^th for Mathematics. Geography at Waterloo rose three places to rank 45^th in the world.

Studies in Chemical Engineering, Materials Science and Development Studies join the list of top 100 subjects at Waterloo. Waterloo is again ranked in the top 100 for Architecture, Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Environmental Sciences and Statistics and Operational Research.

“As they have done for several years, these rankings show that the University of Waterloo is held in high regard amongst the global academic community,” said Feridun Hamdullahpur, president and vice-chancellor of Waterloo. “While there are small changes to Waterloo’s position in some subjects, this reflects the normal volatility of world rankings and does not reflect our actual academic performance.”

QS ranks close to 800 universities worldwide in 42 disciplines. Waterloo is listed amongst the top 200 universities globally for 20 of the subjects evaluated – with improved rankings in eight subject areas. Waterloo again ranked in the top three in Canada for five subjects and in Canada’s top five in 13 subjects.

Waterloo also ranked in the top-200 for Philosophy, Psychology, Mechanical Engineering, Chemistry, Earth and Marine Sciences, Physics and Astronomy, Accounting and Finance, Business and Management Studies, and Politics and International Studies.

"QS subject rankings are all based on the same four indicators (academic reputation, employer reputation, citations per faculty member and h-index), however the weighting of these indicators is different for each subject and many tend to be more heavily weighted on the reputational indicators," says Jana Carson of Institutional Analysis and Planning. "The reputational indicators are based on survey results, and scores fluctuate from year to year based on the overall sample and composition of survey respondents. Some movement in the overall rank from year to year is typical in these types of ranking results and can be considered “noise”."

In 2014, Waterloo became one of only 11 universities in the world to earn a 5+ star rating in the QS Stars rating which evaluates universities against over 50 different factors. QS introduced the star rating system to help future students make decisions about which school to attend, looking at criteria such as the employability of graduates, teaching, sports facilities, and many others.

St. Jerome's names Vice-President Academic and Dean

St. Jerome's University has announced that Dr. Scott Kline has been appointed to the position of Vice President Academic and Dean of St. Jerome’s University for a four year term commencing July 1, 2016.

Professor Kline previously served as the interim Vice President Academic and Dean, and under his leadership worked collaboratively with faculty and staff to develop the University’s first academic plan.

“I am pleased that Dr. Kline has accepted this appointment," says Professor Katherine Bergman, president and vice chancellor of St. Jerome’s University. "The strong support he received from his colleagues to continue in this role demonstrates their respect for his leadership abilities and his collaborative approach to decision making. He has proven to be a highly successful Vice President Academic and Dean.”

Kline, who is also a professor of Religious Studies, said “I am honoured to be appointed Vice President Academic and Dean. The next four years should be exciting as we explore ways to enhance student experience, renew our academic programming, facilitate transformational research, and strengthen our external partnerships.”

How WatPD supports co-op students

The transition from university life into the workplace can be difficult on students. Employers are looking for broader skill sets and knowledge bases than ever before, often ranking oral communication, written communication, teamwork, and critical thinking and/or problem solving as the most desirable skills for entry-level positions. Luckily, WatPD is here to help. WatPD teaches these highly-desired skills, complementing the learning that occurs during academic courses and co-op experiences.

WatPD offers 13 professional development courses on topics ranging from conflict resolution to project management. The courses provide co-op students with the foundation required to recognize the importance of these skills and to address weaknesses in their skillset, accelerating the development of these highly-desirable workplace skills and improving their employability.

WatPD continuously strives to enhance student learning and improve employability through WatPD courses. The most recent program enhancement is the development of two new courses: PD11: Processes for Technical Report Writing and PD12: Reflection and Learning in the Workplace. Each course tackles a different, but vital component of the co-op program.

PD11: Processes for Technical Report Writing introduces students to the steps involved in report writing. It’s designed to help them write future work reports and reports in the workplace. The instructor for this course is Professor Jay Dolmage who is the Associate Chair of the department of English.

PD12: Reflection and Learning in the Workplace introduces students to the idea of integrating reflection into each workplace experience. The course covers important pieces like goal setting, self-awareness and metacognition, dependability, and adaptability. The instructor for the course is Professor Linda Carson who is the Director of Independent Studies. 

The courses are open to all co-op students, either as a required course or an elective. PD11: Processes for Technical Report Writing is a required course for co-op students in the faculties of Math and Science.  PD12: Reflection and Learning in the Workplace is a required course for co-op students in Applied Health Sciences, Arts, and Environment. These new courses are replacing PD2 in the suite of courses offered by WatPD and will be available in Fall 2016. 

WatPD is also the largest co-op employer at the University, offering co-op experiences to over 40 co-op students each year and 222 students since 2012. Co-op students not only gain experience as students of WatPD courses but also as employees.

Talk examines race and gaming

The Department of Drama and Speech Communication, along with campus partners, is hosting a distinguished lecture event featuring Professor Kishonna Gray of Eastern Kentucky University today entitled "Communicating Blackness, Performing Race: Racializing the Visual in Contemporary Gaming Culture."

"Intricately linked to an examination of the visual within contemporary gaming culture is the need to understand racialization, particularly because racial minorities (as gamers, developers, and characters) contemporarily and historically have faced exploitation, isolation, and othering," says the announcement about the talk. "The continual omission and racialized distortion of marginalized groups contributes greatly to the shock of hegemonic gaming culture, typically sheltered by structural privilege, when they encounter examples of Blackness that are not discursively bound by stereotypical misrepresentations. These acts of Black communicative resistance will also be explored, examining their ability to infiltrate the hegemonic culture of gaming and lead to sustained change."

Professor Gray is the Director Eastern Kentucky University's Critical Gaming Lab, and is a faculty member in the School of Justice Studies, African/African-American Studies, Women & Gender Studies. 

Her work intersects identity and new media with a particular focus on gaming. Her most recent book, "Race, Gender, & Deviance in Xbox Live"  provides a theoretical framework for examining deviant behavior and deviant bodies within that virtual gaming community. 

Her work has been featured in the LA Times, New York Times, Paste Magazine, Engadget, The Guardian, BET, and Blavity. She’s a featured blogger and podcaster with “Not Your Mama’s Gamer”.

The public lecture takes place at 3:30 p.m. in AL 113. A reception will follow.

Faculty Senate vote concludes today; other notes

There's still time for regular faculty members to vote for Faculty-At-Large representatives on the University's Senate. The online ballot is open until 4:30 p.m. today. Voters can review the candidates' statements online. There are nine candidates running for eight available seats on Senate.

Today's Noon Hour Concert at Conrad Grebel features Canadian tenor Colin Ainsworth, whose exceptional singing, remarkable diction, and diverse repertoire stretching from the Baroque to modern period will be accompanied by distinguished Canadian pianist William Aide. The concert takes place at 12:30 p.m. in the Conrad Grebel chapel.

“The Federation of Students is hosting its General Meeting on March 23 at 5 p.m. in the Student Life Centre Great Hall," writes the federation's Jacqueline Martinz. "All undergraduates are invited to attend, and have their say on issues that will impact them during the upcoming academic year and beyond. Snacks will be served during the evening, and students will be able to ask questions and engage with their elected representatives. From student groups to fees, the full agenda for the meeting is available online.”

The University of Waterloo's Youth Programs and Summer Camp activities have been consolidated into a handy resource page. Although some, like the ever-popular Engineering Science Quest programs, are already sold out, there are many different opportunities available. Even as the weather takes a turn for the wintry, it's never too early to think about the summer.

While we're on the subject of weather, Environment Canada is warning of a significant freezing rain event that will begin this evening and continue into Thursday morning. Check the University's Weather Statement page for updates as the situation continues to develop, and take care on icy and slippery surfaces on campus. The venerable green sand bins are still in place to be used as needed.

The University Club will be hosting its annual Easter Luncheon Buffet today and tomorrow from 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. With a menu that includes green chili deviled eggs, cucumber, chickpea and pepper salad, red quinoa, black bean and corn, hhili chai baked ham, spiced fig-balsamic glazed salmon, and gruyére-leek scalloped potatoes, there's no reason not to hop on down to the University Club.

The Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Energy (WISE) will be hosting its annual Energy Day event on Wednesday, March 30 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Fed Hall. "It will be an enlightening day of energy research presentations, poster displays, networking opportunities and interesting discussions with researchers," says the announcement. "Complimentary refreshments will be provided so make your way on to Fed Hall for a great day of energy day activities! We encourage everyone to take the opportunity to showcase any energy-related work through our poster showcase."

Here's today's Nutrition Month "Myth vs. Fact" supplied by Health Services Nutritionist Sandra Ace:

Myth: A cleansing diet supports a healthy digestive system and can be useful in jumpstarting weight loss.

Fact: There is no evidence to support any health benefit for a bowel cleanse. Waste is effectively and safely removed from your body by its own organs. Not only are there no benefits, there can be some health risks associated with cleansing diets. They can cause unpleasant side effects including cramping, bloating, nausea, vomiting, dehydration, headaches, lack of energy and dizziness. Cleansing diets can decrease or change the healthy bacteria in the colon and may lead to serious side effects such as electrolyte imbalance, a drop in blood pressure or blood glucose and may interact with medications. A varied, balanced, diet containing recommended amounts of dietary fibre and water will help to keep your digestive system healthy as well as support a healthy weight.