Thursday, April 21, 2016

Bruce Campbell named Chief Information Officer

"Following consultation with key areas of the university, I am delighted to announce that Bruce Campbell has agreed to take on the role of CIO on a permanent basis beginning May 1, 2016," wrote Vice-President, Academic & Provost Ian Orchard in a memo distributed yesterday.

Campbell is currently the Interim Chief Information Officer and Director, Technology Integrated Services (TIS), which has overall responsibility for much of IST’s core IT infrastructure and related services. 

Previous to taking on the interim CIO role, Campbell held roles as IST’s Director of Network Services, the Manager of the Faculty of Science’s computing department, and a number of technical and IT leadership roles in the Faculty of Engineering.

"Please join me in congratulating Bruce, and welcoming him to the role of CIO," Orchard concludes.

Mark Haslett checks himself out of the Library after 20 years

University Librarian Mark Haslett is retiring after 20 years at the University of Waterloo.

Haslett joined the University of Waterloo in August of 1996 as Associate University Librarian, Information Services and Systems, having previously served at McMaster University in a number of library roles including acquisitions and systems development.

As Associate University Librarian, Information Services and Systems, Haslett initiated and led a number of pioneering initiatives, the most visible being the TRELLIS shared library catalogue with TriUniversity Group of Libraries (TUG) partners the University of Guelph and Wilfrid Laurier University, which continues to this day.

On May 1, 2003, Haslett succeeded Murray Shepherd as University Librarian.

During his tenure as University Librarian, Haslett became a national leader in the areas of copyright and fair dealing, serving on the Canadian Association of Research Libraries (CARL) Copyright Committee for five years and as its chair for three years. He is the campus lead for the Copyright Advisory Committee. Haslett was the founding member of an Association of Research Libraries (ARL) Steering Committee on Scholarly Communication.

Haslett provided collaborative leadership for the Bibliometrics Working Group, which recently produced a white paper on guiding principles for the use of bibliometrics in measuring research outcome that will ensure that researchers get the credit they deserve for their research.

Haslett also presided over a period of extensive renovations to the Davis Centre and Dana Porter libraries that provided much-needed infrastructure improvements as the Library grappled with its role in an increasingly collaborative, increasingly digital learning and study environment. 

The digital revolution, including sharp increases in electronic journals and other digital scholarly resources, was a major feature of Haslett's term. In his many reports to the University's Senate, Haslett pointed to the success of collaborative efforts including the Canadian Research Knowledge Network, a federally-funded consortium of 73 research universities who worked together to negotiate affordable rates for electronic journals. And rather than wither away, use of the Library's physical resources bloomed, with ever-increasing turnstile counts and new pressures for study space.

"I think I have one of the best jobs at the University of Waterloo," Haslett said in his final report to Senate on Monday, April 18. "I consider myself privileged and fortunate to be University Librarian. Virtually everything the Library does it does in partnership, and together we are most effective in furthering Waterloo’s strategic directions when we work in close collaboration with others on campus and beyond...I am privileged to have worked with such a fine staff."

Senators passed a motion of appreciation for Haslett's service and gave him a standing ovation at the conclusion of his report.

In addition to his official duties, Haslett was active in the local arts and education communities, chairing the Waterloo Collegiate Institute (WCI) School Council and singing in the Renaissance Singers choral group, the Guelph Chamber Choir and his church choir.

Haslett retires on May 1, 2016 – 13 years after becoming University Librarian. A retirement celebration is planned for Tuesday, April 26 at 3:30 p.m. in the University Club, with remarks beginning at 4:30 p.m. Please RSVP by Friday, April 22 to Graham Yeates at extension 32281 or by e-mailing gyeates@uwaterloo.ca.

Triumvirate will provide interim library leadership

Interim library management team members Annie Bélanger, Alison Hitchens, and Sharon Lamont.

An Advisory Committee on the Appointment of a new University Librarian has been populated and measures have been put in place to provide the Library with interim leadership, according to a recent provostial memo.

After consultation, Vice-President, Academic & Provost Ian Orchard has asked a new Library Executive Committee to assume responsibility effective May 1. This new “LibExec” team consists of:

• Annie Bélanger, Associate University Librarian, Information Resources & Academic Excellence;
• Alison Hitchens, Acting Associate University Librarian, Research & Digital Discovery Services; and
• Sharon Lamont, Director, Organizational Services

“The team will report to me and will share overall executive responsibility for the Library, including participation on campus committees such as Senate and Executive Council, as well as external associations such as TUG, OCUL, CARL, ARL, and CRKN,” writes the provost. “Specific details about how the team will share these responsibilities will be made available over the next several weeks.”  

“I am looking forward to working with this team, which I know will provide effective, engaged and collaborative leadership during the upcoming interim period while the search for a new University Librarian proceeds,” the provost concludes.

Utility shutdowns around campus

Plant Operations has announced a number of utility shutdowns that will take place in the coming days.

The Science Teaching Complex will have an electrical power shutdown on Monday, April 25 from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. as new breakers are installed. Please ensure that all computer equipment is shut down beforehand.

Biology 2 will be without electrical power and fumehood exhaust service from 6:00 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. on Monday, April 21 as a new exhaust fan is tied in. All fumehoods should be closed and chemicals properly stored, and computer equipment shut down, prior to the work being carried out.

Federation Hall will have an electrical power shutdown on Monday, April 25 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. as a hydro meter is connected to the Building Automation system. Please ensure that all computer equipment is shut down prior to 4:00 p.m. on Monday.

Ron Eydt Village’s west and north quads will be without domestic cold water on Tuesday, April 26 from 8:00 a.m. to 12:01 p.m. as the water valves undergo maintenance.

UW Place's Wilmot Court and Wellesley Court will be without domestic cold and hot water services on Wednesday, April 27 from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. as new valves are installed. UWP's Waterloo Court and Woolwich Court will be without domestic hot and cold water on Thursday, April 28 from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for the same reason.

Electrical power to the Coutts Engineering Lecture Hall, the Davis Centre, the Centre for Environmental and Information Technology, and Physics will be shut down on Saturday, April 30 from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. as a new substation is installed. The entire buildings will be affected, including Sharcnet and the GAIA lab in E3. Emergency power will be available for egress only. All computer equipment should be shut down by end of day on Friday, April 29.

Burt Matthews Hall will experience an electrical shutdown on Saturday, April 30 from 6:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. as new heating and ventilation connections are made to the new AHS addition. Ensure that all computer equipment is properly shut down by end of day Friday.

Optometry will have its domestic cold water and electrical power shut off on Sunday, May 1 from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. as a fire pump upgrade is carried out. Please ensure that all computer equipment is shut down by end of day Friday.

Hagey Hall will be without electrical power on Saturday, May 7 from 6:00 a.m. to 12:01 p.m. as maintenance is performed on the building’s electrical panels. According to Plant Operations, life safety will not be available, so the building cannot be occupied as exit lights will be turned off during the repairs. All computer equipment should be shut down by end of day Friday, May 6.

Hagey Hall will also have an electrical shutdown on Saturday, May 14 lasting from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. as emergency circuit maintenance is carried out. Again, the building cannot be occupied during the repairs for safety reasons (the exit lights will be extinguished). Computer equipment should be shut down by end of day Friday, May 13.