Wednesday, June 15, 2016

Faculty of Arts takes to the Convocation stage today

The third Convocation ceremony this week takes place at 10:00 a.m. today. The morning ceremony will feature degrees and diplomas from Accounting & Financial Management including Taxation), Anthropology, Arabic Language, Chinese Language, Classical Studies, Drama, Economics, English Language and Literature, Fine Arts, French Studies, German, Global Business and Digital Arts, Global Experience, Global Governance, History, Human Resources Management, Japanese Language, Korean Language, Medieval Studies, Music, and Speech Communication.

This morning, 602 undergraduates, 95 Master's students, and 14 PhD candidates will cross the stage and receive their degrees. Follow along with the Convocation livestream.

Bearing the mace is John North, a professor in the Department of English Language and Literature.

Julie-Anne Desrochers will sing the national anthem.

Catherine Vendryes will deliver the morning's valedictory address. Vendryes is graduating with a degree in English-Literature and Rhetoric, Honours, Arts and Business Co-operative Program.

Patricia O’Malley will receive an Honorary Doctor of Laws and will address Convocation. O’Malley is a prominent member of the Canadian accounting profession and has had a significant influence over its development and financial regulation in Canada, and she is leader in the development of international financial reporting standards.

She has made numerous and significant contributions to her profession, the global financial community, the Canadian financial community, the academic community, the advancement of women and gender equality, and charitable endeavours. Her work has contributed strongly to the development and global acceptance of the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). For many years she was active in the Canadian Academic Accounting Association in a number of capacities, including serving as president in 1993. She has provided advice and guidance at both the University of Alberta and the University of Waterloo. She has been active in governance as a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario, and has been a speaker at professional and academic conferences and seminars. She is the author of academic and practice works and for many years she was on the editorial board of Corporate Finance. Her contribution to practice extends beyond her own profession and she has been a member of the Actuarial Standards Oversight Council which oversees the activities of the Actuarial Standards Board.

She is part of a small, select group of women who were pioneers in the profession both in Canada and internationally who broke down barriers and achieved the highest levels of success. Having broken gender barriers herself, she became a strong advocate for permanently dismantling gender barriers in the accounting profession and mentored many women who followed her path.

Jee-Hae Lim, an associate professor in the School of Accounting and Finance, will receive the Distinguished Teacher Award. Since she joined the University in June 2006, Lim has been credited for taking a course that students approached with trepidation and turning it into a course that students love. She is known for establishing a personal connection with students, even in large classes – by learning names, doing homework checks in the classroom, and offering career advice during her office hours. One undergraduate described Lim as “dynamic in the classroom, supportive during office hours (regular and extended), and overall a great instructor and person to interact with.” Lim’s innovative assignments are designed to get students to extend their knowledge beyond the classroom and the textbook. An alumna commented that, “Jee-Hae is like an invisible hand, gently pushing from behind, [and] encouraging people to accomplish that which at first seems impossible, pausing and applauding as each milestone is reached before gently pushing again towards an even higher goal.” One of Lim’s colleagues wrote that, “She brings the same analytical and comprehensive approach to delivering her courses that she brings to developing her research. In both cases, her performance is exemplary.”

The afternoon ceremony, which begins at 2:30 p.m., will see graduates of St. Jerome's University, Conrad Grebel University College, Renison University College and School of Social Work receive their degrees and diplomas, along with students enrolled directly at the University. Programs celebrated at this afternoon's ceremony include Arabic Language, Chinese Language, Global Experience, Independent Studies, Japanese Language, Legal Studies, Liberal Studies, Peace and Conflict Studies, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Public Service, Religious Studies, Sexuality, Marriage and Family Studies, Social Development Studies, Sociology, Spanish and Latin American Studies, and Women's Studies.

591 undergraduates, 77 Master's students, and 16 PhD candidates will receive their degrees this afternoon. Follow along with the Convocation livestream.

Bearing the mace will be Associate University Secretary & Senior Legal Counsel Sian Williams.

Prateeksha Ravi will deliver the afternoon's valedictory address. Ravi is graduating with a degree in Legal Studies, Honours, Arts and Business Co-operative Program, with a Human Resources Management Minor.

Paul Seli will be given the Governor General’s Gold Medal.

Katelyn Rowe receive the Alumni Gold Medal.

Katherine Crighton will receive the Reginald Haney Award For Outstanding Academic Achievement in the Legal Studies Program.

Michael David Klein will receive the Outstanding Achievement in Graduate Studies award at the Master's level.

Alexander Neve will be granted an Honorary Doctor of Laws and will address Convocation. Neve currently serves as the Secretary General of Amnesty International Canada and he has had a long and distinguished career as an advocate of human rights.

Neve's distinctive contribution to the advancement and defense of human rights in Canada and abroad is nothing short of outstanding, and since becoming the public face of international and domestic human rights in Canada he has helped to establish Amnesty International Canada as the premier human rights organization in the country. He has spearheaded numerous initiatives aimed at advancing human rights in areas related to Canadian anti-terrorism and refugee policies, including being the principal lead in the campaign Maher Arar returned to Canada and pressuring the Canadian government into opening a public inquiry into its involvement in Arar's rendition and treatment abroad. He has engaged in consultations with Canada's business leaders to promote corporate social responsibility and greater "human-rights sensitive" business practices, and he has worked closely with indigenous groups to encourage reforms aimed at remedying the ongoing problem of widespread violence against indigenous women in Canada. In 2007 he was named a Trudeau Foundation Mentor and an Officer of the Order of Canada.

He is a frequent visitor to Waterloo and he has spoken at the Balsillie School of International Affairs and in Wilfrid Laurier's International Human Rights Lecture Series. Amnesty International Canada has hosted student interns from Waterloo’s MA in Global Governance program. In addition, he has participated in the research of some of our graduate students in History and Political Science.

Professor David DeVidi will receive the Award for Excellence in Graduate Supervision. Professor DeVidi has been a faculty member in the Department of Philosophy for 19 years and has served the university in many ways, including as Associate Chair, Graduate Studies and currently as department Chair. What distinguishes Professor DeVidi is the time and attention he gives to each student. Despite his deep involvement in university, professional, and community service, Professor DeVidi is fully committed to mentoring students as scholars and as people. He works closely with students to clarify their thinking, to help them structure their research projects, to hone their communication skills, all while insisting in the highest standard of intellectual rigour. If students are struggling, Professor DeVidi has the patience and empathy to ignite their confidence and lead them to success. Colleagues also note that he has mentored them as supervisors. 

Professor DeVidi has played a pivotal role in graduate education in Philosophy at Waterloo. While serving as Graduate Chair, he revised the graduate curriculum to reflect developments in the discipline and the expertise of faculty, to enhance the recruitment of female students, to aid students’ progress through their degrees, and to mentor them as they transition to diverse careers, both academic and non-academic. One supporter described Dr. DeVidi’s impact on the graduate program as “incandescent.” His former students emphasize their great respect for him and their gratitude for the attention he paid them. They also note that he taught them how to use Philosophy both in their lives and in their careers in transformative ways. 

Photograph of Patricia O'Malley by Irene Miller.

Top 5 FAQs co-op students ask their advisors

Chantal Wall, a Student Advisor, located in Toronto, offers her guidance and support to Waterloo students throughout their co-op work terms. She shared her insights by answering the top five most frequently asked questions.

1.     Why isn’t my evaluation showing up on Jobmine?

Similar to an employee evaluation form, the Student Performance Evaluation form is used for mid-term reviews and end-of-term evaluations. Students are solely responsible for arranging a time with their employers to ensure that the evaluation is completed.

“Think about [your work-term] like a course,” Chantal said. “You wouldn’t forget to hand in a final paper, so you wouldn’t forget to hand in an evaluation.”

2.     Can I refuse a job once I am matched with an employer?

Being proactive and becoming familiar with the ranking process can help students avoid complications. Exceptional cases may be eligible for a job sign-off request. “The more proactive you are, the better,” explained Chantal. “The more we know ahead of time, as things happen, the more we can support the students and hopefully create a better outcome.”

3.     Where is my student advisor’s office located on campus?

Advisors are not necessarily located on campus, and in-person meetings may not be ideal.

Appointments are also not necessary; student advisors can be reached via e-mail, telephone and Skype. When contacting an advisor, students should always include their full name, student ID number and preferred method of contact.

4.     What happens if I don’t find a co-op position this term?

Students that have been unsuccessful during the first job posting cycle (the first round) can take full advantage of the second round of job postings. Although we have a 97 percent co-op hire rate, if a student does not find employment they have the opportunity to get experience on their own.

“Any relevant experience can add to a student’s resume,” Chantal said. “It’s important to know that we have steps all the way along. We reach out proactively to those students and offer those students more one-on-one help.”

5.     What do I do as a new student without a fully developed skill set?

“It’s important for students to know that the job descriptions and qualifications that employers are looking for should be thought of like a wish list,” advised Chantal. “Even if you don’t have a skill, if you’re keen on a job and interested and want to learn it, being able to communicate that is just as or more important than actually having the skill itself.”

Chantal’s final word of advice encourages students to reach out to their advisors. “I’m here to help [students] navigate the things that might be difficult,” Chantal said. “That is what I’m here for.”

To learn more about co-operative education at Waterloo, please visit Co-operative Education  and follow CECA on Twitter at @HireWaterloo.