Friday, September 2, 2016

Fall Orientation programming starts today

A message from the Orientation team 

Beginning today, new students are arriving on campus, and the Orientation team is ready to welcome them with customized orientation programming as well as events that bring all new students together. After a thorough review and planning process with key partners and stakeholders, this important rite of passage for new students (including approximately 6,500 first year, 2,000 grad students, 270 exchange students, and 500 transfer students) has more customized Orientation activities, including:

• International Undergraduate Orientation (September 2 to 4)
• (new!) American and Out-of-province Undergraduate Orientation (September 4)
• First-Year Undergraduate Orientation (September 4 to 10)
• Undergraduate Transfer Orientation (September 5 to 10)
• Exchange/Study Abroad Orientation (September 5 to 10)
• Graduate Student Orientation (September 4 to 10)
• Program-specific Orientation - Many departments also host program-specific orientation programming

More information about each Orientation schedule can be found on the Orientation website.

“We are excited to welcome all new students starting at the University of Waterloo this fall. Based on our research and consultation, we have targeted key groups to deliver the customized programs and activities that will help students to succeed at Waterloo, before bringing them together across campus,” says Pam Charbonneau, director of the Student Success Office. “Collaborating with key campus partners, especially the Federation of Students, Graduate Student Association, and each of the faculties, helps to give students the tools they need, resources they want, and a meaningful experience at Orientation.”

Ontario gives $2.3M to Waterloo researchers 

Twenty-one researchers at the University of Waterloo will receive $2.3 million from the provincial government to build Ontario’s knowledge-based economy in Waterloo Region.

Kathryn McGarry, MPP for Cambridge, and Daiene Vernile, MPP for Kitchener Centre, made the announcement of 11 Early Researcher Awards (ERA) and 10 Ontario Research Fund-Research Infrastructure (ORF-RI) awards as part of an investment in Waterloo region worth $3.6 million.

“This announcement will support infrastructure and help early-career researchers build exceptional teams to continue to lead the advancement of transformational research,” said Feridun Hamdullahpur. “This commitment and investment in research at Waterloo contributes to new knowledge and opportunities, and supports a competitive economy for Ontario.”

The Early Researcher Awards program recognizes and provides new researchers with $140,000 each to build a research term. Waterloo researchers from Applied Health Sciences, Engineering, Environment, Mathematics, and Science were among the winners.

The Ontario Research Fund – Research Infrastructure (ORF-RI) award help support infrastructure needs such as equipment and modern facilities. Researchers from Applied Health Sciences, Engineering, Environment, Mathematics and Science received awards ranging from $50,000 to $132,025.

Check the Waterloo News site for detailed information about each winner and the size of their research award.

What's open and closed this long weekend

The University of Waterloo will be closed on Monday, September 5 for the Labour Day statutory holiday, but "closed" might not be right word to describe the flurry of Orientation-related activities that will be taking place over the long weekend.

Many University services will not be operating, and most employees will have the day off.

The Physical Activities Complex and the Columbia Icefield Arena will be open on Saturday, September 3 from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., but will be closed on Sunday, September 4 and Monday, September 5. Check the Athletics website for more information.

While open Saturday and Sunday, the Dana Porter Library will be closed on Monday, September 5, as will the Davis Centre. Check the Library's website for a full rundown of branch locations and their hours over the weekend.

Most Food Services operations are closed this long weekend, with the exception of:

• Mudie's in Village I, which is open from 4:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. today, from 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, September 3, and from 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. on Sunday, September 4.
• REVelation in Ron Eydt Village, which is closed on Saturday, September 3 but open on Sunday, September 4 from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and Monday, September 5 from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
• Tim Hortons in South Campus Hall, which is open on Monday, September 5 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
• Tim Hortons in the Student Life Centre, which is closed Saturday, September 3 but open on Sunday, September 4 and Monday, September 5 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

A full list of Food Services locations and hours can be found on their website.

Several Retail Services operations will launch their extended hours this weekend:

• The Book Store in South Campus Hall will be open on Saturday, September 3 from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., Sunday, September 4: 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and Monday, September 5 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
• Campus Tech, located in the Student Life Centre, will be open on Sunday, September 4 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Monday, September 5, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• The Waterloo Store in South Campus Hall will be open Saturday, September 3 from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., Sunday, September 4 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and Monday, September 5 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
• Write Stuff in South Campus Hall will be open Saturday, September 3 from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., Sunday, September 4, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and Monday, September 5 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
• The WatCard office in the Student Life Centre will be open Saturday, September 3 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Sunday, September 4 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Monday, September 5 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Check the Retail Services site for complete hours of operation for all its locations.

Feds Used Books, located in the basement of the Student Life Centre, will be open on September. 3 from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., September 4 from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Monday, September 5 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

There are a few essential University services and stalwart operations that never shut down:

• the UW police, reachable at 519-888-4911 or extension 22222
• the Student Life Centre and its Turnkey Desk, accessible at 519-888-4434 or extension 84434
• Plant Operations' maintenance emergencies hotline at extension 33793.

Would you like to have your unit or operation mentioned in the opening and closing list for statutory holidays? Send the Daily Bulletin an email with the details.

Laborious notes on a Labour Day weekend

The Registrar's Office has sent a reminder to students that classes begin on Thursday, September 8 next week. Classes will follow the normal Thursday schedule. Students can:

• Confirm their class schedule on Quest.
• Check important dates and deadlines for the fall term.
• Visit their Faculty advisor if they have questions about their courses.

The Registrar’s Office and Student Awards & Financial Aid will be closed on Friday from 12:00 p.m. until 1:30 p.m. for an office event. The drop box will still be available for those dropping off forms.

The Physics Elevator will be out of commission from 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, September 1 to Monday, September 12 at 11:00 p.m. as maintenance work is carried out.

Calling all campus shutterbugs: If you happen to be in the neighbourhood of either the new South Commons pathway between the Graduate House and the Dana Porter Library, or the Arts Student Space Project expansion at Hagey Hall and care to snap a picture of the projects' progress, I'd be happy to share it in the Daily Bulletin. From my new digs in East Campus 5, I'm a little removed from all the action these days.

Thanks, and enjoy your long weekend everyone. See you Tuesday.