Wednesday, September 21, 2016

Parity report tracks progress on equity goals

Feridun Hamdullahpur and other global university leaders pose with UN Goodwill Ambassador Emma Watson and Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women in New York on Tuesday.

Feridun Hamdullahpur was at the United Nations with nine other university presidents to unveil the first-ever HeForShe IMPACT 10x10x10 University Parity Report.

The report highlights the participating universities’ successes and ambitions for gender equity on their campuses.

“I am proud that Waterloo is taking the lead for Canada’s university sector in the global HeForShe effort,” said Hamdullahpur. “We need to promote the message that women equally belong in and excel in STEM. We need to deliberately create clear paths for women to pursue studies in fields like computer science, engineering and math so we can overcome social barriers that have no place in an innovation university in the 21^st century.”

In May 2015, the University of Waterloo made three commitments to address gender equity as part of the HeForShe IMPACT 10x10x10 initiative. Over the past 16 months, the University has taken a number of actions including the following highlights:

• The University of Waterloo HeForShe IMPACT Scholarship, now in its second year, will award 24 outstanding female students a total of $288,000 over the five years as a part of ongoing efforts to achieve transformative and enduring gender equality
• The appointment of six professors as Faculty advocates for HeForShe IMPACT initiatives
• Established a research grant, providing $80,000 a year for the next five years to support research and scholarship focused on gender equity
• Financial support for outreach to girls in middle school and for girls in indigenous populations
• A review of all faculty hiring recruitment and selection processes to identify support required to enhance the representation of women in faculty
• Established plans to host the first-annual graduate and post-doctoral conference for women in STEM from May 11 to 12, 2017 and a steering committee to build networking opportunities for new graduates
• A writing contest where through poetry, fiction and creative non-fiction, writers reflect on what a gender equitable campus would look like; selected submissions will be included in a special University of Waterloo anthology to be published on March 8, 2017 – International Women’s Day

Anya Forestell, a student in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Waterloo and one of the first recipients of a Waterloo HeForShe scholarship, spoke at the second anniversary celebration of the UN Women’s HeForShe movement for gender equity held at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City Tuesday evening. Forestell shared her experience of being a woman in STEM.

Catching up with 2006 triple-crown co-op winner Kristin Harris

Kristin Harris (on the right) at her medical school graduation.

by Andreea Perescu

It’s been a decade since Kristin Harris was named Waterloo Co-op Student of the Year, and her list of accomplishments has been growing ever since. Since being honoured ten years ago, Harris has graduated from medical school is currently studying to be an obstetrician. She will complete her obstetrics and gynecology residency program at the University of Toronto in 2018.

Harris completed a Bachelor of Science in Health Studies with a minor in Gerontology at Waterloo. She was the 2006 winner of the “co-op triple-crown” which means she was presented three awards to acknowledge her accomplishments: the Canadian Association for Co-operative Education (CAFCE) award, Education at Work Ontario (EWO) award and Waterloo’s Co-op Student of the Year award.

“I was, and continue to be truly honoured,” said Harris. “I knew a couple of students who had won the Waterloo Co-op Student of the Year award previously, and felt humbled to be considered in the same category, let alone be their successor.”

During her co-op work terms at the Sunnybrook Hospital in the Odette Cancer Centre, Harris was given the opportunity to contribute to the formulation and publication of clinical research. “I had the honour of presenting our findings at national and international conferences, which is something that would have been difficult to achieve outside of co-op.”

 “My experience at the Odette Cancer Centre helped me to realize my passion for medicine and clinical research, and provide inspiration for my career. It helped me realize my unique abilities and strengths, the areas where I needed development, and common workplace challenges, which allowed me to be better prepared and productive upon entry into the workplace,” she said.

Harris continues to cherish her memories at Waterloo, where she also happened to meet her husband (they married in 2013). “I am a huge supporter of the co-operative education program. I would encourage students to be open with respect to your workplace, as each experience offers unique learning opportunities, and sources of inspiration.”

For more stories like Kristin Harris’ and to check out our past and present co-op students of the year, follow @HireWaterloo and Co-operative Education.

Wednesday's notes

The University of Waterloo Staff Association (UWSA) has issued a call for nominations for the position of President-elect and three Director positions. To become a candidate, or nominate a staff member, complete and submit the Nomination form (PDF) before 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, September 28. 

To better inform campus of what it is that the UWSA does, and to promote the upcoming election, the UWSA invested in a professional video, its first one ever. Give it a watch or read the transcript on the UWSA's website.

The offices of the President, Provost and Secretariat & General Counsel invite members of the University community to visit their “Fresh Market” booth and help support the United Way. Stop by the Student Life Centre Courtyard on Tuesday, October 4 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and pick up a bag of fresh veggies or fruit for $3.00 or enjoy a bag of popcorn for $1.00. Says the official notice: "We look forward to see you there!"