Tuesday, November 15, 2016

Keystone says thanks a million on National Philanthropy Day

National Philanthropy Day® is set aside to recognize, and pay tribute to the greatest contributions that philanthropy – and those people active in the philanthropic community – have made to our lives, our communities, and our world.

On this day, we say thank you to our campus community of staff, faculty, retirees, and volunteers, who give generously to ensure we can offer our students a world-class education. 

This is why members of our campus community choose to give to Waterloo:

Understanding poverty and education from a non-Western perspective

by Michelle Pressé. Waterloo is celebrating International Education Week with a variety of on-campus activities, as well as a series of stories showcasing some of the international experiences of our students, faculty, and staff.

Visiting a maximum security prison isn’t often found on itineraries for school trips, but organizers of the Explore Southern Africa program weren’t trying to be mainstream.

Robben Island, the prison where many of South Africa’s freedom fighters were imprisoned—including Nelson Mandela, who served 18 of his 27 years in “Cell number five”—was one of the highlights of Ibi Brown’s program in South Africa and Namibia.

With 182,000 alumni in 148 countries, more than 17,000 international work terms, more than 7,000 international graduate and undergraduate students, and $20 million annually in international research funding, Waterloo’s role in international education continues to grow.

“You can read as much as you want about Nelson Mandela,” says Ibi, who works as a global learning co-ordinator in the Student Success Office. “But seeing where he was imprisoned and meeting the people who were incarcerated with him is a once in a lifetime experience.”

She spearheaded the 25-day program with the help of Lowell Ewert, director of the peace and conflict studies program at Conrad Grebel University College.

Having travelled to various parts of Africa before the program, Ibi knows firsthand the continent is more diverse than people give it credit for.

“We know a lot about Europe and how the landscapes and cultures vary,” says Ibi. “But a lot of people forget that Africa is a huge continent and the countries and regions vary greatly from each other.”

Developing international opportunities for students is an important aspect of Waterloo’s philosophy on education. Embracing experiential learning and innovative ideas is a key element of becoming one of the most internationalized universities through global prominence and internationalization, one of the goals within the Strategic Plan.

“This course was a great example of a way in which experiential education can go international,” says Interim Associate Vice-President, International Ian Rowlands. “By bringing their own academic knowledge, and sharing that with their peers, this trip afforded these students the opportunity to learn from southern Africa, from their leaders, and from each other.”

While a handful of the 12 students who participated received credit for the course, most students joined simply for the experience, which included sandboarding and camping at Etosha National Park.

Ibi says the most rewarding part of the experience was watching students learn about poverty, education, and community development from a non-Western perspective. The group had the opportunity to visit Namibia’s Katutura Township, which translates to “the place where people do not want to live.”

During the 1960s, the Windhoek municipality forcefully resettled the city’s black population. Today, the settlement is mostly made up of women, children, and students from rural areas who cannot afford accommodations elsewhere. Overcrowded and lacking water, electricity and other basic services, life in Katutura remains a challenge to those who live there.

“Sometimes, travelling helps you realize what we take for granted,” says Ibi. “It gives you an appreciation for home.”

Annual reminder about alcohol and hospitality expenses

A message from Finance.

As the Fall season progresses and our thoughts turn to organizing upcoming holiday parties, we wanted to take the opportunity to remind everyone about the University’s policies with respect to alcohol expenses.  While there are no specific policies with respect to staff events aside from general references in the Alcohol Policy, the Broader Public Sector Accountability Act does hold us accountable for our use of funds and cautions on the potential for public and media attention related to these type of expenses. It further notes that in the Ontario Public Service (whose definition could arguably include us as a publicly-funded University), social events are paid for by staff. Any individual incurring expenses on behalf of the University must be able to demonstrate the prudent and responsible use of funds.

Regardless of whether the event is for the purpose of hosting internal or external individuals, our policies related to alcohol apply. Alcoholic beverages are to be purchased and served only by a licensed establishment. In particular, the cost of alcoholic beverages for events will not be reimbursed under the following conditions:

• When an individual purchases alcoholic beverages directly from a supplier, such as The Beer Store, Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO), or any similar establishment.
• When the event, at which alcoholic beverages are served, is not held at a commercial, licensed establishment. The University’s Food Services – Catering department is required to serve at events held in a private residence.

The guidelines are in place to ensure that all alcohol service and consumption is managed in a safe environment that is in line with both the University (see Policy 21 – Alcohol Use and Education) and the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) policies. The guidelines are designed to protect the University, but also the individual holding the event. If something were to happen at an event at an individual’s home, they could be considered liable. Unlicensed events sponsored or reimbursed by the University (or even perceived to be sponsored by the University) cause the University to risk losing our liquor license for the entire campus. Individuals or departments should also not be applying for a special event liquor license on behalf of the University for an event. The University liquor license is managed by Food Services.