The Daily Bulletin is published by Internal and Leadership Communications, part of University Communications
Contact us at bulletin@uwaterloo.ca
Submission guidelines
Just who's running this university, anyway? Part 2
Behind every great leader is a team of committed support staff that make things happen. As our University grows larger and more complex, we thought it would be a good idea for readers to get to know the teams that manage two of the offices at the helm: the Office of the President and the Office of the Provost. This is part two in a two-part series in the Daily Bulletin.
by Susan Fish
They call themselves the 411 of the University because “people come to us for information.”
Vice-President, Academic & Provost Ian Orchard, who has been in his position since July 2014, describes his role: “I work closely with President Hamdullahpur to deliver academic and administrative excellence across the entire institution, in large part by leading and supporting our excellent team of deans, faculty members, and staff. I serve as chief academic and budget officer, and carry responsibility for the day-to-day operations of the university.”
What this requires from his department of five, who work on the third floor of Needles Hall, directly between the offices of the President and the Secretariat, is extreme organization and deep knowledge about all aspects of the university.
Kim Gingerich, Executive Officer, Academic, is the longest-serving member of the department, having worked in the Provost’s Office since 2005. Over that time, her role has evolved and the staff has grown to meet the changing responsibilities of the provost. She says there are no slow seasons for this department which manages faculty hiring, administrative appointments, sabbatical requests, budget and strategic planning. The department also offers training to the university on subjects ranging from advertising to privacy. The office recently received a Silver Certification from Excellence Canada, a process Kim says has made their office more organized, better at communication and teamwork. Kim enjoys spending time with her family and traveling: she and her husband plan a trip to China and Vietnam next spring.
The newest member of the department, Laureen Gehl, started only a few months before the provost. As Office Assistant, in addition to reception and other duties, she is responsible for the provost’s calendar. She says his schedule is tightly packed, with up to eight or nine meetings a day, although she makes sure to schedule in short breaks and preparation time, and that he makes time for his own research. Laureen enjoys having contact with people from across the university as well as opportunities for interesting professional development in her role. Laureen’s daughter started school at UWaterloo this fall in the Faculty of Environment.
Administrative Assistant Bev Seibel is responsible for making sure all sabbatical and administrative appointments are completed accurately before they are sent to the provost for signing and the Board for approval. She notes there are always a lot of appointments and sabbaticals—last year 159 faculty in the university took a sabbatical. Bev also pulls together the university’s strategic plan implementation group meetings.
Lucas Mason, Computing/Office Assistant, is notable as the only male besides the provost in the office, and enjoys working with his colleagues. Lucas’ role has evolved over his five years on staff, with his current work involving web development, database management, and presentation creation. Lucas says because his work is mainly project-driven, his schedule is more predictable than that of others in his office. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his wife and is an avid sports fan.
Executive Assistant, Susan Oestreich, works primarily with faculty dean’s assistants and department chairs’ assistants verifying the content and accuracy of job advertisements and employment offers. She says that while the office has implemented a paperless system, her work (and that of her colleagues) results in an ongoing rotation of original documents for the provost to sign. Susan enjoys outdoor activities, and appreciates the department’s annual Christmas potluck lunch—although she’s fairly sure the provost’s wife prepares his delectable contribution to the meal.
Weather closing guidelines get an update
The University’s Weather Closing Guidelines have been updated and endorsed by Executive Council. Changes include additional details related to monitoring or consultation (e.g. Environment Canada, Grand River Transit, and police; monitoring other relevant agencies and institutions); clarified language regarding rescheduled classes; and safety and accessibility commitments when the University stays open in severe weather. The University community is reminded to monitor weather conditions this winter and refer to Plant Operations for priority snow clearance paths.
Thursday's notes
Engineering Outreach has announced that registration is open for Winter 2017 programming, including GoCodeGirl and Codesquad.
GoCodeGirl takes place on January 21, 2017 and is open to girls in grades 7 to 10. It's billed as an exciting opportunity "to learn about the exciting world of coding and software development, and discover opportunities in computing and engineering fields. Parents are also invited to stay for this event as we have fun activities planned for them too!"
The kick-off for the Code Squad program is also January 21, 2017. This will run parallel with Go CODE Girl programming for Grade 10 girls.
Register for the events online.
Human Resources is reporting that retiree Glenn Yates died on December 4. Yates started at the University in July 1967 and retired in July 1984. He was predeceased by his spouse, Mava.