Thursday, February 9, 2017

New associate provost for co-op named amid reorganization

“In response to one of the strategic priorities in the Experiential Education theme in the University’s strategic plan, organizational changes are being made to align the University’s centralized work-integrated education practices, primarily within Co-operative Education and Career Action (CECA) and the EDGE program for students not in co-op programs,” says a memo from Vice-President, Academic & Provost Ian Orchard distributed to Executive Council and campus stakeholders earlier this week.

Peggy Jarvie, currently the executive director of Co-operative Education and Career Action, has been named Associate Provost, Co-operative and Experiential Education (CEE).

The WatPD and EDGE programs, currently in the portfolio of Associate Provost, Resources Beth Jewkes will now be reporting to the new associate provost, co-operative and experiential education.

Also reporting to the associate provost will be:

• Co-operative Education;
• The Centre for Career Action;
• Operations; and
• WatCACE (jointly reporting to the Associate Vice-President, Academic).

“This new structure largely integrates existing units while changing some reporting structures and a level of accountability in some roles,” writes the provost.

Two new roles will be created to support the new associate provost portfolio; an executive officer to manage budgets, ensure Human Resources practices are followed and records maintained, and lead an administrative support team; and a data manager role that will build the practices around access to experiential education data and support ongoing production reporting, analysis and research in a strategic, systematic way. These roles will be filled by open competition.

“The Co-operative Education unit within the Associate Provost’s portfolio, led by an Executive Director, Co-operative Education, will have a refined scope that focuses on co-op student support, employer attraction and retention, and employment process support,” says the memo. “Recruitment for that executive director position will begin shortly.”

"The integration of these portfolios into one unit will strengthen the University’s work-integrated learning offerings for students across the university,” says Jarvie. "73 percent of undergraduate students come to Waterloo because of co-op and by combining co-op and research, professional development, the career centre, and operations under a single umbrella Waterloo will leverage its collective strength seamlessly for all students. This is evidence of the University’s commitment to co-op and other forms of experiential education, and I look forward to the opportunities ahead."

“The University of Waterloo is committed to co-operative education, experiential education, and work-integrated learning,” writes the provost. “Under this new structure, Waterloo’s leadership in co-operative education will continue to grow, and we will be better positioned to maintain our unrelenting focus on the educational and career success of our students.”

Give Feedback. Get Change.

Student feedback matters; it’s how we move ideas into action!

Today is the launch of the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) on campus. This survey goes out to all first-year and graduating undergraduate students, giving them the opportunity to tell us about their educational experience at Waterloo: How good is the academic advising?? How accessible are faculty members and campus services? How has co-op/study abroad/practicum opportunities helped to acquire a job?

These questions and more will be sent to students via their @uwaterloo.ca accounts. The survey takes 15-20 minutes to complete and will be available to students until April 4, 2017. Students that submit their survey responses will receive a $5 added to their Watcard and will be entered in a draw to win $500 and other weekly prizes.

The National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) measures students’ engagement in their academic pursuits and other educationally purposeful activities. It is administered by the Indiana University Center for Post-secondary research and has included participation from over 1,550 universities and colleges since 2000.

Waterloo last participated in the NSSE survey in 2014. Student responses indicated that they wanted improved quality of course instruction, better study space, and more opportunities to collaborate with faculty members on research.

After reflecting back on those results from 2014, we are happy to report that there has been a 30 percent increase in instructor participation in teaching workshops at the Centre for Teaching Excellence, 10,000+ sq. ft. of study space has been added or made available across campus, and $600,000+ in President’s Research Award funding has been issued for undergrads to participate in research with a Waterloo Researcher.

Visit the NSSE 2017 website for more information about this year’s survey. Additional information about the NSSE survey at Waterloo can be found on the IAP website.

• For general student inquiries, please contact IAP Survey Admin.
• For survey ethics, administration and survey results, please contact Jana Carson, Senior Manager at Institutional Analysis and Planning (IAP)
• For student engagement activities and outreach, please contact Laura Stickel

Let’s keep the conversation going, this feedback will help us to move ideas into action!

Student Service Transformation project update

A message from the Student Services Transformation Needles Hall (SSTNH) Project Team

Chris Read returns for the monthly update on the Student Service Transformation project. This month, we achieved a key milestone by hiring the project architect! Watch the video below to learn what the project team will be working on in February and visit the project website for more information.

Science celebrates its 2016 Science Alumni Awards

by Nina Yan

Last week, the Faculty of Science recognized five outstanding alumni at the 2016 Science Alumni Recognition Awards Reception. The annual event recognizes the outstanding contributions of Science alumni to their profession, community and science.

Opening remarks from Feridun Hamdullahpur kicked off the event and Bob Lemieux, Dean of Science, was the Master of Ceremonies.

Kurt Gray (BSc Psychology/Science, minor in Earth Sciences) is known as a leading scholar in social cognition and received the Young Alumni Award. His research provides insight into decision-making, moral judgment and the link between perception and mortality.

Three Science alumni received a Distinguished Alumni Award for their significant service, contribution and achievements.

Nicholas Brathwaite (MSc Chemistry) has developed one of the most advanced semiconductors assembly and packing technologies and is a successful technologist, engineer, entrepreneur, and private equity and venture capital investor.

“I am grateful not only for this award but for the quality of education I gained from this institution,” said Brathwaite.

Dr. Stephen Pautler (BSc Co-op Chemistry), an expert in hereditary kidney cancer and robotic surgery, is known for developing Canada’s first robotic surgery program and has also performed the most robotic surgeries of any surgeon.

“Waterloo set me up for success and I will be forever grateful,” said Pautler.

David Weitz (BSc Physics), currently working as a professor at Harvard, gained a reputation for his work in diffusing-wave spectroscopy, microrheology and fluid mechanics.

Janet McDougall (BSc Biology and Psychology, minor in Biochemistry) received the Contributions to Science Award. She is renown for her work in clinical research and is the founder of the pharmaceutical contract research organization McDougall Scientific Ltd.

Congratulations to all of our award recipients!

Creative Services updates requisition form; other notes

Creative Services has updated their online requisition form to make it easier for you request print design, video production, photographic management, illustrations, animation and web enhancements.

The new form will be launched on Friday February 10 at 4:00 p.m.

Changes you can expect:

• Detailed creative brief style questions
• Defined roles for project management based on the RACI format
• Defined project deliverables

These additional questions will allow us to better understand your project at the time of intake, reduce additional questions and provide insight into the best approach for applying the refined brand.

As always, we look forward to working with you on your marketing collateral and are happy to address any questions that come up as you work through these forms. Should you require any assistance, please reach out to either Jennifer Halcrow, ext. 31759 or Julie Grant, ext. 33612.

Please update your bookmark for the online requisition to the following link: https://uwaterloo.ca/creative-services/send-online-requisition.

The organizers of last week's #WeAreAllUWaterloo rally are back with round two on Friday - a Read-In and Act-Up event in the lobby of the Dana Porter Library from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.

"Please join us for a Read-In of poetry, fiction, and non-fiction by African Canadian, African American, and Muslim writers - including U-Waterloo students!" says the event's Facebook page. "In conjunction with National Days of Action against Racism, White Supremacy, and Islamophobia, and in honour of Black History Month, this event will feature readings, performances, write your own poetry activities, and time for solidarity! Join us because #WeAreAllUWaterloo."

More information is available on the English Language and Literature blog.