Thursday, July 12, 2018

Self-serve proof of enrolment now available in Quest

A message from the Registrar's Office.

Most students no longer need to order a proof of enrolment letter online or in-person. They can now visit Quest under the ‘My Academics’ tab and print a letter at no cost, at their convenience.

The self-serve proof of enrolment letter can be used for organizations such as banks, RESP providers, Canada Pension Plan, insurance companies, and employers. For students needing letters for immigration documentation, or any other reason where an embossed version is needed, the letter can be ordered and purchased via the Undergraduate Forms page or the Graduate Forms page.

This project was a joint initiative between Information Systems & Technology, Finance, the Registrar’s Office, Graduate Studies & Postdoctoral Affairs and the Student Service Centre, and will provide an easier, quicker, more affordable option for students.

Peggy Day reflects on tech support from punch cards to smartphones​

by Susan Fish.

When Peggy Day started work at the University of Waterloo in 1977, things were simple. “I came for an interview on the Monday, got a call on Wednesday that I had the job, moved on the weekend, and started work the next Monday.”

But not all things were that easy. Peggy, who is the Manager of IST Service Desks, responsible for the service desks in residences, the libraries and the central service desk, began as a keypunch operator at a time when the two-storey “Red Room” in the Mathematics and Computer Building contained the massive mainframe computer which was possibly the biggest computer in all of Canada. Programming was manual work for keypunch operators, but Peggy moved with developments in technology to terminals connected to the mainframe, and then PCs with increasingly smaller disks, before moving to the technology we use today.

Peggy, who worked in the same department, Information Systems & Technology, for her 41-year career at Waterloo credits her supervisors who regularly gave her new challenges and opened doors for new opportunities.

A lifelong learner who says “I learn something new every day,” Peggy enjoyed the shift to providing support for students, staff and faculty across the campus. She does admit, wryly, that on occasion a student has initially seemed skeptical about what she might know when she staffs a service desk, but “Really quickly they get comfortable working with me, and realize the scope of what I know and how I can help them.”

Although she says the work at the University and particularly the wonderful people she’s met (many of whom recognize her voice from having called her for support) helped give her focus when her husband died ten years ago, she is looking forward to retirement now, with plans to travel to Chicago the very day after she leaves the university. She also plans to spend time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, as well as enjoying her trailer on Lake Huron. She doesn’t think she could stop learning if she tried, and plans to get more involved in the retirees association, for which she has long provided technical support.

As she reflects on the changes in technology over the years, Peggy likens it to the changes her parents experienced in their lifetime, with the advent of television and telephones. “Like them,” she said, “I’ve seen an exponential change in technology.”

Peggy Day's retirement celebration takes place today from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in Federation Hall.

Fifth Annual Eco-Summit takes place today

The Sustainability Office and Sustainable Campus Initiative are inviting members of the University community to Waterloo’s fifth-annual Eco-Summit today from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in Mathematics 3.

The Eco-Summit brings together staff, students, faculty, and community partners to reflect on the University's progress towards its sustainability and environmental goals, to network over refreshments and food, to share ideas, and get inspired about campus sustainability.

This year's event will focus on building commitment among all campus members to improve sustainability at the University and beyond. 

The evening will feature opening remarks from Vice President, Academic and Provost James Rush. The keynote address will be delivered by Tom Ewart, who is the Senior Manager of Sustainability at The-Cooperators, where he and his team help the organization realize its vision of catalyzing a sustainable society.

Ewart was also the founding Managing Director of the Network for Business Sustainability (NBS), a non-profit organization that enables business sustainability by fostering collaboration between research and practice. In 2015, he was recognized as an Emerging Leader by Canada’s Clean50.

The event will also feature case studies from students, staff, and faculty around campus.

Online registration for the event is now closed, but you can still register at the door today in M3 1006.