Wednesday, August 15, 2018

These are the issues: Leveraging Resources

This is part five of a 7-week series in the Daily Bulletin examining the Strategic Plan Bridge to 2020 issue papers. Have your say and join the Strategic Plan conversation by providing feedback!

"The University of Waterloo operates effectively as a small city," writes the Leveraging Resources issue paper advisory group, "which directly supports or offers services to students, faculty, staff, alumni, employers and an ecosystem of applicants, other agencies, institutes, suppliers, local community members and more."

The scale of Waterloo’s resources is enormous, and ensuring they are managed efficiently is of strategic focus to ensure short and long-term goals can be achieved.

The advisory group identified myriad University resources including physical, technological, people, and capital/financial, and noted that there is a strong interconnectedness in the way that these types of resources are governed and managed. According to the advisory group, the University of Waterloo needs to engage in effective management of resources, which are transparent and clear. Effective management of resources also implies intentional governance to optimize management of physical infrastructure over time, through usage of lifecycle costing decision-making tools to ensure preservation, maintenance, and rehabilitation costs.

The advisory group identified efficiency, accessibility, and environmental sustainability as key measurements of success when considering how Waterloo's resources are best leveraged in the coming years. Focus areas considered by the advisory group include physical resources and environmental sustainability, technological resources, and efficiency and processes. "These are three key areas in which we can more effectively and wisely use University resources in a way that ensures we have the time, energy, and assets needed to achieve our strategic goals."

The advisory group also came up with questions intended to spark further conversation within the campus community, including:

1. How do we effectively govern and manage our resources to ensure that the University of Waterloo has the ability to meet its strategic goals?
2. How can resources best be used to enable innovation and collaboration across a decentralized structure?
3. Are our resources “strategic” differentiators or are they primarily “enablers” which support the core of the university?  For example, should IT at Waterloo be a robust serviceable and reliable capability, or should it be more aligned with the image of innovation and a true differentiator? 

Read the full list of thought-starting questions.

Check out the full issue paper (PDF) on the Bridge to 2020 website.

Join the conversation and share your feedback on the Leveraging Resources issue paper.

Nominations open for President's Community Impact Awards

The nomination period for the President's Community Impact Awards is now open. Launched in 2017, the President’s Community Impact Awards celebrate great community leaders and the impact they create through volunteerism, philanthropy, or engagement.

The awards recognize individuals or teams of community members, students, staff or faculty who embody the University’s spirit of innovation and contribute to making Waterloo Region strong and prosperous.

Award winners may be distinguished through such community service activities as volunteer work, public speaking, school outreach, or other outstanding community service.

Up to four awards will be handed out in two categories each year:

Community Leader awards - A Community Leader is a current University of Waterloo student, faculty or staff member who "impacts their community through voluntarism, philanthropy, or other community engagement."

University Champion awards - A University Champion is an individual or organization from Waterloo Region who has "demonstrated a commitment to championing the impact of the University in our community either through partnership with the institution or in working with individual students, faculty or staff."

Terms of reference and nomination guidelines can be found on the Office of the President's website. The guidelines for collecting supporting documentation are also available.

Nominate someone today. Nominations close on October 1.

United Way campaign seeks new volunteers

A message from the University of Waterloo United Way campaign.

So, you’re reading the Daily Bulletin this morning. Chances are, that means you:

• Care about your community;
• Like engaging with campus colleagues; and
• Have an interest in new opportunities

If you said ‘yes’ to any of those, we want to talk to you! The university’s United Way campaign is looking for staff or faculty members interested in volunteering for the 2018 campaign.

As an Area Representative volunteer you would support your department/unit during the campaign, whether that’s through running events in your department, or simply via an email to your colleagues – it’s your choice! The full role description is posted online, but it’s important to note that the role and time commitment are flexible, depending on what works best for you and your office.

If you’re intrigued, and would like to volunteer as an Area Representative, please fill out our online form. 

PS- did we mention that volunteering with the campaign gives you an opportunity to note your on-campus volunteer skills during performance appraisal time? (#humblebrag)

Wednesday's notes

There are no employers on campus next week hosting employer information sessions. Visit the Employer Information Session calendar to stay updated.

Human Resources is reporting that retiree Horst Witzke died on July 27. Witzke started at the University in October 1983 and retired in July 1996 under the Special Early Retirement Program as Custodian I in Plant Operations. He is survived by his spouse, Annette.