Tuesday, December 10, 2019

Save the date for the Waterloo ExL Symposium

Save the date for the University of Waterloo’s 2^nd Experiential Learning Symposium, which is to be held on Wednesday, February 5, 2020 at Fed Hall.

Building off the momentum of the first Waterloo ExL Symposium held in 2018, this event will highlight experiential learning (EL) initiatives and associated supports on campus. The Symposium is geared towards Waterloo community members who want to implement or enhance experiential learning within a course or program.  Concurrent sessions will include presentations from instructors, students, and community partners on best practices, challenges, and innovative ideas on integrating EL within teaching and learning.

Call for expressions of interest

We invite University of Waterloo community members to submit an expression of interest to showcase their innovative experiential learning initiatives at the Waterloo ExL Symposium. Presentation time-slots will be 20 to 30 minutes long.

The deadline to submit an expression of interest is Friday, January 10, 2020.  There will be a rolling review process so we encourage you to submit early. 

Questions? Contact Amanda Brown in WatPD at a58brown@uwaterloo.ca.

Help prevent contact lens waste

A message from the School of Optometry & Vision Science.

Did you know that more than 290 million contact lenses end up in Canadian landfills or waterways every year? The lenses break down into microplastics that can harm the environment.

You can now recycle your used contact lenses at the University of Waterloo’s Optometry Clinic. Through Bausch & Lomb’s Every Contact Counts program, we can accept any brand of soft lenses and opened blister packs (no unopened lens packages containing solution or cardboard packaging, please).

Just drop by our Contact Lens Clinic located at the School of Optometry & Vision Science. Our staff will provide you with a Terracycle bag for your used lenses and then return the bag to Bausch & Lomb for recycling.

For more information, please contact the Contact Lens Clinic at 519-888-4414.

16 Days of Activism wraps up; other notes

Today is International Human Rights Day and the final day of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence. Each year, the University of Waterloo joins organizations, governments and groups world-wide to remind people that there are everyday actions that can be taken to stop gender-based violence. Today there will be a Men's Circle event where participants can explore some of the ways in which men can become leaders in creating a safer campus for everyone. The workshop is free and open to all male identifying students. Today is also the final day of the "ME. YOU. US. Together We can Stop Violence" exhibit, which informs, challenges and opens up spaces for kind and respectful relationships. The exhibit is open all day at St. Jerome's University in The Academic Centre (SJ2). The Closing Ceremonial Fire of the Bridge: Honouring the Lives of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, girls and Two Spirit People will happen tomorrow beginning at 10:30 a.m.

The University Christmas Project still has 17 children who have yet to have a sponsor for the holidays. Anyone interested in sponsoring a child is invited to contact Shannon Taylor at smtaylor@uwaterloo.ca. Typically the cost of sponsoring a child is about $100, with wish lists including toys and articles of clothing. Donations will be accepted at the Tatham Centre until Friday, December 13.

The Waterloo Warriors Golf Team is offering golf lessons in the Winter Term for individuals or partners. The lessons will take place in MC 2037 in the golf simulator and the cost is $120 for four one-hour lessons. If you'd like to register or have any questions, contact Isaac Maxwell or Tyler Cormier.

As we say goodbye to 2019, the Faculty of Environment's 50^th anniversary also comes to an end. To celebrate, they challenged some of their students to test out vintage tech that has been used in their programs within the past 50 years. Watch the video: