Monday, February 3, 2020


Great-West Life will host benefits information sessions

Human Resources has arranged for Great-West Life to host additional information sessions this week that will cover the following topics:

  • the new Canada Life brand;
  • Out-of-country coverage and changes; 
  • Coverage levels (including understanding maxima amounts);
  • Coordination of benefits;
  • GroupNet and online claims submission; and
  • Claim submission requirements for orthopedic shoes/appliances. 

These sessions will take place on Monday, February 3 and Friday, February 7 from noon to 1:00 p.m. in room 1111 at East Campus 5. If you are interested in attending, please register.

If you have any questions or require further information, please send an email to benefits@uwaterloo.ca

FASS: Nothing Beats Rock is a stone's throw away

 Nothing Beats Rock banner showing human evolution.

A message from FASS.

Tickets are on sale now for FASS 2020: Nothing Beats Rock!

Follow the hilarious hijinks of a civilization as it moves from the stone age to the space age. Watch out for puns, songs, and geese!

The shows are scheduled for February 6, 7, and 8 in the Humanities Theatre:

  • Thursday, February 6 at 8:00 p.m. - entry is by donation at the door;
  • Friday, February 7 at 8:00 p.m. and Saturday, February 8 at 7:00 p.m. - tickets are $12 and can be purchased at the door or ahead of time online, by phone (519-888-4908), or in person at the HH box office.

This FASS is going to ROCK! We provide a GRANITEE that you will have a GNEISS time! 

Sidewalk closure and other notes

Plant Operations is reporting that on Tuesday, February 4, the sidewalk between Biology 1 and ESC will be closed to pedestrian and vehicle traffic as a large crane will be set up to lift an air handling unit onto the roof of B1. Personnel will be on hand to ensure the proper safety protocols are followed. The disruption is scheduled to take from from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., but the operation is weather dependent and can be cancelled and rescheduled at the last minute.

The Registrar's Office has posted the Winter 2020 final examination schedule online. Examination room information is expected to be added to the schedule by February 14, and any changes to the schedule will be posted on the final examination schedule web page. Students are encouraged to verify any specific exam room and/or arrangements with their instructor.

The Region of Waterloo has approved an agreement with the union representing Grand River Transit employees, ending the GRT strike. All buses, MobilityPLUS & trains are running as of Saturday, February 1. You can apply for a 50% refund on your January monthly pass. There will also be free weekend service during the month of February and free service on Family Day, Monday, February 17. Visit the GRT website for refund details.

It's undergraduate election season. Campaigning in the Waterloo Undergraduate Student Association elections wraps up this week with voting taking place on Tuesday, February 4.

Today, the final official campaign event, Popcorn & Politics: the Executive Debate, takes place in the Student Life Centre from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the Student Life Centre atrium.

Election results will be released on Friday, February 7 at 10:30 a.m. in the Student Life Centre's Great Hall.

"On Saturday, February 8 the Waterloo Warriors men's and women's basketball teams will be taking on the Brock Badgers as part of the Fantastic Alumni, Faculty, Staff and Retiree Day celebrations," says a note from the W Store. "To help UWaterloo alumni, faculty, staff, retirees and students prepare for the big day we're offering 15 per cent off all Warrior-branded apparel and gift items from Monday, February 3 to Friday, February 7. Please see in-store for details. Excludes sale items and custom orders."

Upcoming office closures

AccessAbility Services will be closed on Tuesday, February 4 for staff training. The Exam Centre will remain open for scheduled exams.

Link of the day

How science fiction imagined the 2020s

When and Where

Coping Skills Seminar - Empowering Habit Change, Monday, February 3, 3:30 p.m., HS 2302 – Register on GoSignMeUp.

NEW - Popcorn & Politics: The Executive Debate, Monday, February 3, 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Student Life Centre Atrium.

Research Talks: Designing smart and climate savvy cities. A public event and panel discussion examining smart infrastructure and sustainability, Monday, February 3, 6:30 to 8:15 p.m., THEMUSEUM. Register as seating is limited.

NEW - WUSA voting period begins, Tuesday, February 4.

Akindi training session, Tuesday, February 4, 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Concept by Velocity - Intro Session: Speed Coaching, “Quick chats with Concept Coaches (former or current KW startup founders.” Tuesday, February 4, 11:30 a.m., QNC, Main Atrium

Coping Skills Seminar – Thriving With Emotions, Tuesday, February 4, 4:00 p.m., HS 2302 – Register on GoSignMeUp.

Waterloo ExL Symposium, Wednesday, February 5, 9:00 a.m., Fed Hall.

Writing and Communication Centre Workshop, “Grammar Studio I: The most common grammar trouble spots,” Wednesday, February 05, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., SCH 228F.

Storytelling in Design Lunch & Learn, Wednesday, February 5, 12:00 p.m., DC 1301.

CBB and the Office of Research Ethics, “Clinical Trials Ontario Information Session” Wednesday February 5, 2:30 p.m., EC5-1111.

2020 Latin American Film Festival screening, Delicate Balance, Wednesday, February 5, 6:30 p.m., Kitchener Public Library Main Branch. Admission is free.

NEW - Waterloo Centre for Microbial Research (WCMR) and Waterloo Institute for Complexity and Innovation (WICI)’s Speaker Series: Dr. Kate Adamala from University of Minnesota  “Life, but not alive”.  Thursday, February 6, 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., DC 1302.

NEW - Concept by Velocity - Intro Session: Do You Want to Build a Startup? “Hear directly from founders about the tough realities of startups, what they’ve learned, and why they chose this path.” Wednesday, February 5, 6:30pm, South Campus Hall, 2nd Floor.

NEW - Writing and Communication Centre Workshop, “Undergraduate Academic Voice: Integrating your evidence with integrity,” Thursday, February 06, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., SCH 228F.

NEW - Grad Student Community and Conversation Circle, Thursday, February 6, 3:30 p.m., HS 1106 – Register on GoSignMeUp.

NEW - Coping Skills Seminar – Cultivating Resiliency, Thursday, February 6, 6:00 p.m., HS 2302 – Register on GoSignMeUp.

NEW - WUSA election results released, Friday, February 7, 10:30 a.m., Student Life Centre Great Hall.

NEW - Knowledge Integration seminar featuring speaker Val Walker, CEO of Business/Higher Education Roundtable, Friday, February 7, 1:00 p.m., EV2-2002.

NEW - Bridges Lecture Series presents Opening Outer Space featuring Brenda Frye, Astronomy, University of Arizona and Ofrit Liviatan, Law and Politics, Harvard University, February 7, 7:30 p.m., SJ2/Academic Centre, Vanstone Lecture Hall. Please register in advance.