Tuesday, February 4, 2020


Lecture series will look Beyond the Headlines

A person takes a smartphone photo of a busy urban setting.

Join the University of Waterloo for an engaging conversation on current affairs straight from the headlines.  

The Beyond the Headlines lecture series is being held in partnership with the CBC and will be moderated by Craig Norris, CBC Radio One 89.1 Kitchener-Waterloo, host of The Morning Edition and In The Key of C. Each lecture will feature a panel of speakers including University of Waterloo professors. Upcoming lectures in the series include:

  • March 2nd – Who is Defending Democracy? We live in an age of increasing political polarization and a decreasing level of trust in institutions. Democracies need to reengage civil society in the face of growing uncertainty. - 7:00 p.m., Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex, Hauser Haus
  • April 14th – Is Data Privacy an Illusion? The data security of large public and private institutions across the world are being breached. With high economic and social stakes, how can the world protect its privacy in the digital age? - 7:00 p.m., Idea Exchange, Old Post Office, Cambridge.

To register and learn more about the lectures check out the website.

Are you ready to manage the workforce of the future?

Are you ready to manage the workforce of the future banner.

A message from Co-operative and Experiential Education (CEE).

Co-operative and Experiential Education (CEE) has launched a management guide that explores the values, motivators and expectations of the future workforce (i.e. our students), and how well employers understand them.

In close partnership with the Waterloo Centre for the Advancement of Co-operative Education (WatCACE), CEE surveyed co-op employers and students to identify trends or gaps in how to recruit, motivate and recruit Generation Z as they enter the workforce.

The survey revealed that there are some clear gaps in understanding between employers and their future talent. (For example: almost 50% of co-op student respondents said they’d be unlikely to accept a job that matches their skills, but not their values. And yet many employers don’t know what their values are…).

Our current co-op students understand what the workplace looks like today because they’re already working in it. And our employers understand the joys and challenges of managing the next generation of talent because they’re already hiring them on co-op work terms. 

Download the full guide here to learn more.  Please feel free to share this information with your networks.

Questions? Contact Kari Pasick Stewart at kari.stewart@uwaterloo.ca.

Students vote as WUSA polls open

WUSA election banner.

A message from your Waterloo Undergraduate Student Association.

Undergraduate elections are underway. Beginning today until February 6, students can choose who will represent their collective voice by voting online at vote.wusa.ca or at one of our on-campus polling stations. Join us by encouraging students to use their democratic right to vote. They can find everything they need to know at wusa.ca/elections.

The Waterloo Undergraduate Student Association (WUSA) is the official collective voice and legal representative of undergraduate students at the University of Waterloo. Since 1967, our student-led organization has provided undergrads with the service and support they need to reach their academic goals and make the most of their university experience.

Each year, Waterloo undergrads vote for their WUSA Executive and faculty representatives for Students’ Council.

Board of Governors meets today and other notes

The University's Board of Governors has its first meeting of 2020 today at 1:30 p.m. in NH 3407. Among the agenda items:

  • A call for nominations for honorary degrees and Convocation speakers;
  • A motion to approve a number of faculty sabbaticals and administrative leaves;
  • A motion to make recommended changes to the Student Services Fee, the WUSA Administered Fee, and other incidental fees effective May 2020;
  • A motion to make 2.2 per cent increases in the various Housing and Residence fees, effective in the Fall 2020 term;
  • A motion to make revisions to the terms of reference of the Audit & Risk Committee;
  • A motion to make revisions to the terms of reference of the Building & Properties Committee;
  • A motion to approve the 2020/21 tuition fee changes and the 2020/21 co-op fee; and
  • A motion amending the University of Waterloo Pension Plan to increase member contribution rates and to increase the pension cap.

The President will be providing a report to the Board that includes an update and discussion on the implementation and framework of the University's 2020-2025 Strategic Plan.

The Vice-President, Academic & Provost will provide several updates in his presentation to the Board including the state of the Strategic Mandate Agreement, updates on the 2019-2020 Operating Budget and planning for the 2020-2021 budget, and a discussion on tuition fee setting.

In addition, Armen Bakirtzian, chief executive officer and co-founder of Intellijoint Surgical Inc., will be making a presentation to the Board.

Plant Operations has reported that the sidewalk closure originally scheduled to take place today has been rescheduled to Saturday, February 8. The sidewalk between B1 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 B1 roof.

Upcoming office closures

AccessAbility Services will be closed today for staff training. The Exam Centre will remain open for scheduled exams.

Link of the day

30 years ago: McGlasnost (and a Canadian connection) brings McDonald's to the USSR

When and Where

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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. 

NEW - Coping Skills Seminar - Challenging Thinking, Monday, February 10, 3:30 p.m., HS 2302 – Register on GoSignMeUp.

NEW - NFRF Transformation Panel Session, Tuesday, February 11, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., Science Teaching Complex, Room 2002. Please register to attend.

NEW - Plant Operations waste management Lunch and Learn, Tuesday, February 11, 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m., RCH 309.

NEW - Coping Skills Seminar – Thriving With Emotions, Tuesday, February 11, 4:00 p.m., HS 2302 – Register on GoSignMeUp.

PhD oral defences

Accounting and Finance. Andrea Stapleton, "When Narcissism Drives Escalation of Commitment: Examining the Role of Narcissism and Perspective-Taking on Managerial Decision-Making." Supervisors, Theresa Libby and Krista Fiolleau. On deposit in the Arts graduate office PAS 2428. Oral defence Friday February 7, 9:30 a.m., HH 2104.

Environment, Resources and Sustainability. Beth Timmers, "Growing What We Eat, Eating What We Grow: Investigating the Enduring Role of Jamaica's Domestic Food System." Supervisor, Jennifer Clapp. On display in the Faculty of Environment, EV1 335. Oral defence Friday February 7, 9:00 a.m., EV1 354.

Mechanical & Mechatronics Engineering. Milad Mosharafi, "Improving Passive Magnetic Inspection Method (PMI) for Assessing the Corrosion Conditions of Reinforced Concrete." Supervisors, Roydon Fraser and Maurice Dusseault. On display in the Engineering graduate office, E7 7402. Oral defence Monday February 10, 11:30 a.m., MC 2009.

School of Publich Health and Health Systems. Chris Bonnett, "Fixing an Accident of History: Assessing a Social Insurance Model to Achieve Adequate Universal Drug Insurance." Supervisor, Susan Horton. On display in the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, BMH 2212. Oral defence Monday February 10, 12:00 p.m., BMH 3119.