Monday, April 20, 2020

Creative Services provides update on digital support

This contact was adapted from an online Creative Services Q&A event. 

Creative Services has shared some information on how they are adapting their services to better serve the campus community during this time.

How animation can be used to continue to create video content

"Though filming new live-action video footage is not an option at this time, we are fully equipped to meet your video needs," says the update from Christine Goucher, associate director, creative services. "With an extensive library of existing video footage and creativity with animation and motion graphics, we are confident that quality video products are possible."

Ready to bring your stories to life? Contact Matt Regehr or order a video project online.

Digital alternatives

"We all know how important it is to create digital content that will stand out and grab the attention of its intended audience," says Goucher. "That’s why we’re exploring the opportunity to use a third-party vendor for publishing digital publications."

There are four key things we’re prioritizing:

1. Accessibility
2. Responsiveness for all screen sizes
3. Creating interactive and media-rich documents
4. Measurable data

Here are some ideas that you can do right now to make improvements to your digital content:

• Clean-up your website content and look at ways to improve the user journey
• Update images or add simple animations
• Create engaging email campaigns
• Update social media templates

"Of course, we’re here to help. Fill out a project request form on our website or contact us for more information."

Print + Retail Solutions has been deemed an essential service and continues to provide printing and digitization of materials. In fact, they are gearing up to work rotating shifts, with segregation of duties to meet the needs of the campus for many different department categories including but not limited to course material distribution (physical and digital), print/distribution of course materials, work from home items, 3D printing and electronics. Please contact P + RS directly with your questions.

External print vendors

All external printer from the vendor roster are all complying with the government order to operate with reduced staff and adhering to current safety measures. To date, there are no delays. We’ll continue to follow this for changes to service.

Central Stores

As it relates to the delivery of printed materials from external vendors, Central Stores will continue to receive as per usual. Packages will be held at Central Stores and delivered to your specified location when normal service resumes.

If you need access to your package before that time, or have questions regarding outbound mail, you can visit the Central Stores website for the appropriate contact information.

Other items of business

"There is a temporary change to process for approvals on print projects," says Goucher. "We are not able to accommodate physical printed proofs at this time. Final approvals will happen electronically. Lastly, all stationery requests are on hold until further notice."

"We’ll continue to provide you with updates to our services as they become available and share with you how we are adapting during this time. If you have further questions please don’t hesitate to contact us. We look forward to working with you!"

Judy Brown retires after 44 years at Waterloo

A message from the Office of Research.

When Judy Brown graduated from high school in 1976, she wasn’t sure what she wanted to do with her life. A few weeks later, she received a phone call that would set the course of her career for the next 44 years.

“Soon after graduating from high school, I received a call from the University of Waterloo advising me that I had been recommended by the Board of Education for employment at the university,” Judy recalls. “I had my interview with the Registrar’s Office and started work that week.”

Judy began her career in the Registrar’s Office, looking after student registration, grade reporting, and convocation. At the time, staff used a keypunching machine to punch holes into paper cards, which were then used to enter students’ grades into a mainframe computer. A few years later, the department got its first office computer. “We would all book time on this computer to input students’ grades,” Judy explains. “Using that kind of system seems so archaic now.”

One thing Judy loved about working at Waterloo was the opportunity for growth. In 1978, she transferred to the Waterloo Research Institute (now the Office of Research), taking a position as a Contracts Coordinator. During her 40-odd years in the office, she was promoted to Contracts Manager in 1994, and to her current position as Senior Contracts Manager in 1996. In this role, Judy negotiates research agreements between Waterloo researchers and industry partners, working out details such as confidentiality, intellectual property, and budgets.  

While she loves her work, Judy is ready to retire and her last day in the office is May 1. She plans to spend more time with her family, including five grandchildren, do more gardening, and vacation in Myrtle Beach. Although she is looking forward to retirement, she has mixed feelings about leaving the university. “I will miss the faculty members I have worked with for so many years, and all the friends I have made in the Office of Research,” Judy says. “It has been an amazing place to work!”

Senate meets today and other notes

The University's Senate meets today at 3:30 p.m. via Microsoft Teams. Among the agenda items:

• A motion to approve the new Biological Engineering specialization within the Master of Engineering (MEng) in Chemical Engineering, effective 1 May 2020;
• A motion to approve the addition of a PhD in Pure Mathematics – Quantum Information, effective 1 May 2020;
• A motion to approve the addition of a MMath in Pure Mathematics – Quantum Information, effective 1 May 2020; and
• A motion to approve Graduate Studies’ Academic Calendar changes (under Policies and Guidelines) pertaining to University responsibilities regarding supervisory relationships, effective 1 May 2020.

In addition,  Vice-President, Research and International Charmaine Dean will provide a special report to senate detailing how Waterloo International has been helping the University respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The President and Vice-President, Academic & Provost will also be reporting to Senate.

Just look at all these Good Buddies of the University

"This is Bishop," writes Shawn Lotte, client support representative at the Centre for Career Action. "He is a Miniature Dachshund. He cares only for the sun. 10 points to Gryffindor if someone can guess the origin of his namesake! Hint: our cat's name is Ripley!" (editor's note: I'm surprised he didn't call the cat Jonesy)

"This is Marley," writes Kirstie Slaney of the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences. "Je thinks I am home to play with him and gives me the pathetic puppy look when he realizes he's on his own."

This is Frankie," writes Jess Huston who works in student affairs at St. Jerome's University. "He tries to be very helpful as my partner (a UofG employee) and I work from home, so we set up his own computer so he would stop sitting on ours!"

"Miss Kitty lives with me but as you can see in the photograph, generally doesn’t care much for the affairs of humans," writes Emily Hudson, curriculum manager and academic integrity co-ordinator in the Arts Undergraduate Office. "She is very cuddly though, so me being here all the time means she gets more fusses which she likes, but it also means more nap interruptions which she does not enjoy. She is helping me maintain a sense of normality and encourages me to take regular breaks for kitty snuggles."

"My tuxedo cat Scooter can be a bit of a micromanager but overall he is a very good supervisor," writes Becky Ewan, academic advisor, undergraduate coordinator in the School of Pharmacy.

"This is Frankie, a 2-year old golden doodle. She is asking to play, but I am just about to join a Teams meeting," writes Michele Ryan, business process analyst in Campus Housing. "She visits with me as part of a co-op arrangement, so seeing her today was great therapy. When she is good, her nickname is Frankincense. When she is bad, her handle is Frankenstein." (editor's note: two Frankies in one day!)

"This is Dexter, who is now my Executive Assistant," writes Jenn Brewster, administrative officer in the Centre for Education in Mathematics and Computing. "When he is not advising me, he is napping or eating snacks."

"Here is a picture of Noodle working from home," writes University Research Professor Barbara Schmenk of the Department of Germanic and Slavic Studies. "As you can see, he clearly prefers face-to-face activities."