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University, FAUW reach faculty salary settlement
A message from the Vice-President, Academic & Provost and the President of the Faculty Association of the University of Waterloo (FAUW).
The University of Waterloo and the Faculty Association of the University of Waterloo (FAUW) are delighted to announce that the University and FAUW have reached an agreement for faculty salaries starting May 1, 2021.
The terms of the memorandum of salary settlement are for three years, until April 30, 2024.
The terms of the agreement regarding scale are: 1.00 percent increase effective May 1, 2021, 1.00 percent increase effective May 1, 2022, and 1.00 percent increase effective May 1, 2023.
Other terms of the agreement include:
- The University will instruct the Pension & Benefits Committee to provide FAUW members and their eligible dependents with a basic vision care plan that will provide a reimbursement of $85 per participant every two years for eye exams;
- The University will form a policy drafting committee in accordance with Policy 1 to create a new policy on compassionate care and bereavement leaves that includes a new compassionate care leave (CCL) supplemental benefit plan and enhanced paid bereavement leaves;
- The University commits to providing raw disaggregated data collection on faculty members’ race and Indigeneity to the Salary Anomaly Working Group, who will use it to update the results of the 2021 Salary Anomaly Review to identify any race-based anomalies, and if any are identified, to resolve them with compensation retroactive to May 1, 2021;
- The one-time salary adjustment of 2 per cent in exchange for one week (5 days) of vacation as part of the vacation exchange program is extended so that the eligibility date is now April 30, 2030, for retirement on or before May 1, 2033, and the latest eligibility date shall be the member’s 68th birthday, with a retirement date no later than the academic term during which she or he turns 71;
- During the terms of this agreement, the University and FAUW may agree to review the monetary provisions should Ontario legislation change with respect to annual salary scale and/or annual total compensation limits;
- Revisions to section 11.2.2 of the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) regarding vacation entitlement carry-forward.
We are grateful to the members of the negotiating teams: FAUW – Bryan Tolson (Chief Negotiator), Mary Hardy, and Linda Robinson, and the University: Bob Lemieux (Chief Negotiator), Jean Andrey, and Mark Giesbrecht.
FAUW has published a story about the faculty salary settlement and the full terms of the salary settlement agreement on its website.
Storm the court for our Fantastic winners
A message from the Office of Advancement.
No one was shooting bricks at this year’s Fantastic Alumni, Faculty, Staff and Retiree Day. Virtual competitors brought their a-game to the annual airplane toss. The folding technique was on-point, the shots were all swishes, and this competition was a nail-biter.
Congrats to our fantastic winners and thanks for balling out with us.
In this year’s winner circle:
- Yash Gajaria, current student (Family Barbeque Bundle)
- Loni Ross, alumnus (Healthy Living Collection)
- Taylor Sim, alumnus (Smart Home Starter Kit)
- Gregory Litster, alumnus (Staycation Prize Pack)
- Hannah Blair, current student (Sweet Dreaming Travel Deal)
Winter 2021 Instructor Survey now available
A message from the Keep Learning Team.
The Winter 2021 Instructor Survey opened on our campus on Monday, February 22 for all instructors teaching in the Winter 2021 term.
The survey will help Waterloo understand instructors' experience with remote or online teaching and inform our approach to remote teaching.
All instructors in Winter 2021 are invited to participate in the 10-to-15-minute survey. To participate, please visit the Winter 2021 Instructors Survey website and follow the survey link. You will need to log in with your WatIam credentials to access the site. However, your login information will not be linked to your survey response. The survey closes March 5.
In response to instructors’ feedback from the Spring 2020 survey:
- We designed and shared online learning resources to help students transition to a remote / online learning environment
- We streamlined and updated online resources on the current student pathway
- Several Faculties established online teaching task forces in each faculty to adjust courses that are hardest to teach remotely
Visit our Winter 2021 Instructor Survey website for more information on the survey or contact Jana Carson, Senior Manager at Institutional Analysis and Planning (IAP).
Waterloo mourns the death of PhD student
This article was originally published on Waterloo News.
It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing of Sina Ghanbarzadeh, a doctoral student in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and co-founder of KA Imaging. Just over a year ago, Sina began his battle with cancer while working towards completing his PhD degree.
He came to Waterloo 10 years ago to begin his master’s research work as part of the Silicon Thin Film Applied Research (STAR) group. During Sina’s graduate studies, he helped transform KA Imaging from a group of three researchers into a vibrant company producing one of the most innovative X-ray solutions in the world. Sina’s ingenuity was instrumental in establishing the unique technology within KA Imaging.
Representing the best of what it means to be a Waterloo engineer, Sina came to Canada in search of a better future through graduate studies and applied his passion and intelligence to convert his research into an innovative and dynamic business venture. He will be remembered for his Herculean work ethic, resilience and perseverance.
Our thoughts and support are with Saeedeh Ghaffari, Sina’s wife and a graduate of Waterloo Engineering, as well as his family in Iran. The funeral will take place Saturday, February 20, and the University flags will be lowered to half-mast that day as a mark of respect for Sina.
If you are affected by this news and need support, there is help available. Please contact any of the following resources:
Counselling Services - 519-888-4567 ext. 32655
Here 24/7 - 1-844-437-3247
Health Services - Student Medical Clinic - 519-888-4096
Grand River Hospital - 519-749-4300
St. Mary's Hospital - 519-744-3311
Good2Talk - 1-866-925-5454
Crisis Services Canada - 1-833-456-4566 or by text 45645
Mates - mates@wusa.ca
Campus emergency notification system test today; other notes
Joe Petrik from Computer Science snapped this photo of the Davis Centre, iced over after the recent snap of cold weather.
A test of the University’s emergency communication system is scheduled for today at 2:00 p.m. Test activation and deactivation messages will be sent using the following channels:
- Tweets to @UWaterloo and @WatSAFEapp
- WatSAFE mobile app
- The ‘WatSAFE Desktop Notification’ on-screen pop-up for desktops and laptops
- Portal alerts and push notifications
In the event of a real emergency during this test, please contact Police Services at 519-888-4911, or ext. 22222.
"Be sure to install the WatSAFE app on your device and WatSAFE Desktop Notification tool on your desktop/laptop to receive this test message, and more importantly, to stay informed of campus emergency situations," says a note from IST. "Visit the WatSAFE website for more details. If you have not yet done so, please download the new WatSAFE Desktop Notification client."
The latest Concept Working Session, entitled Customer Discovery, takes place today at 5:30 p.m. "Join us and learn the necessary skills and tools to get valuable information from potential customers so you can set up your idea for success. Find out how to discover if your idea is something people will really go for and the strategies behind asking important questions in the right way."
The next in the Music Department's Noon Hour Concert at Home series will take place Wednesday, February 24 at 12:30 p.m. The virtual concert will feature Schumann’s Symphonic Etudes Op. 13 performed by up and coming local pianist Marko Pejanovic.
The online event is free and open to all.
The Office of Research is holding their second event in the Intellectual Property Series this Friday. IP Case Study will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., virtually through WebEx. "A case study which explores aspects of how to use the main forms of Intellectual Property (IP) protection to commercialize technology," says a note from the Office of Research. "This is an interactive case study that allows the participants to experience a realistic situation where they get to see how IP can be applied to protect and commercialize a potentially valuable technology created by a group of university students." Register today.
The Stratford School of Interaction Design and Business has opened registration for the BLND Virtual Conference from March 12 to 14, 2021. "Channelling an optimistic creative mindset, BLND will envision how our world might look in the future, as well as the work needed to shape it," says a note from the conference organizers. "Over the course of three days, BLND will explore the emerging areas at the forefront of design, collaboration, and the future of work. The event will consist of three flexible hours per day engaging in intimate conversations between students and industry. Join us."