Wednesday, May 26, 2021


A legacy of student connection

Feridun Hamdullahpur and David Tubbs in the Peter Russell Rock Garden.

By David Tubbs (BA ’08). This article was originally published in Waterloo Magazine.

A student plays an outdoor piano on the University campus.“Hold on. I want to go over and say hi.”

So began one of the most memorable moments I had working with the University of Waterloo’s sixth president.

We’d been walking through campus on a gorgeous September afternoon, talking about our visit to a first-year lecture. Before I knew it, President Feridun Hamdullahpur was bounding over to speak with two students playing an outdoor piano in the Peter Russell Rock Garden.

He didn’t know them. He simply wanted to chat.

Love for classical music and students

We were on our way to another meeting. Back-to-back appointments are very common for the busy president, but that didn’t stop him from going over to chat with two very surprised students. There in the picturesque rock garden, Feridun leaned against the piano, asked the students what they were playing (the president is an avid fan of classical music), how they were enjoying the term and if they had any questions or concerns.

I hung back, listening, and snapped a photo. What happened that day wasn’t a staged event. It wasn’t an organized meet-and-greet. It was a leader caring about his students.

I had the privilege of working closely with Feridun for nearly a year by that time and had already seen the passionate, caring and truly funny person he is. Every day I witnessed him work for our talented students, trying to find new ways to enable their success.

Developing student resiliency 

Feridun wanted to build the resiliency of Waterloo and its students, especially in the face of an increasingly disruptive world. A University of Waterloo education is designed to push you to the next level, build new knowledge and skills to solve problems. Feridun never shied away from this. But he also knew our students needed to be supported and engaged.

He thrived on engaging with students and fellow researchers, answering questions in a room full of undergraduate students. I’ve seen him break off from a lab tour to ask a quiet graduate student about his research—so focused on the conversation that I had to be the bad guy and pull him away. He even continued to supervise PhD students throughout his time as president and personally presented them with their degrees at convocation.

The tangible impacts of that approach are obvious. Feridun nearly doubled the number of faculty positions during his tenure, strengthened mental health supports, created the Student Success Office, expanded co-op and research opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students, significantly increased the number of new study spaces and added the first new residence building on campus in nearly 20 years.

Nobel Prize presser to scavenger hunts

In the three-and-a-half years I worked with the president, I saw him give keynote addresses to 1,000 people, sit down with national and international government leaders, take part in a live global press conference for the 2018 Nobel Prize and even sit down with a few celebrities.

But it is the small moments with students that resonate most.

Whether it was one of the thousands of selfies he took with students, discussions following a town hall or being part of a Valentine’s Day scavenger hunt, those moments speak to what he cared most about as president: the happiness and success of his students.

I waited for about 10 minutes in the rock garden as the president spoke with those two students by the piano. He returned smiling, saying:

“I know, we’re late, but that was worth it.” 

David Tubbs.David Tubbs (BA ’08) worked as the president’s associate director of executive communications from October 2017 until March 2021.

Learn more about President Hamdullahpur's impact

New hires will help Plant Operations with infrastructure resiliency

Plant Operations has hired a new Energy Manager as well as a new Associate Director, Infrastructure. Both positions have been developed to help strategically maintain the resiliency of the University’s infrastructure.

Chris Ford.The Energy Manager is “almost a new position,” says Stepanka Elias, executive director, facilities. “It existed several years ago and was later combined with the Manager, Mechanical Services role due to operational and financial pressures.” With the reinstatement of the position, Chris Ford has accepted the role.

Ford has a B.A.Sc and M.A.Sc in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Waterloo and experience working in the HVAC field, building automation controls, and energy management. “Chris is the ideal candidate not only for his technical skills, but also for his steady leadership and passion for environmental sustainability,” writes Elias. Ford begins in his new role on June 1, 2021.

Jonathan HydeThe Associate Director, Infrastructure is a new secondment position that was created to support, champion, and fight for changes that will improve infrastructure resiliency on the University campus. Jonathan Hyde is stepping into this role. Hyde has been on campus since 2013 working in the Electrical Engineering Group managing projects, supporting design and providing strategic advice to the Office of Research in various CFI/JELF grant applications. “Jonathan is known and respected across campus for his knowledge, dedication, and diplomacy working with our academic clients,” writes Elias. Hyde starts in his new role on June 1, 2021.

“Please join me in congratulating Chris and Jonathan in their new roles,” writes Stepanka Elias.

Resilient Warriors are taking a Mulligan on 2021

Resilient Warriors banner image.

With golf courses still off-limits during the provincial shutdown, the annual President's Golf Tournament has organized a Resilient Warriors Virtual Panel that will take place today from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m.

"Even though we are unable to be together in person for our President's Golf Tournament this year, we hope you will join us to re-connect and raise funds to support our student-athletes," says a message from the event organizers. "Once again, funds raised will be split between the "Warrior Excellence Fund", which provides support for student-athletes and teams when competing at national and international competitions, and the 'Women's Sport Initiative Fund", which provides support for female student-athletes and coaches. This year more than ever, we need your support for those initiatives mentioned as well to keep the momentum going towards a bigger than ever celebration in 2022."

Tickets are free for students, faculty, staff and alumni, and are $25 for members of the community.

Purchase/Reserve your ticket

The evening will feature a panel of past and present Warriors, including:

The four Resilient Warriors event participants.

Panel Moderator - Mike Farwell (BA '97) Host, 570 News
 
Mandy Bujold, Olympic Boxer, Former UWaterloo Undergraduate Student
Mandy Bujold is an Olympic Boxer for Canada who is looking forward to competing in her second Olympic Games this summer in Tokyo. Bujold won a gold medal at the 2011 Pan American Games and in 2014, claimed the bronze at the Commonwealth Games. Now an Eleven-time national champion, Mandy successfully defended her Pan American title in Toronto in 2015, defeating American world #1 Marlen Esparza in final. Mandy went to earn her Olympic berth with a gold medal at the American Continental Qualifier that took place in Buenos Aires, Argentina in March 2016. Mandy studied Liberal Arts at the University of Waterloo from 2010-2016 before putting her undergraduate degree on pause to focus on growing her family.
 
Kim Dawson (PhD, Kinesiology) Mental Performance Consultant, Mind2Achieve
​Dr. Kim Dawson is a professor of Sport Psychology at Wilfrid Laurier University and a Mental Skills Consultant with Mind2Achieve. Kim helps athletes to effectively execute mental control over their skill execution. By addressing individual differences and facilitating group dynamics, teams are able to meet their full competitive potential. Dr. Kim has now been with the Warriors for four seasons and she is also an alumna of UWaterloo, receiving her PhD in Psychomotor Behavior from the Department of Kinesiology.

Tre Ford, Fourth Year Football Student-Athlete
Tre Ford is in his fourth year with the Warriors football team and has been a key part of the programs turn around. In his first season with the Warriors (2017), Ford was named both the OUA and U SPORTS rookie of the year. He followed that up in 2018 with a dominating sophomore season, and was named the OUA MVP. In 2019, he kept the pedal to the medal with yet two more awards, earning second-team all-star status at both the provincial and national level. Tre is enrolled in the Recreation and Sport Business undergraduate program at UWaterloo.

Garrett Rank (BA, Economics), NHL Referee, Canadian Amateur Golfer
Garrett Rank was a member of the Warriors men's hockey team and most notably the golf team winning back-to-back OUA individual titles in 2010 and 2011. Rank was also named the 2012 Totzke Trophy winner as Waterloo's Male Athlete of the Year. Rank has gone on to have incredible success both on the links as an amateur golfer (competing for team Canada until 2014), and in the hockey world, becoming a referee in the NHL. Rank made his officiating debut on January 15, 2015 and has been a regular in NHL arenas across North America ever since. Garrett is a proud UWaterloo alumnus, graduating from the Department of Economics in 2012.

"There will be a silent auction as well as an opportunity for us to recognize and thank Feridun Hamdullahpur as his term as Vice-Chancellor and President at the University of Waterloo comes to an end," organizers say. "Please join us for this exciting virtual event as we take a mulligan on 2021 and look ahead to 2022." Bid on the auction items.

Fore more information about the event, visit the Athletics and Recreation website.

Test of the campus emergency communication system June 2

A message from Information Systems & Technology.

A screenshot of the WatSafe app.A test of the University’s emergency communication system is scheduled for Wednesday, June 2 at 11:00 a.m. Test activation and deactivation messages will be sent using the below 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 emergencysituations. Visit the WatSAFE website for more details.

Link of the day

The greatest thing since just before sliced bread: Wonder Bread at 100

When and Where to get support

Students can visit the Student Success Office online for supports including academic development, international student resources, leadership development, exchange and study abroad, and opportunities to get involved.

Instructors can visit the Keep Learning website to get support on adapting their teaching and learning plans for an online environment.

Course templates are available within your course in LEARN to help you build and edit your content and assignment pages quickly.

The following workshops, webinars, and events are offered by the KL team (CTE, CEL, ITMS, LIB):

Employees can access resources to help them work remotely, including managing University records and privacy of personal information. Here are some tips for staying healthy while working from home.

Stay informed about COVID cases on campus by consulting the COVID case tracker.

The Writing and Communication Centre has virtual services and programs to help undergrads, grad students, postdocs and faculty members with academic writing.

Co-op students can get help finding a job and find supports to successfully work remotely, develop new skills, access wellness and career information, and contact a co-op or career advisor.

The Centre for Career Action assists undergraduates, graduate students, postdocs, staff, faculty, and alumni through navigating career services that are right for them. You can attend a one-on-one appointment or same day drop-in session at the CCA for assistance with cover letter writing, career planning and much more. You can also book an appointment online or visit our Live Chat to connect with our Client Support Team. The CCA is here to help you.

If you feel overwhelmed or anxious and need to talk to somebody, please contact the University’s Campus Wellness services, either Health Services or  Counselling Services. You can also contact the University's Centre for Mental Health Research and TreatmentGood2Talk is a post-secondary student helpline available to all students.

The Library has published a resource guide on how to avoid information overload.

The Faculty Association of the University of Waterloo (FAUW) continues to advocate for its members. Check out the FAUW blog for more information.

The University of Waterloo Staff Association (UWSA) continues to advocate for its members. Check out the UWSA blog for more information.

The Indigenous Initiatives Office is a central hub that provides guidance, support, and resources to all Indigenous and non-Indigenous campus community members and oversees the university Indigenization strategy.

The Waterloo Indigenous Student Centre, based at St. Paul’s University College, provides support and resources for Indigenous students, and educational outreach programs for the broader community, including lectures, and events.

WUSA supports for students:

Peer support  - MATES, Glow Centre, RAISE, Women’s Centre - Visit https://wusa.ca/peersupport to book an appointment

Bike Centre – Open via Appointments and Rentals 

Campus Response Team, ICSN, Off Campus Community and Co-op Connection all available online. Check https://wusa.ca for more details.

Food Support Service food hampers are currently available from the Turnkey Desk on weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the Student Life Centre. If you have any questions please email us at foodsupport@wusa.ca.

Centre for Academic Policy Support - CAPS is here to assist Waterloo undergraduates throughout their experience in navigating academic policy in the instances of filing petitions, grievances and appeals. Please contact them at caps@wusa.caMore information is available.

WUSA Commissioners who can help in a variety of areas that students may be experiencing during this time:

WUSA Student Legal Protection Program - Seeking legal counsel can be intimidating, especially if it’s your first time facing a legal issue. The legal assistance helpline provides quick access to legal advice in any area of law, including criminal. Just call 1-833-202-4571

Empower Me is a confidential mental health and wellness service that connects students with qualified counsellors 24/7. They can be reached at 1-833-628-5589.

When and Where (but mostly when)

Healthy Warriors at Home (Online Fitness)

Drop-in to Warrior Virtual Study Halls on Wednesdays from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Come together in this virtual space to set goals and work independently or in groups each week.

Renison English Language Institute continues to offer virtual events and workshops to help students practice their English language skills.

Warriors vs. Laurier Blood Donation Battle. Join your fellow Warriors, donate blood and help us win the Blood Battle against Laurier for a second year in a row. Set up a profile or add the PFL code: UNIV960995 to your account if you have a blood.ca account already. Questions? Contact WarriorsInfo@uwaterloo.ca.

Resilient Warriors Virtual Panel presented by President’s Golf. Wednesday, May 26, 4:00 p.m. Panel featuring Mandy Bujold (Olympic Boxer), Dr. Kim Dawson (Mental Performance Consultant), Tre Ford (Student-Athlete) and Garrett Rank (NHL Referee, Canadian Amateur Golfer). Free tickets for students, staff, faculty and Alumni. Register now.

Concept Working Session: Building an Entrepreneurial Mindset, Wednesday May 26, 5:30 p.m., virtual event.

Reclaim Your Voice with Jungle Flower, Wednesday, March 26, 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. 

Picture a Scientist- Virtual Movie Screening, Thursday, May 27, 3:00 p.m. to Sunday, May 30, 3:00 p.m. Virtual screening, an e-mail with details and a link to the virtual screening will be sent to those who register.

A Decade of Impact: Partners, alumni and friends, Thursday, May 27, 4:00 p.m.

Responding to Disclosures of Sexual Violence, Part 1: Monday, May 31, 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; Part 2: June 3, 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.. 

A Decade of Impact: Faculty, staff and students, Monday, May 31, 2:30 p.m. Please note this is a virtual event.

Deadline to submit expression of interest to participate in the Universities Canada Global Skills Opportunity, Tuesday, June 1, 4:00 p.m. Send expressions of interest to Aisha Shibli, manager, international funding opportunities.

Concept Intro Session: What's YOUR Problem? Tuesday, June 1, 5:30 p.m., virtual event.

Positions available

On this week's list from the human resources department, viewable on the UWaterloo Talent Acquisition System (iCIMS):

  • Job ID# 2021-6597 - Communications Project Manager - Campus Wellness, USG 7
  • Job ID# 2021-6603 - Counsellor - Counselling Services, USG 10 - 13
  • Job ID# 2021-6568 - General Manager - Graduate Student Association, USG 9
  • Job ID# 2021-6637 - Instructional Support Coordinator - EDGE Program Work-Integrated Learning Programs, USG 9
  • Job ID# 2021-6206 - International Recruitment Specialist - Office of the Registrar, USG 9

Secondments/Internal temporary opportunities

  • Job ID# 2021-6632 - Financial Coordinator - Computer Science, USG 5 - 7
  • Job ID# 2021-6607 - Project Co-ordinator, Recruitment, Training & Development - Campus Housing, USG 7
  • Job ID# 2021-6595 - Project Manager, Strategic Initiatives and Assessment - Campus Housing, USG 8
  • Job ID# 2021-6619 - Records Coordinator - Registrar's Office, USG 5
  • Job ID# 2021-6617 - Research Coordinator – SPHHS, USG 7

Federated University and Affiliated Colleges opportunities

https://uwaterloo.ca/careers/other-opportunities