Tuesday, September 6, 2022

Find school-life balance this fall

By Jennifer Halcrow. This article was originally posted on Waterloo News.

Your university experience extends beyond the classroom. It’s not just about coursework and studying, but about the connections and friendships you’ll make that can last a lifetime.

As orientation wraps up this weekend, you may be wondering how to keep the fun going throughout the term, continue to make new friends and find school-life balance for when things get tough. For many students, and especially for first years, it can be challenging to meet new people. One way to overcome that is to get involved with some of the societies and extracurricular activities hosted at Waterloo.

As students, it can sometimes feel like extracurricular activities are a distraction and you may worry that getting involved could affect your grades.

But the flip side of the coin is that getting involved and finding ways to give back builds a solid support network that you can lean on if you get overwhelmed.

Whether you’re new to campus or returning to classes this fall, we want to ensure you have the info you need to make the most of your time here.  

Here are a few ways you can explore your UWaterloolife.

Attend Black and Gold Day – September 10

Watch our Waterloo men’s football team take on the Guelph Gryphons in an epic showdown that will keep you cheering throughout. Keep an eye on the sports schedule to attend future games.

Attend Fall Welcome Week – September 12 - 16

Your Waterloo Undergraduate Student Association (WUSA) has an exciting week of events planned just for you! That’s right Warriors, Welcome Week is back! Attend classics like our outdoor carnival with a Ferris wheel and other fun rides, arcade games, tasty treats and even Sex Toy Bingo. Mark your calendars with all the great events.

Join the International Peer Community (IPC)

Join a group of fellow international students and experienced student leaders. Together you'll build connections, participate in events and get a taste of life in Waterloo. Register now on the IPC website to participate this fall.

Join a WUSA club

Create the student experience you want. Find your community and attend one of our 200+ clubs’ unforgettable events. WUSA has you covered for everything outside of the classroom. Find your passion from the more than 200 clubs, or start your own.

Stay active with Athletics and Recreation

Stay active and engaged with Warriors Athletics and Recreation. Physical activity and finding ways to play can enhance your overall well-being. Warrior Recreation offers many opportunities for you to stay active—all levels, interests and abilities are welcome. Campus facilities include fitness centres, a skating rink, pool, rock climbing wall, golf simulator, disc golf course, outdoor fields, squash courts and more. There is truly something for everyone.

Join the Student Leadership Program

The Student Success Office has a program especially for students interested in developing leadership skills. You’ll also engage with the university community and make new friends along the way in the Student Leadership Program.

Embrace innovation

Taking ideas and putting them into practice is what the University of Waterloo is all about. Maybe you have an idea for a new kind of technology, or maybe you have an idea for a business? Learn how to get innovative with campus innovation partners.

It’s your move, Warriors. Make the most of your time at Waterloo and start exploring your UWaterloolife student resources to keep building your community. Your future self will thank you.

Educational technologies (EdTech) website now available

A message from the Evolving the EdTech Ecosystem project team.

The Evolving the EdTech Ecosystem project team is excited to announce the launch of the Educational Technology (EdTech) Hub, a new website that pulls together information on Waterloo’s centrally supported EdTech tools; digital technology tools used to deliver and facilitate learning, learning activities, and aid in the creation and dissemination of content.

Please note, this is not an exhaustive list of EdTech tools, but rather a repository, which will continue to grow, of those supported centrally (i.e., there is an institutional agreement for the tool and/or recognized institutional responsibility for aspects of its use). The tools listed on the EdTech Hub will replace the centrally supported tool information previously housed on the Keep Learning Tools and Technology page, though some information on tools that are not centrally supported can still be found on the Keep Learning site.

Building the EdTech Hub website

Following an environmental scan of similar resources at other academic institutions, and after a framework for Waterloo’s proposed EdTech site was developed, a group of instructors were asked to participate in user focus groups, reviewing this framework and offering input on the direction of the site, including site content and information architecture. This feedback was reviewed and incorporated into the website design. User experience sessions were then held with new participants to assess ease of use and value of the website. This feedback was again reviewed and incorporated.

What you can expect to find on the EdTech Hub

Instructors can expect to find information on various, centrally supported tools that enhance the teaching and learning experience, including:

• The centrally supported EdTech available now (view by A-Z listing or by Category)
• Support for implementing and working with these tools
• Information on current EdTech projects and initiatives
• Details on requesting a new tool and how decisions about EdTech are made

A bit about the Evolving the EdTech Ecosystem project

In the 2020-2025 strategic plan, the University recognized the need for more intentional and strategic approaches to Waterloo’s EdTech ecosystem evolution. Sponsored by Information Systems & Technology (IST), the Centre for Extended Learning (CEL), and the Centre for Teaching Excellence (CTE), the Evolving the EdTech Ecosystem project was launched. One of the objectives of this work was the creation of the EdTech Hub website.

You are invited to submit questions regarding this work to Pam Fluttert, Director, Instructional Technologies and Media Services (ITMS), IST.

Register for the Safeguarding Science workshop

A message from the Office of Research.

Faculty members, staff (i.e., Research staff, Safety Office staff, Research Ethics staff, and Information Systems & Technology staff involved in research using biological, chemical, radiological, or nuclear materials or technology) and students are invited to join Public Safety Canada (PSC) for the Safeguarding Science workshop.

This online workshop will take place on Microsoft Teams on Wednesday, September 21 from 1 to 3 p.m. Please register to receive a link to the event.

The purpose of the workshop is to provide information and guidance to Canadian researchers on possible threats to their research and how to mitigate them. More information can be found on the Public Safety Canada Safeguarding Science website.

Celebrate International Education Week from November 21 to 25

A message from Waterloo International.

International Education Week (IEW) is an opportunity to recognize and promote the value of international education, experiences and collaboration.  It celebrates outbound experiences, internationalization at home, and sustained international connections (between Waterloo and the world). This year, the University of Waterloo will celebrate IEW November 21 to 25, showcasing international education through a variety of programs, events, collaborations, debates, discussions, and an array of activities. Please mark your calendars and join Waterloo International in celebrating International Education Week in November.

Are you interested in hosting an event for International Education Week? Student groups, academic support units, departments and faculties interested in hosting an international education-themed event are asked to fill in the submission of interest form to register their event on the IEW calendar of events by September 30, 2022. For more information, please contact Aisha Shibli.

To help promote participation in International Education Week, Waterloo International is pleased to announce that it will provide funding to support IEW events. Interested hosts can apply to receive $200 to support their proposed activity. Up to five applicants will be selected for the award. For information on selection criteria and to apply, visit the event funding form. The deadline for applications is November 4, 2022 at 4:30 p.m.

As planning continues to unfold, and we start to book events in celebration of international education, please continue to check the Waterloo International – International Education Week webpage for the lineup of events.

Spanish Conversation Circles and other notes as the fall term begins

Come and practice your Spanish at this fall's Conversation Circles series at the Harper Branch of the Waterloo Public Library. "Meet others and practice spoken Spanish," says a note from the Department of Spanish and Latin American Studies, which is organizing the program in partnership with the Waterloo Public Library. "Basic understanding is essential, but all levels are welcome."

Instructor Regina Vera Quinn of Spanish and Latin American Studies will be hosting the events.

Registration is required. The first event takes place on Thursday, September 22.

The events will happen from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the Community Room of the John H. Harper Branch of the Waterloo Public Library.

As fall term commences, W Store in South Campus Hall is operating under extended fall term hours this week and into next, as follows:

• Tuesday, September 6, 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.;
• Wednesday, September 7, 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.;
• Thursday, September 8, 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.;
• Friday, September 9, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.;
• Saturday, September 10, 12 noon to 5:00 p.m.;
• Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, September 12 to 14, 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.;
• Thursday and Friday, September 15 and 16, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; and
  Saturday, September 17, 12 noon to 5:00 p.m.

Regular fall term hours go into effect Monday, September 19. Check the Locations and Hours page for all Print + Retail Solutions operating schedules.

Many Food Services locations across campus are also back in action for the fall term after the long weekend. Check the Food Services Locations and Hours page for more details.

And finally, a correction to note: In a Daily Bulletin article published on September 1, it was suggested that many instructors would be making a remote option for students unable to be in Canada at the start of the term available due to visa delays. In fact, this will not be possible for all courses. The Daily Bulletin regrets the error.