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AVP International issues statement on natural disasters
A message from Ian Rowlands, Associate Vice-President, International.
Last week, an earthquake hit Morocco, and earlier this week, floods devastated Libya. Close to 10,000 people have reportedly been killed and hundreds of thousands have had their livelihoods and homes destroyed in an instant.
On behalf of the University of Waterloo, I express my sadness at the loss of many lives and the catastrophic impacts for so many people following these natural disasters in North Africa. I send my condolences to the families and communities devastated by these events.
I also recognize that some members of our campus community, as well as some in the Waterloo Region, have loved ones, friends, and colleagues who are directly affected by these disasters. My thoughts are also with them. Staff will reach out to students from Morocco and Libya in the coming days, and we have resources available to aid those in the University of Waterloo community who need support.
Read the rest of the statement and access the list of resources available
Sankofa Pathways: forging futures through higher education
A message from the Office of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Anti-racism. This is an excerpt of an article that originally appeared on the EDIRO website.
On Saturday, August 19, the University of Waterloo celebrated the first graduating class of the Sankofa Pathways to University (SPU) pilot program at Federation Hall. This initiative, developed by Jennisha Wilson, Director, Anti-racism unit of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Anti-racism Office in collaboration with the Registrar's Office. The aim of the SPU is to support local Black youth who may be considering university, but because of pervasive systemic oppression, struggle to develop the confidence needed to succeed in these spaces.
These students completed an accelerated seven-week “Taking B(l)ack History,” Arts First course which earned them a half-credit to be used toward future post-secondary studies. The course was developed and taught by Tracy William-Shreve and included several Black guest lecturers (i.e., Desmond Cole, Malachi Malabre, Peter Scott, Destiny Ramos) who provided students with an authentic University experience. Students were expected to adhere to regular attendance guidelines, complete assignments and most importantly, immerse themselves in the University experience.
You're invited to the annual United Way Campaign kickoff social
A message from the University of Waterloo United Way Campaign.
Officially, the University of Waterloo’s United Way workplace campaign starts on October 2 – but we’re hosting a Kickoff Social on September 21, 2023, in Fed Hall from 12 noon to 1:00 p.m., to get the whole campus energized for what we hope will be our best campaign year yet.
We’ve got a pretty awesome lineup
Come see President Vivek Goel talk about the importance of the Waterloo campaign and how we can all support our community.
Amanda Melnick from the United Way Waterloo Region Communities will share what the United Way is all about and how they make a difference in our local area.
Our own campaign co-chairs Alice Raynard (Secretariat) and Gordon Savage (Engineering) will be your hosts for this informal, yet informative and fun, social.
Amanda Melnick, Senior Director, Impact and Stewardship at United Way Waterloo Region Communities, speaks at a previous United Way campaign event.
Guests are encouraged to mingle
Light refreshments will be provided as you chat with other members of the campus community – sharing stories of inspiration and enjoying a presentation from our workplace campaign. Learn about how the United Way tackles the issues facing our community and what they are doing to help those who need it most – especially in these challenging times.
Win a door prize
All registrants will be entered into a draw for an awesome swag bag. Stop by our guest table to sign up for payroll deductions and we’ll enter your name in the draw five more times! Signing up for payroll deductions is easy – you only need to provide your name, email, amount to deduct each pay, and signature. We’ll do the rest.
Register today for our United Way Workplace Campaign Kickoff Social. We hope to see you there!
OHD offers learning pathways for the fall term
A message from Organizational and Human Development (OHD).
Organizational and Human Development (OHD) is excited to introduce new themed learning paths that will be available this Fall term. These paths have been crafted to foster a culture of continuous learning for your ongoing success. Whether your focus is on advancing your career, honing your leadership capabilities, or enhancing your overall well-being, our tailored offerings are designed to meet your individual needs and interests.
Here's a brief overview of what you can expect from our themed learning paths:
- Core Development: Enhance your core understanding of the University of Waterloo to excel in your current role and prepare for future opportunities.
- Career Education: Discover your purpose and career values, improve your resume, and excel in interviews.
- Personal Leadership: Develop emotional intelligence, explore your character strengths, and understanding conflict.
- Emerging Leadership: Dive into topics like followership, discover the human side of leadership, and learn effective conflict resolution.
- People Leadership: Enhance your leadership skills, build trust, and learn to lead with temperament.
- Performance Conversations: Have more meaningful performance conversations with your manager or team members.
- Change Management: Navigate change effectively and lead yourself and your team through transitions.
- Health and Well-being: Focus on your personal wellness and happiness.
- Creating a Supportive Workplace: Gain insights into supporting neurodivergent employees to foster an inclusive and compassionate workplace.
Our offerings encompass a blend of in-person and virtual workshops, as well as self-paced online courses to cater to your preferred learning style and schedule. Our workshops and courses are designed to encourage interactive discussions and knowledge sharing, ensuring that your learning experience is both engaging and insightful.
We invite you to explore these exciting learning and development opportunities and craft your own development journey. You can choose a single path or mix and match offerings from various themes to meet your specific goals. To view the full schedule, session details, and registration information, please visit our Learning and Development Opportunities available this Fall term. Also, subscribe to our OHD newsletter to stay informed of all the new learning opportunities that will continue to be added in 2024.
At the University of Waterloo, we are committed to supporting your growth, both personally and professionally. We believe that investing in your development is an investment in our collective success. We encourage you to take advantage of these exciting learning paths and embark on a journey of continuous improvement.
Women's march tomorrow, the Urgency of Social Justice, and other notable notes
Saturday, September 16 marks the anniversary of the death of Jina (Mahsa) Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian woman who died after being arrested by the Iranian regime’s morality police for violations of the country’s strict dress code for women. Her death sparked nation-wide protests, which were violently suppressed by security forces. In response, the protests went worldwide, and are ramping up as the first anniversary of the “Women, Life, Freedom” movement approaches.
Members of the Iranian diaspora both on-campus and in the community are organizing a local march in support of this initiative as part of a global movement. There are 11 solidarity events happening across Canada on Saturday, including a rally here on campus. Rally participants will gather at the University's south entrance at 11:00 a.m. tomorrow. For more information check out the eventbrite link.
While we're on the subject, The Gender and Social Justice program will be hosting an event next week called The Urgency of Social Justice happening on Wednesday, September 20 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in and around the Arts Quad.
"The purpose is to build awareness and strengthen support for social justice activities, programs, community services, and advocacy groups at UWaterloo and in our local communities," says a note from the event organizers. "Activities will include short speeches and performances by students, faculty, staff, and advocates, information tables for community groups and academic programs, poster displays of research and artwork related to social justice, a performance by the Conrad Grebel choir, entertainment, food and refreshments." Learn more about The Urgency of Social Justice.
Doors Open Waterloo Region takes place on Saturday, September 16 and is celebrating 20 years of opening doors all around Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge and beyond. There are 20 sites across Waterloo Region that can be visited and explored between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, including two buildings with University of Waterloo connections: the Schlegel-RIA Institute for Aging near the University's north campus, and the CIGI Campus in UpTown Waterloo.
Speaking of local events, the long-running Battle of Waterloo series kicks off (literally) this weekend as the Waterloo Warriors travel up the street to take on the Wilfrid Laurier University Golden Hawks at 1:00 p.m. at University Stadium on Seagram Drive. You know what they say: war. War never changes.
Finally, WatSPEED is hosting a free Tech Horizons webinar on Tuesday, September 19 at 12 noon entitled The Future of AI Lies in Trust featuring Professor Alexander Wong of Systems Design Engineering. "We’ll discuss why trust is one of the biggest barriers to successful and sustainable deployment of AI solutions," says a note from WatSPEED.
During his presentation, Dr. Wong will cover:
- the rise of generative AI and the need for transparency and explainable AI,
- why building trustworthy AI can create a competitive advantage, and
- the hurdles in operationalizing AI in a trusted, dependable, and explainable manner, while offering potential solutions and best practices for those organizations seeking to maximize their AI investments.
This webinar will also feature an opportunity for live Q&A with AI experts Alexander Wong and Joël Blit.