Monday, September 25, 2023

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• Complete the Employee Equity Census today!
• It's time to get RED-y with a photo contest
• Volunteer Fair connects students with community agencies
• Reminder: Hagey Lecture coming up October 5
• Celebrate Library Week next week and other notes

Complete the Employee Equity Census today!

This year’s Employee Equity Census (previously known as the Equity Survey) has launched in Workday. 

The goal of the census is to continue an ongoing confidential collection of socio-demographic data to better understand the composition of the UWaterloo community and to inform equity initiatives across the institution. Data from this year’s census will begin to be compiled in September 2023. 

The first survey was launched in June 2021 via email to almost 50,000 students, faculty, and staff, and achieved a 26 per cent student participation rate and a 46 per cent employee participation rate. The census will be administered to employees via Workday.  

“Data from the previous census resulted in impactful changes, proving that data-focused initiatives like this inform the direction of our institution and bring us closer as a community,” Associate Vice-President, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Anti-Racism Christopher Taylor and Interim Chief Human Resources Officer Michelle Hollis wrote in a recent communication to leaders. “The Cluster Hiring Initiative, tuition waiver, and the integration of pronouns into the University data systems are all positive outcomes of the information collected from the previous census.” 

The Employee Equity Census will take only a few minutes to complete. Please participate at your earliest convenience because data collection for this year’s annual report will close on October 31, 2023. 

Learn more about the Employee Equity Census on the Equity Data Strategy website. If you have any questions about the census, its methodology and how its data is used, you can email analysis@uwaterloo.ca. 

Watch this short video on how to access the Employee Equity Census in Workday or follow the steps below. 

1. Click the link that was sent to you in the UWaterloo’s Employee Equity Census email or click the link below: 

https://wd3.myworkday.com/uwaterloo/d/task/2997$12683.htmld 

2. Login to Workday.

3. The Create Request textbox will appear. Click on the Request Type drop- down menu.

4. Select All.

5. Select Employee Equity Census and then click OK.

Learn more about the Employee Equity Census on the Equity Data Strategy website. If you have any questions about the census, its methodology and how its data is used, you can email analysis@uwaterloo.ca.

It's time to get RED-y with a photo contest

A message from the United Way Workplace committee.

Next Monday, October 2, is the official launch of the University of Waterloo’s United Way workplace campaign and we couldn’t be more excited. Help us mark this event with what we hope will be some great cross-campus collaborations.

Unleash your creativity

We’re challenging campus to really go red and show off your spirit with a photo competition. In these photos, we want to see all types of red – it can be people, pets, food, your office, signs, nature – whatever inspires you. The photo can be created by an individual or get your whole team involved. The more creative and fun, the better. 

Submit your photo by Friday October 6 to the United Way Workplace committee who’ll share the leading selections with our judge, none other than President Vivek Goel. We'll announce the top photos through the Daily Bulletin on October 26 and all submissions will be posted to our website.

Photos will be assessed on their use of the colour red, connection to the campus, positive spirit, and general flare.

Other ways to Go Red

Don’t forget about wearing red on October 2 (could be a great photo op!)  – visually showing how much the University of Waterloo cares about the strength and stability of our local community. You can also decorate your office to inspire those around you to not only get into the spirit of our campaign, but to also donate to this amazing charity.

Why this campaign matters

The United Way is your local hub for distributing funds to more than 120 charities that have a direct impact on the health and stability of our community. These places can’t always raise the funds themselves, so the United Way takes on fundraising so the charities can focus on supporting those who need it most.

Passionate about supporting charities that focus on Affordable Housing and Homelessness, Mental Health and Addiction, or Food Insecurity? The United Way allows you to channel your donation to any of these three cause areas when you donate through ePledge. Just want to donate to where funds are needed most? You can also select the more general Community Impact Fund.

We look forward to seeing your photo submissions!

Volunteer Fair connects students with community agencies

A message from the Centre for Career Development (CCD).

The Centre for Career Development and EDGE will be hosting the Fall 2023 Volunteer Fair on Tuesday, September 26 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the Student Life Centre Great Hall. This event offers students an opportunity to meet local organizations that are recruiting volunteers.  

Representatives from 35 local organizations will be present to speak with current students about their organization’s mission and volunteering needs. 

Volunteering is a great way to develop skills and gain experiences that can be showcased on a résumé and discussed in an interview. For those looking to give back to the community, it is a fulfilling way to contribute to local causes. It also provides an excellent opportunity for networking. 

For more information, please contact Lindy Bancroft, Career Programming and Events Specialist. 

Reminder: Hagey Lecture coming up October 5

This is a reminder to register for the upcoming 2023 Hagey Lecture taking place in person in the Theatre of the Arts at 8:00 p.m. on October 5. This year’s lecture will be delivered by Nalini M. Nadkarni, Professor of Biology, University of Utah, who will talk about Interdisciplinary Perspectives on the nature of disturbance and recovery.

Nalini shares the discoveries and insights she has gathered over her four decades of exploring the biota of forest canopies in rainforests, her collaborations with experts from many academic disciplines, and her engagement with diverse public groups – artists, corporations, faith-based communities, and people who are incarcerated. She describes the dynamics of disturbance and recovery in multiple arenas: forest treetop communities, her own recovery from a near fatal fall, and an array of diverse human systems, including traffic engineering, urban studies, refugee migrations, and modern dance. She invites listeners to apply her approach of ”tapestry thinking” to other environmental and social challenges society faces today.

Tickets are free and open to the public. Please visit the Hagey Lectures website for more information, or register on ticketfi. 

The Hagey Lectures are jointly sponsored by the Faculty Association and the University of Waterloo. The purpose of the Hagey Lectures is to bring to the University of Waterloo and to the Kitchener-Waterloo community outstanding individuals, who have distinguished themselves internationally in some area of scholarly or creative endeavour, to deliver a lecture, and to spend time on campus participating in informal exchanges with faculty and students.

Celebrate Library Week next week and other notes

"Throughout the month of October, libraries and library partners across Canada are raising awareness of the valuable role libraries play in Canadians’ lives," says a message from the Library. "The University of Waterloo Library is celebrating Library Weekfrom October 2 to 6 with workshops, a new Special Collections & Archives exhibit, library trivia and more!" 

There are several opportunities throughout the week to celebrate the Library and learn more about how it supports the campus community, from access to the resources you need to the expert help to navigate today’s information landscape.

The President’s Advisory Committee on Environmental Sustainability is recruiting two new members. "The President’s Advisory Committee on Environmental Sustainability (PACES) is currently recruiting new members," says a note from the Sustainability Office. "Formed in 2015, PACES represents a cross-section of stakeholders on campus, including students, faculty, staff, and administration, who work to advance Waterloo’s sustainability efforts and activities." 

The following positions are open for a two-year term from September 2023 to August 2025:  

• Faculty committee member; and
• Affiliated and Federated Institutions of Waterloo (AFIW) committee member.

The committee meets at least once per term. If you are interested in joining, please submit an application by Friday, September 29 at 5:00 p.m. For more information and to apply, please visit the PACES webpage.