The Daily Bulletin is published by Internal and Leadership Communications, part of University Communications
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Join the Universal Design for Learning & Wellbeing Community of Practice today
A message from Campus Wellness, Health Promotion.
The Wellness Collaborative, Centre for Teaching Excellence, Centre for Extended Learning, Student Success Office, and fellow instructors maintain their partnership to critically look at how Universal Design for Learning (UDL) can (and cannot) support holistic wellbeing in the learning environment. We invite new members to our Community of Practice as well as welcoming back instructors and others who support the learning environment. We are excited to announce that our next Community of Practice meeting, Unpacking the “universal” of Universal Design for Learning takes place on Wednesday, November 8 at 1:00 p.m. on Microsoft Teams.
We will continue to engage in critical reflection of the impacts of UDL on instructor workload and the importance of the ‘start small and build from there’ approach. There will also be opportunities to take a deeper dive into UDL and Wellbeing, how we can unpack it as a tool for equity, and how this impacts your implementation of UDL in the classroom.
We truly value and appreciate the energy around UDL for wellbeing across campus and therefore, want to continue to emphasize the community aspect of this group. Please join us wherever you are on your journey. For more details about the Community of Practice, please visit our website.
The CoP is hosted virtually through Microsoft Teams and members can access resources and support asynchronously. If you are new to the CoP, please complete this brief Qualtrics survey.
Take your social or environmental challenge to the next level
A message from Conrad Grebel University College.
Join the Map the System 2024 Info Session and discover how you can use a systems-thinking research approach to tackle a complex problem with an interdisciplinary team. Attendees will learn more about the Map the System competition and hear stories from past participants of the Campus and National Finals!
The info session takes place on Friday, November 10, from 12 noon to 1:00 p.m. in Conrad Grebel University College's Great Hall (Room 1111). Registration is required.
Learn more about the info session.
Faculty of Environment celebrates the career of Mary Burden
It's a MAD, mad, mad, mad world: A fitting coffee mug for the person who kept MAD from cracking up for so many years.
By Donald Duff-McCracken.
After more than 38 years of service, Mary Burden, who has been central in providing IT and client support in the Faculty of Environment, is retiring! We will be celebrating her retirement on November 22 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Grad House and we hope to see her many friends and coworkers there.
"Either these computers go or I do!"
Mary has worked on campus since 1985, joining Mapping, Analysis & Design or "MAD", now known as Environment Technology & Instructional Support or "ETIS," in 1989. For many years Mary was our Manager of Client Services. Providing computing support in those days was much different than today. For example, “sneaker-net” (running from floor to floor with floppy disks or CD-ROMs) was often the best way to quickly get data from one place to another. While it certainly was not the ‘dawn of computing’ it was a much wilder and woollier time.
One of Mary’s roles was managing the Helpdesk, and in that role, she was always well connected to and loved by the students in the Faculty. Mary has always played a pivotal role in our unit, and her responsibilities continued to increase. She became the ‘IT & Client Services Manager’ in time to help the Faculty migrate into and out of the pandemic! Mary’s dedication, good sense, amazing sense of humour, and ability to think on the spot, were a lifeline during this time, as she was central in helping staff and faculty figure out how to work from home, how to get IT support, and eventually, how to return to campus.
Since we have returned to campus, Mary has been crucial in guiding ETIS in its reorg and restructure (including its morphing from MAD to ETIS) to this ‘new normal.' ETIS would certainly have ‘gone MAD’ without Mary’s presence and leadership over the years. We all hope to see you at her retirement gathering!
GIS Day coming up on November 15
A message from the Library.
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Day is a day to share how GIS technology supports research, informs decision-making and creates a positive impact around the world.
The Library’s Geospatial Centre, Environment Technology & Instructional Support (ETIS), and the Waterloo Association of Geography Students (WAGS) have partnered to host an afternoon of learning at Dana Porter Library, including Lightning Talks, Introduction to Web Mapping and WebGIS workshop, Python Crash Course workshop, and an opportunity to tour the Geospatial Centre.
Full details and workshop registration are available on the Library’s website.
Getting into the weeds on a Wednesday
The Waterloo Wetland Lab headed by Dr. Rebecca Rooney will be hosting its second annual wetland cleanup event on Thursday, November 9 from 12 noon to 1:00 p.m. at the intersection of Fischer-Hallman Road and Columbia Street (across from the Sobeys plaza). In the event of inclement weather the cleanup date will be moved to Thursday, November 16. For more information contact Dr. Rooney via email.
While we're on the subject of environmental rehabilitation, the Office of Sustainability is hosting a Seed Ball Workshop on Thursday, November 9 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in CPH 2385.
"Come join us for the final naturalization project of the year!" says a note from the Sustainability Office. From 11:00 a.m. to 12 noon in CPH 2385, we will be making seed balls. From noon to 1:00 p.m., we will meet at the parking lot by DWE to weed the pollinator garden and throw the seed balls. You are welcome to come to either part of the event, or to both!"
Tools, gloves and light refreshments will be provided. (editor's note regarding the inset photo: yes, I'm aware Hans Moleman is calling about a seed bell, not a seed ball, but on the other hand, any excuse to post an image of Hans Moleman, amirite?)
The Noon Hour Concert series continues today with La Belle Epoque. "Join the Magistera Soloists as they play contrasting music from the end of the 19th century, an era known as la belle époque, or "the beautiful epoch," says a message from the Music department at Conrad Grebel. Violinist Annette-Barbara Vogel, a professor at Western University, is the lead performer, joined by Mehdi Ghazi on piano, Daniel Sweaney on viola, and Amir Eldan on cello.
The concert will take place at 12:30 p.m. today in the Conrad Grebel University College Chapel. Admission is free.
Flags on campus will be lowered today in recognition of Indigenous Veterans Day, which is celebrated on November 8 each year. National Indigenous Veterans Day (formerly National Aboriginal Veterans Day) was first commemorated in 1994 and recognizes the service and contributions made by First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples to Canada's war efforts over the years.
Employers hosting an Employer Information Session this week include IBM | IBM Z Career Connections. Make sure to register through WaterlooWorks and check the calendar for any updates.