Wednesday, December 13, 2023

What is the University of Waterloo made of?

A message from Vivek Goel, President and Vice-Chancellor.

As 2023 draws to a close, we cannot forget what a challenging year it was for us as an institution and a community. All too often, especially when significant events capture the public’s attention, how we are perceived is shaped by what others say about us.  So that no one defines us but ourselves, we asked our community: What is the University of Waterloo made of?  

The responses I heard were as inspiring, creative and heartfelt as the people who make up the University of Waterloo.

We are many things. But most importantly, we are a community.    

As we approach 2024 and look forward to the promise of a new year, let’s remind the world, and each other, exactly who we are and what we’re made of. 

Thank you for being part of our community.  

I wish you all a joyful and restful holiday break, and I look forward to seeing you in the new year.  

Sincerely,

Vivek Goel 

Celebrating Conrad Grebel at 60

By Fred W. Martin, Director of Advancement, Conrad Grebel University College.

In the fall of 1963, J. Winfield Fretz began his role as the first President of Conrad Grebel College in Waterloo, Ontario. In addition to hiring the first employees and spearheading a $750,000 building project, he taught courses in the Sociology Department at the University of Waterloo. This fall Grebel has celebrated this milestone with a variety of 60^th anniversary events, including a gala featuring Vivek Goel as keynote speaker.  

More than 200 people returned to Grebel to celebrate the College's 60th anniversary with a picnic and other fun activities.

In the late 1950s, Mennonite leaders responded to an invitation from the newly established University of Waterloo to join three other denominational colleges on the campus that opened in 1957. When writing about Grebel’s history, Grebel historian and Professor Emeritus Marlene Epp noted, “They were embarking on a venture quite radical for its time, although it may be hard for us to see today how truly innovative their vision for postsecondary education was.”  

This model of a Mennonite college on a public university campus is indeed unique and provides many opportunities and challenges. “Our teaching, integrated within the Faculty of Arts, emphasizes Mennonite strengths of music, peace studies, and theology, but students from across the University enroll in our courses,” said Professor Troy Osborne, the College’s Dean. Today, Grebel teaches more than 3,200 UWaterloo students in its undergraduate courses each year from every faculty at Waterloo. Graduate programs teach an additional 65 students in Theology and Peace and Conflict Studies.  

When the residence opened in 1964, it had 106 beds. Today the campus houses 172 students in the residence and apartments. In addition, Student Services supports off-campus students as associates, bringing the total number of students connecting to the residence program to around 300 per year. Students who identify as Mennonite represent about 25 per cent of the residence population. Interestingly, the number of Mennonite students has remained relatively stable over the last 60 years, with about the same number in residence in 2023 as in 1964.  

University of Waterloo President Vivek Goel spoke at Grebel's 60th Anniversary Gala, sharing about Waterloo at 100.

“From the beginning, the Grebel vision was to be a partner in a larger university,” said current President Marcus Shantz. “Winfield Fretz talked about a college that would serve and teach people from all walks of life – not just Mennonites, and not just Christians. He imagined Grebel as a kind of offering to the wider world. I think we’ve lived into that founding vision wonderfully over the past sixty years, and it continues to shape our future.” 

Remembering Distinguished Professor Emeritus Dr. Jon W. Mark

This article was originally published on the Faculty of Engineering news site.

Dr. Jon W. Mark, a prominent researcher and influential mentor who played a leading role in building the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE), died on November 7.

Mark joined Waterloo in 1970 and officially retired in 2001, although he remained an active presence in the department as a Distinguished Professor Emeritus. As a fixture in the Faculty of Engineering for over 40 years, Mark trained, supported and influenced thousands of students and colleagues. From 1984 to 1990 he took on a leadership role as Department Chair. During his tenure the Computer Engineering program was established, this transition was reflected in the department name, which changed to Electrical and Computer Engineering under Mark’s guidance.

As a researcher Mark’s work focused on wireless communications and interdomain networking. In 2000 he received the Canadian Award in Telecommunications Research for significant research contributions, scholarship and leadership in the fields of computer communication networks and wireless communications. At Waterloo he established and was the Director of the Centre for Wireless Communications with the goal of developing a world-class telecommunications research facility.

In acknowledgement of his accomplishments Mark was awarded a life fellowship by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. He was also a fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering. Amongst numerous other accolades, in 2000 Mark received the Award of Merit from the Education Foundation of the Association of Chinese Canadian Professionals. This award was a recognition of the important role he played in supporting a new generation of Chinese Canadian engineers. Sanqi Li (PhD ‘85), a former student, who moved to Waterloo from China in 1980 reflected on how Mark, “always patiently guided me and encouraged me through … lifetime changing moments.”

This legacy of mentorship and care is exemplified by the Jon W. Mark Graduate Scholarship in Communication. This annual award provides $3,000 to full-time graduate students in the ECE, continuing a tradition of conscientious support for young researchers within the department.   

Through teaching, research and academic leadership Jon W. Mark had a profound influence on the development of Waterloo Engineering and the careers of many leading researchers and entrepreneurs. His impact as a mentor is perhaps best represented in the words of one of his graduate students George Freeman (PhD ‘84), “So how to summarize Jon’s early influence on me? Perhaps the following. Excellence is a choice. The choice may lead to hard work. The result is its own best recognition.”