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It's time for the Ontario government to step up and invest in universities and students
This is an excerpt of a joint statement from Vivian Chiem, President, Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance (OUSA) and Steve Orsini, President and CEO, Council of Ontario Universities (COU).
At this critical juncture for the postsecondary sector, Ontario’s universities and their students, stand united in urging the government to take immediate action to invest in higher education.
The pivotal role that universities and their students play in shaping our workforce and communities cannot be overstated. With a shared commitment to the future of higher education, we call for swift government action, nearly two months since the release of the Blue-Ribbon Panel’s recommendations to achieving financial health for universities.
The well-being of the sector rests on a three-fold partnership—universities, students, and government. We all have a role to play in shaping the future of higher education, and it is incumbent upon the government to provide the necessary investments to drive positive change for universities and the students they serve.
That is why we continue to urgently call on the government to immediately implement the recommendations in the Blue-Ribbon Panel Report. With increased financial support, the government can ensure Ontario’s students have the supports they need to be successful.
The time to act is now. Without government investment, Ontario risks compromising the high-quality world-class education, services and experiences our universities provide, limiting the boundless potential of Ontario’s students.
Read the rest of the statement on the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance website.
Students helping students strengthen study skills
A message from the Student Success Office.
The Student Success Office’s Peer Success Coaching program is being recognized by the Canadian Tutor Standards for providing students high quality learning support.
In a letter to certify the program, the committee acknowledged the commitment to having a strong, student-centered approach when assessing the needs of learners.
The Peer Success Coaching program is the first in Canada to meet the rigorous requirements to be accredited.
“The coach did a great job providing resources and demonstrated genuine interest in understanding the root problem,” said one student after their Peer Success Coaching appointment. “I now feel more confident implementing effective learning strategies.”
The program usually has a roster of 8 to 10 undergraduate and graduate coaches from varying faculties and programs. They’re trained to provide effective support for common student challenges, including time management, note-taking and studying.
“My coach was a very good listener and gave me several ‘tune ups’ for my study techniques,” said a student who took part in the program.
The committee commends the program for providing a student-to-student learning opportunity that helps build confidence, belonging and understanding at the university — a sentiment that is echoed by students after their appointments.
“The coach was able to teach me a lot in our first session,” said a student. “I feel a lot more confident and well prepared after it.”
During the fall term, about 100 Waterloo students took advantage of the free service, but hundreds more could benefit from the support. Most students report hearing about Peer Success Coaching from the Student Success Office website, but referrals from advisors, faculty and staff can be one of the most effective tools.
“We know students are looking for support. We saw this in the fall when nearly 200 showed up for express appointments in the Student Life Centre,” said Dragana Kostic, an Academic Development and Retention Specialist who manages the Peer Success Coaching program. “We hope our community can direct students to the program so we can help students succeed in their studies.”
Peer Success Coaching appointments are available online and in-person throughout the term, including during exams. The program is free for current undergraduate and graduate students.
Office of Research hosting inclusive research webinar on January 23
A message from the Office of the Vice-President, Research and International.
The Inclusive Research Team is hosting Overview and Introduction: Inclusive Research Resources (Introductory Session) on January 23 from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Are you planning to attend?
The Inclusive Research Team is dedicated to intentionally supporting faculty to build equitable and inclusive research practices for rigorous research. This presentation is focused on providing you with an introduction to the resources and supports provided by the Inclusive Research Team within the Office of the Vice-President, Research and International, including how to navigate the Inclusive Research Resource Hub and how we support embedding EDI in grant applications.
Please register to receive the Zoom link to participate.
About the Inclusive Research Resource Hub
The Hub is a resource library of important documents focused on EDI to support the UWaterloo community as they integrate EDI into their research designs and teams. The Hub was created as part of the Inclusive Research Team’s commitment to ongoing development and capacity building to support equitable and inclusive research practices.
Resources
For more information or questions, please reach out to research.equity@uwaterloo.ca or Indigenous.Research@uwaterloo.ca.
GSPA rolls out the red carpet for the GRADflix showcase
A message from Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs.
Everyone is invited to join Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs for a viewing of finalist GRADflix submissions before the winners are announced on Feb 6 at 3:00 PM at Federation Hall. Be part of the action by voting for your favourite video as part of our people's choice award.
Other prizes include 1st to 4th place with prizes ranging from $250 to $750 and a social impact award valued at $250 sponsored by GreenHouse.
Changemaker Labs seeking participants; other notes
“Starting this January, join Changemaker Labs and take action against climate change in your community," says a note from Changemaker Labs. "There are different activity streams happening throughout the term - including design sprints, tech collisions and more! Participants will work alongside peers and community members on challenges related to the ways we produce, consume, and waste. The focus of Winter term is "use less, waste less and divert organic matter from landfills".
The first session starts on Tuesday, January 23 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. in the GreenHouse room (UTD 164) at United College. Check out how to apply.
WUSA Welcome Week continues today with the Esports Gaming Lounge in the SLC Black and Gold room (SLC 2143) featuring games like Super Smash Bros, FIFA and more, from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. The gaming lounge, presented in partnership with Warrior Esports, will be running from Monday to Friday this week. Also, if you're into different sort of games, there will be Sex Toy Bingo at 7:30 p.m. in the SLC Student Lounge (formerly the Bombshelter Pub). There is an all-ages show at 7:30 p.m. and a 19+ show at 9:30 p.m. with some, er, provocative prizes on offer.
The UW North American Young Generation in Nuclear (NAYGN) Chapter is hosting its Technology in Nuclear Showcase on Wednesday, January 17. The event will feature "seven different companies from the nuclear industry exhibiting some of the work that they do as well as cool technology such as their Boston Dynamics robots, drones, and much more," says a statement from NAYGN. "Many of the participants are hiring co-ops for Summer 2024 as well as new grads. There will be refreshments and raffle prizes for attendees. All undergraduate and graduate students as well as any interested faculty and staff are welcome to explore what Canada's leading nuclear technology has to offer." The event runs from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the E7 Event Space.