Monday, October 28, 2024

Stepping up for the United Way

From left to right, David DeVidi, Associate Vice-President, Academic; Jacinda Reitsma, Vice-President, Administration and Finance; Lili Liu, Dean of Health; Alexie Tcheuyap, Dean of Arts; Mark Giesbrecht, Dean of Mathematics; Mary Wells, Dean of Engineering; Johanna Wandel, Associate Dean of Environment; Chris Houser, Dean of Science; and Nenone Donaldson, Vice-President, Advancement.

On Monday, October 21, Deans and senior administrators challenged Senate to donate to the United Way Workplace Campaign by putting it all on the line—line dancing, that is.

Following a presentation by Dean Houser, the board room was suddenly filled with the sound of “Texas Hold Em’ – The Waterloo Way” as the Deans and senior administrators made their way to the centre of the room to raise awareness of the United Way Campaign. Senators were surprised and thoroughly entertained, as they clapped along to their colleagues who were showcasing their line dancing skills. 

A word from Eleanor McMahon and Vivek Goel

Eleanor McMahon, Vice-President, University Relations and United Way Campaign champion, commented on the impressive performance and expressed thanks for their efforts in fostering a culture of philanthropy at Waterloo. She asked Senators to join their colleagues in giving to the United Way to support those in Waterloo Region who are experiencing food insecurity, addiction and mental health challenges, homelessness, and more. President and Vice-Chancellor Vivek Goel also said a few words, reiterating that there are many in our community who are struggling and that a donation to the United Way helps alleviate some of the challenges the most vulnerable face every day.

Join us – donate today!

The campaign is wrapping up this week but there’s still time to donate. Visit the donations webpage or participate in upcoming events to help us achieve our goal of raising over $230,000. We’re almost there and we can do it with your help!

Reminder: Equity Census open until October 31

A message from Institutional Analysis and Planning and Inclusive Communications

The annual update of the Employee Equity Census is open until October 31. Your participation in this census is important to the ongoing efforts to confidentially collect socio-demographic data that helps the University to better understand the UWaterloo community and drive meaningful equity initiatives across the institution.

The form will be available through Workday and takes approximately 5 minutes to complete. If you have not already submitted your responses, please do so by October 31, 2024.

The collected data will be anonymized and used to inform decision-making on university programs and initiatives that align with our ongoing commitment to creating an inclusive and supportive environment for everyone.

The first questionnaire was launched in June 2021 to almost 50,000 students, faculty, and staff. The current data collection activity can be completed by employees in Workday. Check your UWaterloo email for instructions on how to complete the form.

For more information, visit the Equity Data Strategy website. If you have any questions, contact analysis@uwaterloo.ca.

You're invited to the Task Forces feedback forum

Members of the University community are invited to a Feedback Forum on November 14 to support the mandates of the Task Force on Principles for Institutional Partnerships and the Task Force on Social Responsibility in Investing. 

This in-person Forum will include an information session and then provide an opportunity for you to offer feedback in smaller break-out groups to inform Task Force recommendations.  

The feedback forum event takes place on November 14 at 10:30 a.m. in the Student Life Centre's Black & Gold Room (SLC 2144).

Space is limited and registration is required. Register to attend.

The work of the Task Force on Principles for Institutional Partnerships spans many different areas of our campus – from research to fundraising to international exchange.  Given the wider scope of this Task Force, with opportunities for direct involvement in international activities by faculty, students and staff, additional in-person focus groups are being arranged.  You can register to attend a focus group in-person or online.

If you are not able to attend the forum or focus groups in person, you can provide your feedback online before November 6 by visiting the Task Force on Social Responsibility in Investing and Task Force on Principles for Institutional Partnerships websites.

Eco Mug Tuesdays return for your fair-trade enjoyment

A message from Food Services.

Help reduce waste by joining us for Eco Mug Tuesday every Tuesday at a new UW Food Services location from October 22 until November 19! Simply bring your reusable mug and receive a complimentary Fair Trade coffee or tea at the participating UW Food Services location that week!

See our full list of participating locations and dates:

• October 29 | Browsers Café (DP)
• November 5 | Eye Opener Café (OPT)
• November 12 | CEIT Café (CEIT)
• November 19 | Liquid Assets Café (HH)

Remember, Fair Trade is much more than a fair price! Fair Trade Certification gives farmers the safe working conditions and living wages they deserve. That’s why Food Services carries Baden Coffee & Planet Bean Coffee products which are Fair Trade Certified! We also carry Four O’Clock, a Fair Trade certified tea available at all of our locations offering tea. To learn more about the benefits of Fair Trade Certification, please visit our website.

Through the Eco Mug Tuesday initiative Food Services aims to encourage waste reduction of single-use products on campus by promoting our Eco-Mug Program. Through this program, students can receive 20 cents off at UW Food Service locations and 10 cents off at any of our Franchises across campus for any Hot Beverages! Don’t have a reusable mug? Don’t worry! Eco-mugs and tumblers are available for purchase at W Store located in South Campus Hall. Take advantage of this opportunity to enjoy a free beverage while contributing to a greener campus community!

World Cities Week kicks off and other notes

Take part in a week of exciting events and hands-on activities as the future of cities is explored. World Cities Week is co-hosted by the Future Cities Institute and Turkstra Chair in Urban Engineering and is designed for students to engage with cutting-edge ideas in urban development, sustainability, and innovation. From thought-provoking talks to creative challenges, this is a chance to connect with experts, collaborate with peers, and envision the cities of tomorrow. Check the World Cities Week website for information about the events taking place this week.

The groundbreaking ceremony for the new Mathematics 4 building will take place today in the DC Quad at 11:00 a.m.. Learn more about the new M4 building and the construction timeline on the Mathematics 4 webpage.

"Are you passionate about making a difference in women’s health?" Asks Velocity. "All are welcome to join Velocity for an exciting challenge to develop and contribute to groundbreaking solutions." The FemTech Innovation Challenge kick-off and team formation event takes place today from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

The Challenge will include a mix of virtual and in-person events, including mentorship opportunities and a final pitch competition. "Participants will collaborate and meet new friends, learn, and innovate while gaining valuable skills," say the organizers. "The top solution will also receive an award.

All University of Waterloo students are eligible to participate. Teams must be formed and focus on solutions towards one of the following "problem spaces:"

• Menopause;
• Breast health; and 
• Gynecological health. 

Each problem space will be introduced at the kick-off event, giving participants the opportunity to explore and choose their focus area. No prior experience or expertise in these spaces is needed. No technological experience is required. 

Visit the Velocity Incubator website for more information and to register.

Four local authors will read from their favourite pieces of Palestinian literature and discuss their own work at a Palestinian Storytelling event on Wednesday, October 30. Storytellers include:

• Lamees Al Ethari;
• Jana ElKhatib;
• Carrie Snyder; and
• Tasneem Jamal.

This event is made possible by funding and support from UW Faculty 4 Palestine, The Foundation for Palestinian Studies Fund, The department of English Language and Literature, and The New Quarterly.

The event takes place in RCH 211 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. Refreshments will be served after the event. More information is available on Instagram. 

Information Systems & Technology (IST) has published the latest in the Atlassian Blog Series entitled Best Practices for Managing Escalations in Jira Service Management