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Jim Rush to step down as Provost in 2025
Following seven years of service as Vice-President, Academic and Provost, Dr. James Rush has made the personal decision to step down from his role effective June 30, 2025.
"I am grateful to Provost Rush for his commitment and leadership during my tenure as President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Waterloo," wrote Vivek Goel in a memo circulated to employees yesterday afternoon. "The University has benefited from his leadership, especially through periods of great change and challenge."
"Jim has played a pivotal role in leading this institution, in particular through the COVID-19 pandemic, directing academic and non-academic strategy," Goel writes. "He has championed interdisciplinarity in academic work, creating the Provost’s Interdisciplinary Networks Fund to support cross-faculty networks, programs and initiatives in Academic, Research and Community building areas."
President Goel's message cites Provost Rush's support for equity and Indigenous reconciliation initiatives, including the establishment of offices and leadership roles at the Associate Vice-President level for equity, diversity, inclusion and anti-racism, and Indigenous relations and the leading role Provost Rush played in student service coordination and support through the establishment of the Student Service Centre, International Experience Centre and the proposed Indigenous Student Centre, as highlights of his time as Provost.
"Perhaps most importantly, Jim has led with a focus on enhancing support, coordination and efficiency that will help with the long-term sustainability of our institution," President Goel's message continues. "He has reimagined the Office of the Provost to provide clearer leadership on integrated planning and budgeting, and on faculty planning and policy. This includes leadership development for academic administrators – an important part of our future leadership picture."
"I trust you will all join me in thanking Provost Rush for his service and wish him well as he returns to the Faculty of Health after an administrative leave," President Goel writes. "Jim has kindly agreed to support the transition and has committed to be available to work on projects that continue to advance our institutional priorities."
President Goel will appoint an interim Vice-President, Academic and Provost effective July 1, 2025, in order to allow for his successor as President and Vice-Chancellor to conduct a search for a permanent replacement. More details on that process will be announced in the near future.
Provost Rush wrote the following statement, circulated yesterday:
After a substantial amount of consideration and reflection, I have decided to step down as Vice-President, Academic and Provost effective June 30, 2025.
My family and I have determined that next summer will be the right time for me to step aside from the duties as Provost. This change will allow me to shift more of my time and attention to important personal demands related to, among other considerations, emerging “sandwich generation” family opportunities.
This will mark a break from 18 years of continuous academic leadership service, including seven as Provost, during my 25 years here at Waterloo.
When I began at Waterloo, I never expected to dedicate so much of my career to leadership, but it has been a very fulfilling path. Indeed, I consider it to be the highest honour of my professional career to have been selected as the University’s Vice-President, Academic and Provost in 2018, to have been re-appointed in 2022, and to have served in this capacity for what will be seven years.
During most of the period I have served as Provost, the University has faced challenging times and operational pressures that have meant we need to transform the way we work. These conditions have challenged us to rethink our organizational structure, our operations, and our strategy and vision. We have risen to the challenges, and I remain optimistic and confident in the bright future of the University of Waterloo, its students, graduates, faculty and staff.
Although I will step down as Provost next June, I am not leaving the University. After a period of administrative leave, I will return to my professorial duties in the Faculty of Health.
In my remaining time as Provost, I will continue to be focused on foundational priorities to support the evolution of the University and its future success. These include integrated planning and budgeting, improving coordination across portfolios, and championing the development of a comprehensive Strategic Enrolment Management framework.
Thank you for your support over the years.
Read the president and provost's full statements on the Employee Communications website.
Eco Summit 2024: finding opportunity in complex times
A message from the Sustainability Office.
Sustainability is at a crucial intersection with ever-growing priorities and an urgency to act. Join the Sustainability Office on Monday, November 25 for our 11thannual Eco Summit to learn more about the inspiring initiatives that are working to find solutions to our complex needs on campus.
This event will feature remarks from Vivek Goel, President and Vice-Chancellor, two exciting panels of Waterloo students and employees, the 2024 Sustainability report and an opportunity to connect with students, teams and offices from the campus community to find actionable ways to make an impact! Light refreshments and snacks will be provided.
When: November 25 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. | Doors open at 12:30 p.m.
Where: Fed Hall
Registration: There is no cost to attend, but registration in advance is required. Register today!
Fall Open House rolls out the welcome mat on November 9
A message from Marketing and Undergraduate Recruitment.
You might notice some excited future students and their families around campus this weekend!
This Saturday, November 9 is our Fall Open House taking place from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Main campus will be busy with more than 18,000 guests expected. From information sessions and sample lectures to faculty, residence, and University College tours, future students will have plenty of opportunities to discover their story at Waterloo. Open house activities are also planned on Saturday at the School of Architecture, the Stratford School of Interaction Design and Business. The School of Pharmacy will be open on Sunday, November 10 for prospective students and their supporters.
If you know a university-bound student, invite them to register.
Celebrating the 30th anniversary of the P4E Fair
A message from Co-operative and Experiential Education (CEE).
On September 25, the Partnerships for Employment (P4E) Job Fair brought together students and alumni from the University of Waterloo, Wilfrid Laurier University, the University of Guelph and Conestoga College. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the fair!
With 181 employers in attendance, the job fair provided diverse job opportunities for students across multiple sectors. Employers were mainly from the finance and manufacturing sectors, and 53 new employers were participating for the first time. Although fewer tech companies attended than in previous years, employers with engineering roles made up 61 per cent of the recruitment needs. Several recruiters from finance, human resources, information technology and marketing sectors had engaging conversations with students and alumni at their booths. Students attending the fair appreciated the broad spectrum of industries in attendance.
Read more about September’s P4E Job Fair
Flags lowered on campus this weekend and other notes
Flags across campus have been lowered today and will remain at half-mast through to Monday to mark a number of observances over the next four days.
Today, flags are lowered in recognition of National Indigenous Veterans Day, which was first proclaimed in 1994. There will be a fireside panel discussion held today featuring Myeengun Henry, who will lead a conversation that will invite Indigenous veterans to share their experiences. The event will be held today from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the SLC's Black & Gold Room.
"This discussion aims to bring awareness to the unique history of Indigenous veterans, highlighting their stories and honouring their legacy," say event organizers." The focus is on the significant contributions and sacrifices made by Indigenous peoples in various military and peacekeeping roles throughout history."
On Sunday, November 9, flags across the country will be lowered to mark the death of the Honourable Murray Sinclair, C.C., O.M., M.S.C., who passed away this week at the age of 73. Sinclair was the first Indigenous judge appointed in Manitoba, and famously served as Chief Commissioner of Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC).
In June 2021, Sinclair delivered virtual remarks at Waterloo entitled "The Truth is Hard, Reconciliation is Harder." In 2023, his son Niigaan spoke on campus as part of the Indigenous Speaker Series.
Flags will remain lowered on Monday, November 11 as the University joins in the national observance of Remembrance Day.
It's going to be smokin' at the Chef & the Farmer's Smokehouse in the Student life Centre today. Join Food Services for Smokehouse Day, which will feature a free BodyArmor sports drink when you buy a smokehouse platter for only $14.99. The platter comes with brisket, smoked chicken, pulled pork, coleslaw, fries, and candied jalapeno cornbread and is available today only. The promotion runs from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
It's time to go courtside as the Warriors Volleyball program has its home opener games tonight. The women's game starts at 6:oo p.m. and the men's game is at at 8:00 pm at Carl Totzke Court (PAC) vs RMC. The first 25 people to arrive will receive a Sweet Lou's Cookie coupon, and it's Camps and Minor League Day, which means youth wearing their basketball jersey will receive free admission on-site. Limited quantities are available. There will also be a W-Store pop-up so you can load up on your Warriors gear right at the PAC. Use your ticket to get 20 per cent off. Get your tickets!
Congratulations are in order for Dr. Susan Tighe, former Waterloo faculty member who served as deputy provost and Associate Vice-President Integrated Planning and Budgeting, who was recently named President and Vice-Chancellor of McMaster University. Dr. Tighe joined the Civil and Environmental Engineering department in January 2000 and was the Norman McLeod Chair in Sustainable Pavement Engineering. She was a founding member of the Centre for Pavement and Transportation Technology (CPATT). Dr. Tighe left Waterloo to serve as McMaster's Provost and Vice-President, Academic in 2020.
Save the date: the CTE7032: Integrated Accessibility Retreat is coming up on December 9 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in MC 2036. "Register to attend a one-day retreat where you’ll learn how to incorporate accessible education practices into your course," says a note from the Office of the Associate Vice-President and the Teaching Innovation Incubator. "With an overarching goal to reduce overwhelm, this retreat is for instructors at any level of accessibility confidence."