Thursday, November 14, 2024

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• Celebrating 20 years of architectural excellence in the Cambridge community
• Ian VanderBurgh named Special Advisor to the Provost on Strategic Enrolment Management
• Changes to the Distinguished Teacher Award process and deadlines now in effect
• Share the joy of the holiday season at UWinterloo
• Task Forces feedback forum today and other notes

Celebrating 20 years of architectural excellence in the Cambridge community

By Charlotte Danby. This is an excerpt of an article originally published on Waterloo News.

In 2004, the University of Waterloo’s School of Architecture moved from the Waterloo campus to a repurposed silk mill in Cambridge, Ontario, to expand its facilities. The school’s new location in the heart of historic Galt was supported by the City of Cambridge and local businesses who recognized its potential to revitalize the municipality’s downtown core.  

Thanks to this strong community and University partnership, Waterloo got the foundation it needed to build a beacon of academic excellence in the fields of architectural design and engineering, while Cambridge got an award-winning landmark that attracts thousands of visitors each year and adds to the city’s cultural vibrancy.  

This collaborative success story was recently celebrated with a weekend-long event at the school to mark its 20th anniversary in Cambridge. Alumni, students, partners, faculty and friends enjoyed exhibitions, tours and an evening reception that celebrated the school’s accomplishments and its ambitions for the future.  

Student exhibitions at Waterloo's School of Architecture.

Laying the foundation 

Before Cambridge, the School of Architecture was part of the Faculty of Environment on the Waterloo campus, and before that, it was part of the Faculty of Engineering. By the early 2000s, it was known as the best architectural school in Canada, but it didn’t have the space to build on its growing reputation. Recognizing the need for new premises, Rick Haldenby, the school’s director at the time, worked with Cambridge community leaders and members to relocate the school to the city’s old riverside silk mill. Inspired by the success of the move, Dr. Adel Sedra, Waterloo Engineering’s dean at the time, brought the school back to the Faculty of Engineering.  

“It was very much a communal project,” Haldenby says. “The bulk of the funding came from the City of Cambridge with additional support from home builders, car dealers, lawyers and many other businesses and individuals. People donated concrete, library shelves, wood doors, light fixtures, hardware, steel studs and digital projection equipment. Our students were part of the building’s redesign, sitting at the table with architects, informing and improving the quality and functionality of the building. The school was built by our community for the community, and this is its enduring legacy.” 

Read the full story on Waterloo News

Ian VanderBurgh named Special Advisor to the Provost on Strategic Enrolment Management

“I am pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Ian VanderBurgh to the position of Special Advisor to the Provost on Strategic Enrolment Management, effective November 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025,” wrote Vice-President, Academic and Provost James W.E. Rush in a memo circulated to Executive Council yesterday.

“As outlined in the Provost’s Advisory Committee on Building a Resilient University of Waterloo, an integrated planning approach is fundamental to creating a resilient, co-ordinated, and people-centred design of organizational operations and planning,” the provost’s memo continues. “The Special Advisor to the Provost on Strategic Enrolment Management (SEM) is pivotal to supporting this key aspect of integrated planning.”

“In his role as Special Advisor on SEM, Ian will oversee the development of a robust SEM framework that will link a data-driven approach to the cycle of activities related to outreach, recruitment, admissions, retention, and student satisfaction,” Rush writes. “This will integrate strategic goals, system constraints, government factors, market trends, and demographic influences on the business decisions and outcomes affecting student enrolment. In undertaking this work, Ian will draw on well-established SEM models from other institutions, and on the insights and advice from the many internal expert stakeholders who are leading and supporting various aspects of this process, to develop a framework that ensures the appropriate structures and supports are in place to promote coordination and alignment for strategic success of our students and the institution.”

Professor VanderBurgh will assume this role on a part-time basis as he continues to serve as Director of the Centre for Education in Mathematics and Computing (CEMC) during the same period of this initial appointment.

“Please join me in congratulating Ian on this appointment and for taking on this important work,” the provost’s memo concludes. 

Changes to the Distinguished Teacher Award process and deadlines now in effect

View this short video featuring reflections from the University of Waterloo’s 2023 DTA award winners: Zara Rafferty (Health), Diana Skrzydlo (Mathematics), Nardine Nakhla (Science/Pharmacy), and Keith Delaney (Science/Earth & Environment).

Amessage from the Office of the Associate Vice-President, Academic.

The University of Waterloo’s Distinguished Teacher Award is an institutional-level award given to exemplary instructors at the University of Waterloo. It is awarded by the Associate Vice-President, Academic and administered by the Centre for Teaching Excellence. Students, faculty, staff, and alumni play a key role in the DTA nomination process as it is through their nominations that instructors are recognized for their exemplary teaching efforts. Since its inception in 1975, over 175 instructors have been awarded the DTA for their contributions to teaching at Waterloo. Read about the 2024 DTA winners on the CTE website.

Beginning this year, the DTA nomination process has changed, requiring students, staff, faculty, and alumni to submit their nominations through an online submission form.

The deadline to submit your nomination form has also changed: it is now due by December 31, 2024, by the end of day. Any forms submitted after the December 31 deadline will be carried forward to the 2025 DTA competition.

Students can also expect to see additional changes to the nomination process beginning in the new year. Starting in January 2025, a button will be added to the Student Course Perception Survey (SCP) for students to seamlessly nominate an instructor following completion of their SCP.

Do not hesitate to reach out to Alisa Sivak (alisa.sivak@uwaterloo.ca) or Maris Weiss (maris.weiss@uwaterloo.ca) if you have any questions about these changes. 

For more information about the Distinguished Teacher Awards (including eligibility and past winners), please visit review the Centre for Teaching Excellence website.

Share the joy of the holiday season at UWinterloo

A message from the Student Success Office (SSO).

Add a spark of joy to this holiday season for international students!

Many international students at Waterloo are facing their first winter away from the familiar warmth of family and home. The UWinterloo program run by the International Experience Centre (IEC) offers an annual experience tailored to help international students feel connected to Canada and their fellow Waterloo Warriors during the holiday break.

UWinterloo is composed of three key components: Mix and Mingle event, a weekly newsletter, and winter care packages. These elements are designed to provide a rich cross-cultural exchange, socializing opportunities, informative winter tips and essential items to enhance the winter experience for international students. "It was a great experience for me because it allowed me to become friends with someone who I have never met," said Taliesan, an international student who had previously participated in UWinterloo.

In 2023, international students received over 700 heartfelt, hand-written messages from staff and faculty across campus. This year, you can once again make an impact by sending your warmest wishes to international students so they can enjoy a wonderful holiday season! As a staff or faculty member, you can sign-up to receive our specially designed holiday cards and write personalized messages that will be included in care packages for international students.

Sign-up today to help the IEC add a spark of joy to the holiday season for international students!

Task Forces feedback forum today and other notes

The feedback forum to support the mandates of the Task Force on Principles for Institutional Partnerships and the Task Force on Social Responsibility in Investing takes place in person today at 10:30 a.m. in the Student Life Centre's Black & Gold Room (SLC 2144). This in-person forum will include an information session and then provide an opportunity for attendees to offer feedback in smaller break-out groups to inform the task force recommendations.  Space is limited and registration is required. Register to attend.

Tonight, the Faculty of Environment's annual Evergreen Banquet will celebrate excellence, honouring the achievements of Environment alumni award winners, donors, and student award recipients. "True to the spirit of our faculty, the Evergreen Banquet is a tribute to the enduring impact of our community members who shape a sustainable and resilient future, year after year," says a note from banquet organizers. "Join us as we recognize those whose dedication keeps our vision ever-relevant and ever-growing." The event starts at 5:30 p.m. at Kitchener's Walper Hotel.

"Join the Office of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Anti-Racism for a social gathering on November 27 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. in EC5!" says a note from the aforementioned Office. "Members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and allies are invited to connect with our office, meet new people, and engage in meaningful conversations that foster support, understanding, and solidarity. This event is a great opportunity to strengthen our community bonds in a welcoming and safe space. Light refreshments and snacks will be available."

Register for the event.