Monday, February 3, 2025

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• Grade 10 Info Night coming up on February 20
• You're invited: Join Campus Wellness for the launch of Be You!
• Advancing professional development with the Grad Skill Enhancement Project
• February's first batch of notes

Grade 10 Info Night coming up on February 20

A message from the Registrar's Office.

Grade 10 students and their supporters are invited to learn more about applying to university and what they can do now to prepare. Our university experts will share information on topics like admissions and finances while current students will share what it was like to go from high school to university. Also sharing advice is our keynote speaker, Dr. Marc Hurwitz, Associate Professor from the Conrad School of Entrepreneurship and Business.

The information shared will be helpful regardless of which universities or programs a student is interested in, and the main event will not focus on Waterloo’s faculties or academic programs, though students looking for this information will be able to connect with campus partners at our information fair or through a live Q&A if watching virtually.

• Presentation: 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. (Humanities Theatre and virtual livestream)
• Information fair: 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., and 8:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. (in person only, Hagey Hall Hub)

Grade 10 Info Night takes place on February 20. For details and to register, visit the website.

You’re invited: Join Campus Wellness for the launch of Be You!

A message from Campus Wellness.

Please join us today from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the Health Services reception area for remarks from leadership, mingling, cake, and the reveal of a Be You art installation that showcases the many faces of our student community! Please register to attend. 

Be You is a Campus Wellness-led initiative dedicated to enhancing student mental health and well-being. Created with valuable student input, Be You celebrates the diversity of our student population that makes UWaterloo unique. This initiative aims to unite our campus community while providing practical ways to support student mental health in your role on campus. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect, learn, and champion the well-being of our students—together, we can make a difference!

We look forward to celebrating the launch of Be You with you!

Advancing professional development with the Grad Skill Enhancement Project

This article was originally published on the Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs website.

On January 16, graduate students gathered in Needles Hall for the highly anticipated kickoff event for the Grad Skill Enhancement Project, a new initiative by Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs designed to help graduate students develop essential academic and professional skills.

"We know that graduate students face unique challenges, and the Grad Skill Enhancement Project is here to help them prepare for the future” says Karmvir Padda, PhD Candidate in Sociology and Legal Studies and Graduate Professional Development Program Specialist. Designed to be flexible and allow each student to tailor the program to fit their needs, the initiative allows graduate students to choose from a diverse range of workshops in career preparation, communication, leadership, and personal effectiveness so they’re well-prepared to enter the job market upon graduation.

To bring participants together and formally kickoff the initiative, Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs held a welcome event on January 16, inviting all participants from the Winter 2025 cohort. A highlight of the welcome event was the opportunity to network and socialize with other attendees, meeting graduate students from other departments and faculties that they might typically have the chance to interact with.

"The kickoff event is more than just an introduction,” says Ashley Ryan, Graduate and Postdoctoral Programming Specialist, “it’s a chance for students to connect with their cohort, share their goals, and get inspired to make the most of the program."

During the event, staff facilitated a guided introduction exercise, encouraging participants to find similarities and common ground with their peers in their goals and aspirations despite differences in academic backgrounds. Graduate students were also given the chance to share the most impactful advice they received throughout their graduate career. These pieces of advice ranged from "Don’t be afraid to fail; it’s part of the process," to "Your well-being is just as important as your research," and "Take a human-first approach in all interactions."

Throughout the event, staff mingled with attendees, answering questions about the program and offering insights into the workshops and opportunities that lay ahead. Along with Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs staff, Kira Bruschke, a Career Advisor from the Centre for Career Development, was also in attendance to answer questions about the services and supports that the Centre for Career Development provides.

The program’s flexible and self-paced structure, allowing students to tailor their learning to their specific goals, was a recurring topic of conversation throughout the event. "We’re thrilled to see so much enthusiasm for the Grad Skill Enhancement Project," said Ryan. "The welcome event is just the beginning, and we can’t wait to see how students will grow and thrive through this program."

The Grad Skill Enhancement Project can be completed by graduate students in as little as 10-15 hours across a term. Upon completion, participants will receive professional recognition through a LinkedIn badge and a signed letter of completion to showcase their skills to future employers and academic institutions.

Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs plans to run the Grad Skill Enhancement Project on a regular basis to give all graduate students the chance to develop their professional skills throughout their degree. Graduate students interested in participating in future offerings of the Grad Skill Enhancement Project can sign up for the waitlist.

February's first batch of notes

The Registrar's Office has announced that the winter 2025 final examination schedule is now available on the web. The final exam period begins on Wednesday, April 9 and runs to Friday, April 25.

The voting period has begun for the WUSA Board of Directors. Voting starts Monday, February 3 and runs until Sunday, February 9 at 11:59 p.m. Election information and resources are available on the WUSA website.

Reminder: The Amit & Meena Chakma Award for Excellence in Teaching (AETS) recognizes students who have demonstrated outstanding teaching abilities. Do you know a teaching assistant, lab demonstrator, or instructor who has shown exceptional dedication to teaching on campus? Nominate them for the 2024-2025 AETS award! Nominations are due by Friday, February 7. Visit the Centre for Teaching Excellence’s website to check if your nominee meets the award criteria.

Submit your nomination form to cte-aets@uwaterloo.ca and give your favourite student instructor the recognition they deserve! For more information, contact Maris Weiss.