Monday, April 14, 2025

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• You're invited to the award-winning Employer Impact Conference
• Here's what happened at April's Senate meeting
• Upcoming Science in the City will tackle the global climate crisis
• Monday's notable notes

You're invited to the award-winning Employer Impact Conference

A message from Co-operative and Experiential Education (CEE).

Join top industry leaders and rising stars for an afternoon of bold ideas, inspiring conversations and actionable workplace strategies.

You can attend one session or stay for the full experience—either way, you’ll walk away with invaluable insights.

What you’ll gain

• Fuel innovation and collaboration – Learn how to foster a dynamic, intergenerational workplace.
• Strengthen talent strategies – Explore easy-to-implement programs that enhance workforce development.
• Master hiring best practices – Unlock expert tips to streamline recruitment and attract top talent.
• Boost your brand – Elevate your presence on campus and build lasting industry visibility.

Register for this free, virtual conference that runs on April 29 from 12 noon to 4:30 p.m. ET. 

Here's what happened at April's Senate meeting

A message from the Secretariat.

The University of Waterloo Senate is composed of faculty, undergraduate and graduate students, alumni, governors, and administrative staff, including both elected and ex-officio members. As the institution’s highest authority on academic matters, the Senate meets regularly to discuss topics such as academic programs, educational policies, appointments, and other academic priorities.

Items approved at the meeting

• Recommendation of the University operating budget to the Board of Governors, for prospective final approval at that body’s meeting on April 15, 2025
• Recommendation of an organizational change within the Faculty of Environment to remove the Department of Knowledge Integration from the organizational structure, subject to Board of Governors approval on April 15, 2025 (with Knowledge Integration programs, students and faculty to be moved to the School of Environment Resources and Sustainability)
• Amendments to the Constitution of the Faculty of Environment, including amendments to align with the recommended organizational change
• Approval of curricular changes in the graduate calendar
  • New collaborative programs in health technologies for MEng programs in civil engineering, in electrical and computer engineering, and in systems design engineering
  • New specialization in Future Cities for the MEng in Civil Engineering
  • Major modifications to the Master of Climate Change, the PhD in Psychology, and to MA plans in English - Critical Media Studies
• Annual delegation of Senate’s authority for the approval of the roster of graduands jointly to the chair and vice-chair of Senate, for convocation ceremonies scheduled in June 2025 and October 2025, with reporting on the complete roster of graduands to be presented for information to the Senate meeting following the relevant convocation

Other reports/updates received

• Announcement of the 2025 University Professor designations: Anita Layton (Applied Mathematics), Daniel Scott (Geography and Environmental Management), and Donna Strickland (Physics and Astronomy)
• Consultation and engagement with the community underway following the publication of the Report of the Task Force on Principles for Institutional Partnerships and the Report of the Task Force on Social Responsibility in Investing
• Plans for the development of guidelines toward groups/units taking a collective position, which flows from the work of the Task Force Report on Freedom of Expression and Inclusive Engagement

For more information

Visit the Senate website to find the meeting agenda and related materials for all recent Senate meetings, as well as dates for upcoming meetings. Information for visitors interested in attending a Senate meeting can be found on the Secretariat website.

If you have any questions, please contact the Secretariat at senate@uwaterloo.ca.

Upcoming Science in the City will tackle the global climate crisis

A message from the Faculty of Science.

Researchers in the Waterloo Region are doing critical work to tackle the global climate change crisis. From revolutionizing aviation and advancing nanotechnology to understanding aquatic ecosystems, join us to explore how University of Waterloo experts are developing innovative solutions to address one of the most pressing issues of our time. 

The next Science in the City event takes place on Thursday, April 24 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Catalyst Commons located at 137 Glasgow St Unit 210 in Kitchener.

Meet the speakers

The event is free. Light snacks and beverages will be available for purchase.

Register now.

Monday's notable notes

"Staff and faculty are invited to join the Office of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Anti-Racism in person for an insightful presentation on the challenges and best practices for collecting and interpreting data about queer, trans, and non-binary communities," says a note from EDI-R. "We’ll explore what constitutes "queer and trans" data, the issues associated with "straightwashing" and "ciswashing," and how to critically analyze survey and questionnaire results. Plus, we’ll share key recommendations for ensuring safety, anonymity, and confidentiality in data collection, storage, and reporting."

The event takes place on Wednesday, April 23 from 12 noon to 1:30 p.m. in the EDI-R office on the second floor of East Campus 5.

"Register today! Bring your lunch and join this important conversation!"

Electric Vehicle (EV) owners are needed for a grad research survey. "If you are 18+ and own an Electric Vehicle, take part in this 10–15 minute survey to help shape future charging infrastructure," writes graduate student Diana Shakhova. "This project aims to explore electric vehicle (EV) drivers’ charging behaviours and preferences to support the improvement of EV charging infrastructure. The purpose of this study is to understand how factors such as charging cost, battery level, travel distance, and charging time influence EV drivers' charging decisions."

"For questions, contact dshakhov@uwaterloo.caor my supervisor Lisa Aultman-Hall at laultman@uwaterloo.ca.”

This study has been reviewed and received ethics clearance through a University of Waterloo Research Ethics Board.  

Information Systems & Technology (IST) has published the latest in the Atlassian blog series entitled Getting Started with Jira Service Management Playbooks: Your Team’s Secret Weapon.