Thursday, June 19, 2025

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• Provost announces senior academic leadership appointments
• Community support in difficult times
• More than 1,200 founders and counting
• From pilot to practice: Grad students connect academic studies with real-world impact

Provost announces senior academic leadership appointments

A message from James W.E. Rush, Vice-President, Academic and Provost. 

I am pleased to announce three senior leadership appointments beginning on July 1, 2025. These appointments will ensure the continuity of important initiatives currently underway in these portfolios, which is crucial during this time of change at the University.  

Professor David DeVidi, Associate Vice-President, Academic will continue in this role for one final year. Under David’s leadership as AVP, Academic, many strategic initiatives have been implemented and others are nearing completion. David’s willingness to extend his term for one more year before stepping down will maintain the momentum for completion of these vital projects and will help with the transition to new leadership next year. During this time, he will address the outcomes of the review of the AVP, Academic portfolio that was conducted over this past year, and will work within and outside of the portfolio to create a collaborative implementation approach to some key recommendations. He will also continue in the role of Chair of the Academic Innovation Working Group (AIWG), where his years of experience and expertise in the role of AVP, Academic will be critical in helping the group explore how we can deliver our academic programs more efficiently, leverage technology to enhance teaching and learning, and create new revenue streams through program development. 

Professor Justin Wan will be appointed to the role of Interim Associate Vice-President, Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs (GSPA) for one year beginning on July 1, 2025. Justin is currently Interim Co-Associate Vice-President, GSPA with Professor Clarence Woudsma. I would like to thank Clarence for his contributions as Co-AVP, GSPA and for his years of service in administrative roles at the University. I wish Clarence continued success in his career. 

During Justin’s term, he will continue the progress made on initiatives of the Graduate recruitment and admissions transformation project, workflow automation, and Graduate work-integrated learning. Justin will also address the outcomes of the review of the AVP, GSPA portfolio that was conducted over this past year, and will work within and outside of the portfolio to create a collaborative implementation approach to some key recommendations. 

The one-year appointments of David and Justin will provide the incoming Provost, Professor Thomas Duever, the time required to conduct a search for a new Associate Vice-President, Academic and Associate Vice-President, Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs. I would like to thank David and Justin for their commitment to their respective portfolios over the years, and the pivotal impact they have made on the University through their leadership in these administrative positions.  

I am also pleased to announce that Professor Ian VanderBurgh will transition from Special Advisor to the Provost on Strategic Enrolment Management (SEM) to Associate Vice-President, SEM for a five-year term beginning on July 1, 2025. Formalizing the role as AVP, SEM ensures that an integrated planning approach remains at the core of creating a resilient, coordinated, and people-centred design of organizational operations and planning for the student lifecycle at the University. An appointment of a senior leader to coordinate all functions of this portfolio is critical to the University for the coordination of enrolment and revenue. 

As the AVP, SEM, Ian will report directly to the Provost and will implement a consultative SEM framework that he developed since being appointed Special Advisor to the Provost last fall. This framework applies a data-driven approach to the cycle of activities related to outreach, recruitment, admissions, retention, and student satisfaction, and supports close collaboration with Deans and other academic leaders from the Faculties; the Registrar; the AVPs, Academic, GSPA, and Academic Operations; the Associate Provost, Students; and other Executive Council members. Ian will work with these stakeholders to ensure effective strategic and enrolment management, enhanced planning through scenario modeling, management of the distribution strategy of domestic and international students among programs and Faculties, and other critical elements to support the University's academic mission and enrolment-based revenue goals. 

In addition, Ian will be responsible for convening the functional workstreams that support the SEM framework as the portfolio evolves, including new processes to promote visibility and efficiency across operations.  

I would like to thank Ian for the important work he has begun over this past year and wish him continued success in the AVP, SEM role. Please join me in congratulating him on this appointment.  

Community support in difficult times

In times like these, when uncertainty and conflict are prevalent throughout the world, it’s more important than ever to come together as a community. 

The University of Waterloo is rich in diversity – we are connected across the globe through family, friends, research, and business relationships. But more than that, we share a genuine concern for all who are suffering under the weight of global events and the emotional toll that comes with it.  

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or simply not yourself, know that you are not alone and there are people here who care deeply about your well-being. Whether you need someone to talk to, academic flexibility, or mental health resources, please reach out to the following resources. 

Students 

• Both in-person and virtual appointments are available at Campus Wellness (Counselling Services) at 519-888-4096.  

• You can also refer to a full directory of after-hours resources.  

• AccessAbility Services: Assists with coordinating accommodations for students (including trauma-related help). 

• Department well-being coordinators and the Graduate Student Association (GSA): Available to help connect students with resources. 

Employees 

• Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP): Provides confidential counselling, support, and coaching to staff and faculty 24/7. Call 1-800-663-1142 or visit Homeweb.ca for resources.  

• Employee Health and Accommodation (EHA): Assists with coordinating accommodations for employees (including trauma-related). 

Community and connection 

• Office of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Anti-Racism offers sessions aimed to foster community building, understanding, connection, and care within affected groups.  

• Multi-Faith Spirituality & Resource Team offers support for all beliefs 

• Cultural and faith-based groups on campus 

• Here 24/7 - 1-844-437-3247 (available for immediate support)   

• Talk Suicide Canada – 1-833-456-4566 or text 45645   

• Suicide Crisis Helpline – call or text 9-8-8  

• WRHN @ Midtown (formerly Grand River Hospital) - 519-749-4300   

• WRHN @ Queen's Blvd (formerly St. Mary's Hospital) - 519-744-3311   

• Cambridge Memorial Hospital – 519-621-2330  

Thank you for being part of this community – please take care of yourselves and each other. 

More than 1,200 founders and counting

By Sam Charles. This is an excerpt of an article originally published on Waterloo News.

The University of Waterloo startup ecosystem has long been a driver of innovation across its campuses, in Waterloo region and around the world. Entrepreneurship is woven deep within the Waterloo DNA and continues to grow and prosper because of a solid foundation of support and resources.

At the core of the Waterloo ecosystem is Velocity. The organization is more than an incubator. It is a community of founders dedicated to supporting the entrepreneurial aspirations of students and researchers by providing the advisory services, industry connections and investor relations required to accelerate their business traction.

Momentum, the recently released publication from Velocity highlights that their founders are connecting to capital. Velocity’s more than 500 companies have a combined enterprise value of $40 billion.

John Dick, Velocity’s senior director of Founder Development, says its work, and that of the companies it supports, are becoming increasingly important given the current economic landscape in Canada. “At Velocity, we know that startups are the key to unlocking Canada’s potential. Founders are not just building companies; they’re building the future of Canadian competitiveness.”

Every year, more than 1,400 students step into Velocity and many walk out as startup founders. In 2024, 395 student-led teams were actively building on campus and moving from idea to pre-seed startup.

“We’re encouraged by the growing progress and impact of our community of students, founders, builders and innovators,” Dick says. “Velocity not only prepares startup founders, but it trains the leaders and changemakers of tomorrow.”

Read the full story on Waterloo News.

 From pilot to practice: Grad students connect academic studies with real-world impact 

By Matthew King. 

The graduate work-integrated learning (GradWIL) project at the University of Waterloo is finishing its pilot phase and moving into operational programs. This important step is a chance to look back at what has been achieved so far and to show ongoing commitment to giving graduate students practical, career-focused work-integrated learning (WIL) experiences.

Expanding opportunities across disciplines

Since its inception, GradWIL has created innovative opportunities for master's and doctoral students to apply their research, skills and academic insights in real-world settings. These experiences include graduate co-op work terms, applied research opportunities and project-based course-level or centralized WIL with external partners.

“None of this would have been possible without the support of James Rush. From the beginning, he recognized the value of expanding work-integrated learning to the graduate level and championed our efforts to make it a reality,” says Norah McRae, associate provost, CEE. “His leadership has reinforced our commitment to putting students at the centre, ensuring their academic experiences are enriched by meaningful, real-world learning opportunities.”

In partnership with Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs (GSPA) and the faculties, Co-operative and Experiential Education (CEE) has supported graduate co-op programs in Engineering and Math. The graduate co-op offerings include the Master of Management Sciences (MMSc), Master of Engineering (MEng) in Electrical and Computer Engineering and Master of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (MDSAI) programs.

The initiative extended far beyond just co-op offerings. In the Faculty of Environment, the Master of Climate Change (MCC) program introduced a WIL internship component to provide students with practical experience in their field of study.

"A key to the success of our efforts was the willingness of programs across the faculties to be open to working with us, problem solving with supporting partners, and ultimately enhancing an existing WIL activity or bringing new ones to life,” says Clarence Woudsma, interim co-associate vice president, GSPA. “It’s a prime example of our actions reflecting our institutional values – think differently, act with purpose, work together.”

Read the full story on CEE’s Associate Provost news site.