Editor:
Brandon Sweet
University Communications
bulletin@uwaterloo.ca
President's Golf Tournament raises funds amid the fun
A golfer sends her drive over a pond towards the green at the 23rd Annual President's Golf Tournament.
A message from Athletics and Recreation.
Athletics and Recreation is pleased to share that the 23rd annual President’s Golf Tournament, held at the picturesque Westmount Country Club, raised over $93,000 in support of the Warrior Excellence Fund, which provides support for student-athletes and teams when competing at national and international competitions, and the Women’s Sport Initiative Fund, which provides support for female student-athletes and coaches.
That’s an increase of over $8,000 from the 2024 tournament and brings the total raised over the tournament’s lifetime above $1.3 million.
This is a testament to the generosity of the Waterloo Warriors community, and this department is incredibly grateful for the support received at this event and throughout the 2024-2025 season.
2024-2025 Warriors Female and Male Athletes of the Year Meagan Hobson (Field Hockey) and Matt Onuska (Men's Hockey) deliver the student-athletes' address.
The funds raised through tournament fees, silent and live auctions, and donation cards helps enable Warrior student-athletes to thrive academically and athletically.
A special thank-you to our presenting sponsor, Activa, and to all of the tournament sponsors whose contributions made possible the tremendous success of this year’s event.
The President’s Golf Tournament is a cornerstone of this department’s commitment to excellence in athletics, and we are excited to welcome you back on June 1, 2026 for the 24th edition of the tournament.
Microsoft Teams chat retention changes go into effect next week
Talk is cheap, but tell that to the software company archiving your messages! Along with the recently-announced cloud storage quotas for M365 applications that go into effect on Tuesday, August 19 for employees, Microsoft will be implementing a new 90-day retention policy for Teams Chat messages (i.e., all content under the Chat tab, except for shared files, which will remain saved on your OneDrive).
"Posts to a Channel and other Teams data will not be impacted," says a note from IST. "The implementation of this retention policy manages information risk to the University, aligns with recommendations from University Records Management, and adheres to Policy 46 - Information Management requirements. Chat messages are not intended to be kept; University records required for longer periods of time should be stored in a Team or SharePoint site."
Impact of this change
Messages from private 1:1 chats, group chats, meeting chats, and chat messages with yourself will be deleted 90 days after the message is sent or received and will not be recoverable. All chats will be deleted on a rolling 90-day basis thereafter. An automatically generated message stating "We've deleted older messages due to your organization's retention policy" will appear at the top of chat windows as older chats are deleted.
Archiving required Chat data
A self-serve method for archiving data under the Chat tab is available if there is a requirement to save a copy of the exchange. This tool should be used on a limited and extraordinary basis only, to meet the goal of limiting information risk to the University.
Support resources
Research study seeks immigrants for digital device survey, other notes
Cheriton School of Computer Science graduate student Shanza Shanza is seeking participants for a research study entitled "Understanding Family Practices Around Shared Digital Devices."
Who can participate?
- Immigrant families who regularly share digital devices like phones, laptops, etc.
- Parent–child pairs where the child is aged 9–25.
- First-generation immigrant parent from:
- South Asia (e.g., Pakistan, India, Bangladesh)
- Southeast Asia, Africa, or the Middle East
- Countries affected by conflict or displacement (e.g., Syria, Ukraine, Afghanistan, Iraq)
- From other developing countries or Global South
What’s involved?
A 90-minute in-person session at a venue of your choice. You and your child (aged 9–25) will take part in:
- A brief survey
- A conversation-style interview
Languages supported
English, Urdu, and Hindi.
Participants will receive $60 for their time.
If you have questions, email sshanza@uwaterloo.ca or contact the Research Ethics Board at 1-833-643-2379 or reb@uwaterloo.ca
This study has been reviewed and received ethics clearance through the University of Waterloo Research Ethics Board (REB #74549).
This is a reminder that the OHD Lending Library drop-in event takes place today from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the OHD Training Room in EC1-1004. Registration isn't required, but you can sign up on Portal.
Upcoming office closure
All Campus Wellness locations will close today at 11:30 a.m. and will reopen on Friday, August 15 at 8:30 a.m.
Link of the day
When and where
The Campus Wellness Student Medical Clinic offers healthcare visits with Physicians and Nurse Practitioners to current undergraduate and graduate students. Services include: vaccinations, immunity testing, naturopathic services and more. Counselling Services offers appointments with counsellors in person as well as via phone and video. Students can book appointments for these services by calling Campus Wellness at 519-888-4096.
The privately-run Student Health Pharmacy (located in the lower level of the Student Life Centre) is now offering new COVID booster shots and flu shots. Covid booster shorts are available by appointment only – please call ext. 33784 or 519-746-4500. The Student Health Pharmacy’s summer hours are Monday to Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Naloxone kits are still available – pick them up in the pharmacy at no charge.
Final examination period, Tuesday, August 5 to Saturday, August 16.
Technology Governance Summer School 2025, Monday, August 11 to Thursday, August 21.
Assessment as Learning, Thursday, August 14, 10:00 a.m. to 12 noon, MC 2036.
OHD Lending Library drop-in event, Thursday, August 14, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., EC1-1004 (OHD training room). Registration isn't required, but sign up on Portal for a reminder.
Course Outline Builder, Thursday, August 14, 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., MC 2036.
Deadline to get "Fees Arranged", Tuesday, August 19.
Navigating the Archives — Research Strategies & Treasures, Tuesday, August 19, 11:00 a.m. to 12 noon.
The Emotional Effects of Retirement, Thursday, August 21, 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Research Impact Canada’s Dr. RIC, "Challenges to Reciprocal Storytelling in Indigenous Engagement" and "Challenges and Opportunities: Community Compensation & Recognition in Community-Based Research (CBR)," Thursday, August 21, 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. If interested, please contact Nadine Quehl for the Zoom link.
PhD oral defences
Applied Mathematics. Avneet Kaur, "State estimation using Machine Learning." Supervisor, Dr. Kirsten Morris. Thesis available via MGO - mgo@uwaterloo.ca. Oral defence Tuesday, September 2, 11:30 a.m., MC 6460.
Management Science and Engineering. Bibhushan Raj Joshi, “Building Haptic Systems with 3C’S: Communication, Collaboration, and Confirmation.” Supervisor, Dr. Oliver Schneider. Thesis available via SharePoint – email eng.phd@uwaterloo.ca to request a viewing link. Oral defence Tuesday, September 2, 1:30 p.m., CPH 3623.
Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering. Yang Wang, “Virtual Platform Design and Implementation for Magnetic Levitation Actuator Digital Twin With AI-Based Modeling and Control.” Supervisor, Dr.
Behrad Khamesee. Thesis available via SharePoint – email eng.phd@uwaterloo.ca to request a viewing link. Oral defence Wednesday, September 3, 10:00 a.m., online.
Biology. Molly Chen, “Microbial Diversity and Potential for Biogeochemical Cycling in Heavy Metal Contaminated Environments.” Supervisor, Dr. Laura Hug. Visit the Faculty of Science Thesis Submission Notices website for details on requesting a copy. Oral defence Wednesday, September 3, 2:30 p.m., B1 266 and remote via MS Teams.
Systems Design Engineering. Xueyang Yao, “Teach a robot to assemble a bolt to a nut with a handful of demonstrations.” Supervisor, Dr. Bryan Patrick Tripp. Thesis available via SharePoint – email eng.phd@uwaterloo.ca to request a viewing link. Oral defence Friday, September 5, 9:30 a.m., E5 6111.
Upcoming service interruptions
Stay up to date on service interruptions, campus construction, and other operational changes on the Plant Operations website. Upcoming service interruptions include:
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PAS Corridor 1122 partial closure, Tuesday, August 5 to Wednesday, August 20, corridor will be closed for two weeks, access to the CMHRT will be available from the loading dock.
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Engineering 3 electrical shutdown, Thursday, August 14, 6:00 p.m. to Friday, August 15, 3:00 a.m., will affect power in several rooms: 2171, 2116, 2116A, and 2118J.
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Engineering 2 and 3 electrical shutdown, Sunday, August 17, 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., normal power will be off including elevators, emergency power will be operating.
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Engineering 3 (E3) electrical shutdown (panels PP-31, PP-41, PP-34), Monday, August 18, 6:00 p.m. until Tuesday, August 19 at 3:00 a.m., several rooms will be affected.
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MC exterior door replacement, Monday, August 18 to Thursday, August 21, no exit at MC 1106 stairwell door during the replacement.
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C2 roof exhaust fan maintenance, Tuesday, August 19, 7:30 a.m. to 12 noon, will affect the exhaust of all fume hoods in the building, users with items in the fume hoods that could cause fumes should have them temporarily relocated during the maintenance period.
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Engineering 6 air supply and exhaust fan shutdown, Wednesday, August 20, 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (rain date Thursday, August 21), there will be no air supply or exhaust air during this period of preventative maintenance, this will primarily affect fume hoods, and if the outdoor temperatures are extremely high the indoor temperatures will also climb.
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Annual steam shutdown affecting all buildings within Ring Road, Village 1, Engineering 5 and 7, Monday, August 18 at 12:01 a.m. to Friday, August 22 at 12 noon. There will be a utility steam shutdown affecting domestic hot water, heating and steam, domestic hot water will run cold during the shutdown.