Monday, November 24, 2025

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• Students present tested solutions at GreenHouse’s 35th Social Impact Showcase
• W Days clearance sale this week
• Dig out your winter footwear to avoid slips, trips, and falls
• Senate meets today and other notes

Students present tested solutions at GreenHouse’s 35th Social Impact Showcase

By Joshua Taylor-Detlor. 

For ten long weeks, University of Waterloo students in GreenHouse’s Social Innovators in Training program have moved beyond theory into tangible action. This Wednesday, November 26, from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., they will present the results at United College’s Alumni Hall during the 35th Social Impact Showcase; a celebration of ventures now ready to scale.   

Consider these outcomes: a student-built platform converting invasive buckthorn into sustainable lumber has partnered with local restoration groups; a youth climate council transformed collected waste into public sculptures displayed at Kitchener Market Square; and a mental wellness initiative has grown from 100 subscribers into a community hub for high-achieving young women. Our students have worked hard to develop these working models addressing Waterloo’s own belonging gaps, climate challenges, and social inequities.   

What sets this Showcase apart is its focus on mutual, measurable progress. Attendees will engage directly with students who have navigated real hurdles (like testing EMG gloves with partial finger amputees or refining water safety platforms for communities in Uganda). Two $3,000 and two $1,500 Social Impact Fund grants will be awarded to ventures demonstrating the strongest potential for growth, turning campus innovation into community impact.   

Local catering will create space for meaningful conversations between students, faculty, and community stakeholders. Registration takes seconds via the QR code, but the impact made by your presence will last a lifetime. It signals to these changemakers that Waterloo stands behind solutions rooted in equity and sustainability. Come see how student grit, when paired with community support, becomes lasting change!   

Register to attend the Social Innovation Showcase on November 26.

About GreenHouse

GreenHouse at United College empowers University of Waterloo students and recent alumni to build ventures advancing social, environmental, and economic well-being. Through our Social Innovators in Training programme, we provide mentorship, resources, and community to bridge the gap between ideas and action. Interested in social innovation? Reach out to jtaylord@uwaterloo.ca to apply for Social Innovators in Training’s Winter 2026 term.  

W Days clearance sale this week

A message from Print + Retail Solutions.

Get ready to win at W Store’s annual W Days Clearance Sale, happening Monday, November 24 to Wednesday, November 26 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the South Campus Hall concourse. 

Kick off your visit by playing Plinko (in SCH only) for a chance to score extra discounts, coupons and free prizes, no purchase necessary. It’s the perfect way to start saving before you even start shopping.

During the event, all items will be 20 per cent off the lowest ticketed price. Many products were already marked down earlier, so combined savings can add up to 50 per cent off original prices. With limited quantities available, you’ll want to shop early for the best deals on UWaterloo favourites and seasonal must-haves before they’re gone.  

W Days products and prices will be available to shop in-person in the South Campus Hall concourse (outside W Store) and select items online at wstore.ca. Once it’s gone, it’s gone – so don’t wait to score the best finds of the year!

 Dig out your winter footwear to avoid slips, trips, and falls

This article was originally published in the November 2025 Safety Office E-News.

Each winter season, the Safety Office receives a large number of incident reports for outdoor slips, trips and falls that occur at the same elevation involving snow or ice. Plant Operations Grounds Department works hard to keep areas free and clear of ice and snow. While some slips and falls happen because of adverse conditions, most of these incidents are preventable. Slips, trips, and falls most often occur on level surfaces and are frequently caused by inappropriate footwear, inattention to ground conditions, distractions such as cell phones, or using unmaintained pathways. Please take a few minutes to review the tips and resources below.

Tips

• Plan ahead and wear proper winter footwear. Allow extra time to reach your destination safely, considering weather and surface conditions.
• Use maintained roads and pathways. If you encounter unsafe walking conditions, report them to Plant Operations at ext. 43793 (available 24/7).
• Use the salt or sand bins placed throughout campus during the winter months to improve traction on slippery areas.
• Discuss slip, trip, and fall prevention at your next team meeting.

Resources

• Watch the "Workplace Slips, Trips, and Falls" video and refer to the CCOHS Guide on Preventing Falls from Slips and Trips for more detailed information.
• Stay informed with seasonal weather updates from Plant Operations.
• Post the “Get a Grip – Don’t Slip and Fall” poster on your health and safety bulletin board.

Visit the Slips, Trips, and Falls page for more information.

Senate meets today and other notes

The University's Senate meets today at 3:30 p.m. in NH 3407 and online. Among the agenda items:

• A motion to endorse the proposed Statement and Procedures on Principles for Institutional Partnerships.

The Statement and Procedures emerge from the Task Force on Principles for Institutional Partnerships. This Statement outlines a unified approach around the initiation/renewal of institutional partnerships, an oversight mechanism, and how concerns will be handled and received. They set out a single, consistent approach to institutional partnerships. This framework aims to improve transparency, consistency, and risk management.

• A motion to endorse the Institutional Neutrality, Institutional Restraint and Communications Guidelines for Collective Bodies (Faculties, Schools, Departments, and Academic Support Units).

A previous version of the statement was presented to Senate on May 5, 2025 for discussion. Feedback was invited both during and following the Senate meeting and incorporated into the version enclosed for endorsement by Senate. The revised statement was also shared with the Presidential Advisory Committee for Freedom of Expression and Inclusive Engagement. The revised statement takes into account comments and concerns raised by Senators as well as feedback received after the Senate meeting.

• A motion to approve major modifications to the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Electrical and Computer Engineering and the Master of Applied Science (MASc) in Electrical and Computer Engineering programs, effective January 1, 2026;
• A motion to approve major plan modifications for the Faculty of Arts and Renison University College double degree programs for Social Development Studies and Bachelor of Social Work, effective September 1, 2026; and
• A motion to appoint Natasha Marie Evans (Faculty of Science) as a graduate student member of the University Committee for Student Appeals.

The Senate will also review minor and housekeeping amendments to Policy 68: Vice-President, University Research and International.