Editor:
Brandon Sweet
University Communications
bulletin@uwaterloo.ca
Attend the 2026 GRADflix showcase
A message from Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs.
Mark your calendars! Join Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs on March 10 from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Federation Hall for the 2026 GRADflix Showcase. Watch this year’s top 60-second research videos and celebrate the creativity, innovation, and impact of graduate research at Waterloo.
GRADflix is a research communication competition that challenges graduate students to showcase their work in just 60 seconds for a non-specialist audience. The competition highlights research excellence while helping students strengthen their storytelling skills and expand their professional reach.
The 2026 finalists represent all six faculties, with research spanning vision-saving therapies, sustainable energy solutions, inclusive systems design, space sustainability, and the social forces shaping how we live, learn, and belong.
Register for the showcase online.
National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) launches today
A message from Institutional Analysis and Planning (IAP).
The National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) opens on our campus on March 2 for first-year and graduating students, and will remain available until April 6.
The survey is administered by the Indiana University Centre for Postsecondary Research and collects data from first-year and graduating undergraduate students at over 1,700 participating postsecondary institutions in North America.
First-year and graduating-year students will receive an invitation today via their UWaterloo email account or by logging in to LEARN, inviting them to participate in the 15-25-minute survey. Students who submit their NSSE survey responses will receive $5 on their WatCard and a chance to win one of six W Store prize packs.
NSSE results provide insights into where institutions are performing well and where they could improve. This survey has been an extremely valuable tool for determining and supporting best practices in Waterloo’s undergraduate student experience and has been used for a variety of quality assurance purposes, such as baseline measures in Waterloo at 100 and Academic Program Reviews.
By gathering students' needs from their own perspectives, participating students play a significant role in bringing about positive change, both in and out of the classroom. By asking students about their experiences, opinions, and ideas, we can continue working to enrich the overall Waterloo student experience.
For more information about this project at Waterloo, visit the 2026 NSSE website or contact Institutional Analysis & Planning (IAP) by email at analysis@uwaterloo.ca .
Diefenbaker Lecture Series showcases breadth of German studies
A message from the Department of Germanic and Slavic Studies.
The Department of Germanic and Slavic Studies and the soon-to-be School of Critical and Creative Humanities are sponsoring The Diefenbaker Lectures, a series of presentations showcasing the breadth and range of German studies scholarship today.
Held in conjunction with the Diefenbaker Memorial Chair in German Literary Studies, an endowed research and public engagement professorship at the University of Waterloo, these lectures feature leading scholars, all strong advocates of humanities education, who are keen on leading German studies in new directions. German studies is a more broadly diverse discipline than most people realize, marked by the latest in interdisciplinary research and an openness to connecting with other disciplinary and national traditions.
Thursday, March 5: Professor Priscilla Layne
- Professor of German and Director of the Center for European Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- “Swiss Postcolonial Literature? Reading Martin Dean’s Meine Väter (2003) through Trauma, Mutism, and Third Space”
- Prof. Layne will explain what makes this Swiss novel such a compelling example of postcolonial literature.
- Thursday, March 5, 7:00 p.m. at the Balsillie School of International Affairs
- More details and registration.
Thursday, March 26: Professor Hannah Eldridge
- Professor of German at the University of Wisconsin-Madison where she also edits the scholarly journal Monatshefte
- “The (Germanophone) Poem and the (Connected) World”
- By tracing paths from Rainer Maria Rilke in Paris to Algeria, Sudan, and the Caribbean, Prof. Eldridge aims to re-think the canon of Germany poetry.
- Thursday, March 26, 7:00 p.m. at the Balsillie School of International Affairs
- More details and registration.
Monday, April 6: Professor Anjeana Hans
- Professor and Chair of German Studies at Wellesley College
- Public Lecture: “From Vienna to Hollywood: Independent Films, Exile, and the Shaping of Hollywood Genre”
- Prof. Hans follows the career of German filmmaker Henry Koster whose exile during the Third Reich saw him make a mark in Hollywood genre films.
- Monday, April 6, 7:00 p.m. at the Balsillie School of International Affairs
- More details and registration.
Registration is recommended: you can just show up, of course, but if you register, it helps us plan the receptions following the talks.
Step softly: WUSA launches WalkSafe pilot
A message from the Waterloo Undergraduate Student Association (WUSA).
On March 2, WUSA’s WalkSafe pilot program is officially launching! WalkSafe is a peer-led service that supports undergrads walking on campus during weekday evening hours. Volunteers will walk with students from point A to point B, anywhere on main campus.
It’s currently operating as a pilot program, following a pitch at WUSA’s inaugural January 2025 Change Engine event. This pilot is designed to test the feasibility, demand, and effectiveness of what the program could look like.
Learn more on the WalkSafe website.
It's an ocean of motions as Senate meets today
The University's Senate meets today at 3:30 p.m. in NH 3407 and online. Among the agenda items:
- A motion to approve the creation of a Senate Alternative Credentials Committee, effective May 1, 2026
- A motion to approve major modifications to the Master of Arts (MA) in Political Science; Master of Arts (MA) in Political Science - Co-operative Program (direct entry); and
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Psychology, effective May 1, 2026; - A motion to approve major modifications to the Master of Environmental Studies (MES) in Geography, effective May 1, 2026;
- A motion to approve major modifications to the 2026 Graduate Studies Academic Calendar, effective May 1, 2026;
- A motion to approve major plan modifications and retirements for the Faculty of Arts School of Accounting and Finance, Department of Communication Arts, Department of Economics, Renison University College programs, and regulation changes, effective September 1, 2026;
- A motion to approve major plan modifications for the Faculty of Engineering Biomedical Imaging Technologies Specialization, Diploma in Business and Entrepreneurship programs, and retired regulations, effective September 1, 2026;
- A motion to approve major plan modifications for the Faculty of Environment Geographic Information Systems Certificate, Environment, Society and Well-Being Specialization, Remote Sensing Specialization programs, and regulation changes, effective September 1, 2026;
- A motion to approve major plan modifications for the Faculty of Mathematics Data Science program, effective September 1, 2026;
- A motion to approve major plan modifications for the Faculty of Science Advanced Physics Option, Aviation Minor, and regulation changes, effective September 1, 2026; and
- A motion to approve the Office of the Registrar new regulation and regulation changes, effective September 1, 2026.
Senate will also receive a number of reports, including the Report of the Senate Research and Innovation Council, the Annual Report of the Ombudsperson; and the reports from associations including FAUW, GSA, and WUSA.
Upcoming office closure
The International Experience Centre (IEC) and the Student Success Office (SSO) will be closed on Tuesday, March 3, from 9:00 a.m. until noon for an all-staff event.
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 shots 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.
The Waterloo Eye Institute optometry clinics in Waterloo and downtown Kitchener offer comprehensive eye exams and eyewear, including glasses and contact lenses, with the Waterloo location offering various specialized services including urgent eye care. Discounts apply for University of Waterloo students and employees. The Waterloo Clinic is at a nearby interim location, 419C Phillip St, during construction at the School of Optometry and Vision Science. The Kitchener Clinic remains at the Health Sciences Campus, 10B Victoria St. S. Book online or by phone at 519-888-4062.
Warriors Winter Youth Camps, registration is now open for multi-sport and games, baseball, basketball, eSports, football and hockey camps for boys and girls ages 5 to 18. Register today!
Foresight for Climate Resilience Panel, Monday, March 2, 12 noon to 1:00 p.m., Grebel Gallery, Conrad Grebel University College and online.
Senate meeting, Monday, March 2, 3:30 p.m., NH 3407 and online.
Department of Anthropology Silver Medal lecture, "A project for the public: Turning a rescue excavation of an 18th century cemetery into a unique visitor experience at the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site of Canada" featuring Dr. Amy Scott, Trent University, Monday, March 2, 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., EV3 4412.
Systematic and Scoping Reviews: Systematic Search Methods, Tuesday, March 3, 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., online.
Public talk: He Did Not Conquer: Benjamin Franklin’s Failure to Annex Canada, Tuesday, March 3, St. Jerome’s University, SJ2 2002.
SIGNAL Summit, Wednesday, March 4 to Friday, March 6,
Fruit and Veg Market, Wednesday, March 4, 12 noon to 4:00 p.m., SLC lower atrium, PSE 1st floor. $10 for a bag of assorted produce while supplies last.
Into the Open: An exploration of education without paywalls, Wednesday, March 4, 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., SLC Black & Gold Room (SLC 2144).
Velocity presents Give to Rise: An International Women’s Day Micro-Retreat and Skill Session, Thursday, March 5, 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., MC 2037.
Culture Fest 2026, Thursday, March 5, 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., Conrad Grebel University College, Room 2202 (Community Education Room).
NEW - Provisional Lives exhibition opening reception, Thursday, March 5, 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Riverside Gallery, School of Architecture, Cambridge.
NEW - Diefenbaker Lecture: “Swiss Postcolonial Literature? Reading Martin Dean’s Meine Väter (2003) through Trauma, Mutism, and Third Space” featuring Professor Priscilla Layne, University of North Caronlia at Chapel Hill, Thursday, March 5, 7:00 p.m., Balsillie School of International Affairs.
The Value Crisis & the Science of Happiness, Friday, March 6, 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., United College Alumni Hall. Register now.
International Women’s Day 6th Annual High Tea Social, presented by the Faculty of Science. Friday, March 6, 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., virtual discussion on Zoom. Register today.
Home Routes folk concert: Onna Lou and Keri Latimer, Friday, March 6, 7:00 p.m., Brubacher House - North Campus.
Jude Abu Zaineh artist talk and closing reception, Saturday, March 7, 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., University of Waterloo Art Gallery.
Agri-Food Innovation Challenge, Monday, March 9 to Friday, March 20.
Systematic and Scoping Reviews: Systematic Screening using Covidence and Zotero, Monday, March 9, 10:00 a.m. to 12 noon, online.
Agri-Food Innovation Challenge kick-off event, Monday, March 9, 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., South Campus Hall second floor cafeteria.
Unlock the Power of Linear Regression, Tuesday, March 10, 9:30 a.m. to 12 noon, DC 1568.
Faculty of Health International Women’s Day panel event, Tuesday, March 10, 12 noon to 1:00 p.m., online.
GIS Speed Run: Creating Map Layouts, Tuesday, March 10, 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., online.
Master of Taxation Virtual Information Session, Wednesday, March 11, 12 noon.
WICI Talk - "Systems Mediation" with Dr. Maryam Mohiuddin Ahmed, Wednesday, March 11, 2:00 p.m., M3 3127.
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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E2 Loading Dock crane operation, Monday, March 2, 7:30 a.m. to 12 noon, E2 loading dock will be closed to accommodate a crane and flatbed truck lifting materials onto the roof of E3.
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School of Pharmacy, Integrated Health Building, Innovation Arena (OSC) fire alarm testing, Wednesday, March 4, 6:30 a.m. to 8:15 a.m.
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University Club, Bauer Warehouse, Avril fire alarm testing, Wednesday, March 4, 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
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Energy Research Centre, Math 3, Burt Matthews Hall fire alarm testing, Friday, March 6, 6:30 a.m. to 8:15 a.m.
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Minota Hagey, Mackenzie King Village, Ron Edyt Village fire alarm testing, Friday, March 6, 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.