Tuesday, March 10, 2026

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• Dr. Bill Rosehart named Waterloo's next President and Vice‑Chancellor
• Faculty should submit the Electronic IP Disclosure Form by March 31
• 2026 Faculty Survey of Student Engagement launches today
• Test of the ENS system coming tomorrow
• Tuesday's notes

Dr. Bill Rosehart named Waterloo's next President and Vice‑Chancellor

Dr. Bill Rosehart, a nationally respected academic leader, scholar, and three‑time University of Waterloo graduate (BASc ’96, MASc ’97, PhD ’01), has been appointed the next President and Vice‑Chancellor of the University of Waterloo. His five‑year term will begin on July 1, 2026.

Dr. Rosehart brings more than two decades of senior leadership experience at major Canadian research universities, including serving as Provost and Vice‑President, Academic at the University of Guelph and Dean of the Schulich School of Engineering at the University of Calgary. Across both institutions, he has led large‑scale academic transformation, strengthened research and teaching capacity, and advanced student‑centred, experiential learning.

A three‑time Waterloo engineering graduate, Dr. Rosehart has a deep appreciation for the University’s bold founding vision and its globally recognized integration of experiential learning, entrepreneurship, and research excellence. His leadership career consistently reflects these strengths: he is known for guiding institutions through periods of significant change with clarity, collaboration, and principled decision‑making.

“Waterloo was founded on a bold idea: that integrating academics with real-world experience could redefine higher education and strengthen society. That spirit of unconventional thinking remains its greatest strength, and I am excited to return to help build on that foundation,” said Dr. Rosehart.

“We have an extraordinary opportunity to lead Canada and the world in AI and human-centred digital futures, in health and social innovation, in climate resilience, in the arts and across the full breadth of a comprehensive university. By working together, setting ambitious goals and aligning our resources behind clear priorities, we can ensure Waterloo continues to shape talent, ideas and solutions that matter in Canada and around the world,” he said.

The appointment follows a comprehensive search process led by the Presidential Nominating Committee, which included broad consultation with Waterloo faculty, staff, students, and community partners.

“Dr. Rosehart impressed the Presidential Nominating Committee with his genuine, people-centred approach to leadership and his clear understanding of what makes a comprehensive university thrive,” said Murray Gamble, Chair of the Board of Governors. “He is a collaborative relationship builder and a careful listener who brings integrity, respect and a deep appreciation for the people that make up a university – its faculty, staff and students. As a three-time Waterloo graduate, he understands the ethos of our institution.”

A values‑driven leader who champions Indigenization, equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility, Dr. Rosehart embedded EDIA and Indigenous engagement within academic strategy, supporting new curriculum pathways, leadership roles, awards, and partnerships with Indigenous communities at both Calgary and Guelph.

“Bill really cares about people and their success, which extends to his strong and genuine commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion and Indigenous relations. Bill believes deeply in the importance of a comprehensive university — one that values engineering and the liberal arts alike. Bill is credibly inspirational, empowering those around him to succeed, and the committee has great faith in his ability to lead Waterloo through its next chapter,” said Gamble.

Dr. Vivek Goel, Waterloo’s current President and Vice-Chancellor who will complete his term on June 30, 2026, welcomed the announcement of his successor.

“I am delighted to welcome Dr. Rosehart back to his alma mater to become the first Waterloo alum to serve as president. His track record of transformational leadership, his commitment to inclusive excellence, and his deep understanding of experiential education position him exceptionally well to guide Waterloo into its next chapter,” said President Goel. “Under his leadership, I am confident that Waterloo will continue to drive innovation and make meaningful contributions locally, nationally, and globally.”

Dr. Goel has served as president and vice‑chancellor since July 2021. Through his five-year term he united the community behind a bold long-term vision for Waterloo and advanced lasting progress in innovation, sustainability and reconciliation.

A respected researcher in electrical energy systems, Dr. Rosehart has published extensively and supervised more than 30 graduate students. His numerous distinctions include fellowship in the Canadian Academy of Engineering, the Engineering Institute of Canada, and the Canadian Society for Senior Engineers.

Faculty should submit the Electronic IP Disclosure Form by March 31

Photograph by Mike Norris via pexels.com.

A message from the Office of Research.

The deadline for faculty members to disclose and update their Intellectual Property (IP) and commercialization activity using the Electronic IP and Commercialization Activity Disclosure Form is March 31, 2026.

In order to provide the most accurate information, faculty members must complete and update the form each year. If you don’t have any IP/commercialization activity to disclose, you must still complete the form which will take less than a minute.

The form was designed to facilitate annual collection of IP and commercialization information to meet Policy 73 requirements. Completion of the form allows the University to capture a more comprehensive picture of IP/commercialization data at Waterloo and respond more credibly to requests for information from government and agencies that rank Waterloo’s performance and commercialization in Canada and globally.

More information about disclosure of IP/commercialization activity is available on the Policy 73 webpage. Please email policy73form@uwaterloo.ca if you have any questions.

2026 Faculty Survey of Student Engagement launches today

A message from Institutional Analysis and Planning (IAP).

On March 10, Faculty and Instructors will receive an invitation to participate in the 2026 Faculty Survey of Student Engagement (FSSE) from Allison BrckaLorenz, FSSE Principal Investigator, and Associate Research Scientist. FSSE examines instructors’ perceptions and expectations regarding effective teaching practices and student engagement with their studies, instructors, and staff, and serves as a complementary data source to the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE).

Instructional staff (Faculty, staff, and graduate students) who have taught at least one undergraduate course in 2025 have until April 6, 2026, to participate. The survey is voluntary and confidential. Survey results shared with Waterloo do not include any personally identifiable data beyond the Faculty dimension, so no individual instructor can be identified. Visit IAP's NSSE/FSSE website or email analysis@uwaterloo.ca for more information.

Test of the ENS system coming tomorrow

On Wednesday, March 11, the University will conduct a campus-wide test of the Emergency Notification System (ENS) provided by Regroup.

The test will send messages through the following channels:

• SMS/text message
• Email
• Regroup Mobile (safety app)
• Desktop Alert
• Campus Safety webpage

What you need to do before the test:

1. Download the Regroup Mobile app and complete the login and recommended settings.
2. Confirm your cell phone number is up to date:
   • Staff: update it in the Regroup app
   • Students: update it in Quest
3. Install the Desktop Alert tool on your computer if it is not managed by the University.

If you have questions about the test or need help installing the Regroup app or Desktop Alert, please email ens@uwaterloo.ca.

Tuesday's notes

Papers, please: Admissions Coordinator Akila Patel snapped this pic of a sharp-eyed hawk outside of South Campus Hall on Friday, evaluating visitors as they arrived.

The Libraries are hosting a series of SciVal workshops tomorrow. And just what is SciVal, you might ask? Look, I'm no expert, but SciVal is a bibliometric tool and performance metric tracker produced by Elsevier. To find out more, why not attend one of the following workshops?

• Introduction to SciVal for Beginners, 9:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m., LIB 323;
• SciVal Refresh & Practice for Novice Users, 11:00 a.m. to 12 noon, LIB 323;
• Showcasing Research Strength and Performance with SciVal, 1:00 p.m. to 2:15 p.m., LIB 323;
• Revealing Research Strengths and Emerging Opportunities with SciVal, 2:30 p.m. to 3:15 p.m., LIB 323; and
• Finding Experts, Journals and Building Impact Narratives with SciVal, 3:15 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., LIB 323.

Make a day of it!