Monday, April 6, 2026

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• Athletics celebrates student-athletes at banquet

• Help improve the Libraries' website

• EDI-R launches community engagement guide

• Student engagement surveys closing soon and other notes

Athletics celebrates student-athletes at banquet

Heavy lifts:Cameron Seth and Niki Shemirani stand with Director of Athletics and Recreation Roly Webster.

This is an excerpt of an article originally published on the Athletics and Recreation website.

It was a sweep for squash at the 64^th annual Athletic Awards Banquet, with Cameron Seth and Niki Shemirani taking home the Totzke and Marsden trophies for male and female athlete of the year respectively. 

Women's Golf and Men's Soccer were also well represented, winning multiple awards each. 

Over 880 student-athletes, coaches, support staff, department staff, and special guests packed into the PAC for what was the largest Athletic Awards Banquet in Warriors history, celebrating yet another incredible year of accomplishments for the black and gold. 

Marsden Trophy winner: Niki Shemirani, Squash 

Niki Shemirani kept it simple when asked what goes through her mind during dominant stretches like the one we saw from her at the OUA Championships in February; "I just want to win, to prove that I'm better." 

Shemirani left no doubt of that, going 6-0 without dropping a game and earning herself a field-high 5.71 rating in the process. She led the Warriors to a fourth-place finish and was named the OUA MVP. The third-year Systems Design Engineering is the first squash athlete to win the Marsden trophy since Micaala Seth in 2013. 

Totzke Trophy winner: Cameron Seth, Squash 

Micaala Seth was in attandance to celebrate with her brother, Cameron Seth, who was awarded the Totzke trophy ten years after receiving the Shield of Excellence in 2016. The Computer Science PhD candidate wasn't sure he was going to be able to play Squash again when he returned to Waterloo as a student. 

After successfully rehabbing a hip injury, Seth was able to get right back to his dominant level. Like Shemirani, Seth went undefeated (5-0) without dropping a game, and had a field-high 6.69 rating. He was also named the OUA MVP and led the men's team to a fourth-place finish as well. 

Seth is the first squash athlete to win the Totzke trophy since Eric Dingle in 2009. He and Shemirani are the first duo of squash athletes to win the Totzke and Marsden in the same year. 

Read the full list of award winners on the Athletics and Recreation website.

Help improve the Libraries' website

A message from the University of Waterloo Libraries.

The University of Waterloo Libraries is redesigning its website, and we want to hear from students, staff and faculty about your experiences and needs.
Throughout April, you can participate in focus groups or one-on-one interviews to share your feedback and help shape a more user-friendly Libraries website.

Sign up for focus groups by April 9 and interviews by April 23.

• Focus group registration
• Interview registration

EDI-R launches community engagement guide

A message from the Office of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Anti-Racism (EDI-R).

The decisions we make about research, programs, policies, and spaces shape campus life—but how do we ensure they truly reflect the communities they impact? The Community Engagement Guide was created to help answer that question.

Developed collaboratively by EDI-R, the Office of Indigenous Relations, and Campus Support and Accessibility, the Guide offers practical tools to support inclusive, accessible, and equity-centred engagement across the university. From identifying whose voices need to be included to building accountability, reducing barriers, and closing the loop on feedback, it helps move engagement beyond consultation toward meaningful collaboration.

Whether you're planning a focus group or leading a larger initiative, the Guide supports more thoughtful, consistent, and community-informed decision-making. Explore the guide.

Student engagement surveys closing soon and other notes

Survey season is quickly winding down. The National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) opened on campus on March 2 for first-year and graduating students, and will remain available end of day today.

The NSSE 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 post-secondary institutions in North America.    First-year and graduating-year students received an invitation 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.   

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. 

On March 10, faculty members and instructors received 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 Monday, April 6 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 the IAP website or email analysis@uwaterloo.ca for more information.

You know what else is winding down? The winter term! Today is the last day for lectures and classes. Students will now have two pre-examination study days this week before the final examination period begins on Thursday, April 9. Exams run until Thursday, April 23. Speaking of academic terms and examination dates, the Registrar's Office has published the 2026-2027 Undergraduate Studies Academic Calendar, which is now available online. 

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

• A motion to recommend that the Board of Governors approve the operating budget revenues and expenses for 2026-2027;
• A motion to approve major modifications to the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Political Science and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Political Science - Co-operative Program, 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 the proposed new Policy 19: Student Academic Disability Accommodations and to recommend the Board of Governors give final approval to the Policy;
• A motion to delegate Senate's authority for the approval of the roster of graduands jointly to the chair and vice-chair of Senate, for convocation ceremonies scheduled in June 2026 and October 2026 and to direct that a report on the complete roster of graduands be presented for information to the Senate meeting following the relevant convocation.

Senate will also hear reports from the President, the Vice-President, Academic and Provost, the Senate Academic Quality Enhancement Committee, Senate Graduate Council, and the Annual Report of the Associations, which highlight key accomplishments, advocacy efforts, and emerging priorities across WUSA, FAUW, and the GSA.