Friday, April 17, 2026

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• 2026 UWSA-UW Memorandum of Agreement now in effect

• Empowering the next generation of political scientists through experiential learning 

• Student-led initiative improves drinking water access for campus residences

• State of the City and other summations

2026 UWSA-UW Memorandum of Agreement now in effect

Empowering the next generation of political scientists through experiential learning

By Kyra Rattansi and Sarah Seabrook.

On March 26, the University of Waterloo’s Department of Political Science hosted the “Experiences in Political Science Poster Symposium”, a showcase of undergraduate student research and experiential learning. The event served as the culmination of PSCI 424, a SLICC capstone course designed to bridge the gap between abstract political theory and real-world application. Through academic posters, policy briefs, propaganda posters, and other forms of creative media, students in the course engaged faculty, their peers, and members of the Waterloo community in discussions about their self-directed journeys—demonstrating what is possible when students are empowered to own their education.

Scaffolding student autonomy: the SLICC framework

PSCI 424 uses the SLICC Framework. This self-directed and reflective framework requires students to identify a project of personal interest, conduct an audit of the skills needed to succeed, and determine assessment criteria. While the framework prioritizes self-direction, it also encourages peer engagement and feedback opportunities. Dr. Mariam Mufti recognized that the weight of an individual capstone project requires a unique support structure. She intentionally opted to teach in an active learning classroom (PHY 235) that facilitated the creation of “pods”—collaborative groups of three to five students working on similar themes or deliverables. These pods allowed students to seek feedback and peer support throughout the term, ensuring that while they were working independently, they were never working alone.

Cultivating student capacity for real world impact

By replacing traditional learning models with a more rigorous model of inquiry, the course forced students to move past summarizing political theories and begin pressure-testing them against current global and local trends. This shift from observation to ownership was evident in Miriam Pedrozo’s mapping of "Chinese Lawfare." Rather than just citing textbooks, Miriam synthesized complex legal definitions to argue that while Western law typically acts as a constraint on power, "China has a much more instrumental view... law is a tool for government power." Similarly, Shiza Khokkar applied theories of democratic erosion to the raw aesthetics of populist propaganda, noting that modern populist messaging is often intentionally "ugly" because "the way that a message is packaged doesn't matter anymore; it's just the message itself that matters."

Miriam Pedrozo and Shiza Khokkar discuss their projects with attendees.

These theoretical applications were also grounded in primary research undertaken by some students in the course. For his project on Ontario’s autism services, Brodric Uniac went straight to the source, interviewing leadership at KidsAbility to uncover systemic funding gaps. In turn, he produced a 13-page policy note advocating for increased government funding driven by his conviction that "change is needed, and awareness is the only way to progress."

Brodric Uniac.

The case for investment in experiential learning at Waterloo

Overall, the success of the PSCI 424 Symposium offers a powerful case for why there is important pedagogical value in frameworks that provide opportunities for self-directed experiential learning, providing a model that Waterloo instructors should consider when designing for future programs and course offerings. Students reported a level of engagement and deep personal investment that traditional lecture formats rarely achieve.

By working through the SLICC framework’s reflection requirements, students indicated that they learned to navigate the inherent uncertainty of independent research and "record all those changes" in their own thinking—a process that fostered a sense of metacognitive maturity they view as essential for their future academic and professional endeavours.

Student-led initiative improves drinking water access for campus residences

This article was originally published on the School of Public Health Sciences website.

A student-led public health initiative at the University of Waterloo is helping to reshape access to safe, convenient drinking water in campus residences. H2oloo, co-founded by Health Sciences students Isabelle Lee and Giordana Staudohar, has successfully secured a commitment from Campus Housing to install 48 new water fill stations in residence buildings, representing an investment of approximately $138,000.

The initiative grew out of an assignment in HLTH 304 Health Communications, where students were challenged by Dr. Ashley Amson to identify a health issue on campus and hypothetically persuade the University to address it.  For Lee and Staudohar, that challenge became more than a classroom exercise.

Staudohar points to her own experience while living in Village 1 (V1) during her first year on campus, where restrictive key access often limited her options to unfiltered water from communal bathroom sinks or purchasing bottled water and sugar drinks. “That practice was both detrimental to the environment and to my well-being,” she says.

She helped create H2oloo to address this challenge faced by many students living in residence: limited access to drinking water refill stations due to building design and key restrictions. 

“H2oloo aimed to increase the number of water fountains in Campus Housing residence buildings to foster a healthier, more hydrated lifestyle among students,” Lee shares.

To support their advocacy, the H2oloo duo conducted original research, including a student survey and a pilot test. The survey explored students’ experiences and demand for water fountains in residence. The findings played a central role in Campus Housing’s decision to move forward with the project.

In addition to research, the duo prioritized student engagement. They visited classes, collaborated with professors and hosted pop-up events in residence buildings to highlight the health benefits of hydration and the gaps in existing water infrastructure. Pilot testing involved placing filtered water dispensers in residence lounges to observe whether student would use a conveniently located water source when available.

In just five days, approximately 45 litres of water were consumed by students in Ron Eydt Village (REV) and V1, proving that the fountains would be popular with students upon installation.

Campus Housing plans to install 20 fountains in REV and 28 in V1, ensuring access aligned with the layout and key restrictions of those communities.

“To achieve fair and equitable access to drinking water for all students in V1 and REV, we will install 20 fountains in REV (one per floor) and 28 water fill stations installed in V1 (one per house),” says Raven Urbanowicz, administrative project coordinator in Campus Housing. “Campus Housing will be prioritizing this project in our upcoming planning cycle for 2027.”

H2oloo was developed as part of the WUSA Change Engine competition, which supports student-driven solutions to community challenges. The initiative won the competition in 2025 and received $5,000 in funding to support its research and advocacy work.

While H2oloo does not currently plan to scale beyond residence water access, the initiative demonstrates the impact of applied public health research and student leadership. Through evidence-based advocacy, the project illustrates how student voices can drive institutional change and contribute to healthier campus environments.

State of the City and other summations

McCabe & Mr. Goel: Waterloo Mayor Dorothy McCabe and President Vivek Goel at the State of the City breakfast. Photograph by Sam Charles.

Yesterday morning, the Feridun Hamdullahpur Field House traded balls for breakfast as the University of Waterloo partnered with the Waterloo Rotary Club to host Waterloo City Council’s 2026 State of the City event on campus.

Mayor Dorothy McCabe, on behalf of city council, delivered the state of the city address, which included a reflection on the past year and a look ahead. “Mayor McCabe noted a rapidly changing global landscape, while highlighting the seeds that have been planted to ensure Waterloo remains future-ready and community-driven,” says a note from the City of Waterloo’s news site.

“The University of Waterloo was built through partnership, with community, industry and government, grounded in a shared belief that education, research and innovation should serve society,” wrote President Vivek Goel in a post on LinkedIn. “That spirit of collaboration continues to set this region apart. It's what has helped Waterloo become a place known for its talent, innovation and quality of life, and it's what will carry us forward. Thank you to Dorothy McCabefor your leadership, and to everyone involved in organizing and supporting this event.”

The Centre for Teaching Excellence will be hosting two half-day Assessment Redesign and Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) workshops next week on Tuesday and Thursday. "This assessment redesign workshop explores the implications of GenAI for assessment design, offering strategies to both harness GenAI as a learning tool and address challenges," says a note from CTE. "Over two half-days, the workshop provides space, time, expertise, and peer feedback to help participants create assessments that are both innovative and resilient in the age of GenAI."