Monday, April 20, 2026

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• 2026/2027 Operating Budget approved

• Happy National Volunteer Week

• Registration for the Vision Science Graduate Student Conference closes Thursday

• Notice of Senate by-elections for faculty
• Visit the Red Dress Day art showcase and other notes

2026/2027 Operating Budget approved

"The Board of Governors has approved Waterloo’s 2026/27 Operating Budget," wrote Tom Duever, Interim Vice-President, Academic and Provost and Jacinda Reitsma, Vice-President, Administration and Finance in a memo circulated to employees on Friday. "The budget report provides details of the projected revenues and expenses, as well as an update on the multi-year plan to return to a balanced budget. A more detailed communication is posted on the Budget website, as well as the Operating Budget presentation."

"In February, the Government of Ontario announced a new funding model and updated tuition framework, representing a meaningful shift in provincial support for post‑secondary institutions," the memo continues. "As a result, the University has updated its multi‑year financial plan to reflect this additional funding, which provides welcome relief from ongoing financial pressures."

"Preliminary estimates suggest that the new provincial funding model will increase our operating grant funding by $50.8 million in 2026/27. After accounting for other grant funding changes, this translates into an estimated net increase of $35.9 million over the 2025/26 Operating Budget. The announcement also signaled additional investment tied to enrolment growth in priority program areas. Details on this portion of the announcement are expected to be shared later this year."
 
"Despite the welcome changes from the province, the University is still projecting a structural deficit of $33.7 million for 2026/27, and this deficit does not include new staff salary increases. As a result, we are planning for a $20 million reduction to our budgets in 2026/27 — smaller than previously anticipated, but necessary to support long-term sustainability and will help reduce the scale of expense reductions that would otherwise be required in future years. These cuts will reduce the operating deficit for 2026/27 to $13.7 million."

The memo outlined a change to the hiring freeze, which was initiated in 2024. "With reduced budget pressure, the University has moved to a sustainable, institution‑wide governance framework for staff hiring," the memo continues. "While the 2024 hiring freeze was intended to be temporary, the underlying financial and workforce planning challenges persist, and institution‑level oversight will continue through a more consistent process." Among the changes include Executive Council review of all requested positions, improved alignment with institutional staffing priorities and benchmarking data, elimination of senior‑level approval for temporary backfill contracts, and a streamlined approval process supported by clearer guidance.

The memo also provided an update on the ongoing functional reviews. "IT, Marketing and Communications, and Finance functional reviews are nearing completion, and reviews of HR and Student Services are now underway. Functional Review Implementation Teams (FRITs), led by a Dean and an executive leader, are tailoring their work to reflect the unique needs of each area, aligned with HR’s Talent and Performance Management Framework."
 
"While minimizing impacts on employees remains a priority, some layoffs may occur as part of restructuring," Duever and Reitsma wrote. "FRITs will communicate broadly once implementation plans are finalized, and updates will be posted on the Functional Reviews section of the Waterloo Budget Plan website." A list of community supports were highlighted, including the Employee and Family Assistance Program.

Two in‑person Q&A sessions will be held to discuss the budget and related initiatives. Both sessions will be livestreamed. Please register for one of the following sessions:

• Q&A Session 1, Thursday, May 14, 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m, Humanities Theatre
• Q&A Session 2, Friday, May 15, 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

For more details, visit the Waterloo Budget Plan website.

Happy National Volunteer Week

A message from Advancement.

This week is an opportunity to recognize the incredible volunteers who support the University of Waterloo on campus and beyond. If you work with volunteers, please take a moment to thank them this week.

Volunteers strengthen our community by supporting student programs, offering mentorship, and sharing perspectives that help advance the University’s vision and reputation worldwide.

To the staff, faculty, and students who give their time and talents to our campus community — thank you!

Registration for the Vision Science Graduate Student Conference closes Thursday

The School of Optometry & Vision Science has announced that the 2026 Vision Science Graduate Student Conference will be held on Monday, April 27 and Tuesday, April 28. All graduate students are expected to attend this two-day event.

The conference agenda includes graduate student research presentations, a workforce panel, graduate student awards and a GRADflix highlight, and networking opportunities. The final research seminar of the day is the Larkworthy Lecture, which is being presented by Dr. Kevin Duffy of the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience at Dalhousie University and is entitled "Reversing the effects of visual deprivation with retinal inactivation." The lecture takes place in OPT 347. A post-lecture reception closes out the conference Tuesday evening.

Attendees will be updated on research within the School and have an opportunity to support graduate students by attending the graduate awards presentation.

There's still time to register. Registration closes Thursday, April 23.

If you have any questions, please contact vsgraduatecoordinator@uwaterloo.ca.

Notice of Senate by-elections for faculty

A message from the Secretariat.

The Senate, established through the University of Waterloo Act, 1972, is the University's highest academic governing body, responsible for oversight of a variety of matters. The composition of Senate is representative of the University community, with both elected and ex-officio membership. Senators include faculty members, undergraduate and graduate students, alumni, governors and administrative staff.

Election for a faculty-at-large vacancy on Senate will be held in April, and all eligible faculty are encouraged to consider nomination.

To appear on the ballot, nominees must provide a brief statement (100 words maximum) along with a completed nomination form. Those interested in becoming a Senator can find more information on the Nominations and Elections website.

The nomination period will open April 27 at 9:00 a.m. and remain open until May 7 at 4:00 p.m.

Voting will begin on Tuesday, May 12 at 9:00 a.m. and will close on May 19 at 4:00 p.m.

Faculty-at-Large Senators

As a result of a vacancy, there is one faculty-at-large member to be elected by and from faculty members of the University, for a term beginning July 1, 2026 to August 31, 2027.

If you have any questions, please get in touch with the Secretariat.

Visit the Red Dress Day art showcase and other notes

In support of Red Dress Day, Mennonite Central Committee Ontario (MCC) presents an exhibit featuring artwork that illustrates factors contributing to the criminalization and harm of Indigenous women.

“Created by Indigenous female artists, the artwork is part of the Call 30 activity, co-facilitated by Mennonite Central Committee and Feather & Cross,” says a note from Conrad Grebel. “The Call 30 activity takes its name from Truth and Reconciliation Call to Action 30, which calls for ending the mass incarceration of Indigenous women in Canada.”

“Visit the MCC website to sign up and experience the activity to deepen your understanding of why Red Dress Day matters and why 50 per cent of women in the prison system are Indigenous.”

The exhibit will be open to the public from May 2 to 16 at the Grebel Gallery on the top floor of the Kindred Credit Union Centre for Peace Advancement at Conrad Grebel.

The W3+ group is hosting Holding It Together on Wednesday, April 22, from 12 noon to 1:30 p.m. on the upper floor of the Grad House. 

The Registrar’s Office is inviting friends and colleagues to a retirement reception honouring Dorothy Chapman on Tuesday, May 5 from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in NH 2001. Speeches will begin at 4:00 p.m. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Dorothy’s contributions.