Friday, May 1, 2026

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• Register for the Safeguarding Science workshops

• A snack that gives back

• Celebrating Carol Ann Olheiser’s 45 years of service

• School counsellors visit for annual breakfast

• ENS test coming on Monday and other notes

Register for the Safeguarding Science workshops

A message from the Office of Research.

Registration is now open for a series of Safeguarding Science webinars hosted by the Research Security Centre, taking place in May and June.

Public Safety Canada's Research Security Centre has been actively raising awareness of research security through Safeguarding Science training modules.

The Safeguarding Science training modules are intended for all – regardless of academic domain. This includes researchers, research staff (including technicians, postdoctoral fellows, and students), research security professionals, research administrators, information technology and information management staff, security personnel, biosafety and radiological safety officers, human resources personnel, supply chain personnel, and senior management.

Register directly at Safeguarding Science (publicsafety.gc.ca).

• Module 1 – Safeguarding Science: Raising Awareness of Security Risks and Mitigation Tools in the Research Ecosystem (English) – Friday, May 22, 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
• Module 3 – Demystifying the International Student Immigration Process (English) – Tuesday, June 9, 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
• Module 6 – Travelling Safely: Protecting Your Research While Travelling Abroad (English) – Thursday, May 7, 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
• Module 8 – Protecting Knowledge: Research Security in Social Sciences and Humanities (English) – Thursday, June 4, 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Each Webinar has a limit of 250 participants. Please register with a university or professional email address and note that you will not be granted access to the AI Notetaker feature. Non-adherence to these protocols may result in your registration being denied

Learn more about our Safeguarding Science Webinars

A snack that gives back

A message from the Office of Advancement.

Waterloo is gearing up for our second annual Giving Day, which unites alumni, friends, faculty, staff and retirees to help build a better tomorrow for our students.

In partnership with Food Services, we’re kicking things off with hand-crafted goose cookies made right here on campus at the V1 Bakery!

Two dollars from the sale of every cookie will go to the Waterloo Fund to help fuel opportunities for students.

Starting today, goose cookies can be ordered in bulk (minimum one dozen) using the bulk order form. And from May 11 until the end of the month, you can buy individual cookies at select Food Services locations including LA Café, (HH), Ev3rgreen Café, (EV3), Browsers Café (DPL), Brubaker’s (SLC), CEIT Café (EIT), and at the W Store in SCH.

It’s a fun, tasty way to spread some Waterloo spirit, and support students at the same time. Thank you to the many faculty, staff and retirees whose energy and generosity will help make Giving Day a special campus tradition.

Celebrating Carol Ann Olheiser’s 45 years of service

A message from Co-operative and Experiential Education (CEE).

Carol Ann Olheiser closes a career in Co‑operative and Experiential Education (CEE) after 45 years of service.

Carol Ann joined the University in 1980 when the co‑op program had just four computers to support interview schedules and job description databases.

Over the course of her career, she worked through four departmental iterations and six Executive Directors. Her work included employer engagement and business development, student career advising and workshops, alumni employment initiatives, international exchange programs, and system and process development to support employer and student engagement. She was also a founding contributor to the Partners for Employment career and job fairs, a longstanding collaboration among post‑secondary institutions in the region.  In her final two years, she worked collegially to support continuity and alignment as CEE advanced a shared vision for student support.  

Beyond the University, Carol Ann represented Waterloo nationally through active leadership in professional associations such as the Canadian Association of Career Educators and Employers (CACEE), Co‑operative Education and Work‑Integrated Learning Canada (CEWIL) and others. She presented at national conferences, chaired and co‑chaired regional and national events, and served on boards and advisory committees. Her contributions to the field were recognized through multiple provincial and national awards over the course of her career.

Colleagues consistently describe Carol Ann as a trusted mentor, thoughtful leader and collaborative problem solver. With a leadership style grounded in care, she’s helped students navigate their career journeys, employers partner with the University and staff teams feel supported throughout her career.

Carol Ann’s legacy is one of steady, people‑centred leadership and commitment to students and employers over four and a half decades. We thank her sincerely for her service and will celebrate with her Tuesday, May 5 from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. in TC 2218.

School counsellors visit for annual breakfast

By Madi Polanic.

This week the University of Waterloo hosted 60 high school guidance counsellors on our main campus for an annual counsellor breakfast and information session. 

Hosted by Jody Berringer, Manager, National Recruitment, the event focused on sharing the latest updates from Waterloo while strengthening connections with counsellors from across Southern Ontario.

Attendees heard from several campus leaders during a keynote series that explored the evolution of artificial intelligence in education and society. Anaidya Sen, Associate Dean, Co-operative Education and Planning; Richard Eibach, Faculty of Arts Associate Dean, Undergraduate Students; and Carmen Bruni Associate Professor, Teaching Stream, discussed topics ranging from coding and date for social impact in the arts, to educating students about academic integrity. The speakers also addressed the continued importance of studying computer science in a world of artificial intelligence.

Counsellors also received admissions updates from André Jardin, Associate Registrar, Admissions. His presentation highlighted changes from the 2026 admissions cycle, new programs coming in 2027, and addressed common questions from counsellors during a Q&A.

The morning concluded with practical tips on accessing Waterloo resources, followed by a student ambassador-led campus tour, giving attendees the opportunity to experience campus firsthand.

ENS test coming on Monday and other notes

On Monday, May 4, 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.

Buses are running today: It appears as though a GRT strike has been averted, with the union and Waterloo Region reaching a deal before the May 1 deadline. Grand River Transit and MobilityPlus service continues today uninterrupted.

The Brubacher House on the North Campus is hosting a Home Routes Folk Concert featuring V. Poulsens Kapel on Sunday, May 3, beginning with a potluck dinner at 6:00 p.m.

"V. Poulsens Kapel grew out of a deep immersion in traditional Danish music, learned firsthand from mentors, friends, and local tradition bearers," says a note from the Brubacher House. "Their repertoire traces a clear lineage to the music of Ewald Thomsen and the many musicians who shaped the brothers’ musical upbringing, passing tunes hand to hand and ear to ear. Through extended stays in Canada, they also developed a lasting love for traditional Canadian music, forming close friendships with leading musicians from Quebec and Cape Breton. These exchanges allowed the music to take root, evolve, and continue living in Denmark—exactly as traditional music is meant to do."

The concert begins at 7:00 p.m. in the Brubacher House. Tickets are $25 cash at the door, $15 for students and youth ages 13 to 17, and free for kids ages 12 and under.

A late-breaking note on Friday: flags on campus are being lowered in recognition of the death of Sergeant Brandon Malcolm of the Ontario Provincial Police, who passed away on April 27. In accordance with the University's flag lowering guidelines, campus flags will remain at half-mast until sunset on Wednesday, May 6, the day of the funeral.