Editor:
Brandon Sweet
University Communications
bulletin@uwaterloo.ca
Launching Shift:Mobility, Waterloo’s first sustainable transportation plan
A message from the Sustainable Transportation Office.
Sustainability has long been a priority at Waterloo, reflected in key documents, commitments, and policies; however, the University has never had a coordinated approach to transportation planning. Over the past decade, Waterloo has been shaped by significant shifts such as regional growth, rising cost of living, and expanded active and public transportation infrastructure— factors that now affect how people travel to and from campus. These changes, alongside the release of our Campus Plan, create an ideal time for coordinated and meaningful action.
In 2023, Waterloo embarked on the work of developing its first ever sustainable transportation plan. This involved an 18-month collaborative effort led by a core team and planning group with representatives from across campus. Broad community engagement, through targeted discussions, open houses, and the 2024 Travel Survey, enabled the consideration of a wide range of perspectives.
Waterloo’s sustainable transportation plan Shift:Mobility is now available. The plan establishes key directions and a framework of action for how Waterloo can support and reduce barriers to sustainable transportation choices over the short, medium, and long term across our campuses. Through implementation of Shift:Mobility, Waterloo is working toward five core outcomes to create a more vibrant and sustainable campus:
- Improve the quality of sustainable transportation options to enhance community members’ wellness and satisfaction.
- Optimize effective and efficient use of University assets including land and fleet.
- Effectively deliver core operations and logistics.
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions and environmental impacts from transportation.
- Strengthen safe and accessible use of campus for all users.
Shift:Mobility can be read alongside other targeted plans for sustainability at Waterloo, such as Shift:Neutral, our plan for climate action and Shift:Zero, our waste sorting guide.
Get your game on, Waterloo!
A note from the Office of Advancement.
On May 21, our community will come together for our second annual Giving Day, and we’re excited to share a sneak peek of a playful way our campus community can join in.
This is a new Waterloo‑built, flappy‑bird‑style online game where players fly across campus, collect points and direct those points to areas they care about. Each point translates into real dollars for student‑focused initiatives.
As faculty, staff and retirees, you help shape the student experience every day. By playing the game, you can boost the areas you’re passionate about — whether that’s a Faculty, School, College, program or another campus priority.
The more you play, the more points you earn, and the more you help your chosen area rise on the leaderboard! When Giving Day ends on May 21 (11:59 p.m.), the top five areas with the most points will unlock real funding.
And here’s a bonus twist: the top player with the highest points will have the chance to award an additional $1,000 to any existing fund on campus.
Ready to bring your best A‑game W‑game and help amplify Giving Day excitement across campus? Try it now!
Renison recognized for innovation excellence in student affairs
This is an excerpt of an article originally published on the Renison University College website.
Renison University College has been recognized by the Canadian Association of College and University Student Services (CACUSS) with an Innovation Award for the college’s Belonging Project. Built on student voices, this project was created to strengthen belonging, connection, and support for equity-deserving students—bringing initiatives like the Link Inclusion Lounge, more than 100 student-led events, and peer support programs to life.
This recognition reflects the impact of a community that shows up, listens, and grows together. Renison launched its Belonging Project in Winter 2024 as an innovative student affairs program to address gaps in student belonging experienced by equity-deserving students. Renison’s Student Experience and Housing (SEAH) department tackled questions surrounding how students feel they belong at the college in terms of its physical environment, opportunities to connect with peers from similar equity-deserving backgrounds, and the ability to access peer mentorship or support.
Following a series of consultation sessions with equity-deserving students as well as a feedback survey, SEAH published its report, “Renison: A Road Map for Student Belonging”. The report issued several action items for immediate action, culminating in the introduction of the college’s Link Inclusion Lounge: a welcoming, inclusive space for all students. To facilitate opportunities for connection, more than 100 student-facilitated events have since been facilitated in the lounge space for equity-deserving students.
“This achievement is a true community effort,” shared Ryan Connell, Assistant Director, Student Experience and Housing. “Our students continue to share their lived experiences with us, which allows us to better understand what our student community needs in order to truly thrive.”
Read the full story on the Renison website
Senate meets today and other notes
The University's Senate meets today at 3:30 p.m. in NH 3407 and online. Among the agenda items:
- A motion to approve major modifications for the Biochemistry Specialization, Biology Specialization, and Biotechnology Specialization for the Faculty of Science, effective September 1, 2027; and
- A motion to approve the amended Policy 70 – Student Petitions and Grievances.
In addition, proposed amendments to Senate Bylaw 1 are being brought forward for a first reading. A number of reports are also being presented, including the annual report by FAUW, a Co-operative and Experiential Education Report, and the University Committee on Student Appeals Annual Report on Student Appeals.
Within the consent agenda (a number of housekeeping items passed by consent at the start of the meeting), there are motions to approve the appointment of Samir Sharma as an undergraduate student member of the Senate Executive Committee, effective May 1, 2026 to August 31, 2026; and to ratify the acclamation of the undergraduate and graduate student members to the Board of Governors for the 2026-2027 governance year.
Flags on campus were lowered Friday and remain at half-mast 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.
Upcoming office closures
The Human Resources office will be closed today from 11:00 a.m. to 12 noon for a departmental meeting.
The Science Undergraduate Office in STC will be closed on Tuesday, May 5, from 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and on Wednesday, May 6, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. If you would like to meet with an advisor, please schedule a time around these closures.
Register for a Budget Q&A session
Two in‑person Q&A sessions will be held to discuss the 2026/2027 operating budget and related initiatives in May. 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.
Link of the day
When and where
The Campus Wellness Student Medical Clinic offers healthcare visits with Physicians and Nurse Practitioners to current undergraduate and graduate students. Services include: vaccinations, immunity testing, naturopathic services and more. Counselling Services offers appointments with counsellors in person as well as via phone and video. Students can book appointments for these services by calling Campus Wellness at 519-888-4096.
The privately-run Student Health Pharmacy (located in the lower level of the Student Life Centre) is now offering new COVID booster shots and flu shots. Covid booster shots are available by appointment only – please call ext. 33784 or 519-746-4500. The Student Health Pharmacy’s summer hours are Monday to Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Naloxone kits are still available – pick them up in the pharmacy at no charge.
The Waterloo Eye Institute optometry clinics in Waterloo and downtown Kitchener offer comprehensive eye exams and eyewear, including glasses and contact lenses, with the Waterloo location offering various specialized services including urgent eye care. Discounts apply for University of Waterloo students and employees. The Waterloo Clinic is at a nearby interim location, 419C Phillip St, during construction at the School of Optometry and Vision Science. The Kitchener Clinic remains at the Health Sciences Campus, 10B Victoria St. S. Book online or by phone at 519-888-4062.
Warriors Summer Youth Camps, registration is now open for multi-sport and games, baseball, basketball, eSports, football and hockey camps for boys and girls ages 5 to 18. Register today!
NEW - University Senate meeting, Monday, May 4, 3:30 p.m., NH 3407 and online.
WIN-ChE Seminar with Andrew Fix, "Selective Membrane Air Dehumidification: Bridging the Gap Between Materials, Components, and HVAC System Design," Tuesday, May 5, 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., QNC 1501.
Stories Carry Us: Honouring Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, Tuesday, May 5, 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., BMH Green and HLTH LHS 1621.
Retirement Reception for Dorothy Chapman, Tuesday, May 5, 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. NH 2001.
Retirement celebration for Carol Ann Olheiser, Tuesday, May 5, 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., TC 2218.
Trusting health care in the age of AI, Tuesday, May 5, 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI).
Performance Development Program: A Manager's Overview, Wednesday, May 6, 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., EC1 1023.
Performance Development Program: A Manager's Overview, Friday, May 8, 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., EC1 1023.
Triathlon Ring Road Rumble, Saturday, May 9, 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., PAC Pool.
NEW - Lectures and classes begin, Monday, May 11.
NEW - Co-operative work term begins, Monday, May 11.
WIN Distinguished Lecture with Arben Merkoçi, "Coupling Nanomaterials with Sustainable Platforms for Next-Generation Point-of-Care Nanobiosensors," Tuesday, May 12, 11:00 a.m. to 12 noon, QNC 1501.
NEW – Public Lecture by P. Whitney Lackenbauer, “Canada’s Arctic is Under Threat: Clarifying Security Threats Through, To, and In the Arctic,” Tuesday, May 12, 7:00 p.m., Notre Dame Chapel, St. Jerome’s University. Refreshments will be served.
WICI Complexity Day: From Particles to Markets: Complex Systems Across Disciplines, Wednesday, May 13, 11:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., PSE 7303.
The Life and Legacy of the Athabasca Glacier interactive art exhibit, Thursday, May 14 to Saturday, May 16, 12 noon to 5:00 p.m., The Artery Gallery, ECH 1207.
The Life and Legacy of the Athabasca Glacier interactive art exhibit opening reception and artist panel, Thursday, May 14, 3:30 p.m., The Artery Gallery, ECH 1207.
Faculty of Arts presents The Gaza Doctrine: Implications for International Law and the future of the Middle East featuring guest speaker Neve Gordon, May 13, 7:00 p.m., Fed Hall and online. Please register.
PhD oral defences
Computer Science. Haoyu Gu, “Improving Reliability for Networked Systems and Software Execution.” Supervisor, Dr. Ali Mashtizadeh. Thesis available from MGO – mgo@uwaterloo.ca. Oral defence Friday, May 8, 11:00 a.m., DC 2310.
Computer Science. Yimu Wang, “Improving OOD detection, classification, and reasoning via multi-modal feature alignment.” Supervisor, Dr. Krzysztof Czarnecki. Thesis available from MGO – mgo@uwaterloo.ca. Oral defence Friday, May 8, 1:00 p.m., online.
Kinesiology and Health Sciences. Siyavash Izadi Sokhtabandani, "Recalibrating Reality: Sensory Reweighting and Cybersickness Susceptibility in Virtual Reality." Supervisor, Dr. Michael Barnett-Cowan; Email Health Graduate Admissions for a copy. Oral defence Tuesday, May 12, 10:00 a.m., EXP 1686.
School of Public Health Sciences. Maria Ramirez Prieto, "Exploring Inuvialuit youth food security experiences and supports in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region." Supervisor, Dr. Kelly Skinner. Email Health Graduate Admissions for a copy. Oral defence Tuesday, May 12, 10:00 a.m., BMH 3119 and hybrid.
Upcoming service interruptions
Stay up to date on service interruptions, campus construction, and other operational changes on the Plant Operations website. Upcoming service interruptions include:
-
Laurel Trail closure, Thursday, April 30 to Friday, May 8, the segment of the Laurel Trail between University Avenue West and Seagram Drive will be temporarily closed to prepare the site for upcoming pedestrian bridge construction, during the closure, pedestrians and cyclists are asked to use alternate routes to reach their destinations. Signage will be installed on-site.
-
Psychology, Hagey Hall, Tatham Centre, Arts Lecture Hall fire alarm testing, Monday, May 4, 6:30 a.m. to 8:15 a.m.
-
East Campus 1, East Campus 2, East Campus 3, East Campus 4, East Campus 5 fire alarm testing, Tuesday, May 5, 6:30 a.m. to 8:15 a.m.
-
REV South-East Quads water tank replacement, Wednesday, May 6 to Friday, August 14, hot water will not be available in the south-east quad affecting washrooms.
-
School of Pharmacy, Integrated Health Building, Innovation Arena fire alarm testing, Wednesday, May 6, 6:30 a.m. to 8:15 a.m.
-
UWP Community gas line work, Wednesday, May 6, 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., temporary boilers will be shut down for gas line work in the Eby Hall mechanical room, hot water will not be available from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., cold water will remain available, building heat may be affected in the afternoon
-
University Club, Bauer Warehouse, Avril fire alarm testing, Wednesday, May 6, 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
-
Environment 1, 2 and 3, Modern Languages, Dana Porter Library, Needles Hall fire alarm testing, Friday, May 8, 6:30 a.m. to 8:15 a.m.