Tuesday, June 23, 2026

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• Congratulations to the class of 2026
• Volunteers needed for move in
• Libraries’ Special Collections & Archives earns provincial recognition for archival leadership
• Switch up your commute this summer
• Flags lowered today

Congratulations to the class of 2026

A message from Vivek Goel, President and Vice-Chancellor.

This past week, it was my privilege to welcome our graduates along with their families, friends and supporters to the University of Waterloo’s Spring 2026 Convocation. 

The road to earning a degree is challenging. It takes hard work, courage and dedication. In this year's graduating class, I have also witnessed their curiosity about the world, their drive to shape a better future, and their resilience through challenging times.  

A Waterloo degree is unique. Whether students choose co-op, undertake an entrepreneurial venture or explore courses or opportunities outside their disciplines, Waterloo provides an environment for them to embrace their passions and be unconventionally bold. Over the years, I have had the privilege of meeting so many new alumni at convocation, and have been inspired to hear about their big bold plans for life after university. 

At Waterloo, we are proud to be a community of curious, collaborative, innovative and entrepreneurial problem-solvers and leaders who seek to build a better future for humanity and our planet. We think differently, act with purpose and work together. Our students don’t just inherit this ethos—they continue to help shape it throughout their time at Waterloo and beyond.  

As this year’s graduates leave our campuses, they continue to be an important part of our Waterloo community. They are joining more than 260,000 alumni around the world, strengthening our connections and extending the impact of a Waterloo education globally. 

This convocation also marks my final one as President of the University of Waterloo. Like you, I move forward proud of what has been accomplished here and deeply grateful for the community that made it possible. While your next chapters will take you to many places, I hope you, as I will, remain connected to this extraordinary university and to one another. 

Graduates: now is your opportunity to bring your unconventional thinking and innovations to the world. Global challenges are intersecting in complex ways. You are among the future leaders and change-makers who will help tackle these challenges and help shape a better future.  

Wherever your path leads, I wish you all the best on the next stage of your journey. 

Volunteers needed for move in

A message from Campus Housing. 

Now that we’ve confirmed our incoming first-year class for September 2026, Campus Housing is turning its focus to fall move-in. We’re seeking enthusiastic staff, faculty, students, and alumni to help welcome our newest students to their home on campus. 

With over 600 volunteer shifts to fill, your support will play an important role in creating a warm and memorable first experience for our incoming students. 

 Move-in volunteer details 

• Campus Housing move-in will take place between Thursday, September 3 and Sunday, September 6.  

• Volunteer for a few hours or as many shifts as you’d like!   

• View roles and shifts on the volunteer sign-up form.   

• Tip: You'll first need to click "register" if you don’t have an existing Vome account  

• Questions can be directed to movein@uwaterloo.ca.  

 Highlights for volunteers  

• If you sign up as a general volunteer, when you arrive for your shift you can let the team lead know how you are most comfortable supporting the event. Ways to support move-in range from helping students navigate campus, to welcoming students and families in parking lots, to supporting students with their belongings.  

• Don’t want to volunteer alone? Sign up with a friend or even a group as a team-building activity.   

• Campus Housing staff will be in all move-in locations to ensure all volunteers are supported throughout their shifts.   

Libraries’ Special Collections & Archives earns provincial recognition for archival leadership

A message from the Libraries.

The University of Waterloo Libraries’ Special Collections & Archives (SCA) is the recipient of the 2026 Archives Association of Ontario (AAO) Institutional Award.  

Presented annually, this award recognizes an archival institution that has made a significant contribution to the advancement of the archival field or demonstrated innovation in the developing outstanding programs or services.  

SCA is being recognized for its leadership in archival description, improving access to their unique collections as well as their willingness to share expertise with other institutions. Recent initiatives include creating more detailed descriptive records, increasing the findability of materials in the archives database and developing guidelines to address problematic language in archive descriptions. 

Since its founding in 1976, SCA has built a record of progressive archival practice and outreach. From a foundational focus on women’s studies and regional industrial development to more recent leadership in equity- and reconciliation-focused archival practice, SCA has helped shape best practices in Canadian academic archives. The recent launch of fourteen new collections strengths positions SCA to support teaching, learning and research at the University of Waterloo and beyond well into the future.  

“We’re deeply proud of the work of Special Collections & Archives, particularly in its leadership in sharing expertise around archival description,” says Beth Namachchivaya, University Librarian. "It’s gratifying to see their work recognized by peers across Ontario.” 

The award was announced at the AAO annual conference in Toronto on May 8, 2026. Founded in 1993, AAO supports and promotes the work of archivists in preserving Ontario’s history and culture. 

Switch up your commute this summer   

A message from Sustainable Transportation.  

Waterloo recently released its first ever sustainable transportation plan, Shift:Mobility, which establishes key directions and a framework of action for how Waterloo can support and reduce barriers to sustainable transportation in the short, medium and long term. While many of the actions in the plan are facilitated by the institution, they can be immensely supported by the choices employees and students make each day.  

When it comes to GHG emissions, one of the greatest contributors at the University comes from commuting, which results in 16,000 tons of CO2-e of GHG per year, or about the same as 6,000 average Ontario homes. If you live out of town, have an unpredictable schedule, or like to run errands on your lunch break, we get it – many folks prefer to drive. But if you’re looking to break up your routine or just try something new to help reduce our emissions number, Sustainable Transportation has some great supports in place.   

Have you ever considered carpooling? Carpooling can help you save money on both gas and parking and decrease the frequency of your vehicle maintenance costs. Our carpooling program has been recently refreshed to better support participants and make it more accessible. If you register as a carpool group through Sustainable Transportation, you get access to preferential parking across campus and have access to discounted daily permits for the occasional day you need to drive solo. Find out more about how to register or find a carpool group.   

If you’re interested in active transportation in the warmer months but don’t want to lose your parking spot, consider our summer parking suspension program. You can temporarily place your permit on hold while maintaining a place in your current lot while you bike, walk, or travel by transit. This suspension is available from April 1 to October 31 with a minimum suspension length of four months, so the latest you can begin is July 1 – it’s perfect timing if you’re ready to join in. 

If your main concern with giving up your car for a day is what to do if you have an emergency, we have a program for that, too. For those that commute sustainably and need to leave work, TravelWise’s Emergency Ride Home Program offers reimbursement (with proof of receipt) of up to $75 per trip for the cost of a taxi or other emergency transportation, to a maximum of four trips per calendar year.    

To see more of the programs, services, and supports in place to help you seamlessly integrate more sustainable or active travel into your commuting, check out the Sustainable Transportation website.

Flags lowered today

Flags on the University of Waterloo's campus will be lowered today, June 23, in recognition of National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism. Flags will stay lowered until 9 p.m. tonight.