Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Field of Dreams: Waterloo unveils CIF Field House

by Dan Ackerman. This is an excerpt of an article originally published in Waterloo Stories.

You can’t miss it—the Columbia Icefield Field House (CIF Field House) is officially open for business. Highlighted with an exterior that glows gold, the $16.5 million building is adding another 65,000 square feet of recreational space to Waterloo’s ever-growing campus.

Constructed just north of Warrior Field, off Columbia Street West, the multi-activity turf area will enhance student life by providing both recreational and varsity athletes with more space for physical activity. The full-playing field, measuring 100 by 50 yards, can also divide into three programmable areas allowing multiple activities at once.

“Building a positive and supportive student experience starts in the classroom, but doesn’t end there,” says Feridun Hamdullahpur, president and vice-chancellor. “This new Field House is much more than additional physical space for athletic activities. It is a new space for all of our students to strengthen their experience on campus through recreational sports, wellness programs and simply coming together as a community.” 

Conceptualized for its ability to increase space for drop-in recreation, intramurals, varsity practice/training, community bookings and additional space for sports camps, the CIF Field House is a bright reminder to prioritize a healthy work-life balance. The additional space will also help to alleviate traffic at both the Physical Activities Complex (PAC) and Columbia Icefield (CIF) gyms.

“The well-being of our students is at the forefront at our University and we are thrilled to be able to deliver on this priority through additional recreational space at the Field House,” says Roly Webster, director of Athletics and Recreation. “These spaces and student engagement opportunities create a stronger campus community, contributing to a positive and successful student experience.”

Having broken ground in January 2018, the CIF Field House is one of two major physical activity expansions on campus; the other being a $41-million project connecting the Student Life Centre (SLC) and PAC. It’s Waterloo’s way of diversifying and strengthening student wellness initiatives on campus, while greatly enhancing the ability to provide diverse recreational opportunities for students to de-stress in a variety of activities offered by the Department of Athletics and Recreation.

Read the full story.

Scantron multiple-choice exam processing replacement coming soon

A message from Information Systems & Technology (IST). 

In November 2018, the Exam Management, Assessment and Processing Evaluation project team began investigations into the replacement of the existing exam scanning service, Scantron. The committee is pleased to announce the request for proposal (RFP) has been awarded to Akindi Inc.   

Akindi is a web-based assessment system that automates the creation and grading of multiple-choice exams. This tool allows clients to use any scanner and sheet of paper, offering a low cost of ownership by eliminating the need for costly equipment, supplies and dedicated staff resources, while facilitating the use and accessibility of the exam scanning service across campus.   

What our clients will receive  

The new exam processing service will provide:  

• A user-friendly interface designed with faculty and instructional team members in mind.

• Excellent support, with extended hours available during exam periods.

• Seamless integration into existing workflows. Where you once used Scantron you can now use Akindi.

• The ability for clients to assess exam results when they want, where they want.   

• Actionable data that can be used to immediately identify gaps in understanding and provide feedback to students.    

Implementation timeline 

Optional use of the service will begin September 23 and continue through the fall term. Instructions on integrating Akindi with a course in LEARN will be available from both the LEARN Help and Akindi websites by this date. During the winter 2020 term (date to be confirmed), Akindi will become the centrally supported multiple-choice exam processing service. Scantron will no longer be available for use.

As part of this implementation, Crowdmark Multiple Choice (MC) is no longer available for use and clients are encouraged to transition to Akindi immediately. If you have already planned a fall-term assessment using Crowdmark MC, please contact Matt Harford (mharford@uwaterloo.ca) to discuss options for use this term.  

Training and resources 

Get familiar with Akindi. Review the training materials now available, and plan to attend the September 30 live-training webinar. For more information on Akindi and the upcoming training session, please visit our Akindi website.  

Anyone with questions or concerns is invited to contact the IST Service Desk via email at helpdesk@uwaterloo.ca or ext. 44357. 

National Postdoc Appreciation Week continues; other notes

Today’s National Postdoc Appreciation Week profile will feature Bijendra (Bijen) Bajracharya. Bijen is a postdoc in the Department Earth and Environmental Sciences within the Faculty of Science. He works with Philippe Van Cappellen as part of the Ecohydrology Research Group and has been a postdoc at Waterloo since August 2016. Originally from Nepal, and after spending seven years studying his master’s and PhD in Germany, Bijen came to Waterloo for his postdoc because of the experiences he had as a visitor in 2012. While here, he was introduced to his research group and “fell in love… everyone was really nice, warm and welcoming.” As one of the highest ranked institutions in the world, he says Waterloo was his top choice because of this group and the opportunity to continue working with Professor Van Cappellen.

Postdoc fact of the day: Postdoc population growth

The University of Waterloo is home to over 400 postdoctoral fellows and has seen a 42 percent increase in the number of postdocs since April 2015. Nearly half (47 percent) of all our postdocs are international.

The formal presentation and ceremony for the Columbia Icefield Field House will begin at 11:00 a.m. today, unveiling the 65,000 square foot Field House just north of Warrior Field. Following the event, the University community is invited to attend the President’s Welcome Barbecue happening on Warrior Field from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Complimentary food and beverage will be served.

Conrad Grebel University College is presenting its latest Noon Hour Concert: A Veiled Symphony on Wednesday September 18 at 12:30 p.m. Well-known Kitchener-Waterloo pianist Heidi Wall will play Johannes Brahms composed Piano Sonata No. 3 in the CGR Chapel. This Piano Sonata, written by Brahms when he was just 20 years old, is a masterful combination of free Romantic spirit and strict classical structure.

Get a glimpse into the future of startups! Just because you can’t make it to Toronto, doesn’t mean you can’t see the pitches. The Velocity Fund Pitch Competition Viewing Party is on September 19 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on the second floor of South Campus Hall. Pizza will be served.

Fall Thrive Week is happening from November 4 to 8. Stay tuned for more details and order your Thrive t-shirt today.