Thursday, March 26, 2020

MATLAB learning resources now available

A message from Information Systems & Technology (IST).

The University of Waterloo has obtained a site license for MATLAB and Simulink until June 30, 2020. All faculty, researchers, students and staff are eligible to download and install MATLAB on their personally-owned computers, university-issued computers, or use MATLAB Online in a web browser.

Please note that commercial use of MathWorks products is not covered by our Campus-Wide License; if you are using a commercial license, please continue to do so.

To download or use MATLAB online

1. Go to the University of Waterloo’s MATLAB Portal.
2. Click 'Sign in to get started' under the Get MATLAB and Simulink section.
   1. If you have an existing MathWorks account (set up with your uwaterloo.ca email), use your userid@uwaterloo.ca email address to log in.
   2. If you do not have an existing MathWorks account, or your MathWorks account was not set up with a userid@uwaterloo.ca email address, create an account using your @uwaterloo.ca email address.
3. Once your account is set up, you will be linked to our MATLAB license and will be able to:
   1. Download and activate software on your personal computer.
   2. Start using MATLAB Online from a Web browser without installing anything.

Where can I learn more?

• Access free, self-paced training to get started in less than 2 hours: MATLAB Onramp.
• If you have trouble installing MATLAB, go to the MATLAB Portal and click 'Need Installation Help' to get support.

Questions or concerns? 

Please contact rt-ist-CSSoftware@rt.uwaterloo.ca.

Just in time for spring, the Sunshine List

The University of Waterloo has released a list of the 1,676 employees who were paid more than $100,000 in 2019.

Public-sector employers in Ontario are required to publish the list every March since the Public Sector Salary Disclosure Act was passed in 1996. Other universities, school boards, hospitals, colleges, municipalities, and the government itself are now making similar information for last year public.

The $100,000 list includes most of Waterloo's professors, and a number of staff members and senior administrators. It includes people employed by Renison University College, Conrad Grebel University College and St. Paul's University College.

In addition to the salary, a figure is given for taxable benefits received by each individual, for such extras as employer-paid life insurance.

Last year's salary disclosure is also available online.

As buildings are locked, some tips on safe access

Director of Safety Kate Windsor has circulated a memo to campus outlining how essential services will continue to be delivered.

"As you know, most campus buildings are now locked," Windsor writes. "Only a small number of buildings remain open for student access."

Access to buildings

"Employees who are performing critical functions and require access to their workspace must receive approval from their department head and ensure the necessary key/fob access is available," says Windsor's memo. "Researchers who have submitted requests for continuation of on-campus laboratory activities, and who are awaiting response on those requests, will receive information shortly on the outcome of the evaluation of their requests.  Building access, as required, for those approved to continue on-campus laboratory activities, will then be arranged promptly."  

If your department has employees that are physically present on campus on a regular basis, please contact Plant Operations so that services and maintenance schedules can be adjusted. In your email please include the following information:

Subject: [DEPT NAME] – campus presence

Date - Week of [March 23-27, 2020]

Department Name:

Number of employees present:

Building name:

Room numbers:

"Plant Operations will need to know your location of work and all other areas that you have accessed, so prompt cleaning can be scheduled. If you become ill while working on-campus, please notify Occupational Health immediately."

Preventive measures for on-campus employees

Any on-campus employees must continue to:

• perform hand hygiene frequently with an alcohol-based hand rub (if hands are not visibly dirty) or with soap and water (if hands are dirty);
• avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth;
• practice respiratory hygiene by coughing or sneezing into a bent elbow or tissue and then immediately disposing of the tissue; and,
• maintain a physical (social) distance (minimum of 2 m or 6 feet) from other individuals.

Custodial services

"Custodial services will be stopped in locked buildings once each area has been thoroughly cleaned. Only areas with approved active research or essential services will continue to receive cleaning service." 

"Likewise, waste removal will be reduced. In buildings that are open during the day, waste will be removed only from public areas. There will be no waste removal from private offices, lounges or kitchens. Employees are asked to place waste in containers in public areas. For those working in locked buildings, either take your waste home or place it in a dumpster outside."