Wednesday, January 6, 2021


Waterloo launches a new brand expression: You+Waterloo

Outdoor ads featuring images of Waterloo people and text "Some follow in footsteps. You go where there are none."

University Relations recently launched the University’s new You+Waterloo brand expression. Created in collaboration with campus partners and with audience input, this new expression aligns with Waterloo’s strategic priorities and our existing brand platform and visual identity.

You+Waterloo is replacing the BEYOND brand expression and will help define marketing and communications activities for UR’s new brand awareness campaign, Advancement’s annual giving fundraising campaign and other key initiatives in the coming months.

In acknowledgement and celebration of our culture of collaboration and valued partnerships, the focus is on the connections and community that continue to advance Waterloo research and innovation at home and around the world. You+Waterloo calls on creators, explorers and boundary-pushing thinkers to join us in driving real-world solutions that meet today’s and tomorrow’s challenges. Whether engaging students, alumni, employers, funders, donors, faculty or staff, the message is the same: our greatest impact happens together.

Keep an eye out for new paid advertising across various media sites, YouTube and LinkedIn, as well as storytelling via our own digital and social channels. You can also check out some of the first campaign stories here.

It’s important to note that the BEYOND brand expression will continue in use for some departments where it is already in implementation and that application of new You+Waterloo communications is voluntary and based on appropriate timing and available resources.

Learn more on the Waterloo brand site, which includes the You+Waterloo guidelines. Questions or comments can be directed to Dawn Charlton, Director, Marketing and Brand or Christine Goucher, Associate Director, Creative Services.

Waterloo researchers named Canada Research Chairs

Nine University of Waterloo researchers have been named new or renewing Canada Research Chairs (CRC).

They are among 259 new and renewed Canada Research Chairs across Canada announced in December 2020 by the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry as part of a Government of Canada investment of approximately $195 million.

Sarah Burch.

Sarah Burch

  • Geography and Environmental Management, Faculty of Environment
  • Canada Research Chair in Sustainability Governance and Innovation
  • SSHRC Tier 2 (Renewal): $500,000 over five years

Catherine Burns.Catherine Burns

  • Systems Design Engineering, Faculty of Engineering
  • Canada Research Chair in Human Factors in Healthcare Systems
  • CIHR Tier 1 (New): $1.4 million over seven years

Alana Cattapan.

Alana Cattapan

  • Political Science, Faculty of Arts
  • Canada Research Chair in the Politics of Reproduction
  • SSHRC Tier 2 (New): $500,000 over five years

Monica Emelko.


Monica Emelko

  • Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering
  • Canada Research Chair in Water Science, Technology and Policy
  • NSERC Tier 1 (New): $1.4 million over seven years

Logan MacDonald.

Logan MacDonald

  • Fine Arts, Faculty of Arts
  • Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Art
  • SSHRC Tier 2 (New): $500,000 over five years


Hannah Neufeld.

Hannah Neufeld

  • School of Public Health and Healthy Systems, Faculty of Health
  • Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Health, Wellbeing and Food Environments
  • CIHR Tier 2 (New): $500,000 over five years

Luke Postle delivering a lecture with an overhead projector.

Luke Postle

  • Combinatorics and Optimization, Faculty of Mathematics
  • Canada Research Chair in Graph Theory
  • NSERC Tier 2 (Renewal): $500,000 over five years

Michelle Rutty.

Michelle Rutty

  • Faculty of Environment
  • Canada Research Chair in Tourism, Environment, and Sustainability
  • SSHRC Tier 2 (New): $500,000 over five years

Crystal Senko.

Crystal Senko

  • Physics and Astronomy, Faculty of Science
  • Canada Research Chair in Trapped ION Quantum Computing
  • NSERC Tier 2 (New): $500,000 over five years

In August 2020, three Waterloo researchers were named renewing Canada Research Chairs.

Office of Research to host CIHR Project Grant Reviewer panel session

A message from the Office of Research.

The Office of Research will host a virtual reviewer panel session with five University of Waterloo researchers who have served on a broad range of Project Grant review panels, from public health to biochemical engineering, and everything in between. They will share insights from their experience and insider tips to give your application a competitive edge. Each panelist will present for about 10 minutes and then all panelists will be available to answer questions.

The presenters are:

  • Maud Gorbet (Biomedical Engineering)
  • Sharon Kirkpatrick (Public/Population Health)
  • David Spafford (Disease-related)
  • Lora Giangregorio (Randomized Controlled Trials)
  • David Rose (Biochemistry/Molecular Biology; University Delegate to CIHR)

If you are interested in joining us for this informative session, please email Sarah Lau.

Vice-President, Research & International Nominating Committee seeks members

Charmaine Dean's first term as vice-president, research & international ends on 30 June 2022. As required by Policy 68 – Vice-President, University Research & International, the Secretariat is preparing to constitute the Vice-President, Research & International Nominating Committee. Nominations are requested for the following seats on the nominating committee:

  • One senator of professorial rank from each Faculty, elected by a vote within that Faculty – nomination form (pdf)
  • One staff member elected by and from the regular staff in the Office of Research – nomination form (pdf)

Completed nomination forms (at least three nominators are required in each case) should be submitted by email to Emily Schroeder, on behalf of the Chief Returning Officer, Secretariat, no later than 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday 19 January 2021. Elections will follow if necessary.

Please see Policy 68, or contact Emily, for more information.

Link of the day

The Electoral College graduates today

When and Where to get support

Students can visit the Student Success Office online for supports including academic development, international student resources, leadership development, exchange and study abroad, and opportunities to get involved.

Instructors can visit the Keep Learning website to get support on adapting their teaching and learning plans for an online environment.

Updated Course templates are now available within your course in LEARN to help you build and edit your content and assignment pages quickly. Support for Winter 2021 is available.

The following workshops, webinars, and events are offered by the KL team (CTE, CEL, ITMS, LIB):

Independent Remote Course Design Essentials. Self-directed, continuous self-enrollment course in LEARN.

Remote Teaching Support Drop-In, Monday, January 4, 2021, 8:30 a.m. to Friday, January 8, 2021 at 4:30 p.m. 

Assessment Design Drop-In, Wednesday, January 6, 2021, 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. 

Using the Remote Teaching Templates, Thursday, January 7, 2021, 2:45 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. 

Using the Remote Teaching Templates, Tuesday, January 12, 2021, 10:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. 

LEARN for TAs (CTE6550), Wednesday, January 13, 2021, 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Getting Ready to Facilitate Online Courses: TA Training, Monday, January 18, 2021, 8:30 a.m. to Friday, February 12, 4:30 p.m. 

LEARN for TAs (CTE6550), Monday, January 18, 2021, 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Employees can access resources to help them work remotely, including managing University records and privacy of personal information. Here are some tips for staying healthy while working from home.

Stay informed about COVID cases on campus by consulting the COVID case tracker.

Whether you’re student or faculty, the Writing and Communication Centre has virtual services and programs to help you with your academic writing needs. 

  • Undergraduate students - come brainstorm, draft, revise and polish your assignments with us by meeting with one of our writing and multimodal communication specialists at a virtual appointment. Chat with our awesome peer tutors at our virtual drop-ins, PJ-friendly writing groups and Instagram Live Q&As. Or check out our online workshops at anytime, anywhere.
  • Graduate students - meet with one of our advisors at any step of the process at our virtual appointments. Take an online workshop at anytime, or join a virtual writing session at our Virtual Writing Cafés and #WaterlooWrites groups.
  • All UWaterloo instructors and faculty can request and access WCC workshops for use in your courses. You can also join a virtual writing group, or speak with a writing advisor about a writing project.

We understand that these circumstances can be troubling, and you may need to speak with someone for emotional support. Good2Talk is a post-secondary student helpline based in Ontario, Canada that is available to all students. If you feel overwhelmed or anxious and need to talk to somebody, please contact the University’s Campus Wellness services, either Health Services or  Counselling Services. You can also contact the University's Centre for Mental Health Research and Treatment.

The Library has published a resource guide on how to avoid information overload.

The Faculty Association of the University of Waterloo (FAUW) continues to advocate for its members. Check out the FAUW blog for more information.

The University of Waterloo Staff Association (UWSA) continues to advocate for its members. Check out the UWSA blog for more information.

The Waterloo Indigenous Student Centre facilitates the sharing of Indigenous knowledge and provides culturally relevant information and support services for all members of the University of Waterloo community, including Indigenous and non-Indigenous students, staff, and faculty.

WUSA supports for students:

Food Support Service food hampers are currently available from the Turnkey Desk on weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the Student Life Centre. If you have any questions please email us at foodsupport@wusa.ca.

Centre for Academic Policy Support - CAPS is here to assist Waterloo undergraduates throughout their experience in navigating academic policy in the instances of filing petitions, grievances and appeals. Please contact them at caps@wusa.ca. More information at https://wusa.ca/services/centre-academic-policy-support-caps.

WUSA Commissioners who can help in a variety of areas that students may be experiencing during this time:

WUSA Student Legal Protection Program - Seeking legal counsel can be intimidating, especially if it’s your first time facing a legal issue. The legal assistance helpline provides quick access to legal advice in any area of law, including criminal. Just call 1-833-202-4571

Empower Me is a confidential mental health and wellness service that connects students with qualified counsellors 24/7. They can be reached at 1-833-628-5589.

When and Where (but mostly when)

Healthy Warriors at Home. Free programming including Online Fitness, Health Webinars, Personalized Nutrition and more from Warriors Athletics and Rec. Open to students, staff, faculty and alumni. Register today.

Renison English Language Institute continues to offer virtual events and workshops to help students practice their English language skills.

Warriors vs. Laurier Blood Donation Battle. Join your fellow Warriors, donate blood and help us win the Blood Battle against Laurier for a second year in a row. Set up a profile or add the PFL code: UNIV960995 to your account if you have a blood.ca account already. Questions? Contact WarriorsInfo@uwaterloo.ca.

Renison University College and the Waterloo Public Library present An Evening With Giller Prize-Winner Author Souvankham Thammavongsa, Thursday, January 7, 7:00 p.m.

Classes and lectures begin, Monday, January 11, 2021.

CIHR Spring 2021 Project Grant Reviewer Panel Session, Monday, January 11, 2021, 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. 

Undergraduate Admissions Webinar Series: Chemical & Nanotechnology Engineering, Tuesday, January 12, 4:00 p.m.

Engineering Undergraduate Admissions Webinar Series: Admissions tips & tricks, Wednesday, January 13 and Thursday, January 14.

Mathematics presents Virtual Networking in Academia, Monday, January 18, 9:30 a.m.

NEW - University senate meeting, Monday, January 18, 3:30 p.m.

More Feet on the Ground Mental Health Training for Faculty and Staff, Tuesday, January 19, 9:30 a.m.

Benefits plan information sessions, Tuesday, January 19, 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Register online.

Benefits plan information sessions, Wednesday, January 20, 12 noon to 1:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Register online.

Master of Taxation Virtual Information Session, Saturday, January 23, 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Register at www.mtax.ca.

Positions available

On this week's list from the human resources department, viewable on the UWaterloo Talent Acquisition System (iCIMS):

  • Job ID #2020-6003- Analytical Chemist- Civil & Environmental Engineering, USG 5
  • Job ID #2020-5989 - CTE Liaison - Centre for Teaching Excellence, USG 9 - 11
  • Job ID #2020-6084 - Executive Assistant – Relations, USG 8
  • Job ID #2020-5868 - Manager, Equity Office - Human Rights, Equity and Inclusion, USG 10
  • Job ID #2020-6093 -  Manager, Labour Relations, Human Resources , USG 12

Internal temporary opportunities

  • Job ID #2020-6079 - Pharmacy Liaison Librarian- Library, USG 9 – 11