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Submission guidelines
University community asked to update proof of vaccination with new check-in tool
"As you may be aware, though we recently extended our proof of vaccination requirement until the end of the Winter term, the University will not require proof of vaccination in order to come to campus from May 1, onwards," wrote President Vivek Goel and Provost James Rush in a memo sent to the campus community earlier this week. "However, as has been the case throughout the pandemic, the evolution of the virus and the course of disease activity are difficult to predict. The University has made it clear that it may be necessary to bring back the proof of vaccination requirement at short notice. If a proof of vaccination requirement is reinstated at a future date, all employees and students would have to have a valid proof of vaccination on file in order to be permitted to come to campus."
"To ensure that you can keep learning and working without interruption if it is necessary to bring back the proof of vaccination requirement, you are being asked to submit your most up-to-date proof of vaccination in our new Campus Check-in tool," the president and provost write. "Information you submitted before Wednesday, April 27 will not be used in the new system, so you must take action to upload your QR code proof as soon as possible."
"Please provide your up-to-date vaccination status and update your record if your status changes, for example if you get a booster dose," the memo continues. "The new system requires that you must supply a valid Canadian or Ontario vaccination certificate with QR code. Thus, you should submit your proof of vaccination even if you have previously submitted information to the University."
The new Campus Check-in tool allows you to see the status of your submission, making it easy to see if you have provided the right documentation, if your submission has been accepted and approved, and update your information if your immunization status changes. Once your submission is processed you will receive a confirmation email informing you of your submission status. For best results, upload the original PDF you received with your QR code to ensure that the system can accurately read the image.
"You can obtain an Ontario vaccine certificate with QR code even if you did not receive immunizations in Canada by registering with Region of Waterloo Public Health," the memo continues. "This process can take up to 21 days, so act now if you need to apply for a QR code."
"As always, the University treats private personal information very carefully and in accordance with all applicate legislation. You can read more about how we use the information you submit in our Notice of Collection."
"If the University does reinstate a requirement to provide proof of vaccination to come to our campuses, the institution will be subject to the duty to accommodate pursuant to the Human Rights Code. If you are unable to be vaccinated for reasons related to a ground protected under the Human Rights Code, you may submit a written request for accommodation with an explanation of the reasons and/or any supporting documentation at that time."
"If you have questions about how to submit your proof, please check our Frequently Asked Questions on the COVID-19 information website or email coronavirus@uwaterloo.ca. International students should reach out to the International Student Experience team ise@uwaterloo.ca to ensure their vaccine and/or quarantine requirements are met."
Co-op students play an integral role in Canada's fastest-growing tech company
By Stephanie Longeway. This article was originally published on the Global Impact Report website.
Named fastest growing tech company in Canada on Deloitte’s 2021 Technology Fast 50, Snapcommerce was co-founded by University of Waterloo alumni Henry Shi (BCS ’14) and Hussein Fazal (BMath ’05). The company has more than 20 million users, $1 billion in sales, and grew by more than 32,000 per cent between 2017 and 2021. Fazal and Shi launched the company in 2016 as Snaptravel, and from there, the company quickly evolved beyond travel with a broader e-commerce offering and payment capabilities.
In order to keep pace with this rapid growth, Shi and Fazal are aggressively expanding their workforce and relying on their alma mater to help fill demand for skilled talent.
“Waterloo co-op students are a huge source of talent for us,” says Fazal, CEO of Snapcommerce. “We hire many co-ops each term because they are incredibly smart and effective. They are helping to power our innovation.”
Waterloo co-op program is a talent generator
Snapcommerce started out hiring two co-op students in their first year of business and now employ between 15 to 20 Waterloo students per term.
Shi and Fazal know first-hand what it’s like to be a co-op student. Both went through the program when they attended Waterloo and completed work terms at tech companies including Microsoft, Bloomberg, IBM and Bell Canada.
“Co-op was extremely valuable to my development because it exposed me to different skills and opportunities which helped prepare me and figure out what I wanted to do in my career,” Fazal says. The experience also helped him land his first job after graduation. After completing his final two co-op terms with Bell Canada, Fazal was offered a full-time position as a developer.
Fazal says he’s proud to be able to offer this experience to the next generation of Waterloo students. Through co-op, students get on-the-job experience and learn the mindset and skills to be successful in their future careers.
The co-op program also supports Snapcommerce’s recruitment efforts by offering a window into potential new employees. Many successful co-op students have been offered a full-time position upon graduation.
“Hiring Waterloo students and alumni is a great way for us to give back to an institution that gave us so much, but we also get a lot of benefit from having them as part of our company. Their hard work and talent really help drive our business.”
Choosing Canadian talent in a global workforce
Snapcommerce’s head office is in Toronto, but since the pandemic, the company has moved to a fully remote workforce and is now hiring staff from anywhere in the world. However, the make-up of their workforce is still predominantly Canadian with most new recruits coming from the Waterloo-GTA corridor.
“There is a talent shortage right now and many companies are trying to hire good people, particularly engineers,” Fazal says. “We continue to recruit and hire the best talent from across the world, and Waterloo just produces great talent. We’ve had consistent success recruiting here.”
Over the next year, Snapcommerce plans to add an additional 100 people to their permanent team and increase co-op student opportunities.
“I think what we offer new recruits as a scaling business is an opportunity to come on board and make an immediate impact,” Fazal says. “We’re moving fast to innovate so we need people who are owners of outcomes and take pride in their projects. They need to have an innovation mindset.”
It’s the same mindset that Fazal and Shi say they learned as students at Waterloo.
“Coming from Waterloo, we know the great network of talent available here.”
Velocity welcomes students back to campus, introduces new creator spaces
A message from Velocity.
Are you or someone you know curious about entrepreneurship? Or, are you working on an interesting idea? If your answer is yes – Velocity’s experiential innovation hub, Concept, can support and guide you.
Join us on Campus from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Monday, May 2 and Tuesday, May 3 on the BMH Green (between SLC and MC). Meet the Velocity team and chat about the many programs and opportunities that are available.
- Talk with Velocity Campus Ambassadors
- Meet the Velocity campus team, director, John Dick and executive director of Velocity, Adrien Côté
- Find out about exciting events & new student hacking spaces
- Free cupcakes and swag giveaways (while quantities last)
- Lawn games and raffle prizes
- Explore programs and opportunities within the Innovation Ecosystem
Additionally, new student creator spaces are coming to campus. Meet like-minded individuals, work on your big ideas and join the Velocity community at one of our new student creator spaces. The new locations are:
- MC 2037 - Collaboration & Event Space • Spring 2022
- SCH 228 - 5G IoT Creator Space • Late Spring 2022
- Location TBD - Digital Health Hub • Fall 2022
- ESC 319 - Science Hub • Fall 2022
Opening dates and more information will be shared as we have it available. We look forward to welcoming you back in-person. Read more about the new student spaces.
Professor Katie Plaisance wins OUSA teaching excellence award
Katie Plaisance, Associate Professor in the Department of Knowledge Integration, has been named the University of Waterloo's recipient of the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance (OUSA) Teaching Excellence Award for 2022.
The OUSA Teaching Excellence Award recognizes educators who excel at unlocking the potential of Ontario’s young people. Successfully engaging individuals in the learning experience depends on an instructor's ability to spark students' curiosity and desire to learn.
"She teaches undergraduate courses in engaged philosophy, collaboration, and cross-disciplinarity with a focus on developing innovative pedagogies, fostering psychological safety, and developing skills learners can use to succeed wherever their paths take them," says Professor Plaisance's citation. "Katie designs her courses to meet each learner where they are and build on their existing interests, goals, and motivations. She integrates insights from guest lecturers across disciplines and issues outside of academia to make these learning experiences truly engaging. Katie's authentic assessments give students opportunities to develop critical research, communication, and collaboration skills that are crucial to their future success."
"Students appreciate her incredibly useful feedback that encourages them to bring any work to the next level, along with scaffolded peer feedback and reflection opportunities that further develop their confidence and capabilities as members of a learning community. Through Katie's courses, her students come to better understand and embrace their multifaceted ways of knowing."
"Katie's care for students and commitment to inclusion shines through in all her teaching and mentorship. She constantly strives to foster psychological safety in her classes while educating students on their own roles in those practices. She seeks out and adapts innovative pedagogical practices and shares her insight with other instructors, contributing to instructional excellence across and beyond the University of Waterloo. Her mentorship and advising are incredibly valuable to both her students and colleagues."
"Katie is an exemplary professor who demonstrates a deep commitment to her students and her practices. WUSA is excited and honored to present OUSA's Teaching Excellence Award to Dr. Katie Plaisance – thank you for everything you do."