Thursday, May 5, 2022

HR updates employees on benefit rate changes for 2022

Human Resources has sent a memo to all employees outlining changes to the University's benefits and pension deduction rates for 2022.

On May 1 of each year, the contracts that cover the University of Waterloo’s extended health, dental, long-term disability, and life insurance benefits are subject to a rate renewal. Pension contribution rates are not subject to an annual renewal, but changes are required through time. Where applicable, new rates are applied, and employee deductions processed. 

"New benefits rates are based on the University’s claims experience and expenses charged by our providers," says the memo from HR. "The pension rates are based on actuarial calculations based on funding levels and as communicated in 2020, changes to employees’ pension contribution rates are being phased in over a three-year period, and this year represents the third and final adjustment required."

A big change for 2022: "as part of the holistic benefits review, a competitive bidding process for the University’s long term disability benefit occurred in the middle of 2021 and results in a positive change," says HR. "The long-term disability provider will change from Canada Life to Sun Life Financial effective May 1, 2022. With this change comes a decrease to the premium rate of just over 30 per cent, which is 100 per cent employee paid. Otherwise, the change is minimal to employees and will affect only those who need to apply for LTD benefit payments and who have a date of disability of May 1, 2022, or later."

Employees will observe a change in their payroll deductions for the following benefits effective May 1, 2022:

For a detailed breakdown of the changes to deduction rates, visit the Rates page of the Human Resources website. The full Human Resources memo is also available online.

Please refer to the employee Benefits section of the Human Resources website for more information.

New term, new options to support student success

A message from the Student Success Office. 

As students continue their transition back to in-person learning and on-campus experiences for the spring 2022 term, the Student Success Office (SSO) will offer a variety of services and resources in a hybrid model to best meet their needs.

Questions and support

• Drop by the Student Success Office to chat with us in person from Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET (Eastern Time)
• Students can connect with us online through our Live Chat Monday to Friday 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. and 1 – 4 p.m. ET. 

Academic and leadership development

• Build strategies for a successful term with the Planning for Academic Success: Making the Most of Your Spring Term workshop, offered on May 3 and May 10 from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. ET. Registration is live on Portal.
  • Online Learning Resources are also available for students looking to independently build strong study habits.
  •  Students can use the Learning Skills Self-Assessment to determine their existing strengths and gain insight into which areas they should focus on developing.
• Warrior Virtual Study Halls are weekly, virtual study sessions facilitated by a Peer Success Coach to introduce new academic skills and create study goals and answer questions. 
• Peer Success Coaches offer in-person or virtual one-on-one appointments for personalized support to address academic challenges and create a plan for success starting May 9. Our coaches are upper-year students with experience overcoming their own study roadblocks.  
• Student Leadership Program provides opportunities for students to develop their leadership skills and apply their new knowledge in a campus leadership role. Learn from home, or at an in-person workshop.
• Foundational Training Program for Peer Leaders can help students develop core skills for working in a peer-to-peer program at the University of Waterloo, with workshops offered online and in-person.
• Mentor resources are available online to support students in mentor or peer leader roles.

Immigration services

• Free appointments with Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants are available online and in-person from Monday to Friday, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. ET. Book a same-day appointment on Portal.
• Immigration information sessions on a variety of topics, including co-op work permits and post-graduation work permits are offered virtually throughout the term.

International student experience 

• Students can chat live with an international student experience expert for support with travel plans or other international student resources. We are online Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. and 1 – 4 p.m. ET. 
• Online Discussions continue to be offered to address current hot topics relevant to the international student experience.  
• The International Peer Community offers programming in a hybrid model for the spring term. Registration for participants and volunteers is now open.

Global learning

• Students that are interested in going abroad in winter/spring 2023 can attend an online information session. Students looking for one-to-one support can connect with staff virtually or request an in-person appointment via email to studyabroad@uwaterloo.ca.
• The Global Experience Certificate is an excellent way for students to highlight their achievements internationalizing their degree, including their experiences through work or study abroad, developing employability and transferable skills. 

Student consultation groups

• Opportunities for students to provide feedback on a variety of topics will continue to be offered virtually this spring. Visit Portal to learn more.

Support for Staff and Faculty

• Instructor resources have been updated with Five Minute Academic Skills Presentations for both virtual and in-person teaching.
• Advisor resources are available to support staff and faculty in advising roles. Check out the new Advising Library to explore resources on a broad range of topics and advising competencies.

If you have questions about any of the services listed above or how to better support the students you work with, please contact success@uwaterloo.ca.  

Making an impact: collaboration will provide after-hours mental health support on campus

The Canadian Mental Health Association Waterloo Wellington and the University of Waterloo are partnering to provide an IMPACT (Integrated Mobile Police and Crisis Team) worker on campus for afterhours mental health support for students. The IMPACT workers are specially trained mental health clinicians who have expertise in suicide prevention - safety planning, mental health assessments and de-escalation techniques. Distress calls from anywhere on campus will be taken by the Special Constable Services dispatcher, who will notify both their special constables and the IMPACT worker, who will respond together.

Since 2015, CMHA WW has been working with local police in Waterloo Wellington to provide supportive mental health crisis care to those in need in the community through the IMPACT program. The partnership is very successful and results in hospital diversion and better health outcomes for individuals. CMHA WW IMPACT workers piloted a program with the University of Guelph in October and are now expanded to the University of Waterloo. This new partnership with the University of Waterloo is coming at a crucial time.

The need for mental health supports in the community has grown since the onset of the pandemic. In 2020 there was a 40 per cent increase in IMPACT responses to 911 calls with police.

The IMPACT Service model is a proven success. Although it has been adapted provincially, CMHA WW is the first to expand the model to post-secondary institutions, and we are already seeing success at the University of Guelph. For example, in less than six months, there has been more than one hundred student interactions in which mental health support has been provided.

A worker from the IMPACT team will be on campus Thursdays, 3 p.m. to midnight, and Friday through Sunday, 2 p.m. to midnight. Wellness staff concerned for a student's wellbeing during the week can highlight their concerns with the IMPACT worker before the weekend to ensure students' continuity of support over the weekend.

"The University of Waterloo is always looking for ways to offer even more support to our students. Therefore, we are very excited about this partnership," said Cheri Bilitz, Waterloo's director of counselling services. "This collaborative connection between IMPACT and the University's Campus Wellness Services will see our students receive increased mental health support after-hours and on weekends."

All partners within this initiative are committed to and obligated to ensure all student privacy rights are in compliance with all applicable Ontario Privacy Legislation.

Continuous improvement showcase event coming up

A message from the Continuous Improvement, Change Management and Project and Portfolio Management Communities of Practice.

The Continuous Improvement, Change Management, and Project and Portfolio Management communities are excited to announce that we will be hosting our 3^rd annual Showcase event on campus on the morning of Thursday May 26, 2022, between 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon at Federation Hall. This event is a great opportunity to learn more about how different departments are using continuous improvement, change management, and project tools and methodologies to achieve desired outcomes.

The Showcase is a free, half-day long in-person event that brings campus colleagues together to share best practices, successes, and connect. It will feature poster exhibits and poster flash talks—all centered around ideas and practices that contribute to continuous improvement, change management, and project management. The Showcase is open to all employees and students, and everyone is invited to drop by and explore the various booths and poster presentations. Vice-President Academic & Provost, James Rush, will be providing the opening remarks at 9 am to kick-off the event. A selection of beverages (Coffee, tea, water) will be provided.

Should public health measures change, the event will be hosted virtually on Microsoft Teams and an announcement will be sent out to the University community.

For more information about this event, please visit the Showcase event website, or contact Breanna Michael Project Coordinator, Human Resources, should you have any questions. We look forward to welcoming you to the showcase.