Thursday, August 31, 2023

Welcome to the 2023-2024 academic year

A message from President Vivek Goel

Welcome to another academic year. I hope that you had some time off this summer, and an opportunity to slow down. While research, learning and your commitment to your duties continues throughout the year, every September brings a special energy and a sense of something new to our campuses.  

Our internal communities are strong, diverse, and made up of students and employees who look after one another and support each other to strive for their best. You all play a special role in building a vibrant and inclusive environment where everyone feels a sense of belonging. 

At the end of Pride Month in June, our sense of community was tested, as a horrific attack occurred on our campus that shook our collective sense of safety and security. The trauma of the attack lingers for those in that class and across our institution. I’m so sorry that anyone here had to experience something like this. 
 
There are many lessons we are learning about handling emergencies. We have already begun improvements to our emergency response systems, and we are launching a series of meetings to better understand the needs of those in our community who feel threatened. You will continue to hear more about our progress throughout the term. 
 
We are committed to fostering an inclusive, safe, and welcoming environment for members of our community. This is why we must denounce all forms of hate, discrimination and violence while creating physical, mental, and emotional, spaces and opportunities to listen, value, and understand one another.  
 
Change starts at home. And it relies on all of us to make it happen.

This means we will continue to evaluate the needs of our employees and make available the resources you need for your job duties, while maintaining your physical and mental health.

As you prepare for another term, I want to remind you that that it’s not only ok, but it’s important to make your individual wellbeing a priority.

The world is watching Waterloo as never before. Let’s show them what we can achieve when we work together.

Exploring career possibilities...with a new brand

A message from the Centre for Career Development (CCD), formerly the Centre for Career Action (CCA).

After many months of consultations, information gathering and analysis, the Centre for Career Action (CCA) has rebranded and is now the Centre for Career Development (CCD). Coming out of the rebrand process is a new look, name, feel, website and re-imagined CareerHub tool.

The winding, non-linear path of how we got here

In 2022, the CCA set out to learn how the unit’s name and brand were (and were not) resonating with the campus community and how best to represent the unit in a manner that invites active engagement.  

Following this, the unit went through a highly consultative process (consulting with 406 individuals including 277 students/alumni and 129 University of Waterloo employees), designed and undertaken to identify why people do or do not use resources and services, what students and campus stakeholders value, and how the unit’s name and communications about itself could be adapted to support positive change. 

The goals and guiding principles for this process were to: 

• Reduce barriers experienced by students, post-docs, employees and alumni in accessing services and programs;
• Identifying best methods and tone to communicate in ways that resonate with campus;
• Inspire and motivate students, employees and alumni on their career journey;
• Emphasize and integrate the developmental approach the unit takes - informed by seeking to be person-centred, well-being focused;
• Be recognizable as a career centre, while also being deeply integrated with Co-op, EDGE and other work-integrated learning programs in  undergraduate and graduate spaces 

Beyond the name change, clients have identified great interest to see CCD lean into integrating concepts of holistic career support, non-linear possibilities, growth and empowerment throughout its messaging. Personalized supports and career guidance emerged as important to students and alumni as they navigate their careers.

Just like any non-linear career path, there are many different paths to the end goal. Below is a timeline of what you can expect to see over the next year. 

Timeline 

• September 2023
  • Official rebrand launch, with cosmetic changes appearing on the website (e.g., signage and branding on high-traffic web pages) 
  • Our in-house CareerHub site will have limited functionality while content and the site are being updated. Some downloadable content (PDFs) might not be available. Users will not be able to save their work
• January 2024
  • New CCD website in WCMS 3.0 will be launched 
  • New URL uwaterloo.ca/career-development and uwaterloo.ca/ccd
• Spring 2024
  • New and improved version of the CareerHub content will be integrated into the CCD website.

Orientation has officially begun

Orientation kicks off today and runs until September 9. There are many exciting in-person events and activities happening to welcome new Warriors, including:  

• August 31 to September 3: Students begin to arrive at their new homes in residence. Volunteers are still needed to support move-in;  

• August 31 to September 2: International students get settled and learn about life in Canada at International Orientation;    

• August 31 to September 3: Waterloo Orientation starts on students' campus residence move-in day;    

• September 3: Waterloo Orientation begins for those living off-campus;    

• September 1, 2 or 3: Parent and Supporter Orientation runs in the Village 1 (V1) Great Hall and Fed Hall (FED).    

• September 5: Graduate Orientation welcomes grad students in Physical Activity Complex (PAC), Student Life Centre (SLC), Health Expansion Building (EXP), and Graduate House (GH).  

• September 6: Classes begin as drop-in events continue for new undergraduate students; and   

• September 9: Orientation wraps up with an action-packed Black and Gold Day and celebratory events in the evening for new undergraduate students.   

Find out where undergraduate students are by using the open Orientation schedule in Portal.   

Orientation at Waterloo is a partnership between the Waterloo Undergraduate Student Association (WUSA), the Graduate Student Association (GSA), the Student Success Office (SSO) and all six faculties. 

Renison invites nominations for Board of Governors vacancies

A message from Renison University College.

The Renison Board of Governors invites nominations for vacancies among the elected members of the Board effective January 1, 2024 for a three year term. To be eligible for nomination, the nominee must be at least 18 years of age and be committed to acting in the best interests of Renison as a whole community. This opportunity is open to members of the community (non-employees).

The Renison University College Board of Governors values diversity. The Board welcomes and encourages applications from all qualified individuals with diverse experiences based on race, ethnic origin, religion, age, colour, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, ability, or disability, including women, 2SLGBTQ+, Indigenous Peoples, and other visible minorities.

Any person may nominate themselves, or another candidate with their prior knowledge and consent. Nomination details should include the candidate’s name and contact information, a curriculum vitae or summary and a statement as to why the nominator recommends the candidate.

Nominations should be addressed to the Governance Committee, care of Lisa Kessig, Executive Assistant to the President at lisa.kessig@uwaterloo.ca, or Renison University College, 240 Westmount Road North, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G4 and be received no later than September 7, 2023.

The Governance Committee of the Board will consider all nominees and will recommend the nominees it believes to be the best able to meet the requirements of Renison to the Membership for election at the Annual General Meeting on October 25, 2023.