Thursday, September 7, 2023

Dean of Arts nominating committee begins search

A message from James W.E. Rush, Vice-President, Academic and Provost; and Chair, Dean of Arts Nominating Committee.

Further to Dean Sheila Ager’s memo on May 23, 2023 in which she informed the Faculty of Arts that she does not intend to seek reappointment for her term as Dean of Arts ending June 30, 2024, this is to inform the University community that the nominating committee constituted under the terms of Policy 45 is now in place and has begun the process of identifying Dean Sheila Ager’s successor.

Over the coming weeks, committee members intend to consult broadly. Your input and feedback will be very important in shaping the position profile and informing the direction of the search.

The committee seeks your input and feedback, and especially invites you to consider the following points in providing such:

• key issues, challenges and opportunities facing the Faculty of Arts;
• priorities the new Dean, Faculty of Arts should be focused on in their first year in the role;
• advice for the search committee as to the background, credentials, qualifications, and leadership style that should be sought in the next dean;
• information about the University of Waterloo that is important for candidates to know when applying for the decanal role; and
• suggestions as to potential candidates or sources whom our search consultants can contact to discuss this opportunity.

You are encouraged to convey your views on matters concerning the deanship in writing to recruitment.provost@uwaterloo.ca or asaundersndaw@kbrs.ca.

Comments are requested no later than 07 October 2023 and will be held in confidence within the committee.

Dean of Arts Nominating Committee

• James W.E. Rush, Vice-President, Academic and Provost (Chair);
• Andrew Bauer, faculty member;
• Tara Collington, faculty member;
• Martin Cooke, faculty member;
• Phil Curry, faculty member;
• Janice da Silva, staff member;
• Mathieu Doucet, faculty member;
• Bruce Frayne, senior faculty member from outside Arts;
• Jasmin Habib, faculty member;
• Neela Hassan, graduate student;
• Kathryn MacDonald, staff member;
• Carol Ann MacGregor, representative of the Affiliated and Federated Institutions of Waterloo;
• Christine Purdon, faculty member; and
• Tham Sivakumaran, undergraduate student.

Accessible Education Project Team now recruiting faculty representatives

A message from the Teaching Innovation Incubator and the Accessible Education Project Team.

The University of Waterloo is in the process of modernizing its approach to accessibility through initiatives being spearheaded by the Disability Inclusion Steering Committee (DISCo), setting its sights on a future in which disabled people have equitable opportunities and experiences with respect to all that our University has to offer.

The Disability Inclusion Steering Committee (DISCo)

The Disability Inclusion Steering Committee (DISCo), formed in the 2022-23 academic year, is led by senior University leaders who are reviewing matters of accessibility and developing strategic plans to address barriers that limit access to the world-class quality of education that Waterloo offers. DISCo will address accessibility concerns within nine thematic areas identified by disabled people as posing barriers to post-secondary education, including but not limited to perceptions and assumptions; assessment, curriculum and instruction; digital learning and technology; as well as physical and financial barriers. Waterloo is taking a proactive approach, responding to recommendations put forward by disabled people instead of waiting for the Ontario government to release its new Accessibility for Ontarians with Disability Act (AODA) standards for post-secondary education.

DISCo recognizes that its work will intersect with other important work at the University, both because of the intersection of disability with other aspects of people’s identities and because steps we might take to improve accessibility will overlap with other initiatives that are underway, such as upgrading our learning spaces, creating programming attractive to potential students unlikely to apply to Waterloo in the past, and many others.

As David DeVidi, Associate Vice-President, Academic explains, “with support from Waterloo’s Disability Inclusion team, DISCo aims to identify synergies, partnerships, resource-sharing opportunities, and collegial practices across all relevant institutional activities.”

There are many areas to address that DISCo projects will focus on, including the built environment and student services, and particularly for this project, the accessibility of teaching and learning activities. To that end, with the support of our Teaching Innovation Incubator, Waterloo is beginning a multi-year project aimed at ensuring that our institution is not just compliant with AODA, but is a leader in promoting accessibility in teaching and learning. Based on the principle that accessible education is better education, the University envisions a post-secondary educational experience that prioritizes accessibility.

Three broad project teams have been created to lead these efforts, each co-led by a faculty member along with a senior leader from an academic support unit. One of these project teams – focused on Instructional Programs and Practices – is seeking faculty members to join its team.

Instructional Programs and Practices Project Team – Call for Members

The goals of the Instructional Programs and Practices project team are the following:

• reimagine accessible education by identifying and/or establishing teaching practices and curricular approaches that prioritize accessibility and inclusion in the context of teaching and learning at Waterloo;
• identify innovative ways to share and normalize accessible practices as a cornerstone of broader inclusion strategies employed by instructors, programs, and academic support units.

As co-leads of the project, Diana Skrzydlo (Teaching Fellow in the Faculty of Mathematics) and Donna Ellis (Director of the Centre for Teaching Excellence) are forming a cross-functional, interdisciplinary team of faculty and staff that will:

• explore alternate program pathways (for entry and through a program),
• ensure that experiential learning opportunities are accessible, 
• develop accessibility standards for teaching and learning, and
• identify a process for working with departments to establish bona fide and essential academic requirements for programs and courses.

The project team is currently seeking up to five faculty representatives to serve on this multi-year project. More information, draft Terms of Reference, and the application form can be found on the Associate Vice-President, Academic Office’s website. Applications are due Friday, September 22 at 5:00 p.m.

This is one of many initiatives that will occur over the course of our disability inclusion journey. The DISCo team commits to providing regular, transparent communication on its progress, and invites you to join us by participating in a way that resonates with you.

Upper-year students share their advice and insights

For new students, adapting to university life can be challenging. From moving into your new home for the next few months, to making friends and starting classes, the first year can feel overwhelming.

We asked upper-year students to share some of their favourite spots on campus and advice that can help ease your transition to the University of Waterloo. 

Read what advice upper-year students have for students starting university for the first time.

Save the date for the 2023 Hagey Lecture by Nalini Nadkarni on October 5

A message from the University of Waterloo Hagey Lectures Committee.

The University of Waterloo Hagey Lectures Committee is thrilled to announce that this year’s Hagey Lecture will be delivered by Nalini Nadkarni, Professor of Biology, University of Utah.

Jointly sponsored by the Faculty Association and the University, the Hagey Lectures are a free, annual series of lectures intended to challenge, stimulate, and enrich not only the faculty, staff, and students of the University of Waterloo, but also all members of the community.

Nalini Nadkarni shares the discoveries and insights she has gathered over her four decades of exploring the biota of forest canopies in rainforests, her collaborations with experts from many academic disciplines, and her engagement with diverse public groups – artists, corporations, faith-based communities, and people who are incarcerated. She describes the dynamics of disturbance and recovery in multiple arenas: forest treetop communities, her own recovery from a near fatal fall, and an array of diverse human systems, including traffic engineering, urban studies, refugee migrations, and modern dance. She invites listeners to apply her approach of “tapestry thinking” to other environmental and social challenges society faces today.

Registration is now open – reserve your ticket today.