Tuesday, March 26, 2024

Join the fight against fraud

A message from the Student Success Office (SSO).

March is Fraud Prevention Month and although we’re close to the end of March, scams never take a break. They're happening all around us and it’s important to learn how we can identify scams. Here are some valuable tips to help tackle scammers and fraudsters.

Say "no" to pressure

Don't let pushy salespeople and callers scare you. If an agent or salesperson wants you to buy something or send money immediately, ask for it in writing or hang up the phone.

Watch out for red flags

• Urgent messages that make you feel emotional.
• Requests for personal information like your name, address, birthdate, Social Insurance Number (SIN) or credit card details.

Do your homework

Before you give money or information, make sure you know who you're dealing with:

• Check if a charity is real – search the Canada Revenue Agency's database
• Confirm collection agencies’ authenticity – contact your provincial agency
• Find a company's real number – look online and call them directly to confirm the previous call
• Double-check with your credit card company – call the phone number on the back of your card
• Talk to family – if someone claims a relative is in trouble, verify with other family members

Protect yourself

• Don't be afraid to say no
• Ignore fake ads or emails and always research a company before getting in touch
• Never give out personal information over the phone unless you made the call

Don't let scammers take advantage of you. Share this information with your friends and family, especially those who may be more vulnerable. Together, we can make it harder for scammers to succeed.

Useful links and resources

• Test your knowledge on fraud
• Scam awareness videos
• How to report scams and fraud
• Common scams and how to avoid them

Nutrition Month profile: Courtney Wilson

A message from Campus Wellness.

During the month of March, Registered Dietitians (RD) across the country come together to celebrate the diverse field of nutrition and to help Canadians build knowledge and understanding of the connections between food, nutrition, and health.

What better time of year to highlight the unique and varied RD roles that are present right here on the UW campus. Join us in celebrating the important ways that our RDs are contributing to the health and wellness of our students, staff, and community at large. We are continuing our series highlighting some of the talented RDs from across our campus with our final profile: Courtney Wilson. 

Name: Courtney Wilson, MScFN RD

Position at UWaterloo: Registered Dietitian, Campus Wellness

Describe your role on campus: I work in Health Services as part of the Campus Wellness team, where I offer nutrition counselling to UW students via 1-1 and group-based sessions.  I support students presenting with a myriad of physical and/or mental health concerns. I also work and liaise with other teams and departments – within Campus Wellness and across our campuses – to create health promotion campaigns related to nutrition, health, and wellness. I have a particular passion for helping people to create (or recreate) a positive relationship with food.

If you could tell people one thing about nutrition, what would it be?

The act of nourishment is about so much more than just food and what we eat. While we do eat for fuel and to supply our bodies with energy and nutrients, that is far from the only reason! We also eat for pleasure, for social connection, to honour our cultures and belief systems, personal preferences, and so much more. We are surrounded by messages trying to tell us how to eat (and how not to!) – these can be confusing! Be mindful of those online who seem to have a vested interest in your “diet” and wellness, especially if they have a product to sell! At the end of the day, there is no one ‘right’ way to nourish yourself. It is important to reflect on what is meaningful to you when it comes to food. Our relationships with food are all different – and that’s ok!

What do you like to do in your spare time? In my spare time I love to try new restaurants (or visit old favourites!), play golf, and spend time outside by the pool with my family and dog. I am also an aspiring gardener – we will see how green my thumb is this year!

Co-op Students of the Year make meaningful impacts on their workplaces

By Cameron Stirrup. This is an excerpt of an article originally published on Waterloo News.

In 2023, the University of Waterloo Co-op Students of the Year made significant impacts including designing a new Ontario food security program, analyzing a waste collection calendar and creating a quality-of-life tool for at-risk patients.  

"Our students continue to make a tangible difference during their work terms," said Norah McRae, associate provost of Co-operative and Experiential Education (CEE). "Their dedication to utilizing their work-integrated learning opportunities is inspiring. I eagerly anticipate the impact they'll continue to bring to the workforce." 

Congratulations to the 2023 Co-op Students of the Year:  

• Jessica Bohm, Faculty of Mathematics, Computer Science  

• Stephanie Davis, Faculty of Arts, Masters of Public Service  

• Milena Gojsevic, Faculty of Science, Biochemistry 

• Frances Hallen, Faculty of Engineering, Environmental Engineering  

• Danielle Lebowitz, Faculty of Health, Health Studies  

• Avery Sudsbury, Faculty of Environment, Environment and Business  

CEE announced and celebrated award recipients on March 20 during a hybrid virtual and in-person ceremony. The annual Co-op Student of the Year awards celebrate students for making a meaningful impact in the workplace. The Problem Lab awards recognize students who have identified and analyzed a strategically important problem affecting their employer.  

CEE also recognized the honourable mentions and Problem Lab Award recipients at the ceremony. 

Read the full article on Waterloo News.