Thursday, August 22, 2024

Understanding the Campus Plan and why it matters

A message from Jacinda Reitsma, Vice-President, Administration and Finance.

The University of Waterloo is launching the development of a new Campus Plan, a strategic framework that will shape the physical growth of the university for the coming decade and beyond. This plan will address essential elements like facilities, transportation, open spaces, and infrastructure, aligning them with the university’s evolving needs and long-term goals. 

What is a Campus Plan and Why Now? 

A Campus Plan is a comprehensive strategy that outlines the future development of the university’s physical environment, covering everything from facilities and space allocation to transportation networks and infrastructure. The last Campus Plan was approved by the Board of Governors in 2009.  

Since then, the University of Waterloo and the broader world have undergone significant changes. To keep pace, the new Campus Plan will be developed in alignment with the "Waterloo at 100" vision, ensuring that our campus evolves to meet current and future needs. 

In a period of constrained resources, it is particularly important that we review and coordinate our planning for space across our campuses.   

Impact on the UWaterloo Community 

The new Campus Plan will bring transformative changes to our campus. Modern, sustainable, and innovative facilities will be introduced to support academic excellence, research, and community engagement. Enhanced transportation networks will improve mobility and inclusivity, while vibrant open spaces will enrich student life and community well-being. This Plan will guide and inform the development of UWaterloo’s built and natural environment for the next decade. 

Ensuring Transparency, Building Trust, and Community Engagement 

To develop this Plan, the University of Waterloo will retain a Prime Consultant through a transparent selection process. The consultant will bring expertise in sustainability, innovation, health, equity, and global collaboration, ensuring that these principles are integrated into the university’s future growth.  

The selection process involves issuing a Request for Service Qualifications (RFSQ) to solicit proposals from qualified consultants, followed by a Request for Proposal (RFP) for shortlisted candidates. The Campus Plan Steering Committee will evaluate the proposals to choose a consultant who aligns with the university’s strategic priorities. 

The Campus Plan Steering Committee is a sub-group of the President's Advisory Committee on Design. It is made up of diverse stakeholders including, Director of Sustainability Mat Thijssen, Stepanka Elias, Executive Director of Plant Operations, researchers John Lewis and Paul Fieguth, WUSA President Nick Pfeifle, GSPA President and CEO Neela Hassan, and others. 

The Steering Committee exists to ensure that the development of the University of Waterloo's new Campus Plan is inclusive, transparent, and aligned with the university's strategic goals and provides expert guidance, facilitates broad consultations with various campus groups, and oversees the process. By doing so, it aims to build trust, ensure accountability, and assure that the final plan reflects the needs and aspirations of the entire campus community. 

Once selected, the Prime Consultant will engage in extensive community engagement efforts to gather input and feedback from the UWaterloo community. This will include surveys, workshops, focus groups, and open houses, ensuring diverse perspectives are reflected in the final Campus Plan. Special attention will be given to including underrepresented groups and those with specific needs, with accommodations provided to ensure full participation. The engagement process aims to build a collaborative vision for the campus, fostering a sense of ownership and commitment to the Plan’s outcomes. 

Timeline and Next Steps 

The planning process, from selecting the Prime Consultant to the final development of the Campus Plan, will take approximately 12 months, with completion expected by December 2025. Throughout this period, regular updates will be provided to ensure transparency and accountability. The community will be actively involved in shaping the Plan, and feedback will be systematically analyzed to inform its development. 

For more information on the Campus Plan and how you can get involved, stay tuned for updates in the Daily Bulletin, social media and other official UWaterloo communications channels. 

WatSPEED partners with ISC2 to help professionals enhance their cybersecurity skills

By Emma Pavlovich.

WatSPEED at the University of Waterloo has partnered with ISC2—the world's leading not-for-profit member association for cybersecurity—to help professionals learn essential cyber skills and gain highly sought-after cybersecurity certifications.

Through the partnership, WatSPEED will offer ISC2’s Official Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) Certification Training, designed to provide those interested in advancing their career in cybersecurity with the knowledge required to pass the CISSP certification exam.

“We are pleased to work with ISC2 to provide industry-recognized cybersecurity certifications,” said Sanjeev Gill, associate vice-president, innovation, and executive director of WatSPEED at the University of Waterloo. “This partnership will enable those interested in advancing their careers in this high-demand field to enhance their skills and gain the knowledge required to improve cybersecurity solutions in the future.”

With swift pace of change and technology-driven advancement, it is essential for industry to accelerate cyber safety and security. As cyber threats become more sophisticated, organizations across the globe are seeking trained professionals who understand how to prepare and protect against cyber-attacks.

“Our new partnership with WatSPEED will help equip the Canadian workforce with critical skills in a broad range of cybersecurity domains,” said Alex Mortimer, ISC2 global academic partnerships lead. “Those in the program will study all the essential skills to be knowledgeable in various cyber security domains. We’re really excited to be working with the University.”

Valued by professionals and employers around the world, ISC2 certifications, such as CISSP, are the industry’s most widely recognized and sought-after achievements at all stages of a cybersecurity career.

Learn more and register for ISC2 Official CISSP Certification Training.