Monday, April 25, 2016

OpenAccess Energy summit gets underway

The latest Waterloo Global Science Initiative (WGSI) Summit, OpenAccess Energy, is taking place this week. This year's summit is focused on the issue of access to energy.

"WGSI Summits bring together a multidisciplinary, multinational and multigenerational group of approximately 40 people for four days of intensive working sessions. Half the assembled group are young leaders under the age of 30, the remainder are a mix of established experts and experienced advisors. Summit contributors share their experiences and develop a common understanding of the problem. From there, through discussions moderated by a professional facilitator, contributors turn their focus to the knowledge gaps and key areas of focus identified in the OpenAccess Energy Brief."

What's the context for this year's summit? The fact that there are still 1.1 billion people who live without access to electricity, despite many decades of global efforts directed at mass electrification. What's worse, population growth is outstripping the growth of the global electrical grid, meaning that the problem of inaccessible energy will only get worse.

From April 22 to 27, summit participants and contributors will be meeting to develop a framework for addressing electricity provision for "energy isolated" communities the world over.

"At the end of the Summit, the contributors present a Communiqué; this provides a vision of the future and establishes key recommendations to make that future a reality. In the months following the Summit, this vision is fleshed out into a Blueprint that collates relevant research and case studies, and provides a roadmap to implementation."

The Waterloo Global Science Initiative is a partnership between the University of Waterloo and the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics. The initiative was founded in 2009, and has organized two previous summits - Energy 2030 in 2011 and Learning 2030 in 2013. 

TVO's The Agenda with Steve Paikin will be broadcasting from the Perimeter Institute on Monday and Tuesday nights. Tonight's discussion is entitled "Ending Energy Poverty" from 6:15 to 8:00 p.m., followed by "An Energy Miracle" on Tuesday from 6:15 to 8:00 p.m. Both events are free and open to the public, but registration is required.

Landscaping work on South Commons to begin

Fences will be going up this week as work is set to begin on the south commons landscaping redevelopment project. The tenders were signed last Friday.

The area includes the raised stone wall near the east side of the Dana Porter Library across to the Grad House, part of the Hilltop zone identified in the Campus Master Plan.

The redevelopment project involves the reduction of some of the hill behind the Grad House, allowing for unobstructed views to Biology 1, Chemistry and Physics. A large deck seating area will be installed with tables that will feature charging ports for laptops and mobile phones.

VP Advancement Nominating Committee seeks input

"We are now beginning the process of identifying an individual to hold the position of Vice-President, Advancement," says a memo from President Feridun Hamdullahpur circulated last week. 

"The Vice-President, Advancement provides leadership in developing and securing public and private philanthropic support for the institution, in partnership with its constituent Faculties, Federated University and three Affiliated University Colleges. This includes: creating, coordinating and implementing institutional fundraising strategies; identifying, cultivating and soliciting major gift prospects; coordinating alumni activities throughout the University; recruiting, motivating, coordinating and retaining a strong professional staff; and providing overall leadership and coordination for the University’s total alumni and advancement services, programs and activities. In addition, the Vice-President, Advancement is expected to maintain a strong portfolio of major gift and leadership prospects, and will be a role model through her/his activity level."

"Over the next month, committee members intend to consult broadly. You are encouraged to convey your views on matters concerning the position in writing to Logan Atkinson, university secretary & general counsel, at vpadvancement.nominatingcommittee@uwaterloo.ca , or to Brian Bachand, an executive search consultant supporting the committee at Boyden Global Executive Search, at bbachand@boyden.com."

"The committee especially invites you to consider the following questions, and seeks your input and feedback:

1. What are the issues, challenges and opportunities facing the Vice-President, Advancement?
2. What advice do you have for the search committee as to the background, credentials, qualifications and leadership style that should be sought in the next Vice-President, Advancement?
3. Do you have any suggestions as to individuals to whom the committee should speak about this opportunity?

"If you prefer, you may also communicate directly with any member of the nominating committee, identified below. Contact a committee member by e-mail to make the necessary arrangements."

"Your input and feedback will be very important in shaping the position profile and informing the direction of the search," the president concludes.

Comments are due no later than May 18 and will be held in the strictest confidence within the committee. The members of the Vice-President Advancement Nominating Committee are:

Student Financial Services to move to east campus

A message from Student Financial Services

The Student Financial Services group of Finance (previously called Student Accounts) currently located on the first floor of Needles Hall will be moving to join their colleagues on the fourth floor of East Campus 5 (EC5) on Thursday June 2. The office will be closed on June 2 to facilitate the move.

Services currently offered in the Needles Hall location will be transitioned in stages prior to the official move date:

• Payments currently made at Student Financial Services are to be made in Finance on the fourth floor of EC5 effective Monday, May 16
• Drop in help for students with questions will remain in Needles Hall until June 1

Please be aware that response times, particularly to e-mails, may be longer than normal during the transition. We are hoping to keep the disruption to services as minimal as possible, but we do appreciate your patience leading up to our move date and as we settle in to our new space.

Fees Arranged deadline, fire drills, and other notes

Deadlines come and deadlines go, and today that deadline is for Fee Arrangement.

Not Fees Arranged? Students have until June 30 before they will lose Access to their assignments, exams, and course materials on LEARN.

Not to worry: there are two ways to become Fees Arranged:

Defray the cost by paying in full.

Enter a Promissory Note by following the step-by-step instructions.

Reviewing your bill for Spring 2016 is as easy as logging into Quest, to Student Centre, and then clicking Finances > Account Inquiry. 

OSAP students are reminded not to submit an OSAP estimate with their Note.

The Safety Office, in partnership with UW Police Services and Waterloo Fire Rescue, will be conducting fire drills in academic buildings on campus, beginning at 8:30 a.m. and ending at approximately 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 26.

The drills are part of a required annual review of fire safety plans. All building occupants are expected to evacuate a building when the fire alarm sounds, even during scheduled drills.

Each building takes between 5 and 10 minutes to conduct the drill. In the event of inclement weather the drills will be rescheduled to Thursday, April 28.

Human Resources is reporting that retiree Jacob "Jake" Willms died on April 19. Willms began his career at the University in August 1969. He held the position of Administrative Officer in the Dean of Arts office until he retired under the Special Early Retirement program in July 1996. Jake is survived by his spouse, Margarita.