Tuesday, May 9, 2017

Working group presents report on business programs

"We are pleased to provide a link to the report from the UW Business Working Group entitled “Business at Waterloo Programs: Current State and Future Opportunities”," says a memo from Vice-President, Academic & Provost Ian Orchard distributed last week. 

Established in 2015, the UW Business Working Group was charged with the task of assessing "the state of business studies at Waterloo, with the following questions in mind. Does the status quo serve us well, or is it time to take the next step as it relates to teaching and learning business at Waterloo? How do we set ourselves apart as a non-traditional business school, while attracting the highest quality students intent on studying business? How can we best leverage existing brand strengths of co-operative education and entrepreneurship to enhance Waterloo as a destination for studying business?"

Putting the working group's mandate into context was this: “Over 5,000 undergraduate students currently study business at the University of Waterloo – that is approximately 1 in 6 of Waterloo’s 30,600 full- and part-time undergraduate students.”

After deliberations and consultation with the community, the working group recommended three structural initiatives:

• A Waterloo Business Forum to develop measures to increase quality and visibility of Business at Waterloo, including enhancements to experiential learning, strengthening concentrations of business scholarship, supporting new faculty hires, and guiding undergraduate recruitment;
• A Waterloo Business Student Hub, initially conceived to be a virtual center and resource, then to become a physical space that supports Waterloo business students and instructors of business courses; and,
• A Business Curriculum Committee to coordinate major business programs, including common business (’BUS’) courses among Faculties and to improve operational delivery effectiveness.

"We are very supportive of the recommendations made by the group after their extensive consultation with the community, and look forward to their implementation," writes the provost, who noted that one positive outcome that occurred during the deliberations was the addition of two “+ Business” pillars at the 2016 Ontario Universities Fair, which were staffed by trained volunteers to discuss + Business at Waterloo with prospective students and their families.

"The supporting data in the report is compelling validation of Waterloo as a credible leader in business education in Canada, but also indicates that we cannot be complacent," the provost's memo continues. "The report generally affirms that Waterloo is not seeking to establish a conventional business school, but is well-poised to use an approach to business that further differentiates us from other institutions as it relates to business education. The plan is flexible and Waterloo’s decentralized nature is embraced. The report does encourage us to find ways to enhance collaborations between the Faculties."

"We support the structural recommendations as practical next steps – the business forum and business curriculum committee could start in Fall 2017, bringing together a cross-institutional group to look at how we exchange ideas, ensure program quality, recruit students, attract talented instructors, and coordinate and deliver business programs on campus."

"We are greatly appreciative of the efforts and guidance provided by the co-chairs, Bruce Mitchell and Steven Young, and the rest of the working group," the provost writes. "We thank the group for its efforts and advice, and look forward to moving in a positive way on this file."

Comments about the report should be directed to Mario Coniglio coniglio@uwaterloo.ca.

Paul Martin to receive St. Jerome's honour

St. Jerome's University has announced that the Right Honourable Paul Martin, Canada's twenty-first Prime Minister, is the 2017 recipient of the Chancellor John R. Sweeney Award for Catholic Leadership.

‘We are honoured to recognize the achievements of Mr. Martin, in the undeniably important – and pertinent – areas of governance, finance, global health, and indigenous peoples," said St. Jerome's President Katherine Bergman. "Mr. Martin through his selfless service exemplifies the principles and values that were a hallmark of John Sweeney’s life. He has significantly improved the quality of life for children, adults, and families of the many people he has touched nationally and globally. Mr. Martin’s legacy of informed kindness and service to others has left a lasting impact on our country, and on our global community."

“Under his leadership as Finance Minister and subsequently as Prime Minister of Canada,” Professor Bergman continues, “Mr. Martin strived to advance health care improvement, early learning and child education, and aboriginal rights. He reached an historic accord with Canada’s provinces, territories, First Nations, Metis Nation, and Inuit leaders that began the process of eliminating the health, education, housing, and economic gaps between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Canadians. His post-political life has been similarly committed to the promotion of the common good. Mr. Martin founded the Martin Aboriginal Initiative, targeting education opportunities for Aboriginal Canadians, and developing business and economic opportunities with the Capital for Aboriginal Prosperity and Entrepreneurship Fund.”

St. Jerome's will bestow the award on Mr. Martin at the Feast of St. Jerome Liturgy and Dinner on Friday, September 29, 2017. All proceeds from the event are in support of the St. Jerome’s University student scholarship fund. For ticket information call 519-884-8111.

Warrior drafted into the CFL; other notes

Athletics and Recreation is reporting that men's football Warrior Jordan Hoover, who played as defensive back, was selected as the fourth round, 31^st overall draft pick by the Edmonton Eskimos. 

"I am very proud of Jordan and I know he has a bright future in the CFL," says Warriors coach Chris Bertoia. "He has an extremely high level of character as proven this off-season working tirelessly with our team during training sessions to get stronger. Hoover is a true leader and very impressive athlete and student, after finishing his final year with an average of 83.6 percent. We wish him all the best in Edmonton."

Hoover will become the second Waterloo Warrior currently playing in the Canadian Football League. The other is Matt Vonk, who joined the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2013.

Read the full story on the Athletics website.

The Library has organized a farewell party for Annie Bélanger that will take place on Thursday, May 11 from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the Dana Porter Staff Lounge (LIB 130).

Bélanger, who joined the Library in 2008 and was most recently a member of the Acting University Librarian Team, will be heading to Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids, Michigan as its Dean of University Libraries in June 2017.

The Federation of Students' commercial operations are having Welcome Week specials from May 8 to 12, including 25 percent off all apps at The Bombshelter, 50 percent off all Poke Bowls at Wasabi Sushi and 99-cent ice cream at Campus Bubble.

Friends and colleagues of Fred Widall have organized a retirement celebration that honours his 37 years with the University. Members of the campus community are invited to join IST on Thursday, June 29 between 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Fed Hall to wish Fred all the best in retirement. RSVP to Liz Doede via email at edoede@uwaterloo.ca. There are no planned speeches, so feel free to drop in as your schedule allows.