Thursday, September 7, 2017

As lectures begin, Orientation continues

Fall classes for students begin today even as Orientation programming continues into the weekend. Classes will follow the normal Thursday schedule.

In this second year of the 3-year Fall Break pilot, the University's academic calendar includes two study days following Thanksgiving Monday on October 9. In order to facilitate this change, classes start today.

Visit the Student Success Office's Fall Break page for more details.

It's not just students who are buzzing around campus

by Anne Grant and Heather Cray

We invite you to visit the Faculty of Arts/Environment garden located in between PAS, EV1 and HH, sit quietly on one of the benches, and you will notice a hum of activity –and we aren’t talking about the influx of students! Within minutes you will notice several pollinators moving about from plant to plant, foraging and resting in this naturalized space on campus.

The established garden provides foraging opportunities for our native bees, with the combination of sunny, well-drained patches of undisturbed stone, mulch, and bare ground making it the perfect nesting habitat for ground nesters like bumble bees to raise their families.

And don’t worry about getting stung – these bees are much more concerned with their flower lunch then they are with you.

Pollinators spotted include three different species of Bumble bee (Bombus), Metallic Green Bees (Agapostemon virescens), Leafcutter Bees (Megachile), Mason Bees (Hoplitis and Andrena), Small Carpenter Bees (Ceratina), Cuckoo Bees (Triepeolus), Wool Carder Bees (Anthidium), male and female Long-horned Bees (Melissodes), and Mining Bees (Andrena) buzzing about. Pollinating beetles and butterflies were also out in full force, including the Locust Borer Beetle (Megacyllene robiniae) and the Mourning Cloak butterfly (Nymphalis antiopa).

The garden has a variety of plants, including many native prairie plants that are currently flowering: Culver’s root (Veronicastrum virginicum), Ironweed (Vernonia gigantea), Canada goldenrod (Solidago Canadensis) and the endangered Dense Blazing Star (Liatris spicata).

The Arts/Environment Garden project was launched by Dean of Arts and Dean of Environment staff. The Dean of Arts has provided significant funding and the Faculty of Environment’s Ecology Lab Coordinator, Bev Raimbault, oversees hiring of student staff and providing equipment resources in the maintenance of the garden Together, Arts and Environment take pride in showcasing this urban oasis!

Notes on the first day of classes

The University of Waterloo Art Gallery (UWAG) is preparing to host its latest exhibition, The Closer Together Things Are, which features the work of artists Kathleen Hearn, Ève K. Tremblay, Laura Letinsky, Micah Lexier & Dave Dyment, Micah Lexier & Roula Partheniou, Rhonda Weppler & Trevor Mahovsky, Luke Painter, Chris Kline, and Roula Partheniou.

"The Closer Together Things Are explores the space between difference and similarity that arises from intense observation and consideration," says a statement from UWAG. "It focuses on the proximity of time, heredity, frottage, palette, concept and presentation. Under close scrutiny, the most mundane objects and situations can compel us, drawing our full attention. The more we look, the more variations surface; differences arise from things that once seemed identical, and sameness arises from things that once seemed unrelated. This exploration of nearness guides how the artworks interact with one another through proximity, mirroring, repetition and reinterpretation. Strange bedfellows are made and unforeseen connections arise. The Closer Together Things Are takes stock of how little we need to see in order to feel like we’ve seen these things before, only this time more clearly."

The exhibition, co-curated by Shannon Anderson and Jay Wilson, runs from September 14 to October 28. The opening reception takes place on Thursday, September 14 at 7:00 p.m.

There's still time to participate in the consultation period as the Vice-President, Academic & Provost Nominating Committee continues its work. The deadline for written submissions is Tuesday, September 12. 

The nominating committee is encouraging all academic department chairs and directors of schools and heads of academic support departments, as well as interested faculty, staff and students, to convey their views in writing on matters concerning the position and profile. All information received will be held in confidence. These submissions, along with suggestions for individuals who might be considered for the position, may be directed in confidence to Karen Jack, university secretary (c/o Secretariat, Needles Hall; kjjack@uwaterloo.ca), or to any member of the nominating committee.

Check out nominating committee chair Feridun Hamdullahpur's memo on the subject of consultations.

Members of the University community are invited to come out and practice their Spanish at a series of “Conversemos en español” (Lets chat in Spanish) workshops held this fall. All levels are welcome. Under the direction of a Spanish teacher, you can meet others and practice spoken Spanish. Spanish-speakers are also welcome to encourage others to learn and or improve their Spanish and to make new friends.

The sessions take place in the Community Room at the John M. Harper Branch of the Waterloo Public Library on Fischer Hallman Road North.  

Sessions run from September 14 to December 14, 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Anyone with questions can contact Regina Vera-Quinn of the Department of Spanish & Latin American Studies at veraquin@uwaterloo.ca or at extension 33683.

The University of Waterloo Staff Association (UWSA) is seeking nominations for the Staff Excellence Fund (SEF) committee. There is one position available for a two-year term from September 2017 to August 2019. The Staff Excellence Fund is managed by Provost Advisory Committee on Staff Compensation (PACSC) and has $250,000 per year to allocate. PACSC has delegated responsibility to the UWSA to bring forth proposals for two portions of this fund:

1. Engagement and Leadership Development ($50,000/year)
2. Healthy Workplace Initiatives ($85,000/year)

The UWSA has established the Staff Excellence Fund Committee to solicit, review, and forward these proposals to PACSC. Check out the SEF Committee's terms of reference for more information. If you are interested in either of the positions, please submit the online web form or fill out and send a printed copy to the chair of UWSA Nominating Committee Gail Spencer at uwsanominate@uwaterloo.ca in DC 3609.

Applications are due Friday, September 8.