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Zero Waste Week begins
From October 16 to 20, check out the events happening around campus as part of Zero Waste Week. The Sustainability Office and Plant Operations have organized several activities to raise the visibility waste management and encourage proper sorting of waste and recycling:
- Take the Zero Waste Challenge: Can you fit all your garbage next week into a single 500ml mason jar? Stop by the Sustainability Office (EV1-301), or visit one of our booths across campus to pick up your jar and take the challenge!
- Visit waste mountain: How much waste do we actually produce on campus? Visit the Davis Centre Quad to see how much waste is generated during one week!
- Take the online quiz: Think you have waste sorting smarts? Only 20% of respondents can get an 80% grade or higher on this quiz of common sorting mistakes on campus and at home.
- Visit the Sort-A-Thon: Stop by one of our booths across campus this week to see how many common items you can sort correctly in 30 seconds or less. You can also pick up your mason jar!
All of the above have prizes available for participating. For more information, visit the Zero Waste Week webpage and help us promote on social media using hashtag #UWzerowaste if you can.
Research Talks explores assessing the economic value of water
Who pays for the water quality and supply, biodiversity, and carbon storage provided by forests, wetlands, and grasslands?
These are the questions Roy Brouwer, economics professor and executive director of the Water Institute, wants to answer. As a principal investigator of the global assessment of payments for watershed services, Professor Brouwer will share how this assessment will help make payment schemes more cost-effective and efficient at the next Research Talks session on Friday, October 27. Please register as seating is limited.
Learn why the assessment of payment schemes for watershed services is important to determine the appropriate market price and how it will impact the conservation of water resources.
Hosted by the Office of Research and supported by the Research Support Fund, Research Talks celebrates research and provides an opportunity for staff, faculty, and students to learn more about the life-changing research underway at Waterloo.
Light refreshments will be provided but feel free to bring your lunch.
New Accessibility Committee formed
A message from Marilyn Thompson, Associate Provost, Human Resources.
The University is comprised of a diverse group of individuals and should be recognized as an institution with an inclusive culture. Within the realm of accessibility for persons with disabilities, an inclusive culture is achieved by removing and preventing barriers to employment, education and other services; while respecting an individual’s dignity and right to privacy. Although responsibility for accessibility resides within Human Resources leadership, it is impossible to achieve accessibility goals without an enterprise-wide approach. To that end, a cross-functional Accessibility Committee—whose members met for the first time on September 11, 2017—has been formed to enable consultation and collaboration.
As a first order of business, the Accessibility Committee is considering the University’s state of compliance with the evolving Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), and is preparing to file the biennial compliance report, due later this year. The Committee’s mandate, however, goes beyond compliance with the AODA. It is about enabling the University to adopt policies and practices that maintain an environment of equity and respect for persons with disabilities, and incorporating innovation, wellness and continuous improvement into crafting solutions.
For a full membership list and high level summary of the Accessibility Committee’s mandate, please refer to the Accessibility Committee webpage on the Human Resources website. The Accessibility Committee meets on a monthly basis and will issue communications as developments arise. In the meantime, individuals are welcome to contact members regarding opportunities for improvement around accessibility, or to provide general feedback.
Souper Wednesday for the United Way
a message from University of Waterloo’s United Way campaign
Join us this week as the University of Waterloo’s United Way campaign hosts Souper Wednesday on October 18! As the weather begins to change, warm up with a bowl of homemade soup and help support the 2017 United Way campaign at the same time.
Join us in the DC lobby (across from the library) from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. as surprise celebrity soup servers dish out three types of soup (vegan option available) served with a roll. Suggested minimum donation is $5.
Book lunch with your colleagues or say thank you to a colleague by taking them out for a bowl of delicious homemade soup from the talented Food Services chefs.
Monday's notes
Among the agenda items at today's meeting of the University's senate:
- Motions to inactivate the Faculty of Arts’ existing English Language Proficiency Requirement and subsequently approve a new Communications Skills Requirement;
- Motions to similarly inactivate the Faculty of Science’s existing ELPE requirement and approve in its place a new Communications Skills Requirement;
- A motion to approve modifications in the PhD program in History, effective January 2018;
- A motion to modify the Master of Arts program in Psychology, effective January 2018; and
- Motions to approve changes in academic plans in the Faculty of Science (honours materials and nanosciences) and the Global Experience Certificate.
Senate will also receive an update on the University’s Strategic Plan.
Other agenda items at the meeting include a teaching presentation by Marcel O’Gorman, director of the Critical Media Lab, an Environmental Sustainability Strategy presentation, and a presentation by the Sexual Violence Response Coordinator.
High-risk flu clinics start on campus this Wednesday. Students, staff, and faculty are invited to get their influenza vaccination through Health Services. For a list of high-risk candidates for immunization, consult the vaccination clinic website.
Community flu clinics will commence the first week of November.
There's still time to register for the “Keeping Well at Work” event on Tuesday, October 17. Sessions include:
- Keynote address by Mary Ann Baynton, "Resiliency in the Workplace";
- Groove;
- Workplace Bullying Awareness;
- Sustainable Nutrition; and
- Effective Office Workouts
Everyone is welcome to join the event's opening address at 1:15 in Fed Hall, and to visit the trade show that showcases charitable associations and University partners.