Dear faculty, staff and graduate students,
Waterloo’s three-year budget plan to reduce our deficit includes integrated planning, reduced spending and initiatives aimed at enhancing efficiency. Each faculty, academic service unit and vice-president’s office has been asked to manage payroll reduction through hiring freezes, attrition and redeployment.
As part of our restructuring, we are centralizing how our three academic units deliver academic advising services to better support our students. By the end of the summer, program managers and undergraduate advisors from each unit will come together in a new advising space on the first floor. Advisors will continue to focus on their specific academic units, while also working as part of a dynamic team that will offer cross-training, a team environment and enhanced back-up coverage during vacations and leaves.
Our undergraduate advising team is currently investigating and engaging in conversations about best practices and ways of implementing the new structure. The underlying goal is to create a seamless and supportive advising experience for all students, which includes engaging with student focus groups to understand their preferences. We will closely monitor the impact to ensure we are providing the highest level of service.
Within the Dean’s Office, staffing levels have been reduced. We are looking at initiatives to create efficiencies, such as the use of electronic forms and streamlined approval processes. As we move forward with fewer staff resources, we are taking this opportunity to revise how we market and recruit new graduate students. We are making changes to ensure we can continue to meet the needs of students and programs effectively. We appreciate your patience and collaboration as we work through this transition and hope that you will participate when asked for assistance.
The Provost announced a special, enhanced one-time retirement incentive for faculty members. This voluntary program is intended to support long-term planning while helping to manage overall faculty salary and benefit costs across the university. Information sessions will be held today and again on May 1 for those who would like to learn more.
While these are challenging times at Waterloo and across the sector, we are committed to working together to navigate these changes. We recognize the impact on our employees and the way we deliver education and services, and we are doing everything we can to minimize hardship. At the same time, we are actively exploring new opportunities to generate revenue and strengthen our financial position, ensuring we can continue to provide excellent support and services moving forward.
Best,
Lili Liu
News I Events I Did you know?
NEWS
Faculty member promotions
Congratulations to Jason Au (Kinesiology and Health Sciences) and Zahid Butt (Public Health Sciences) for receiving tenure and promotion to associate professor, as well as to Shannon Majowicz, Samantha Meyer and James Wallace (all three in Public Health Sciences) on their promotion to full professor. The promotions take effect July 1.
Staffing updates in the Faculty
Leanne Varey, formerly an undergraduate advisor in Kinesiology and Health Sciences (KHS), has taken on the role of Development Officer in the Dean's Office. Jessica Kolmel, formerly an undergraduate advisor in Public Health Sciences (SPHS), has joined Lee Chandler on the KHS undergraduate advising team. Grace Crooks has joined KHS as graduate advisor and program coordinator. Katarzyna Satora has returned to SPHS and rejoins Doris Makowich and Briana Oenputera on the undergraduate team, while Athira Chandrasekhara Rao, Michelle Fluit, Amin Hosseinnejad and Jaiden Cote make up the graduate team. Ibelemari Okojie has joined Recreation and Leisure Studies (RLS) as the graduate programs manager, while Sara Houston continues to manage undergraduate advising in RLS.
Submit a Territorial Acknowledgment
To demonstrate our commitment to Indigenization on campus, the Faculty of Health invites you to share your personalized Territorial Acknowledgments to be featured on the digital screens in BMH, RLS and EXP. Please visit Faculty of Health Territorial Acknowledgments for submission details.
UPCOMING EVENTS AND DEADLINES
Staff appreciation event: April 30
The Faculty's staff appreciation event is today, April 30, from 2 to 3 p.m. If you have not yet RSVP'd but were planning to attend, please contact Fiona McAlistair as soon as possible.
Engaging students through PebblePad Workbooks: May 2
Sandra Lopez-Rocha (International Experience Centre) will share how she designed a PebblePad Workbook to engage students throughout the various components of the GLIDE (Global Learning, Intercultural Development and Engagement) Certificate. Registration is required for this online PebblePad session, which takes place on Friday, May 2 from 1 to 2 p.m.
Red Dress Day: May 5
Elder Myeengun Henry will begin Red Dress Day with a sacred fire at 10:30 a.m. on the BMH Green, where we will hang red dresses to symbolize those who are missing and murdered, inspired by Jaime Black's REDress Project. Following the ceremony, we will move to LHS 1621, where we will hear from Ojibway/Mohawk guest speaker Cher Obediah and watch her short film. Please register on the Red Dress Day event page.
Health innovation submission deadline: May 7
To improve emergency department flow and transform patient care, the Waterloo Regional Health Network (WRHN) has partnered with the University of Waterloo to launch an Innovation Challenge. Individuals and groups who are passionate about health-care optimization are invited to submit a proposal by May 7.Validated, impact-driven solutions will be presented and proposed to the provincial government and funding partners for funding and broader implementation. Visit the Innovation Challenge page for details and to download the full brief.
Princess Margaret Cancer Centre Connector event: May 8
Waterloo faculty members are invited to a Princess Margaret Cancer Centre Connector event on May 8 from 9 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Aimed at developing relationships and collaborations between Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and Waterloo researchers, the event will explore areas related to Generative AI, computer vision, and home/remote monitoring. Researchers who are interested in participating are expected to present their research, challenge and vision for collaboration. Registration is required. Details and registration are available on the Connector event web page.
Echoes of Identity call for submissions: May 8
In recognition of Jewish Heritage Month, Asian Heritage Month and South Asian Heritage Month, the Dean's Advisory Committee on EDI-AR invites you to share something meaningful to you in connection with these celebrations. Whether it’s a quote, reflection, personal memory, image, or artwork that speaks to these rich and diverse heritages, we encourage you to submit it by May 8. Submissions will be showcased on the digital screens in the Health buildings throughout the month of May. Please visit the Echoes of Identity web page for details.
LEARN for TAs: May 12
This LEARN for TAs workshop is a Q & A session focusing on the effective use of LEARN for TAs. It takes place online on Monday, May 12, 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Registration is required.
Eurovision viewing party: May 13, 17
Whether you're a long-time fan or new to Eurovision, here is an opportunity to enjoy the show with friends. The semi-finals viewing party is on May 13 at 3 p.m. The finals are on May 17 at 3 p.m. Everyone is welcome but viewing party registration is encouraged. This event is hosted by the Dean's Advisory Committee on Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Anti-racism (EDI-AR).
Giving Day: May 15
Please consider supporting the Faculty's fundraising efforts during the inaugural UWaterloo Giving Day in support of teaching, learning and research. While it takes place May 15, donations will be matched starting tomorrow. We encourage you to make your gift as early as possible to take advantage of matching funds. All eligible donations between $20 to $1,000 will be matched dollar for dollar until funds run out – meaning you can double your impact in the area that’s most meaningful to you!
Accessible education reading group: May 13
This reading group is intended for people with any level of accessibility confidence and a desire to have deeper discussions about accessible education. The group will be capped at 12 people, and meetings will be hybrid or fully online on Teams. The first meeting takes place on May 13 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Please complete the accessible education reading group registration form if you are interested.
Safeguarding Science workshops: May 16, 21
Faculty members, students and staff involved in research using biological, chemical, radiological or nuclear materials or technology are invited to join Public Safety Canada for two webinars in May: Module 6 – Travelling Safely: Protecting Your Research While Travelling Abroad on May 16 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. and Module 7 – Conducting Open-Source Due-Diligence on May 21 from 1 to 2:30 p.m.
TA training on online courses: Register by May 20
This four-week certificate on Getting ready to facilitate online courses runs from May 26 to June 20 and is suited for current or future teaching assistants (TAs) wishing to build skills and knowledge of best practices in facilitating fully online courses. Please register by May 20.
Shaw-Mannell Lecture: May 22
Dr. Ana Maria Munar from the Copenhagen Business School will be giving a public lecture on Tourism is Drive: A Psychoanalytical, Philosophical, and Mythical Exploration on May 22 at 2 p.m. in the the Sun Life Auditorium. Munar is the recipient of the 2024 Shaw-Mannell Leisure Research Award, which features a lecture hosted by the Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies. The award recognizes international career contributions to the study of leisure, broadly defined, and influence on leisure scholarship at the University of Waterloo. Registration is not required.
You @ Waterloo Day: May 24
You @ Waterloo Day, which is an open house reserved for undergraduate students who have received an offer of acceptance, is taking place Saturday, May 24 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. If you are planning to head to campus that day, please expect higher traffic in the buildings and parking lots across campus than usual.
Canadian citizenship ceremony: May 30
If you’re interested in experiencing a Canadian citizenship ceremony, the Faculty of Health, along with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, invite you to take part as a guest on May 30 at 10:30 a.m. in EXP 1689. Approximately 50 new citizens will be sworn in. A small reception will be held afterward for them, their families, dignitaries and visitors. Registration is not necessary. Please contact Nadia Linares if you have questions.
LITE Grant deadline: June 2
Learning Innovation and Teaching Enhancement (LITE) Grants fund small-scale teaching and learning investigations or activities to develop your instructional skills with funding of up to $7,500. The upcoming application deadline is June 2 at 4 p.m., but applicants must meet with Annik Bilodeau or Brianna Bennett no later than May 16 at 12 p.m.
DID YOU KNOW?
Scholarship of teaching and learning reading group
Grad students and postdoctoral scholars are invited to participate in a reading group to explore the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) throughout the summer. We will be piloting a hybrid format, and we invite those interested to complete a quick survey by May 2 at 4 p.m. For further information, please contact Michelle Ogrodnik or Natalie Chow.
Support available if you need to talk
News of violent acts impact us all differently. If you are having trouble processing the violence at this past weekend's Lapu Lapu festival in Vancouver, or any other event, please contact Campus Wellness for support if you are a student and the Employee and Family Assistance Program if you are faculty or staff.
Do you have a news item to share? Please email it to Eugenia Xenos Anderson.