Dear faculty, staff and graduate students,
The University of Waterloo and Faculty Association (FAUW) have made good progress in recent months on an agreement regarding revisions to Policy 76 (Faculty Appointments) and Policy 77 (Tenure and Promotion of Faculty Members). A joint statement, memos to the community and the Policy 76/77 Town Hall video are available here.
In summary, the agreement to create a teaching stream will see continuing lecturers transition to this stream as “Associate Professor, Teaching, with permanence.” Probationary appointments in the teaching stream will begin as “Assistant Professor, Teaching.” There will also be an opportunity for faculty in this stream to be promoted to Professor, Teaching, based on evidence of educational leadership; however, the criteria have yet to be established. Other aspects of the agreement relate to course assignments, and one term in six to be non-teaching to allow for development.
It is anticipated that FAUW will vote on the memorandum of agreement in February and a double majority will be needed -- that is, a majority among tenure-track and among teaching stream, so I encourage everyone to vote. If passed at FAUW, Senate and Board of Governors, details would be provided during the summer for implementation by September 2024. I encourage all members of FAUW to watch the Town Hall video and become familiar with this important step at the University of Waterloo to recognize our colleagues in the teaching stream. Feel free to reach out to me or your chairs/director if you have questions.
Best,
Lili Liu
News I Events I Did you know?
NEWS
Dr. John Hirdes named to the Order of Canada
Public Health Sciences Professor Dr. John Hirdes has been appointed a member of the Order of Canada for his contributions to the research and development of standardized assessments in health-care settings. He was one of 78 new appointments to the Order of Canada this year. Congratulations!
Funding spotlight: Dementia researchers receive PHAC grants
Dr. Laura Middleton, a Kinesiology and Health Sciences researcher, has received almost $1 million from the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) for her project called Dementia Lifestyle Intervention for Getting Healthy Together (DELIGHT), along with Drs. Heather Keller and Carrie McAiney. In addition, McAiney, a Public Health Sciences professor, received two other PHAC grants: one for Forward with Dementia, held at the Research Institute for Aging, and another held at the Centre for Family Medicine. Read the PHAC grant story for more.
Dr. Nikolas Knowles receives Career Development Award
Arthritis Society Canada has recognized Dr. Nikolas Knowles, a Kinesiology and Health Sciences faculty member, for his research on improving early detection and treatment of shoulder osteoarthritis. The Stars Career Development award offers robust support for early career progression of promising researchers in the arthritis community.
Dean's Office personnel changes
The Dean’s Office welcomes Dr. Phil Bigelow from the School of Public Health Sciences as Interim Associate Dean, Graduate Studies, fulfilling this role until the end of August while Dr. Brian Laird is on sabbatical. We also welcome Hanako Hellinga, joining the team as the Assistant to the Associate Deans for a two-year term, and Leanne Zonneveld as the undergraduate Marketing and Recruitment Specialist for the next year.
Anti-racism and Anti-oppression Training
Students, staff and faculty in Health are encouraged to honour Black History Month by participating in a new Anti-racism and Anti-oppression (ARAO) training module, offered online via LEARN. The interactive training has five modules and will take two hours to complete. Simply log into your LEARN account and click on the course listed under Self-Registration. Check out other University events celebrating and commemorating Black History Month here.
February Wellness Bingo
Congrats to Gaby McInnis who won $50 to Gold Leaf Botanicals in last month’s Wellness Bingo draw. Organized by the Dean’s Advisory Committee on Health and Well-being, the game is open to everyone in the Faculty to promote healthy habits and behaviours. When you complete a line, send a picture to health.wellbeing@uwaterloo.ca to be entered for a monthly prize draw. You may also request an accessible version of the card. The February prize is a $50 gift card to Subway. Download the card here.
And the GRADflix finalists are...
The 2024 GRADflix competition finalists include three Faculty of Health students: SPHS PhD candidate Liza Boyar and master's student Kimberly D'Mello, and KHS PhD candidate Siyavash Izadi. If you'd like to witness the premier of their videos and the award ceremony, please register to attend the GRADflix Showcase on February 6.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Health Sciences conference abstracts: February 2
The aim of the student-led Research and Practice in Health Sciences conference is to expose current undergraduate and graduate students and postdoctoral fellows to a range of career paths within public health. Students from all University of Waterloo graduate programs are invited to submit abstracts for oral or poster presentations related to public health. For additional details or to submit your abstract, visit the event page.
Staebler Insurance Grant applications: February 4
A reminder for full-time instructors interested in applying to the Staebler Insurance OER Fellows Grant that applications are due February 4 by 11:59 p.m. Applicants will be informed of the decision on March 1.
NATO DIANA and IDEaS webinar: February 5
Faculty and staff are invited to a webinar with Philippe Hébert, director general of R&D Innovation for Defence Research and Development Canada to learn more about the Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security (IDEaS) program and NATO DIANA (Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic). Please register to receive a link to this February 5 webinar, which takes place from 9 to 10 a.m.
Ontario Summit for Students with Disabilities: February 10
The University's Disability Inclusion Steering Committee (DISCo) invites all students to register for the virtual, one-day Ontario Summit for Students with Disabilities on February 10. Listen to panel discussions with other university and college students, with opportunities to share your own story. Free to attend for all post-secondary students.
Wellness Week: February 12-16
All Faculty of Health students are invited to participate in Wellness Week from February 12 to 16. Each day, a health and well-being-focused event will be held on the first and second floors of the Expansion building from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., including making take-home wellness kits, rock and pot painting and more. No registration required.
Sparking and Sustaining Engagement: February 26
The Centre for Teaching Excellence is offering a Teaching and Learning Conference looking at the positive impact that co-designing, co-teaching and collaborating on a course has had for Drs. Diane Williams and Jennifer Yessis, instructors in the School of Public Health Sciences. Attend on February 26 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. to learn more about how this collaboration made for an exciting and engaging experience for the students, the instructors and their collaborators. Registration is required.
Antagonistic Responses to Health Research: February 27
Antagonistic Responses to Health Research in the Academy is a panel discussion featuring three faculty members from Health. Offered in person and online, it will take place February 27 from 3 to 4:25 p.m., exploring topics such as vaccine research during the pandemic, conducting research on highly politicized issues and more. A question-and-answer period will follow the presentation as well as a reception for those attending in person. Registration is required and available on the event page.
Alumni Office Hours panel discussion: February 28
The first Alumni Office Hours event this term will be a panel featuring an alum from each of our three academic units on February 28, online, from 12 to 1 p.m. If you're interested in learning about different career and educational paths in Health, check the Alumni Office Hours web page in the coming days for details.
Horizon Europe information: February 29
Faculty and staff are invited to an information session with Luigi Scarpa-de-Masellis, senior advisor, Economic and Commercial Affairs, Delegation of the European Union, for a discussion of extensive research funding opportunities and a chance to contribute to consortia undertaking globally important and impactful research. Please register to attend one of two sessions: 10 to 11 a.m. in person in the Enterprise Theatre, EC5 1111, or 2 to 3 p.m. online via MS Teams.
DID YOU KNOW?
Indigenous gathering space structure
You may have noticed some recent construction on the BMH Green. The Office of Indigenous Relations is working with an Indigenous design studio to create an Indigenous outdoor gathering space. The prominent structure is meant to make a statement and to provide a place to teach, celebrate and bring awareness about Indigenous peoples and cultural practices. Construction will continue to take place over the winter with anticipated completion in early spring 2024. For any questions, please contact indigenousrelations@uwaterloo.ca.
The Snack Pack continues
The Dean's Advisory Committee on Health and Well-being is continuing the Snack Pack program this term. Swing by the second-floor foyer in the Expansion building between 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on Wednesdays throughout the winter term to grab a snack. All Faculty of Health students welcome!
Do you have a news item to share? Please email it to Eugenia Xenos Anderson.