Dean's Update - January 2025

Dean Lili Liu

Dear faculty, staff and graduate students,

Like other Ontario universities, the University of Waterloo is affected by ongoing restrictions of domestic tuition income in addition to increased limits on international enrolment. After the domestic tuition cut in 2019-20, tuition for Ontario students has been frozen and we anticipate this to continue for the foreseeable future with the current provincial government.

While we can increase tuition fees for international students, these increases have been modest, and we have not been increasing them for research-based graduate students.

Last year, the federal government restricted the number of international students allowed to be admitted to undergraduate programs in post-secondary institutions. This year, the restriction includes graduate programs. These policies have resulted in a 23 per cent drop in international applications in Ontario. Based on strong demand for UWaterloo programs, the University has been enrolling above the corridor for which we are funded by the provincial government. This means that, as a university, we have been underfunded for the students beyond this corridor. These factors have contributed to a $75 million deficit in 2024-25. This deficit is projected to continue in the next fiscal year.
 
In light of the reality that “No one is coming to save us,” as Alex Usher communicated in a recent Executive Council meeting, the University is developing a three-year plan to balance the budget. One way to help address the deficit is through reduction in salary expenses, as we are seeing with the hiring freeze.

Faculties across campus are considering strategies like the reduction of electives, right-sizing class sizes and teaching to loads assigned at time of appointment. Please watch for a survey coming to staff and faculty inviting ideas and suggestions on ways to address our deficit. I will be working closely with the chairs and director to make decisions that align with the campus direction, while ensuring that we continue to thrive and deliver strong programs to our undergraduate and graduate students.



Best,
Lili Liu

News I Events I Did you know?


NEWS

King Charles III Coronation Medal recipients

Elder Myeengun Henry received a prestigious King Charles III Coronation Medal in the Community category recently for his outstanding contributions. Kinesiology alum and Citizenship Judge Albert Wong (BSc '80) also received a King Charles medal from the Honourable Ontario Lieutenant General Edith Dumont. The medal was created to commemorate the coronation of King Charles III on May 6, 2023. More recipients will be announced in the coming weeks.

New faculty member in Public Health Sciences

Dr. Hao Luo

Dr. Hao Luo has joined the School of Public Health Sciences as an assistant professor. She earned a PhD in Statistics from Uppsala University in Sweden and her research leverages large-scale electronic medical records to answer critical clinical and policy questions in aging and mental health. Welcome!

Call for submissions for Black History Month

The Dean's Advisory Committee on EDI-AR has begun a project titled Echoes of Identity, celebrating heritage months. For Black History Month, we invite you to share something meaningful to you related to the topic, such as aquote or excerpt from a Black author, activist, scholar, abrief reflection or memory of a historical event, figure, or movement that has shaped Black history, or an image or artwork by February 11. We will share these on the digital screens in the Health buildings. Please find the details on the Echoes of Identity web page.


UPCOMING EVENTS AND DEADLINES

Amit and Meena Chakma Award nominations: Due February 7

Please consider nominating an outstanding student instructor for the Amit and Meena Chakma Award for Exceptional Teaching by a Student. Up to four students receive approximately $1,000 if chosen by the selection committee. Nominations are due Friday, February 7 by 4:30 p.m.

GRADflix video submission deadline: February 4

Movie-style clapboard

This year's GRADflix showcase is taking place on February 4 from 3 to 5:30 p.m. in Federation Hall. The research communication competition showcases 60-second videos from graduate students before the winners are announced. Come support our Faculty finalists: Adebusola Adekoya (SPHS), Alessandro Adorante (KHS), Karen Hock (SPHS) and Vladyslav Shein (SPHS). Everyone is welcome!

Friesen Prize Lecture with Dr. Gordon Guyatt: February 5

Dr. Gordon Guyatt

Everyone is invited to attend the Friesen Prize Lecture, a public event featuring Dr. Gordon Guyatt, recipient of the 2024 Henry G. Friesen International Prize in Health Research. Guyatt will present The Past, Present and Future of Evidence-based Medicine on February 5 at 1 p.m. The event also includes a panel discussion at 11 a.m. where Guyatt will engage with Waterloo researchers to examine the role of evidence in health decision-making. You may also join him at a Meet and Greet at 2:30 p.m. Please register to attend any or all of the sessions as seating is limited.

Students with disabilities summit: February 8

Student portraits with cc, sign language and other accessibility symbols.

The Ontario Summit for Students with Disabilities is a free event for students that aims to create space for diverse perspectives of disability via a series of moderated panels. It is co-sponsored by the Universities of Waterloo, McMaster, Trent and Western. Please register in advance.

Instructional Skills Workshop: February 19-21

The Centre for Teaching Excellence (CTE) is offering an Instructional Skills Workshop to support the teaching reflection and growth of both new and experienced instructors using an intensive, collaborative and experiential learning model. Please register in advance for the in-person workshop that takes place February 19 to 21, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Faculty of Health Book Club: February 24

The Skin We're In book cover.

Join us to discuss The Skin We’re In by Desmond Cole at the next Faculty of Health Book Club on February 24 at noon. See the Faculty of Health Book Club web page for this term's books and dates or to join the Book Club mailing list. Note that you can join in person in BMH 1048 or by Teams.

OER Fellows grant applications: Due February 24

If you are planning to apply for a Staebler Insurance Open Educational Resources (OER) Fellows Grant, note thatthe deadline is February 24. The project period is May 1, 2025 to April 30, 2026 and instructors receive up to $5,000 to compensate for time or to buy software needed to develop the proposed resource.

Enhancing accessibility workshop: February 26

Enhancing Accessibility in Teaching and Learning Series #2: Accessibility and Teaching Effectiveness will show how accessibility practices are connected to Waterloo’s Framework for Teaching Effectiveness. No familiarity with the Framework is needed for this session. It takes place online on Wednesday, February 26, 1 to 2 p.m. Registration is not required.

Leveraging AI in public health lecture: February 28

Join the School of Public Health Sciences and the Centre for Bioengineering and Biotechnology (CBB) for Leveraging Generative AI Chatbots in Public Health Communication, a lecture presented by Dr. Steven Rebellato (PhD '12, Public Health and Health Systems), vice-president of the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit. He will explore how generative AI chatbots are revolutionizing public health. Please register for the event on the CBB site.


DID YOU KNOW?

Global Futures sneak peek

Global Futures report cover.

The University's Global Futures report launched this week. Several Faculty of Health members are featured and will be promoted on social media in March: Dr. John Hirdes (SPHS), Dr. Michael Barnett-Cowan (KHS) and the Digital Oral Histories team with Arts and Engineering, as well as Vanier Scholar and PhD candidate Amy Nahwegahbow (SPHS). Let Eugenia Xenos Anderson know if you'd like a hard copy of the report.

Do you have a news item to share? Please email it to Eugenia Xenos Anderson.