Dear faculty, staff and graduate students,
To address the multi-year operating budget deficit (6 per cent this year: 4 per cent ongoing, 2 per cent one-time), Faculties are examining approaches to contain expenses and strategies to generate revenue while we face ongoing constraints imposed by the provincial government, such as tuition freezes. One topic being discussed is the impact of interdivisional teaching.
Interdivisional teaching recognizes that Faculties do not provide 100 per cent of teaching registered in their programs. While student choice is a strong driver, curriculum and course choices should be guided by what makes sense for students’ overall academic programs. Currently, interdivisional undergraduate teaching is measured in credit-weighted courses taught; sharing is based on actual teaching activity of the prior completed year at a rate of $507 net per student. While our revenue from offering courses to students outside of Health has not changed since 2021-22, our cost for students taking courses outside of Health has increased to $5.4 million in 2023-24, resulting in a net expense of more than $4 million.
The Faculty of Health has the largest proportion of students taking courses from other Faculties, at 38 per cent. A change in this proportion has an impact on other Faculties. The leaders of the three academic units are currently examining strategies to mitigate the rising costs of undergraduate interdivisional teaching. Possible strategies include:
- Increase course offerings to students outside of Health
- Reduce the proportion of required or elective courses in other Faculties
Resources required to teach more courses within our Faculty can be realized with the additional funds from keeping course instruction in-house for more of our own students and those outside of our Faculty. The discussion has just begun, but tweaking our proportion of interdivisional teaching might be one way we contain our expenses going forward.
Best,
Lili Liu
News I Events I Did you know?
NEWS
Funding spotlight: Dr. John Hirdes
Dr. John Hirdes (Public Health Sciences) is to receive $863,519 in funding from the Government of Canada as part of a larger $2.38 million grant to Lakehead University for their shared project: Improving Access and Facilitating System Change for Palliative Care Among Underserved Populations. The project seeks to improve access to palliative care in underserved groups, including adults 85 and over, persons with dementia and those with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Dean's Office staff changes
Vivienne Hang began her transition into the role of Undergraduate Recruitment Coordinator on May 21. Hang will be in this position for the next 15 months while Clare Stevens is on parental leave. Stevens' last day will be June 14. Rochelle DeSouza will be joining the Faculty of Health on July 2 for a one-year contract as Student Relations Officer while Josh Edmondstone is away on secondment with the Student Success Office.
You @ Waterloo Day recap
Almost 2,000 admitted students were welcomed to the Physical Activity Complex on May 25 for the annual You @ Waterloo Day. Despite the rainy weather, 200 prospective students toured our buildings and heard from current students, staff and faculty about what a great community they would be joining here in the Faculty of Health. Thank you to the volunteers who helped welcome them.
New peer review and group evaluation tool
The University has implemented a new peer review and group evaluation tool, peerScholar. The University has also obtained a one-year enterprise license to pilot the polling tool, Vevox. For questions about either of these tools, please reach out to Natalie Chow and refer to the latest CTE Liaison Newsletter for additional information on teaching and learning initiatives.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Alumni Reunion: May 31 and June 1
There is still time to register for the Alumni Reunion event happening on campus May 31 and June 1. For details and information about registration, visit Waterloo's Alumni Reunion 2024 event page.
Building Inclusive Workplaces: June 5
Waterloo's Work-Learn Institute invites you to an educational online event called Building Inclusive Workplaces for 2SLGBTQIA+ students, exploring how employers can foster workplace inclusion for Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning (2SLGBTQIA+) co-op students. To attend this event on June 5 from 1 to 2 p.m., register on the Work-Learn Institute's events page: The future-ready workforce series: Building inclusive workplaces for 2SLGBTQIA+ students.
Cognitive Load Theory for Instructional Design: June 6
Cognitive Load Theory (CLT) is a framework in educational psychology for understanding how the limited capacity of working memory affects learners' ability to process and store information. The Centre for Teaching Excellence invites instructors to attend an interactive CLT workshop on June 6 from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. in person at MC 2036. Please register through the Cognitive Load Theory for Instructional Design event page.
Hallman Lecture with Rick Hansen: June 10
Join us for the next Hallman Lecture featuring athlete and disability advocate Rick Hansen on June 10 at 7 p.m. in EXP 1689, or via livestream. Hansen shares his vision and inspires audiences to join his journey to create an accessible, healthy and inclusive world, where people of all abilities can fully participate and contribute. To register, please visit the Hallman Lecture event page: In motion towards building an inclusive and healthy world without barriers.
Faculty of Health Convocation: June 11
The Faculty of Health spring convocation ceremony will take place on June 11 at 2:30 p.m. with a reception on the BMH Green at 4:30 p.m. Disability advocate Rick Hansen, recipient of an Honorary Doctorate from the Faculty of Health, will be present for the reception. Please join us to celebrate our students, and keep your eye out for other convocation stories and highlights, including:
- Margaret Burnett and Tina Roberts to be recognized as Honorary Members of the University
- Claudia Heeney (KHS) to receive the President's Award of Excellence, awarded to the top graduating student in the Faculty of Health, based on highest GPA
- Simon Friesen (KHS) to receive the Alumni Gold Medal, awarded to the next top graduating student in the Faculty of Health
- Emma Juracic (KHS) to receive the Governor General's Gold Medal for the highest standing in a doctoral program
- Chloe Eve McLeod (KHS) named Governor General's Gold Medal finalist in a master's program
- Claudia Heeney (KHS), Kaitlin Muzio (SPHS) and Nathan Boctor (RLS) to receive the Highest Academic Achievement Award in their departments
- Katie Szajbely (SPHS) to speak as the Class of 2024 valedictorian
Blood Donation Drive: June 12
Offered by the Faculty's Committee on Health and Well-being, in partnership with Blood Services Canada, students, faculty and staff are invited to donate blood on June 12. Free transportation will be available from campus between 2:20 and 3:30 p.m. For details on how to register and to book a donation time, visit the Faculty of Health's Blood Drive - Spring 2024 event page.
Pride music bingo: June 20
Come out to play music bingo with Faculty of Health students, staff and faculty members in honour of Pride Month on June 20 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the Student Life Centre Black and Gold Room. Enjoy refreshments, learn about resources available to Waterloo students and learn about musicians who work within the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. If you have any questions, please contact Health Student Relations.
Exploring Turnitin’s AI detection tool: June 21
Instructors are invited to attend an online workshop facilitated through the Centre for Teaching Excellence on exploring Turnitin’s artificial intelligence detection tool, offered June 21 from 9 to 10:30 a.m. The online session will introduce the basics of how to use the AI detector, the pros and cons of such a tool and case examples to highlight how some departments and programs are using it. To register, visit the Exploring Turnitin’s Artificial Intelligence detection tool event web page.
Recommitment Ceremony: June 21
Please join Dean Lili Liu and Indigenous Knowledge Keeper Elder Myeengun Henry for this year's Recommitment Ceremony on June 21 from 10 to 11:30 a.m., starting in the EXP Lobby. There will be a smudging ceremony, songs, an invitation and response to commitment and a fire, weather permitting. Light refreshments to follow. For additional details or questions, please email Health Events.
From Targeting in Academia to Promoting Trust and Understanding: June 27 and 28
This in-person conference focuses on responding to antagonistic and intimidating reactions to academic research, and features scholars from within and outside of Canada from a variety of fields. All are welcome and encouraged to attend. For additional details, keynote speakers, registration links and agenda, visit the Office of the Vice-President, Academic and Provost event page.
DID YOU KNOW?
Spring term Wellness Bingo is available
Wellness Bingo, offered by the Dean’s Advisory Committee on Health and Well-being, will now be released once per term instead of each month. Everyone in the Faculty is encouraged to participate in an effort 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 spring term prize is a $50 gift card to SportChek! Download the spring term bingo card here.
Teaching and learning monthly newsletter
Natalie Chow, CTE Faculty Liaison for Health, puts together a monthly newsletter for the Health teaching and learning community. The newsletters often include information related to upcoming events, grant opportunities, edtech and timely resources. If you are not already subscribed and would like to receive the newsletters, please use the CTE Mailchimp subscription link.
Do you have a news item to share? Please email it to Jenna Braun.