Colleagues,
I am sure you have all been waiting with bated breath to get back to strategic planning, so I am delighted to let you know that the next consultation exercise starts this week. Check your inbox for a link to a survey we are asking you to complete so we can begin to prioritize the Faculty's goals and objectives for the years 2020-25. It will be open until Friday, February 8. Subsequently, the Advisory Committee on Strategic Planning will review these responses, as well as those from the October 10 University-led meeting. At that point, we will set up other consultation methods to gauge feedback on various themes and ideas.
As faculty, staff and graduate students of this Faculty, I urge you to share your thoughts on the direction we wish to take in the coming years.
Best,
Paul
Paul Stolee, PhD
Professor and Interim Dean
Faculty of Applied Health Sciences
AHS this month I Events I Tips for you
AHS THIS MONTH
UW MATES program comes to AHS
Please let your students know that MATES (Mentor Assistance Through Education and Support), a popular one-to-one peer support program, is starting office hours in AHS this term. MATES provides counselling-based services to students who need to talk to someone about their school work, social difficulties or transition challenges, and is run by FEDS and Counselling Services. Drop-ins at the Faculty are available between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Fridays in BMH 2219. Students may also email MATES to make appointments here or in the main locations. This initiative is brought to you by the AHS Advisory Committee on Health and Well-being.
New advisory committee to consult on Propel
Richard Staines, Associate Dean, Research, is heading an advisory committee to conduct consultations and prepare a report and recommendations for the Propel Centre for Population Health Impact. Propel, a Faculty-based, Senate-approved research centre, will see a phasing out of Canadian Cancer Society funding by the end of this month, and is up for Senate renewal early next year. The executive director is also approaching the completion of two terms. The committee includes John Thompson, representing research administration at the University, academics from each of the three AHS units, and AHS Executive Officer Katherine Marshall. The report will identify priority areas for future research, and make recommendations for financial viability and organizational structure, as well as outline plans for the engagement of faculty researchers. This work is expected to be done by March.
A GRADflix winner from AHS
Siyavash Izadi is an MSc Kinesiology student who won the People's Choice award and came in third in the University of Waterloo's GRADflix competition, which sees grad students from across campus showcase their research in a 60-second video for prizes. Siyavash studies motion sickness to determine when and how individuals get sick. See his winning video, Virtuality of Motion Sickness, on YouTube.
TA Awards for Fall 2018 announced
The AHS Teaching Assistant Awards for Fall 2018 were awarded to three graduate students from the Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies: Karen Thompson, Allie Serota and Brooke Gibbons. The Teaching Fellows team would like to congratulate these students and thank the faculty members who nominated their TAs. The Fellows encourage everyone to continue nominating outstanding TAs; there are three awards given across the Faculty every term. The details and nomination form can be found on the Teaching Awards website.
Nomination deadlines for CTE awards coming up
The Centre for Teaching Excellence is accepting nominations for the Distinguished Teacher Award and the Amit and Meena Chakma Award for Exceptional Teaching by a Student. The deadlines are February 1 and February 8, respectively. Both awards promote excellent teaching.
More funding through LITE Seed Grants
The Centre for Teaching Excellence’s LITE Seed Grants can help you investigate small-scale teaching and learning research projects and attend activities to develop your instructional skills. Previously awarding up to $5,000 in funding, LITE Seed Grants now fund up to $7,500 for one-year projects. Read more about the recent changes and application process on the LITE Seed Grants web page.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Bell Let's Talk: January 30
The AHS Advisory Committee on Health and Well-being would like to invite you to the AHS Expansion Foyer from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. to join the Bell Let's Talk conversation. Take a photo for social media in support of mental health initiatives and grab a snack and refreshments while you're there. If you can’t make it out to the booth, watch the Bell video that we'll post on the AHS Facebook page (Bell donates 5 cents per view), or post messages on Twitter using both #BellLetsTalk and #AHSWellbeing. For every tweet using both of these hashtags, the Dean’s Office will match Bell’s contribution, with funds going to future AHS health and well-being initiatives.
SoAR Winter Speed Networking: February 7
Through a series of accelerated and structured contacts, graduate students in aging-related fields will have the opportunity to speak with professors who are researchers in the area on February 7 between 3 to 6 p.m. Brought to you by the Symposium on Aging Research (SoAR), in partnership with the Network for Aging Research (NAR) and the Canadian Gerontology Association. Please register on the Network for Aging Research website by January 30.
Grade 10 Family Night: February 21
Grade 10 may seem young to be thinking about university, but in fact, it's a good, low-stress way to plan ahead. This year, the fair will take place at 6 p.m. in the Arts Hub, and presentations begin in Hagey Hall at 7 p.m. Let any Grade 10 families know that they can register to attend or watch the webcast at Grade 10 Family Night. Also on the recruitment horizon: March Break Open House, an event for prospective students who have applied to our programs, will take place March 9.
Conducting research with the Waterloo Region School Boards: February 21
If you’re planning to conduct research with the Waterloo Region District School Board or the Waterloo Catholic District School Board, consider attending an information session on Thursday, February 21 at 10 a.m. in EC5 3167. Learn about the School Board application process, including procedures for applying and helpful advice for completing an application, important dates and how to plan effectively to meet deadlines. To register, please visit the Research website.
Writing Great Test Questions: February 27
The next Teaching Fellows Monthly Meet-up will be held on Wednesday, February 27, 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m., in BMH 1016. This session will explore how to write great test questions in a variety of formats. Lunch will be served. Look for your Outlook invitation.
TIPS FOR YOU
Ditch plastic straws
Many restaurants are phasing out plastic straws to prevent them from ending up in the ocean and whale bellies. Save sea creatures by getting reusable straws, like these stainless steel straws, which even come with a cleaning brush.
Be well at work
The Heart and Stroke website suggests some strategies we can use to help manage stress at work, based on whether we have two, 10 or 30 minutes to spare. They range from stretching at your desk to tackling something big.
Do you have a wellness tip (or a news item) to share? Please email it to Eugenia Xenos Anderson.