As we move into the end of the fall term, many of us are feeling fatigue and emotional strain that have accumulated since the beginning of the pandemic shutdown in mid-March. The realization that winter 2021 may be more of the same for remote teaching and learning might seem daunting. I hope that the postponement of classes by a week in January and the addition of two class-free days in March, as well as two “thank-you” days for staff, will help in a small way.
Although
it
may
not
feel
like
we
are
making
progress,
I
try
to
remind
myself
that
at
the
end
of
the
pandemic,
I
hope
to
look
back
and
recognize
accomplishments
for
the
better
that
may
not
have
occurred
were
it
not
for
the
challenges
currently
posed
on
us.
There
are
three
that
I
can
name.
The
first
is
a
sense
of
community
on
campus.
I
see
this
in
the
weekly,
sometimes
daily,
meetings
where
administrators
hear
and
try
to
respond
to
concerns
and
experiences
of
our
students,
staff
and
faculty.
The
policies
and
contingency
plans
developed
during
the
pandemic
will
serve
us
well
into
the
future.
A
second
observation
is
the
creativity
among
students,
staff
and
faculty
in
the
ways
that
we
have
been
connecting
using
social
media
platforms.
Peers
are
checking
in
on
each
other
through
creative
and
fun
ways,
which
heartens
me.
Finally,
we
have
adjusted
to
the
pandemic
in
ways
that
allow
us
to
continue
the
University’s
mission.
We
are
implementing
our
University
and
Faculty
strategic
plans,
and
we
even
have
a
president-designate
to
look
forward
to
next
July.
Dr.
Vivek
Goel,
a
public
health
physician
with
expertise
on
COVID-19,
is
a
welcome
and
timely
addition
to
the
University
of
Waterloo.
We
are
learning
so
much
as
the
months
unfold,
both
in
terms
of
this
virus,
and
how
adaptable
we
are
as
humans.
As
we
head
into
December,
the
days
may
get
shorter,
and
the
weather
colder,
but
I
hope
we
can
pause
to
‘zoom
out’
and
see
this
period
for
what
it
is:
a
difficult
experience
that
made
us
stronger
and
more
focused
about
what
matters.
Stay
safe,
everyone.
All
the
best,
Lili
Liu
AHS this month I Events I Tips and reminders
AHS THIS MONTH
New Faculty of Health logos and assets
Staff working in Dean's Office communications have access to the new Faculty of Health logos, as well as new co-branded department/Faculty logos. If you are preparing materials for the new year, please contact Eugenia Xenos Anderson or anyone in recruitment for the new assets. The University Brand website will be updated with them as well in late December. New Faculty e-letterhead and greeting cards have been ordered, and if you still use them, we suggest that you continue with your current AHS business cards until Fall 2021 so they are not wasted.
Future students continue to apply to AHS
Since we are in the middle of recruiting students who will begin in September 2021, the undergraduate recruitment team will continue to reach out to future students from the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, while the rest of us will begin to see the new name starting in January, and being implemented over several months. Once the admissions cycle is complete in June, the new cohort of prospective students – who will begin in September 2022 – will apply to the Faculty of Health. Here is a video the recruitment team produced for future students; they have a Faculty of Health version ready to roll for the next cycle!
What undergrads are doing post-university
Want to know where members of our undergraduate class of 2019 have landed? Every year, the Advancement and Recruitment teams collaborate to track down our recent graduates and share their pursuits on the graduation statistics website.
Share 10KC networking platform with students
Five months after its launch, the Ten Thousand Coffees (10KC) online networking platform is pacing well with 239 alumni members – that’s 1.6 per cent of the Faculty’s alumni base, which is a strong number compared to some other Faculties. Student membership totals 187, comprising 114 undergrads and 73 grad students. Help reach our goal of 300 alumni and 300 student members in our first year: Share 10KC with students and encourage them to join the AHS Hub. Faculty and staff who are AHS alumni are also welcome to sign up to connect with students and start inspiring career-related conversations with them. Register at 10KC and ensure that you turn ‘Introductions’ on when creating your profile to get matched monthly.
Speed Networking moves online
Speed Networking went virtual this year with a week of events connecting students with alumni for career-related discussions. Each academic unit hosted an evening involving three Speed Networking rounds lasting 15 minutes each. Across the three events, we had 17 alumni participate; many appreciated that the events still went ahead despite not being able to meet with students in person. Special thanks to Lowell Williamson and Trevor Bain for their IT support with the breakout rooms on Cisco WebEx. If you're interested in volunteering for future career-related events for students, please contact Karry Kwan, Alumni Advancement Officer.
Silver Green Office award for Dean's Office
The AHS Dean's Office received a silver Green Office award from the Sustainability Office this year at the seventh annual Eco Summit on Thursday, November 26. The award recognizes the efforts of staff and faculty in bringing about the change they want to see.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Please note that all in-person events have been cancelled or postponed until further notice.
Hallman Undergraduate Research Fellowships open: December 1
Faculty members are invited to check out the Hallman Undergraduate Research Fellowship award, which offers up to a maximum of $10,000 in funding for projects that both focus on health promotion and education and offer experiences to steward students toward graduate studies. For the spring 2021 term, approximately $50,000 in total will be available. The funding application form opens tomorrow, December 1. The deadline to apply is January 1, 2021.
Shaw-Mannell Lecture with Rasul Mowatt: December 4
You are invited to join the Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies' annual Shaw-Mannell Lecture, with guest speaker Rasul Mowatt from Indiana University Bloomington on December 4 from 1-2:30 p.m. Mowatt will be speaking on 'Geographies of Threat, Cities of Violence.'
Research Talks with Peter Hall: December 15
Peter Hall (SPHHS) will be one of the panelists on the next Research Talks series, hosted by the Office of Research. 'Mapping the Human Brain: A Closer Look at Cognition, Behaviour, and Degenerative Disease' takes place December 15 at 11:45 a.m. - 1:15 p.m. Please register on the Research Talks web page.
TIPS AND REMINDERS
Survey on global governance
Waterloo International is asking the University community to fill out an anonymous UN75 survey to gather your perspectives about the state of global governance on behalf of the United Nations. Your responses will help provide insight into how well we can handle pressing challenges like climate crisis, pandemics, inequalities, new forms of violence and rapid changes in technology. The deadline to participate is December 31. If you have any questions, please contact Aisha Shibli.
Do you have a news item to share? Please email it to Eugenia Xenos Anderson.