As part of the decision-making process, senior leaders consider moral duties, legal implications and scientific evidence, as well as the decisions made by local, regional, provincial and federal political and public health leaders.
Throughout this process, there is constant consultation, almost daily at times. As deans, we bring to the discussions the many strong voices of our Faculties, which also have representation through student, staff and faculty associations. This collegial governance includes the Board of Governors and Senate. As seats become available on associations, Board and Senate, please consider nominating people who want to contribute meaningfully.
Urgent decision-making during COVID has been a complex process of balancing many competing interests. Most of our senior leadership meetings over the past two years have been spent trying to understand the needs of our campus and making decisions that prioritize the health and safety of our community, as well as ways to help students and employees thrive. Even then, senior leadership may not appear to get everything right. The important thing is to be kind while we iterate our way through this pandemic.
Lili Liu
This month I Events I Tips and reminders
THIS MONTH
Elder Myeengun Henry joins Faculty
The Faculty of Health is pleased to announce that Elder Myeengun Henry has begun his role as Indigenous Knowledge Keeper for a two-year period. He will provide strategic leadership to the Faculty and collaborate with the Indigenous Relations office, as well as members the Health community. Elder Henry is a former Chief of Chippewas of the Thames First Nation and was most recently manager of Indigenous Services and professor of Indigenous Studies at Conestoga College.
Distinguished careers recognized
Richard Hughson (Kinesiology and Health Sciences) and Mark Havitz (Recreation and Leisure Studies) both recently received the title of Distinguished Professor Emeritus in recognition of their distinguished careers. Hughson was recognized for his leadership and influence in cardiovascular physiology, and Havitz for his leadership and influence in the field of leisure studies.
Call for nominations for alumni awards
Do you know outstanding alumni? We need your help in identifying nominees for the annual Young Alumni Award and the Alumni Achievement Award. Complete the nomination form by April 30 if you have someone in mind, or connect with Jenn Bentley if you have questions about the process or need help with your nomination.
Funding spotlight: Scott Leatherdale
COMPASS, the research group led by researcher Scott Leatherdale in the School of Public Health Sciences, has received more than $2.55 million over five years in renewal funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). The project will allow researchers to continue evaluating the ongoing impact that COVID-19 restrictions have had on youth substance use and mental health.
Recycle your disposable masks
The Faculty of Health buildings now have PPE recycling boxes in key areas, thanks to funding from AHSEF, the Faculty's Endowment Fund for students. The boxes can be found in the third-floor hallway of the Expansion building, the Anatomy Lab, the Expansion foyer, the second-floor hallway of BMH, outside the Manulife Wellness Centre and in the Toby Jenkins Building. Disposable masks, including N95 masks, can simply be dropped into these boxes, as well as other PPE. Cloth masks, regular recyclable items and garbage are not accepted. Please contact Marie Tsai if you have questions.
Embedding EDI into your grant writing: March 1
Register for a session on how to embed EDI best practices into grant applications and research activities on Tuesday, March 1, from 1 to 2 p.m. The online session is open to all Waterloo faculty and graduate students and is intended to provide an opportunity for participants to actively engage and ask questions to the panelists. It is hosted by the Office of Research.
Pivot-RP training: March 8 and April 7
Pivot-RP training sessions are planned for March 8 (administrative staff) and April 7 (faculty and grad students). Register for training, access resources and read about this new searchable database of research funding opportunities for Waterloo researchers (including how to set to set up an account/claim your profile) on the Pivot-RP web page.
Health of Canadians in a Changing Climate: March 9
Dean Lili Liu will be moderating a panel discussion at Health of Canadians in a Changing Climate, an IC3 event based on Health Canada's latest national report. Several experts from the Faculty will be participating, including Craig Janes, Zahid Butt and Hannah Tait Neufeld.
Women's Health Panel: March 10
Registration is open for the Faculty's Women's Health Panel, titled Be resilient. Be healthy, which takes place March 10 online at noon. The workshop will showcase strategies for managing stress, burnout and improving your mental and physical health.
GARLS Symposium call for abstracts: March 11
Recreation and Leisure Studies grad students who would like to participate in the Graduate Association of Recreation and Leisure Studies (GARLS) Symposium are encouraged to contact garls.symposium@uwaterloo.ca for details on how to submit an abstract of your completed or in-progress research. The deadline for submission is Friday, March 11.
Alumni Office Hours: March 15-16
The Alumni Office Hour Event Series features alumni from various fields as they host small group sessions with students and give them an opportunity to grow their networks and expand their awareness of career opportunities. March events feature a naturopathic doctor from Fairfield Health and Wellness, an event manager at Ada Support, and a project manager at Universal Health Network. Spread the word to your students!
Grad Class Send-off: March 29
Help celebrate our graduating students at the annual Grad Class Send-off event on March 29 from 5 to 7 p.m. This year, both online and in-person (Fed Hall) options are available. For more information, visit the Grad Class Send-off page.
Disclosure of intellectual property due: March 31
Disclosure of Intellectual Property (IP) and commercialization activity is an annual requirement for researchers and it’s important to complete the Electronic IP and Commercialization Activity Disclosure form by March 31. More information is available on the Policy 73 web page.
TIPS AND REMINDERS
Have you taken the graduate student survey?
Master's and doctoral students are encouraged to tell us about your student experience in the 2022 CGPSS survey. Past results have been used to make improvements to the ways in which you are supported. Look for the invitation to participate in your uwaterloo.ca mailbox from Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs (GSPA). The survey is open until April 29.
Safety monitors patrolling the buildings
The University's Safety Office has been training safety monitors to patrol our buildings to ensure people are eating food in the proper places and wearing masks when not actively consuming food or beverages. They are wearing yellow vests and one of their main goals is to educate students and others about the use of distancing and masks. Weekday hours will be from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. with additional focus on the lunchtime hours and from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 to 7 p.m. on weekends.
Starbucks not opening this term
Due to staffing challenges, Food Services will not be opening Starbucks or FRSH in the Expansion building during the winter term, and we have not yet heard about spring term. For a list of food outlets that are open on campus, please see Food Services.
Do you have a news item to share? Please email it to Eugenia Xenos Anderson.