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Collaboration Includes Creation of Cisco Research Chair, to Further Smart Grid Research

TORONTO and WATERLOO, ON--(Marketwire – November 1, 2012) - The University of Waterloo and Cisco today announced an agreement to establish a Cisco Research Chair in Smart Grid, which will promote, support, and lead research, development and innovation within the use of technologies and solutions for smart power grids.

“The businesses we accept into the Accelerator Program are already off the ground. What we do here is get them up to full throttle so they can soar into the clouds,” says Tim Ellis, the Accelerator Centre’s CEO.

On the afternoon of October 25, following an accident in uptown Waterloo, German exchange student Amelie Limberger passed away.

On behalf of the University of Waterloo, I extend our deepest condolences to Amelie’s family, friends and colleagues. Our entire university community is shocked and profoundly saddened by this loss.

TORONTO, Ont. (Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2012) – The recession hit Canadians harder than economic numbers such as GDP have indicated and the decline in our wellbeing continues despite subsequent economic recovery, says the Honourable Roy Romanow, advisory board co-chair for the Canadian Index of Wellbeing (CIW), housed in the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences at the University of Waterloo.

WATERLOO, Ont. (Saturday, Oct. 20, 2012) – More than 1,900 students crossed the stage at the University of Waterloo’s 105^th Convocation this week. There were 1,170 undergraduate degrees and 769 graduate degrees handed out at ceremonies taking place over two days, ending today.

Among the highlights:

There were 660 master's degrees and 109 doctoral degrees conferred.

Waterloo presented four honorary degrees, recognized three distinguished professors emeriti and two people became honorary members of the university.

When the university integrated social media into the convocation ceremonies for the first time in June, it did so quietly, unsure what the response would be like from students and parents.  But 2,000 congratulatory tweets and one marriage proposal later, it was clear that the CONVO-sation, as it was dubbed, had taken on a life of its own.

This fall marks University of Waterloo’s 105^th convocation. Convocation is an opportunity for members of the University and guests to gather and celebrate the achievements of our graduates, as well as the accomplishments of those receiving honorary degrees and awards.  Honorary degrees are awarded to those who have been designated by the Senate (the university’s governing body) as deserving a special honor.

Students graduating at the 105^th convocation on Oct 19 and 20, will be the newest members to join Waterloo’s increasingly global club of alumni. From Albania to Zambia, Waterloo’s 160,000 grads currently live in 144 countries around the world, and with each new convocation ceremony the number continues to grow.

Convocation is a ceremony of ancient traditions and weighty symbols.

Once graduating students have entered the ceremony, faculty members enter walking two by two, followed by university officials, all in their academic finery. Near the end of the procession, a selected faculty member will carry the Mace, a traditional symbol of the university’s authority.

WATERLOO, Ont. (Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2012) - The University of Waterloo Stratford Campus marks a historic occasion today with the grand opening of its new building that will house programs designed to support the confluence of art, business and technology for the next generation of innovators. Leaders from the university, partners from government and industry, and students will all participate in the opening ceremony at 11 a.m. today.