It only takes a quick glance at the news to tell you that we live in a time of uncertainty. And here at the School, we’re certainly not sheltered from the winds of change.
We, along with every other university and college in the province, have been impacted by the provincial government’s announcement of a 10% tuition cut that translates into a 4-5% cut in our operating budget. This is on top of existing financial restraints that, for years, have prevented us from replacing retired faculty or investing in much-needed equipment and infrastructure.
But despite the strain this burden puts on our students, staff and faculty, I continue to be impressed by their efforts to maintain the level of excellence for which our School is known.
Whether it’s in the exceptional OEBC pass rates our optometry students achieve, the recognition earned by our outstanding instructors or the innovative research that has attracted the attention of international funding bodies, our people continue to shine.
And right behind them, supporting their endeavours, are people like you—our alumni, colleagues and industry partners. Because of you, we’ve been able to create opportunities that wouldn’t otherwise be possible.
You helped us launch a virtual reality lab (featured in our last issue) that enhances our students’ clinical education. You equipped a new Dry Eye clinic that will provide patients with an unprecedented level of care. And when we asked for your assistance in increasing the number of domestic clerkship sites, you responded with enthusiasm.
Now, as we face increasing financial pressures, your support is more important than ever. Please consider contributing to the School as we seek to create the Waterloo Eye Institute.
Through this campaign, we hope to transform optometric education and research at the University of Waterloo. Your gift will help to advance vision care across the country by ensuring that we train optometrists to the highest scope of practice in North America. And we’ll complement this goal through innovative research that influences both policy and health care delivery.
Despite the uncertainty of our current situation, I believe that, together, we can weather the storm. We look forward to welcoming you to our CE Weekend in June and to continued collaboration in the future.
Sincerely,
Stanley Woo, OD, MS, MBA, FAAO
Director
