Welcome to Shad Waterloo!
We’re excited to have you join our Unplugged campus program, where you’ll meet 53 other Shads who will all be looking forward to the personal engagement that comes from being completely present with those around you. Those folks, and your Shad Waterloo staff, are all knowledgeable, interesting, and keen to share their experiences with you. Shad is all about creating spaces where you can challenge yourself to grow, and Shad Unplugged is just another way in which we’re doing that. We think it’s awesome that you’re excited and committed to the Shad Unplugged experience and looking forward to building an amazing community together that could last a lifetime!
We know you, your friends, and your family will have questions about how this will work. We’ve tried to anticipate those questions below, but if you don’t see an answer to your question:
- Don’t hesitate to email it to shadprogram@waterloo.shad.ca and we’ll respond and add it here for others
- Tune in to our live Campus Q&A, Saturday May 11th at 2pm ET (don’t worry, we’ll send you a reminder and a link!)
Your commitment to Unplugged is really important to community building at Shad Waterloo, so please read all the questions below so that everyone’s on the same page.
Is Shad Unplugged a complete break from technology for the month?
Definitely not! Technology is a critical tool for research, creation, and problem-solving, and will be an important part of Shad. Shad Unplugged is more about a philosophy–being present and intentional about connecting with those around you–than it is about what you’re bringing or leaving behind. We will definitely use technology at times and in ways that are appropriate and don’t distract from building those connections.
What technology can I bring?
We encourage you to bring a laptop or tablet if you have one, and to let us know if you don’t. Having one of these will be useful (but not necessary) over the course of the month. If you have a phone, please travel with it so that you have it if needed while in transit. Please leave your smart watch, gaming consoles and PCs at home.
So if it’s not all about disconnecting from technology, why single out smartphones and smart watches?
Since you checked the “unplugged” box on your Shad application, you probably already understand the ways in which these devices can get in the way of being present in the moment. Portable, always-with-us devices in particular tempt us in the small breaks: after a meal, in a class break, in transitional moments walking from class to residence, or in downtime when you could be meeting new people. We know that studies show detrimental effects on mental health, and increasing feelings of isolation and loneliness despite being connected to our online communities.
So, it’s less about “technology is evil,” and more about removing the temptation to whip out the phone instead of engaging with someone new or just observing the trees and the birds. For more reading on this, check out this article as a starting point (there’s lots more online!).
How will I get by without my friends, family, and support group?
First, they will still be there for you, and you will still be able to communicate with them. Your back-home communities are important to you, and we understand that. We also have our own back-home communities that we miss, and who miss us!
We also know from years of experience building Shad communities, that social media and the instant communication to back home networks can be an easy distraction from meeting new people and forging new bonds of friendship. Your month at Shad is a rich opportunity to extend your networks. We hope you take full advantage of that, and we promise your friends and family will still be there for you!
How will I communicate with my family during the program?
When you arrive at Shad, we’ll swap your smartphone for a basic phone. Your existing SIM card will work in this phone, so your phone number will stay the same for calls and texting with family and friends. The phone will also have a clock, alarm, and camera. We’ll send you more detailed information on all this closer to the program start.
What’s the last thing I need to do?
Please make sure you’ve read all the above questions carefully, then, complete the form below. Welcome to Shad Waterloo!