Blog

The University Pension Plan (UPP) is a multi-employer pension plan built for the post-secondary sector. The University is in the early stages of exploring possible conversion to UPP. Our role is to keep you informed and share key information as this exploration proceeds and so that you can make an informed decision if the process moves forward. Here’s what we think you should know.

The Staff Spotlight series shines a light on the support systems that help staff at the University of Waterloo thrive.

In this Spotlight, we meet Alyssa Doyle, who works in Community Relations and Events, where she helps plan and deliver events across campus—including convocation. We spoke with her about what goes into events behind the scenes, why convocation matters, and why staff volunteers keep coming back. 

The Staff Spotlight series shines a light on the support systems that help staff at the University of Waterloo thrive.

Gladwyn Badger is the Events and Special Projects Coordinator in the Office of Indigenous Relations. We spoke with him about his role, community, and what meaningful engagement looks like at UW. 

We’ve been getting a lot of questions lately about the functional reviews, in particular the outcomes of the functional review implementation teams (FRITs) and what’s coming next for staff. We don’t have much in the way of new information to share right now, but we want to be transparent about what we’re hearing from you and what we’re continuing to raise with the University.

The Staff Spotlight series shines a light on the support systems that help staff at the University of Waterloo thrive.

With elections of staff to the Board of Governors open now, we’re kicking off this series with Nancy Heide, a current staff governor, to help you learn more about the role of the Board of Governors and the staff representatives on the Board. 

Last week, Waterloo leaders spoke to employees about the University’s budget situation and what to expect in the coming year. As your representative, it’s our responsibility to ensure staff receive clear and timely information, and to advocate for transparency and compassion. We are focused not just on what decisions are made, but how they are made and experienced by staff, especially with the understandable anxiety around job security and organizational change given the scale of the financial challenges the University is facing.

With that in mind, we’ve put together a summary of what we learned at the forum and what it means for staff.

As part of our “What Your Colleagues Want You to Know” series, we asked members under 30 what they want coworkers to know about their day-to-day reality at work—because the assumptions we carry about our own generation and others can quietly shape our workplace culture. 

Consider how these perspectives might shape your interactions—not just with younger colleagues, but with everyone you work with. Sometimes, understanding one generation better helps us build a more inclusive and empathetic workplace for all.

As part of our “What Your Colleagues Want You to Know” series, we asked members who are caregivers—whether for children, parents, or someone else—what they want coworkers to know about their day-to-day reality and how we can help. Members described their experiences of emotional and physical exhaustion, being misunderstood by colleagues, and feelings of isolation and overwhelm. They’re looking for a supportive work environment that acknowledges their challenges, offers grace and understanding, and provides practical support such as hybrid work options.

We heard from staff with a wide range of chronic illnesses, physical disabilities, neurotypes, and mental health struggles for our second post in this series featuring members’ own experiences and words.

Upon joining the University of Waterloo last year, I was pleasantly impressed with how the university’s new values, Think Differently, Act with Purpose and Work Together resonate with my perceptions of Ubuntu. Thinking differently, acting with purpose and working together are essential pillars in the Ubuntu philosophy, and I hope sharing my perspective on Ubuntu can enhance our shared understanding of these values.