Fantastic Alumni, Faculty & Staff Day recap

by Jennifer Bentley, Alumni Relations.

The 16th annual Fantastic Alumni, Faculty and Staff Day took place on Saturday, February 21. The day was a great success with 600 spectators in the stands cheering on the Warriors men’s and women’s basketball teams as they took on the Western Mustangs. Along with the basketball games, the festivities included the Alumni vs. Staff Monster Hoops showdown, and the annual paper airplane toss, where additional airplane purchases raised $275 towards KidSport KW.

Airplane toss winners included:

• Alumnus Gary Duguay, (BASc ’84) who won a Niagara Getaway for 2;
• Sydney Coolman, child of A Waterloo staff member, who won a family weekend at Fern Resort;
• Tibor Vezsenyi, child of UWaterloo staff member, who won an Ultimate Camping Package;
• Hayden Barnes, child of alumnus Everton Barnes (BMATH ’94), who won Raptors Tickets with a $100 Boston Pizza Giftcard; and
• Future alumnus Trent Stover who won a Sonos and Bose Wireless Speaker Bundle
  
  

For a full recap of the day watch the video, visit the event Storify, and visit the UWaterloo Alumni Facebook for photos. We hope to see you next year!

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A new approach to new student transition

A message from the Student Success Office.

Transition programs for incoming first-year undergraduate students are changing this summer, giving students a chance to receive targeted information before they begin classes.

The Student Success Office (SSO) has been reviewing its transition initiatives to ensure programming remains student-focused and responsive to students’ needs. Student Life 101 (SL101) moved from a one-day event to a two-day, experiential overnight program in 2011. Low and declining participation in the two-day overnight program has prompted the decision that Student Life 101 will no longer be offered as a two-day overnight experience this summer.

Instead, the SSO will continue to work closely with Faculty and campus partners to ensure we're targeting student needs and delivering the right message, at the right time. Some Faculties will focus on hosting a one-day summer program. Others will focus on streamlining communications to ensure their students are receiving targeted information that helps their transition to Waterloo.

“We look forward to continuing our conversations with campus partners about what students need during their transition,” said Heather Westmorland, associate director, student transition and learning services. “There are many units on campus who have a key role to play in student transition and we value their expertise and support as we move forward.”

An important factor in determining first-year student readiness and preparedness involves early exposure to UWaterloo and its services. Initiatives for 2015 will focus on providing ‘just enough, just in time’ information to students delivered in multiple ways, including targeted and coordinated communications, on-campus activities and online resources.

Details are still being finalized and the support and patience of the campus community is appreciated as this new model for transition is introduced. Connect with Heather Westmorland if you are interested in being part of the discussion or have any questions.

View our frequently asked questions update to learn more.

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Grand Commons opens its doors

by Jane Kolb.

On Thursday, February 26, the Department of Housing and Residences celebrated the opening of the new student lounge space at UW Place, the Grand Commons. The department received support from campus partners, students living in the UW Place community, Plant Operations, Food Services, Walter Fedy, along with many others.

“The new Grand Commons community space was a huge hit with the students as soon as the doors opened in January and it’s a great demonstration of the learning environment we create for students living in residence,” said Glen Weppler, Director of Housing.

The Grand Commons is now open for student use, and the Food Services location is open 4:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., Monday to Thursday, and 11:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Fridays.

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Women's Centre holds bra and panty drive

This is the latest in a series of #UWCommunity stories that feature Waterloo in the community.

Imagine being female, living on the street or in a shelter, with no access to menstrual products or clean undergarments.

Sadly, this is a real problem that many girls and women in this predicament face. Although most shelters receive loads of donated hygiene products and articles of clothing, female-specific essentials remain scarce. Consequently, women residing in these conditions often have to make do or go without.

Upon learning of this issue, the Women’s Centre spearheaded a drive to collect bras, panties, menstrual products, and other necessities for YWCA Mary’s Place: a safe shelter for women and transgendered persons located in Kitchener. By the end of fall term, they were able to collect three boxes full of new undergarments and hygienic products for this important local refuge.

Riding the success, the Women’s Centre continues to collect bras, panties, and menstrual products, and if these items cannot be provided, they will also accept basic hygiene products, pillows, blankets, towels, and bus tickets. All of these essentials can significantly impact the lives of individuals living in these circumstances.

If you would like to contribute or have any questions about the drive, visit the Women’s Centre in the SLC (room 2101). The Women’s Centre hopes to sustain the positive tradition of supporting women’s shelters throughout future terms.

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Nutrition "Myth vs. Facts" return, other notes

March is Nutrition Month, and for the fourth year in a row the Daily Bulletin will be publishing a daily nutrition "myth vs. fact" provided by Health Services dietician Sandra Ace, who has put together the month's worth of tips based on questions she gets asked regularly and nutrition-related topics that have been in the media recently.

"This year’s campaign, “Eating 9 to 5!” is about eating healthy while at work, but can also be expanded to “while at work or school,”" writes Sandra Ace. "On our campus and in many other settings, not everyone is working during the day, but the message is still the same: get inspired to challenge the nutrition pitfalls that many busy people face by finding easy solutions provided by Registered Dietitians. As always, I am available during this month for questions or comments from Daily Bulletin readers."

Here's the first myth vs. fact to get the ball rolling:

Myth: Mornings are too rushed to include breakfast.

Fact: Focus on quick breakfast ideas that you can prepare the night before. When you miss your morning meal, you’ll definitely increase your risk of morning brain drain and by mid-morning are far more likely to find yourself in the line-up at the nearest coffee and donut spot or the vending machine down the hall. While 40 per cent of Canadians skip breakfast, including this regularly is a habit also linked to a healthier weight, improved appetite control and a better intake of many important nutrients and fibre.

Try a make ahead parfait  or overnight oatmeal by layering oats, yogurt, nuts or seeds and fresh or frozen fruit in a sealed, reusable jar. Breakfast is ready to eat when you wake up or as a grab and go meal to take to work or school.

The School of Architecture will be hosting a book launch event today at the Bridge Pop-Up Storefront at 60 Main Street for two Waterloo architecture professors who are launching their latest publications.

Terri Meyer Boake has two new books entitled "Diagrid Structures: Systems, Connections, Details" and "Architecturally Exposed Structural Steel: Specifications, Connections, Details," and Robert Jan van Pelt will be launching "Lodz and Getto Litzmannstadt: Promised Land and Croaking Hole of Europe." There will be a reception and each author will introduce their works.

Beginning today, Aecon Construction will be installing a connecting gas line between the Mike and Ophelia Lazaridis Quantum-Nano Centre and the Student Life Centre. While there will be no interruption to gas service, the pathway will be closed for a period of time while the work is carried out. Following this project, they will be working on the Ring Road close to M lot. Some lane restrictions will be in force, but a flagperson will be on the scene to direct traffic when necessary.

Human Resources is reporting that retired staff member Eugene Hanusch died on January 18. Eugene began his employment at Waterloo in October 1978. He was a Custodian in Village One of the UW Residences and retired in July 1994. He is survived by his spouse, Alma.

Retired staff member Anne Farthing died February 19. Anne began working at the University in April 1983. She was the Medical Secretary in Health Services. Farthing retired in July 1996 under the Special Early Retirement Program. She was predeceased by her spouse, Paul.

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