![[UW shield]](https://uwaterloo.ca/images/UWlogo.GIF)
Here's a release being issued today by the UW news bureau:
The University of Waterloo has been informed by the Ontario Ministry of Education and Training that previously promised funding for its proposed Centre for Environmental Science and Engineering cannot be accommodated within the ministry's severely reduced capital budget and has been put off for possible consideration in 1999-2000.The $25.2 million in government funds for the six-storey building, to provide 13,880 square metres of teaching and research space in fields such as water quality and supply, was originally promised as part of a jobsOntario program by then Premier Bob Rae when he visited the campus in 1994.
"As you are aware, the government has made addressing the province's financial situation a high priority. As such, the ministry has been reviewing all postsecondary capital commitments in order to meet the new fiscal framework," said David Trick, assistant deputy minister, Postsecondary Education Division, in a letter to UW president James Downey.
"Future funding will depend on the continued need for the project, other postsecondary needs, and the availability of funds," Trick said.
The CESE remains a priority for the university, said Downey. He added that the university, region and province clearly need a facility of this nature to boost environmental research, facilitate development of innovative environmental technologies and foster local economic growth.
"Naturally we're disappointed that the funds will not be made available at this time, but we are aware of the fiscal pressures facing the government," said Downey. "We remain optimistic, however, that as the government's financial picture improves we will be able to proceed with a project that will enable us to achieve our goals."
"Waterloo's expertise in environmental science and engineering is recognized across the country and around the world, and we intend to maintain our position of strength in this important area of research and study regardless of when a new facility actually comes on stream," Downey added.
Downey said a group of UW officials, including David Burns, dean of engineering, John Thompson, dean of science and Jim Kalbfleisch, vice-president academic and provost, will undertake an immediate review of the options available to UW.
He stressed fundraising for the CESE will continue under new conditions and targets which will be communicated to all current and potential donors.
"Our need for such a facility, with its additional teaching and research space, is still very clearly with us, and we will work with our partners -- alumni, industry, government and private donors -- to realize our goal of creating a world-class environmental science and engineering centre here," Downey said.
UW continues to have far more applicants than it can accept for its programs across six faculties -- Applied Health Sciences, Arts, Engineering, Environmental Studies, Independent Studies, Mathematics and Science.
UW's first-year enrolment target for this September, approximately 3,750 new students, has been met or exceeded in some programs. Demand for environmental science and engineering programs remains strong, with more applicants for environmental engineering (co-op civil and co-op chemical) and both co-op and non-co-op environmental science programs than UW has room for. UW's undergraduate enrolment is about 15,500 students and total enrolment, including part-time and graduate students, is about 23,000.
Starting this week, visitors to UW will encounter a new parking system at lots H, B1 and M.Visitors will be required to deposit $10 on entry into any of these lots, says Elaine Koolstra, manager of parking services. The $10 deposit is equivalent to the maximum daily charge at visitor lots where the hourly rate is $2.
When the visitor leaves, the kiosk operator will refund a portion of the parking charge or, if the maximum has been reached, issue a receipt. If a visitor comes in around noon or later, the deposit charge will decrease according to the maximum possible based on the hours remaining Q until 4 p.m., when the lot will convert to a straight $2-per-entry fee.
If one of the UW departments is paying for the visitor's parking, it can validate the parking printout and the deposit will be refunded.
Also, Koolstra says the lots will shortly have machines that will accept MasterCard, Visa and Interac for anyone wanting to pay by credit or debit card.
These are changes from the existing system of paying as you leave a lot. Koolstra says the university was losing a lot of revenue because many people were staying later than the kiosk attendant, and then choosing to ignore the envelope placed on the windshield asking them to drive to the security office to pay the accumulated parking charge.
In another change, Koolstra says the parking office will have new hours of operation. It's now open Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. She notes that "UW police are open 24 hours a day and they provide backup for us outside our normal business hours."
Orientation activities today include a "Magical Mystery Tour" in mathematics, Village 1 games and barbecue, several scavenger hunts, and a "Bible belt bash" for most church college students this evening.
Special orientation activities for international students are taking place today and tomorrow in the Student Life Centre. New students from outside Canada can sign up at the international student office in Needles Hall.
Teaching Development Days are under way in the Davis Centre, with a panel at 9 this morning on "Technology and the Learning Environment", starring the director of teaching resources, Gary Griffin, and the associate provost (information systems and technology), Jay Black. Among events later today: course home-page demonstrations and the annual panel on "Balancing Teaching, Research and Personal Lives". Several departments will have tabletop displays of what they offer in support of teaching and learning. Donna Ellis in the teaching resource office says that Information Systems and Technology "is going to show an extensive program of skill development computing courses and a collection of on-line training materials; support for special projects to integrate multimedia technologies into teaching and learning; course administration facilities such as class lists, marks management, and marks submissions; facilities for testing and tutorials; and facilities for creating CDs".
"They're all very rich," says Frank Muia, owner of the Chameleon hair salon and spa in the King and University street area. "Especially when their student loans come through." Muia says it's not unusual to see students come in for $50 massages, aromatherapy sessions and, of course, their bimonthly haircuts. "That's passe," he says of the perception that students must struggle to make ends meet."
CAR
| Editor of the Daily Bulletin: Chris Redmond -- credmond@watserv1.uwaterloo.ca Information and Public Affairs, University of Waterloo (519) 888-4567 ext. 3004 Comments to the editor | About the Bulletin Yesterday's Bulletin |