Daily Bulletin

The bills for fall fees go out

A farewell I was sorry to learn that today's the last official day of employment at UW for Georgina Russell, long-time pillar of the Math Faculty Computing Facility. In fact, what with vacation time, she's been gone from campus since late June. "My husband I," she writes -- referring to Ron Russell, formerly UW's audio-visual director -- "will be spending the next few months enjoying our cottage on the Bruce Peninsula before heading to our new home in Mexico. In fact they're not only retiring to Mexico, they're working with Focus on Mexico to entice other retirees in that direction. The agency holds seminars across Ontario: "We'll be in Waterloo on August 16 and 17 at the Waterloo Inn," she writes. Hasta la vista. . . .

It warns that the fee payment deadline for the fall term is August 31. "Please make fee arrangements now -- cheques may be postdated up to and including September 7 but must be received by August 31." You can send payment by mail or leave it in any of four "express payment" boxes at Needles Hall, including a new one outside the main entrance facing the ring road.

Classes for the fall term will begin Monday, September 13.

Not many undergraduates who are on campus this term will be here again in the fall term, the way the co-op calendar works, although in special circumstances it could happen. Most continuing students who will show up after Labour Day, bright-eyed and eager for knowledge, are either co-op students now on work term, or "regular" students who have the spring term off from university-related pursuits.

And then there are the brand-new students entering first year in September. The latest count from the registrar's office, circulated yesterday, shows 4,559 "confirmations" for September. "As expected," said Peter Burroughs, the director of admissions, a few students who had earlier said they were coming to UW have changed their minds, "as other Ontario universities continue to make late offers of admission. However, this decline has been more than balanced" by non-Ontario students getting their confirmations in to UW.

The total is 112 per cent of UW's November 1 enrolment target -- in other words, every faculty will have more first-year students than it was bargaining for, Burroughs's figures show. The enrolment target was 4,060 full-time first year students.

A teaching award for students

The new award, presented for the first time this year, was initiated to recognize "excellence in teaching of all kinds by registered students." Among the criteria considered by the selection committee are "intellectual vigour and communication skills in the interpretation and presentation of subject matter," as well as "concern and sensitivity to the academic needs of the students."

A similar award has existed to honour meritorious faculty members since 1975. It was a student on the selection committee for that award, Veronica Chau, -- now Federation of Students vice-president (education) -- who suggested similar recognition be given to exceptional student teachers.

Last spring's awards went to Derek Chapman (management sciences and psychology), Duane Cronin (mechanical engineering), Dean Palmer (chemical engineering) (and William Rosehart, electrical and computer engineering). The winners each received a cheque for $500, a certificate, and acknowledgment at convocation ceremonies.

Sponsored by TRACE and the graduate studies office, the awards are open to all registered students with a formal teaching role at the university or church colleges. A selection committee chaired by the dean of graduate studies considers nominations.

Requirements call for nominations to "consist of detailed statements making the case for the award. A complete nomination consists of at least five signatures from present or past students of the nominee and from past and present faculty supervisors of the nominee. A minimum of three of the signatures must be present or past students."

Nominations should be sent to the dean of graduate studies in care of TRACE, which co-sponsors the award with the grad office. The deadline for nominations is the second Friday in February.

Athletes descend on Manitoba

Residences, the engineering building, the University Centre and the new nursing building are among facilities that have been fenced in for the past week to create the Athletes' Village across the centre of the campus. More than half the athletes will be housed on campus, fed there and provided with services that include Internet access.

The games run today through August 8, and U of M "returns to regular operations" on August 11, with enough memories to last a lifetime. Meanwhile, the university has issued many pages of special regulations about traffic, bicycles, "day passes" for students who need to visit offices that are inside the fence, and access to libraries.

More than 5,000 athletes from 42 countries are taking part in the Games, competing in 41 sports from baseball to taekwondo. Competition in several of the sports will actually take place at the campus. "Inline hockey" and "artistic roller skating" are scheduled for the university's Max Bell Centre Arena; basketball, volleyball and rhythmic gymnastics for the Investors Group Athletic Centre; and most track and field events at the U of M Stadium.

The Pan Am Games organizers have spent $1 million on upgrading U of M facilities, the university says. "The legacy of this refurbishing is one which will benefit students for many years." And a possibly even bigger benefit is the chance to expose the university to thousands of international visitors, "at a time when the U of M's international student recruitment campaign is looking more to our neighbours to the south".

Winnipeg is expecting 100,000 visitors for the Games, and estimated total spending of more than $400 million.

Ways that volunteers can help

• Children's driver (092-3088): "You can help children from Kosovo attend an art therapy program by volunteering an hour a week for the next two months. Volunteers with reliable cars and good driving records are needed to drive children to and from the program once or twice a week."
• National workshop marketer (70): "The Centre for Research and Education has an interesting position for a highly organized volunteer with good interpersonal skills. You will contact non-profit organizations across Canada to promote the workshops, help finalize the workshop flyer and contact organizations to host workshops. This is a short-term summer position."
• Bring the family to the Olympics (210-3027): "K-W and District Special Olympics are hosting an invitational Multi-Sports Fest on July 31st and August 1st. Volunteers of all ages will enjoy this fun-filled volunteer opportunity. Keep score, use a stopwatch to time events, help with registration or food distribution. This will be a great family day and a perfect chance for family members to volunteer together for a great cause."

And one other volunteer opportunity: Meredith McGinnis in UW's development office is connected with the Hospice of Waterloo Region and sends word that the Hospice wants help with "the Tim Horton's and Braun's Family Bicycle Ride", being held tomorrow as a fund-raiser for the Hospice. "This is a family bicycle ride through the new K-W Iron Horse Trail and community bike routes. We need about twenty more volunteers to help with marshalling, handing out refreshments and registration." Anybody interested can call 743-4114.

CAR

Editor of the Daily Bulletin: Chris Redmond
Information and Public Affairs, University of Waterloo
credmond@uwaterloo.ca | (519) 888-4567 ext. 3004
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