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Daily Bulletin

Jim Kalbfleisch caught the fresh air yesterday in one of his favourite spots. The provost has been known to read reports, or chat with colleagues, while enjoying a cigarette on the third-floor Needles Hall patio. Photo by Barb Hallett.

Provost to take early retirement

Kalbfleisch, who turned 60 last month, will take early retirement from UW in the new year. Provost since 1993, he was reappointed in 1998 to a term that would have run through June 2003.

He "has spent 14 consecutive years in administrative responsibilities at UW, the last eight of these as vice-president, academic and provost, during some of the most fiscally challenging years in the university's history," said a statement from president David Johnston and the chair of the board of governors, Paul Mitchell.

Before becoming provost July 1, 1993, Kalbfleisch was dean of mathematics (1986-1989) and then associate provost (academic affairs). He came to UW as a professor of statistics in 1964.

In yesterday's statement, Johnston spoke of the provost's "remarkable leadership, ability and commitment". Speaking later in the day, he added: "We will miss him enormously . . . we have a wonderful colleague here."

The president added that UW is a bit unusual in having a single official with the range of authority that Kalbfleisch has had -- covering responsibilities that at some universities would belong to separate vice-presidents for academic matters, administration, and finance. "It's a great tribute to Jim," said Johnston, "that he has carried out those responsibilities successfully."

When the job was created in 1987, the provost was described as "chief operating officer" of the university. Under presidents James Downey and now David Johnston, Kalbfleisch has drafted budgets and presented them to finance committees and the board of governors, met endlessly with staff and faculty leaders about policies and working relationships, prepared enrolment and construction plans and negotiated them with the Ontario government, chaired the weekly meetings of the deans' council, and made final decisions on a multitude of business and personnel issues.

"It is a very demanding job in terms of commitment of time and energy," Kalbfleisch pointed out yesterday in a conversation in his Needles Hall office. "It really has been a great place to work, and a wonderful experience. I've gotten to know wonderful people all across the organization. No one could have asked for a better set of colleagues to work with."

But, he told me, he's been thinking about departure for some time -- and he added that when he was reappointed, he had warned Downey that "I probably wouldn't serve the full second term. . . .

"There's never a good time to go," he said, but after 14 years, "I feel the need for a break." He said he is looking forward to a chance to get back to stained glass work (his long-time hobby) and enjoy music, bridge, and some travel that isn't just for business.

Johnston's announcement yesterday said that an acting vice-president will be named as of January 1, "in accordance with policy, so that the university may review the portfolio and begin the difficult task of seeking his successor."

UW plans fire research structure

Mechanical engineering professor Beth Weckman -- already well known for her research into combustion and fire-fighting -- leads the group that recently received $2.1 million from the Canada Foundation for Innovation and $2.1 million from the Ontario Innovation Trust for the project. Other professors involved are Allan Strong and Dave Johnson.

She said yesterday that it will cost about $2.7 million to erect the planned structure. It's part of a planned Region of Waterloo Emergency Services Training and Research Complex, adjacent to the regional landfill. Nearby will be separate structures used by local firefighters for their training.

The research facility is "a two-storey structure" more or less resembling a house, inside a larger, empty building with fans that can create controlled wind conditions. "The house will be a reusable structure," Weckman said, with steel walls that will survive fires, and a roof that can be altered in its shape for experiments. Sensors and other equipment costing at least another $1 million will be installed through the house to test temperature, smoke and other effects of a fire.

Using the same house repeatedly, and being able to control the environment, will do wonders for research about how fire spreads and how it can be controlled, Weckman said. Until now, researchers have had to do their tests where they could find an opportunity, and conditions would never be the same twice. "It takes years to get a data set!"

The facility will include a "clean" control room, with a viewing window facing the house inside the big enclosure. There will also be a laboratory for researchers from the applied health sciences faculty who are interested in the ergonomics of fire-fighting.

The CFI and OIT grants are conditional on an "operating plan" being submitted and approved, Weckman noted yesterday. And she and her colleagues are working hard on applications for operating funds, now that the money to build the structure itself seems assured.

This year's awards for volunteerism -- a memo from Catharine Scott, associate provost (human resources and student services)

Any member of the University or the community at-large may nominate a student. As well, because volunteer work often has a low profile, students are very much encouraged to apply directly for an award.

Once again, I ask that you make these awards known to deserving students and consider nominating some of our extraordinary volunteers yourself. Application/nomination forms are available at the Student Awards Office (Needles Hall 2001), the Graduate Studies Office (Needles Hall 3021), the Federation of Students (Student Life Centre 1102), and the Secretariat (Needles Hall 3060). Applications/nominations and reference forms must be returned to Dianne Scheifele, Secretariat, Needles Hall, by Friday, November 10, 2000.

The presentation of awards, followed by dinner, will be on Tuesday, December 5, beginning at 5:30 p.m., at the University Club.

If you have any questions do not hesitate to contact me at ext. 3186 [e-mail: cscott@uwaterloo.ca]. More information, including eligibility requirements, may also be obtained from Dianne Scheifele, Secretariat, ext. 3183 [e-mail: dscheif@uwaterloo.ca].

Here's what's happening today

The dean of math is in California for a brief visit, dropping in on corporate and individual "friends" of the university, and that's the occasion for a couple of Oktoberfest-themed events for UW alumni. A gathering in Silicon Valley is set for tonight, at the Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant in Palo Alto. Tomorrow night, the venue is the corresponding restaurant on Harrison Street in San Francisco.

Back on campus . . . two of the artists whose work is part of "(An)Other Canada", the current display in the East Campus Hall art gallery, will be giving a talk about their work this afternoon. Janet Anderson and Laura Millard will speak starting at 1:30 in ECH room 1219.

"New Directions and Career Opportunities in Health Informatics" is a session that will start at 3:00 this afternoon in the Clarica Auditorium in the Hallman Institute building (Matthews Hall west wing). "This seminar will be of special interest to AHS and CS senior undergraduates," says a memo from the Centre for Applied Health Research. The three speakers all come from Toronto-based University Health Network, an organization that "is on the cutting edge of new technologies and strategies for the paperless hospital", says CAHR.

At 3:30, the physics department presents a talk by Wesley Burghardt of Northwestern University: "In-situ X-ray Scattering Methods for Studying Polymer Structure Under Flow". He'll speak in Physics room 145.

At 4:00, the women's rugby Warriors host McMaster in a game on the north campus field.

Tomorrow morning brings the next in this fall's series of "Tourism, Environment & Community" lectures. Bill Gartner of the University of Minnesota will speak on"Tourism, Development Economics and Sustainable Development", at 9:30 a.m. in Environmental Studies I room 350.

And . . . "Could you mention," writes James Brice, manager of the University Club, "that we will be holding our annual Thanksgiving buffet luncheon this Friday. Seatings are available from 11:30 and 1:00. Reservations can be made by calling ext. 3801."

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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