Daily Bulletin

What it costs to raise $200 million

"We engaged a firm yesterday to do the job for us," said Downey (left). "They'll give us a sense of how well we're prepared to mount a major campaign. After that, we'll set the goal."

He added: "The talk at the moment is about $200 million." That would be more than UW has collected in its three previous fund-raising campaigns put together: the Tenth Anniversary Fund (1967), the Watfund (1982), and Campaign Waterloo (1992). It would be roughly the same amount such institutions as Western and Queen's are currently trying to raise -- though far less than the $1 billion goal that the University of Toronto has in its sights.

Downey, backed up by development staff member Linda Kieswetter, gave the board a look at current planning for the campaign, with the tentative theme of "Building a Talent Trust for Canada". The idea, he said, is to tell potential donors that Waterloo is in "the business of liberating, refining, extracting talent", and needs money for "expanding, attracting and rewarding talent" and "creating a culture where talent will flourish".

"There's a very attractive list of proposals being prepared," he said. "We're trying now to rank-order these."

An important issue remains: how to pay for the campaign. On average, he said, "you need to spend 10 to 15 cents in order to raise a dollar." Does UW cover its fund-raising costs taking money away from other things in the operating budget? By slicing off a percentage of all the donations that come in? By banking the contributions for a year or two before they can be spent? A decision hasn't been made.

Nuggets from the board meeting

Plans for the new co-op building were approved by the board on Tuesday, despite a last lament for a mighty maple tree that will have to be removed. Here's the location: just east of Arts Lecture, accessible from the ring road.

As usual, much of the meeting consisted of reports from UW's top officials, who paused at intervals to take questions. Among the topics that came up as UW president David Johnston spoke:

Somebody asked whether UW has given any thought to spinning off a profit-making subsidiary, now that Ontario is open to private universities. "It's an idea that I've thought a lot about," he said. "I don't have a clear answer." More likely than a whole new organization, he went on, would be creation of particular new full-cost programs, like the existing graduate programs in taxation and management of technology. If such programs do come into existence, there must be "no financial barriers", Johnston added, suggesting that big ways to guarantee accessibility are a co-op structure (so students earn enough to pay their way) and scholarship funds.

A study of UW's economic impact on Kitchener-Waterloo should be finished by March, Johnston said. UW has hired PricewaterhouseCoopers to look at spending by the university itself and by students, staff and faculty, as well as the jobs and dollars that can be attributed to spinoff companies. The study will also look at some aspects of UW's social impact and other benefits to the local community, the president told the board.

UW is proud of its year-after-year rating as "best overall" university in Canada, according to Maclean's magazine, the president said. Not quite so wonderful is falling to third place among comprehensive universities in the magazine's actual numerical rankings. "There are some areas where it's quite embarrassing, frankly," said Johnston, pointing to UW's position on some Maclean's indicators: 8th (out of 11 institutions) in library holdings per student, 10th and 11th on two measures of class size, 11th in what's spent on student services.

The search for a new vice-president (university relations) is coming along well, Johnston said. "We are entering into the final stages." Plans are to hold a special meeting of the board, before its regularly scheduled April meeting, to approve the appointment of a new VP.

Attending her first meeting: Lynne Woolstencroft, recently elected mayor of Waterloo -- and spouse of Peter Woolstencroft, professor of political science, and also a board of governors member, representing faculty. Making the most dramatic entrance: Pamela Wallin, television personality and external board member, who's recovering from a complicated broken leg and getting around only with mechanical help. Speaking the most softly: a tie among president David Johnston, provost Alan George, and vice-president (administration and finance) Dennis Huber. (A new sound system for the Needles Hall board room is expected this spring, I'm happy to hear.)

Assault in Waterloo Park A woman was sexually assaulted at knifepoint in Waterloo Park, south of the campus, on Tuesday evening, police said yesterday. The incident happened about 8:20 p.m. Few details are available -- although there's a brief item on the front page of today's Record -- but UW police are advising people to "use caution". "Walk with a friend," suggests sergeant Wayne Shortt, "or call WalkSafe."

The talk of the campus

And on a similar theme: today is expected to see the release of a report from an Advisory Committee for Online Learning, appointed last fall by the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada, and chaired by Johnston.

A note from the registrar's office: "If you wish to transfer to architecture for the fall 2001 term, make sure you have completed an Application for Internal Transfer form, which can be obtained from the registrar's office, second floor, Needles Hall. Applications must be received by March 12."

A flyer is just out announcing the latest CD by the Conrad Grebel College Chapel Choir, under the title "Touched by Grace". CDs cost $15 from the music department at Grebel, phone 885-0220 ext. 226.

Coming March 2 and 3: the 29th annual Black Forest Coffee House at St. Paul's United College. "We are currently looking for the 30-40 acts that we feature each year," says Aly Valli at St. Paul's. "We are looking for bands, singers and talent performers of all types. We ask only for a recording of the performer's talent (CD, tape, MP3), which can be dropped off at St. Paul's business office. More information is available by e-mailing stpaulsblackforest@hotmail.com."

Perhaps you noticed the full-page ad in yesterday's Gazette inviting staff and faculty members to buy their hardware at the UW Computer Store and cover the cost through payroll deduction. That's a new option, as of February 1, says Jason MacIntyre of retail services: "Up until that time, it was necessary to write post-dated cheques for the duration of the lease-to-own period. Now, employees can have their computer payment deducted from their pay in the same way as United Way donations, Union/Staff/Faculty Association dues/fees, and parking fees. It's convenient, you don't incur the transaction fees associated with writing cheques, budgeting for a computer purchase is simplified, and the annual interest rate is considerably lower when you pay through payroll deduction. An introductory annual interest rate of 9% applies on system purchases made on or before July 31, 2001. After that time, the rate will increase to 10.5%."

What's happening at Waterloo

Brian Gill, chief information officer of Clarica, will speak at 1 p.m. in Davis Centre room 1302. Topic: "A Case Study in IT Staffing and Retention".

And from the other side of the personnel desk, the career development workshop series today gets to the topic of "Negotiating Job Offers", at 2:30 p.m. The career resource centre in Needles Hall has details.

As the snow and freezing rain start to fall, it's a good day for something tropical. Brubakers, the cafeteria in the Student Life Centre, will hold a luau party from 4 to 7 p.m., food services says. "The menu includes a selection of exotic salads, Polynesian Chicken or Big Island Shrimp served on a bed of rice, with vegetables. Luau fruit salad tops it off. The price is $8.49 per person."

The drama department's production of "totally durang-ed", five one-act plays by Christopher Durang, continues tonight through Saturday, and again February 14-17, in Studio 180, the studio theatre in the Humanities building. Showtime is 8 p.m.

Tomorrow through Sunday, it's "Iced in Black", a festival of "Canadian Black Experiences on Film", sponsored by the Waterloo Public Interest Research Group. Showings start with "Raising Kane", Friday at 7 p.m., followed by a break-dancing demonstration and a party and concert. More details tomorrow.

Advance note: the teaching resource office will hold a skills-based workshop on "Conflict Management for Instructors", next Tuesday at 12 noon. Information is available at ext. 3132.

The dean of arts, Bob Kerton, shows off the new logo for the faculty of arts -- unveiled with enthusiasm (right) at yesterday afternoon's "Distinctive and Distinguished" celebration in the Modern Languages building lobby. Arts, according to a news release, "is in the initial stages of an aggressive marketing strategy aimed at attracting Canada's best and brightest. This commemorative event will invoke a sense of identity for the faculty, creating a cohesive atmosphere internally and a sense of loyalty among current and incoming students."

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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