July 3, 2002

Wednesday, July 3, 2002

First figures on fall co-op jobs
Hot events on a sultry day
This week's staff positions
The talk of the campus

Editor:
Chris Redmond
credmond@uwaterloo.ca

[Red posts mark the site]
The rolling emptiness of the north campus will start to fill up shortly, as earth-moving equipment gets to work on the first stages of the planned research and technology park. "This is an historic day for the University of Waterloo as we look toward the future of our institution and our country," said David Johnston, UW's president, at the June 25 groundbreaking celebrations. Ken Seiling, Chair of Waterloo Region, added: "Turning the sod is the first concrete step in making the park a reality. With Sybase, our first tenant signed on, we are now on the way to seeing a great new project emerge in Waterloo Region." Photo by Barbara Elve.

First figures on fall co-op jobs

There's a drop from last year in the number of students who are safely assigned to fall term co-op jobs, according to figures provided yesterday by the co-op and career services department.

As of June 24, 3,696 co-op students were scheduled to be on a work term for September through December, says Olaf Naese of CECS. As a result of the computer match for the initial phase of interviews (which ended June 14), 1,296 students achieved employment.

Combined with the students who are returning to previous employers or who have arranged their own jobs, 62.72 per cent of all co-op students (except those in architecture) scheduled to be on a work term now have employment. Last year at the same time the figure was 71.95 per cent.

Says Naese: "The significant difference between this year's results and those of last year reflects how many fewer jobs were available and is a blunt demonstration that the economy is still shaky when it comes to jobs for students.

"As has been the case for the past few terms, however, students in Engineering and Math have the greatest challenge." He said 83 per cent of the students who do not yet have fall work term employment are from those faculties.

"For the 1,378 students who are still without employment, the Continuous Phase should give them additional opportunities. Job postings began on June 20 and will conclude on July 16. Employer interviews will resume this week."

As for architecture students, "Initial Phase results were posted late last week and had not been calculated as part of the figures I am reporting to you today. Of the 85 students in Architecture scheduled to be on a work term, 62.3 per cent have employment. There are 32 Architecture students who still require a work term for September-December 2002."

[Plush costumes on a hot day]
King Warrior, mascot of UW's athletics department, got together the other day with Sparky the Dragon to promote the Ontario Summer Games, taking place July 18-21 in Kitchener-Waterloo.

Hot events on a sultry day

Hot links

Information about heat stress

What is heat?

Urban heat islands

Heat and aggression

The sky sits on us like a wet woollen blanket, the smog advisories continue for at least one more day, and wouldn't it be great to be a T-shirted kid without a worry in the world? Engineering Science Quest kicks off the first week of camp with a ribbon-cutting gala today to commemorate ESQ's 11th season of inspiring children about science and technology. "We offer a program like no other," claims ESQ director Bill Baer. "Our innovative and hands-on activities inspire a passion for learning in our campers." Through various programs, ESQ reaches nearly 10,000 children, parents and teachers every year, and it's expecting more than 2,600 participants in this year's summer camps on UW's campus. Today's ribbon-cutting is scheduled for 12:30 at the Peter Russell Rock Garden (between Math and Computer and the biology buildings), then comes a short scientific experiment run by some of the children from last year's camps, and finally there's a reception.

A couple more career development seminars are scheduled for this week: "Career Research Package" at 2:30 today, and "The Work Finding Package" at the same hour tomorrow. The career resource centre on the first floor of Needles Hall has more information and a sign-up sheet.

The Graduate Student Association is holding Games Night tonight, starting at 8:00, in the Campus Cove on the lower level of the Student Life Centre. Angela Garabet, vice-president (student affairs) of the GSA, promises "four hours of unlimited games, limited pizza", and the price is right: free for GSA members and children under 10, $7 for others. "Just show up at the Cove."

There's a session at 11:00 this morning, in Dana Porter Library room 329, sponsored by the Centre for Learning and Teaching Through Technology and aimed at library staff: "Diane Salter and Les Richards of LT3 will present an overview of the T-5 model and how faculty are incorporating online activities using this model. The librarians have expressed an interest in learning more about T-5 so that they can support and work with faculty in developing online activities using library resources."

Coming tomorrow: Tom Carey, associate vice-president (learning resources and innovation), gives what's billed as "his first public presentation since his move to the office of AVP", in tandem with graduate student Antonia Palmer. Their show, "Case Studies as Interactive Narrative", is scheduled for 11:00 Thursday, also in Dana Porter Library room 329. Carey and Palmer say they'll present "a view of the evolution of case studies into case stories". Carey will discuss three specific examples from banking to institutions to intra-university; Palmer will discuss the evolution from other learning mechanisms and the advantages, the challenges and the future of case stories. RSVPs go to Peter Goldsworthy at ext. 7008, e-mail peter@LT3.

This week's staff positions -- from the human resources department

University Policy 18 provides maximum opportunity for promotion of regular, internal staff members. Those interested in applying for an available position are invited to call Human Resources at ext. 2524 for more information or are welcome to visit during regular working hours to view a detailed job description. Human Resources is located in the General Services Complex, Room 130. A current resume is required with your application. You may e-mail resumes to: hrresume@uwaterloo.ca.

This list is also available for view on the Human Resources Website.

Due to the number of applications received, we regret that we can not respond to external applicants who apply to the vacancies listed below unless an interview is scheduled. This job list becomes effective Wednesday, July 3, and should be removed on Tuesday, July 9.

For non-union staff vacancies only, if there are no qualified internal applications, a decision may be made, no earlier than seven working days from the job posting, to seek external candidates. All applications received after this decision will be treated on an equal basis, without consideration of the internal status of the candidate.

Borden Site Co-ordinator, Earth Sciences, USG 6: BSc in Earth Sciences, BES or equivalent is required. Extensive experience in field-based research. Experience with groundwater sampling, field analyses is essential; experience with trace organic analyses in groundwater is preferred. Some experience organizing contractor services and dealing with site owners is required. Excellent organizational, interpersonal and communication skills. Willingness to travel. This position is contingent on funding.
Receptionist, Electrical & Computer Engineering, USG 3: High school graduate or equivalent with several years' receptionist experience, preferably in an academic environment. Proficient computer skills using Microsoft Word, Excel, File Maker Pro, Synchronize and email. Excellent communication (oral and written), interpersonal, and organizational skills. Proven aptitude for attention to detail and accuracy, ability to manage multi-tasking and to work independently and as a team member in a fast paced environment.
Campus Recreation Co-ordinator, Instructional Programs, Clubs, and Accessibility Programs, Athletics & Recreational Services, USG 7: University degree in Recreation or in a related field essential. Proven experience with UW Campus Recreation programming in clubs and instruction. Demonstrated student supervisory experience. Proven experience with financial management. Familiarly with accessibility issues an asset. Strong computer skills with common computer software. Excellent organizational, interpersonal and communication skills (oral and written). Must be able to work independently and as part of a team.
Campus Recreation Co-ordinator, Special Events and Programs, Athletics & Recreational Services, USG 6/7: University degree in Recreation or in a related field essential. Familiarly with Campus Recreation programming and special events management experience. Highly energetic with the ability to work independently as well as in a team environment. Excellent communication (both written and oral), interpersonal and organizational skills. Strong computer skills with common computer software.

The university welcomes and encourages applications from the designated employment equity groups: visible minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and aboriginal people. For more information call ext. 2524.

The talk of the campus

Sorry, your majesty: in yesterday's Daily Bulletin I said July 2, 1953 -- the day Gerry Hagey became president of Waterloo College -- had been coronation day. In fact, as a couple of readers promptly pointed out, Queen Elizabeth II was crowned June 2, 1953, not July 2.

Here's a provocative paragraph from the June issue of the newsletter issued by UW's mature student services office: "Rumour has it that the Registrar's Office is planning to eliminate the hard copy version of the Undergraduate Calendar to cut down on costs. Would this present a hardship for you? Or do you think this a timely move? We'd like to hear your views on the topic." The newsletter is aimed at older, mostly part-time students who perhaps don't have the same level of computer access as those who are on campus more often. UW registrar Ken Lavigne responds: "I floated the notion of no hard copy calendar at a recent meeting of Undergraduate Operations Committee. There was unanimous opposition to this step at this point. I resolved to conduct some research on the usability of the web calendar and the current hard copy calendar and report at a future meeting. There is, therefore, no plan to eliminate the hard copy calendar this year."

Speaking of the undergraduate calendar: it used to include, but it no longer does, an extensive list of UW officers and administrators, which many people found a handy reference. A list based on that one, with some updating, has been prepared by the information and public affairs office -- with thanks to the university secretariat for doing most of the work -- and is now available on the web. If you use it often, you could bookmark it, or you can always find it by searching on "administration" from the UW home page.

Approved by UW's senate at the June meeting: "Beginning in September 2003, the first work term will occur in Year Two Winter for Kinesiology and Health Studies Co-op students, reducing the number of work terms required to five. Rationale: Many co-op students in Kinesiology and Health Studies have difficulty finding appropriate work placements for the Spring term following their 1B term due to competition for summer jobs from students in regular plans. This problem is well understood at UW, and has resulted in the first work term being placed in the Winter term of the second year in many academic units: Environmental Studies, all but Honours Applied Studies Co-op in Arts, all Science plans (except Bioinformatics), Math Accounting and Recreation & Leisure Studies in Applied Health Sciences. Repositioning the first work term will ensure less competition for jobs and employers will benefit from having students with an additional term of academic experience. This change will reduce the number of work terms by one. Students will continue to be admitted as co-op but would not pay co-op fees in their first year. Students will be strongly encouraged to seek summer employment relevant to their plan of study."

When you donate to the Keystone Campaign, "UW wins and you can win, too!" Says a memo from the campaign committee: "Each month, approximately 15 Keystone Campaign donors' names will be drawn for a prize. By donating to the Keystone Campaign, UW wins and you'll have a chance of winning prizes such as restaurant gift certificates, books, travel, personal service, care rental, theatre tickets and so much more. Our Campaign goal is $4.5 million by 2007 and every donation moves us closer to Building a Talent Trust." Staff, faculty and retirees can contribute to the Keystone Campaign online or by calling ext. 5422. Monthly winners' names will be announced in the Gazette, starting July 24.

The French studies department is in search of a native-speaking francophone full-time student to work as a second language monitor in the department's first and second year language courses during the academic year 2002-03. For 10 hours of work a week as a conversation class monitor the student will receive a salary of $2,000 per term. The position is funded by the federal government's Second language Monitor Programme. Anybody interested should call Fran Gris in the French studies department, ext. 5132, or e-mail fgris@uwaterloo.ca.

CAR

TODAY IN UW HISTORY
July 3, 1957: Waterloo College Associate Faculties offers its first classes, to 75 engineering students.