![[University of Waterloo]](/goldbar.gif)
| Friday |
Monday, July 7, 2003
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Editor: Chris Redmond credmond@uwaterloo.ca |
"It may be wise for people to work at home," said Anne Harris, administrative officer in the dean of arts office, after speaking with health and safety officers and touring the building herself this morning. "The area is quite acrid, and fumes have permeated throughout the building in varying degrees."
All classes scheduled to be held in Hagey Hall today have been relocated to other sites on campus. Students are asked to contact their departments for details.
According to UW police sergeant Wayne Shortt, the fire alarm sounded at 3:20 a.m. today. It appears to have been started with papers piled in front of the pop machine. Smoke damage to the building is still being assessed.
The pitter-patter of campers' feetLittle people will be all over campus today, as the first sessions of Arts Computer Experience get going. Engineering Science Quest had its first sessions last week.UW's soon-to-be first-year students can select their classes on the Quest web site, today through July 26 (but not this Friday, when Quest will be down for an upgrade). Upper-year students have already had a crack at fall course selection, and the "open enrolment" period will start July 28. A sign-up sheet is available now for the blood donor clinic that will be held in the Student Life Centre July 14-22. More information is available at the turnkey desk or phone (888) 2-DONATE. |
It says any students with possible exposure to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome and the key fever and or respiratory symptoms "will not be permitted entrance and will be referred to area hospitals for assessment."
But the statement makes clear that the danger of SARS at UW is remote: "There have never been local cases of SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) in the City of Waterloo, the Region of Waterloo or at the University of Waterloo. Our University community and campus remain safe places for our 23,000 students, and 3,000 professors and staff.
"However, in order to safeguard our students, staff, faculty and the surrounding community, the University of Waterloo proactively works in partnership with the Waterloo Region Public Health unit to strive for the highest of community health standards. The university, through its health care professionals (10 doctors and seven nurses) and a special committee, continues to closely monitor the international SARS situation and consults regularly with regional and provincial health officials for updates and advice.
"UW continually monitors the status of SARS abroad, and in Toronto, where it has been confined to a few hospitals. According to latest reports, Toronto has been removed from the WHO list of SARS affected areas. Overall, UW's excellent and modern Health Services department, staffed by professional nurses and doctors, is continually working to ensure that reasonable measures and precautions are being followed as UW prepares for another school term this fall.
"For SARS information only call 519 888-4567 ext. 3544; for the Health Services regular telephone menu, call 888-4096. . . .
"Based on current public health advice, UW plans to continue the regular schedule of all activities such as classes and examinations. Faculty, staff, students, and campus visitors are advised to review the public health advisories on the Ontario Ministry of Health website, confine themselves to home, consult with Telehealth or a physician, and to not participate in activities if they meet any of the criteria for self-quarantine.
"UW health staff recommend that everyone on campus follow basic common sense hygiene procedures, especially washing hands thoroughly and frequently. This procedure is also recommended by all health authorities as the single most important method to prevent any type of infection, including common colds and flus. With the WHO declaration that Toronto is SARS-free, people heading to Toronto for academic reasons, business meetings, or co-op work terms are being advised to continue to follow basic procedures outlined by health officials, and to monitor recommendations for avoiding potential SARS exposure sites."
As of June 20, says Olaf Naese of CECS, 3,511 co-op students were scheduled to be on a work term for September-December. Last week, Initial Interview Phase computer match results were announced for all programs except Architecture.
Naese says 2,123 co-op students were listed with jobs, representing a 63.3 per cent employment rate. Last year at the same time the percentage employed was 62.7.
He says: "Finding work term employment continues to be a challenge for our co-op students and for CECS. An economic market turnaround has still not taken place, and we believe the situation will remain the same for at least two to three more terms.
"For the 1,289 students who are still without employment, the Continuous Interview Phase is providing additional opportunities. Job postings began on June 20 and will conclude on July 16.
"As we have witnessed over the past few terms, it has become the norm for a large number of co-op students to find employment very late in the term, i.e., close to the start of or within the first month of their work term."
Results for the architecture students who are seeking fall term jobs should be available this week. "There are 83 students in Architecture scheduled to be on a fall work term," says Naese, noting that 16.9% already have a job lined up, leaving 69 engaged in the employer interview process.
The government requires "that the University include the tuition reduction as a taxable benefit to the individual employee", says a memo explaining the change, issued by Trenny Canning of the university secretariat.
In its previous version, Policy 24 gave a choice: the discount on tuition fees offered to an employee's child could be either a "reduction" (taxable benefit to the employee) or a "scholarship" (taxable benefit to the student, who might not have much other taxable income). The "scholarship" option has now been removed, and only the "reduction" is allowed for.
"Individual who will be affected by this change," says Canning, "will be faculty and staff whose children are receiving the tuition reduction as a scholarship. Questions re individual tax implications should be directed to Human Resources (Payroll)."
She says the issue came up because of "a recent article in the Toronto Star" which questioned the way "some universities" handle the tuition discount. "A Waterloo official said the university will be reviewing its scholarship policy," the May 6 article said.
The benefit provided by Policy 24 provides that "Children of eligible faculty and staff members enrolling in UW degree-credit programs or courses (excluding courses in a full cost recovery program) may receive a 50% reduction in tuition fees per term."
Finally . . . As of today, I'll be on vacation for a while. Until I return, announcements and information for the Daily Bulletin should be sent to Avvey Peters (alpeters@uwaterloo.ca), who's coordinating the daily production of what appears in this space.
CAR