![[University of Waterloo]](/goldbar.gif)
| Friday |
Monday, November 1, 2004
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Editor: Chris Redmond credmond@uwaterloo.ca |
![[Homecoming logo]](http://alumni.uwaterloo.ca/alumni/hc2004/images/hclogo.2004.gif)
Homecoming 2004 runs November 5 through 7, with alumni reunions (the original meaning of "homecoming") plus events for the whole campus. Details are available on the web. Some of the highlights include the Black and Gold Lunch on Friday (invitations went to faculty and staff members late last week); the annual applied health sciences fun run on Saturday morning; the launch of The Hidden Pierre Trudeau and a speech by Alexandre Trudeau at St. Jerome's University on Saturday night; and an alumni-and-children Sunday morning event at the Waterloo Regional Children's Museum. In addition, there's the annual Naismith basketball tournament, this year featuring women's teams as well as men's. And the East Asian Festival at Renison College coincides with Homecoming, with a "literary lunch" on Thursday, a business breakfast seminar Friday, "culture and family day" Saturday and the Saturday night gala and silent auction. Again, details are on the web, and I'll be saying more about these events as the week goes on. |
The Staff Recognition Program, which was introduced as part of the staff salary settlement for this year, rewards staff members with a $1,000 one-time bonus (reduced in the case of part-time staff).
Nominations were invited last winter, and could come from anyone on campus. They were then reviewed by the university's senior executives, who approved the winners. Only "a small number" of nominations came from managers recommending their own staff for the awards, says Trenny Canning of the university secretariat, who handled the administration of the program. "The majority of nominations were from staff members, then from students, followed by faculty. A number of people received more than one nomination, but many received only one."
She adds that "This was a very positive experience for Executive Council," as UW's top leaders got an unusual look at the details of how hundreds of staff members work to "make UW a better place". The award winners will be guests at a reception Thursday (4 to 6 p.m., South Campus Hall) hosted by Executive Council and the Provost's Advisory Committee on Staff Compensation, the committee that devised the program.
Canning says there was some concern from Executive Council "with the lack of nominations from certain areas and with the fact that many individuals who one would think would be nominated, weren't." It was suggested, she said, that "ensuring that deserving individuals aren't overlooked might be addressed by encouraging managers to nominate deserving staff. All staff, in particular, should be encouraged to nominate their colleagues."
Nominations for 2005 awards are set to open this week, as the compensation committee has reviewed the first year and decided to run the program for at least two more years, she said.
![[Bush gestures, Kerry smiles]](/images/2004/1101debate.gif)
Bush vs. Kerry:
Actually it's their surrogates who will debate at UW today -- two
representatives of the Waterloo Debating Society. They'll impersonate
the US presidential candidates on the day before
the election,
stating positions, answering questions and "cross-stage arguing",
says Chris Ferguson, the society's president. The event starts at 6:00
tonight in Physics room 150.
|
She provided a few excerpts from nominations that led to this year's awards, with the names deleted. For example, one nominator wrote that a staff member "goes out of her way to do those little things to improve and enhance the lives of those around her". A nomination from a student said that someone's "dedication, welcoming attitude and willingness to go the extra mile greatly influenced my decision to undertake graduate studies at the University of Waterloo."
Another student wrote: "It is refreshing find a staff member who at the end of a long day still has the energy to serve with a smile and even ask about my day. It's easy to take such service for granted but when you run into someone who makes your day worse when they are supposed to be helping, it becomes clear that staff such as this one should be commended for their great attitude and service and for making a the long day of a student a little more pleasant."
A staff member wrote that someone, "through his leadership, collaboration and encouragement, brings out the best in individuals as well as the team as a whole. He is quick to offer positive feedback and he is sensitive and considered when offering feedback of a developmental nature."
Another award went to "an introvert who does not like group events or office lunches. She is modest and shy about her many accomplishments, is a person who is trusted and respected by many and who through her example inspires me daily. She is a person who in her own unique and wonderful way empowers and enables others."
And one nominator wrote: "I am so happy to have this chance to nominate one of the people who make my working at UW a joy!"
The article notes that "each out-of-country claim is individually adjudicated on its own merits," but gives some examples:
"You have diabetes and have been stable with medications for a period of time. You routinely have your blood checked in Canada and are going to Spain for three weeks this winter. The costs for appointments to have your blood checked on a routine basis would not be covered under the University's out-of-country health insurance, as this is not an unforeseen event. However, as stated, you have been stable for a period of time and while out of the country have a medical complication (e.g., hypo/hyper glycemia). Under normal circumstances, costs associated with this incident would be covered as this would be an unforeseen event."
| The fall issue of HR Newsis now available online, and also includes notes on such topics as notice and severance pay when somebody's leaving the university, public holiday pay for part-time staff, and the project of getting staff job descriptions posted on the web (deadline, December 2005). |
The article goes on to talk about Medex, "an assistance service that offers access 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It is recommended that when emergency medical treatment is needed, you (or an alternate family member) call Medex before treatment (if possible) or as soon as possible after medical treatment is received using the toll-free number on the back of the blue Medex wallet card. Medex can help you locate hospitals, clinics and physicians, arrange medical evacuation if necessary, and verify insurance coverage."
Later comes the paperwork: "Two forms are required when submitting an out-of-country emergency medical claim. The forms are available in Human Resources or online. For employees in Ontario, the first form is an Authorization and Release form that allows Great West Life to co-ordinate benefits with the provincial coverage offered through OHIP. . . . The second form that must be completed is an Out-of-Country Expenses Statement of Claim."
Questions? The place to call is the Great West Life out-of-country customer contact line, 1-800-957-9777. "If after calling Great West Life you have doubts whether your medical condition would be eligible for health insurance coverage, you may want to consider purchasing individual health insurance. . . . Individuals are encouraged to shop around and choose the best insurance to suit their individual medical needs."
The newsletter goes on to say a few words about about "travelling abroad in these uncertain times" with the fear of terrorism and war. "If you are planning to travel to a country known to be in conflict, or for current travel restrictions, Great West Life advises that you call its out-of-country claims office in Winnipeg prior to planning your trip. . . . If you become the innocent victim of an act of aggression (e.g., you are on a bus full of tourists and it is the target of hostility), Great West Life confirms that you would have emergency medical coverage."
The federal government maintains a web site with advice on travel outside Canada, including a listing of known danger zones. And one bit of good news: "In many instances, UW employees holiday in the United States. Under the current circumstances in the USA, Great West Life indicates that eligible emergency medical claims within the USA will be covered."
| WHEN AND WHERE |
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Architecture and teaching students get winter term co-op job
match; meetings for unmatched students, 4:30.
Blood donor clinic 10:00 to 4:00, Student Life Centre -- last day for this term. Engineering debates sponsored by Sandford Fleming Foundation, faculty-wide competition today through Wednesday 11:30, Engineering II room 3324. Finals Friday noon, Carl Pollock Hall. Federation of Students forum on the Rae review of post-secondary education -- students' views wanted on OSAP, fees, funding, quality of education -- 11:30, Student Life Centre great hall. Centre for International Governance Innovation public lecture, Marek Dabrowski, Center for Social and Economic Research, "Europe After EU Enlargement: Chances and Challenges", 11:45, 57 Erb Street West. Employee safety orientation one-hour session, 2 p.m., Davis Centre room 1304 (repeated November 10 at 10 a.m.). Jocus toy sale Tuesday and Wednesday, 9 to 2, Early Childhood Education Centre, PAS building. German lecture: Karl-Heinz Bausch, University of Mannheim, "Was ist Deutsch? Ein Überblick über Standardsprache und Dialekte in deutschsprachingen Raum." Dienstag 1:30, Humanities 373. Auditions for two drama student projects, "Perfect Pie" and "Corpus Christi", Tuesday from 3:30, Humanities 180 -- sign-up sheet and details in drama department, Modern Languages. Ottawa alumni reception, Tuesday 5:30, Brookstreet Hotel, Kanata, details online. Women in Mathematics speaker series: Lisa Jeffrey, University of Toronto, "Hamiltonian Flows and the Stationary Phase Approximation", Wednesday 4:30, Math and Computer room 5158, aimed at upper-year undergrads and graduate students. Fit Challenge, an attempt to set the record for largest indoor fitness class in Canada", Wednesday 4:45, Columbia Icefield. Alan Plumtree, mechanical engineering, retirement reception and dinner Thursday, University Club, details ext. 6740. Holiday eyewear show, school of optometry, discount prices and door prizes, Friday 2:30 to 8, Optometry clinic. Flu shots for students, staff and faculty, November 9-12, Student Life Centre. |
![['Outfoxed' free movie showing 8 p.m. Humanities Theatre]](http://www.feds.ca/graphics/outfoxed-WEB-PREVIEW.jpg)
November's computing courses from information systems and technology, including courses in the "Skills for the Academic Workplace" program, are now listed online. Of special interest this month are some courses aimed at graduate students: "Creating Theses with Scientific Workplace and LaTeX", "Creating Theses with Microsoft Word", and "On-Line Thesis Submissions". Registration for all these short courses is online.
A memo from the classical studies department lists the winners of some scholarships and prizes in that department for this term. The list is headed by Catherine Niestroj, receiving the Phyllis Young Forsyth Senior Scholarship. Others: Lesley Roswell, the Classical Studies Entrance Scholarship and the D. C. MacKenzie Prize in Latin; Kilmeny Jones, the Sally Haag Prize in Distance Education, honouring a long-time faculty member who did much of her teaching with students she never met; Pamela Yuen, the Prize in Greek History; Ryan O'Connor, the Classical Studies Essay Prize.
The folks on the UW Recreation Committee are creative, no doubt, but they're systematic too, which is why they've announced a plan to eat their way through Kitchener-Waterloo in alphabetical order. The UWRC organizes social and cultural events for faculty and staff, and the newest item on their list is the "A-to-Z Dining Experience". November it'll be A for Athinula's (Mexican and Mediterranean), December it'll be B for Brubacher's (Grill House), and so on. Anybody interested can get in touch through uwrc@admmail.
"Open enrolment" for winter term undergraduate courses begins today on Quest (graduate open enrolment will start November 15). . . . Tickets are on sale, mostly in the Math and Computer building, for this year's fund-raising Charity Ball, to be held Saturday night at the Waterloo Inn. . . . Wilfrid Laurier University says it held "the largest fall convocation ceremony in the university's history" Friday, with 802 students receiving degrees. . . .
CAR