![[University of Waterloo]](/images/logobars/goldbar.gif)
| Yesterday |
Friday, June 3, 2005
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Editor: Chris Redmond credmond@uwaterloo.ca |
![[Clerk with trophy]](/images/2005/0602kclerk.jpg)
The folders and leaflets are just coming into use now, but Karalee Clerk, marketing coordinator for the department of co-operative education and career services, has one proof of their quality already: an award from the local iCON Sales and Marketing Club.
Clerk, who was the creative director behind the redevelopment, accepted iCON's Bronze Award at a recent ceremony (right). Sharing the honours for the award are Bravada Communications (graphic design and art direction), Jennifer Birnstihl (copywriting) and Langen Studios (photography).
The materials have what Clerk calls "an edgy approach", but are meant to emphasize the solid character, expertise and professionalism of Waterloo's co-op students as well as the advantages of a campus-wide commitment and belief in co-op. "We've grown up co-op," says Clerk, "It's time we talked about it and let our employers know why that is important. We need to educate them regarding the differences the last 50 years in this business has produced for students' experience on campus as well as the type of student this kind of a place attracts. Our historical reality is important."
Or, as the first page of the main brochure puts it: "Waterloo co-op has been connecting the classroom to the firing lines of society for the better part of 50 years. Co-op is our core business -- it's what we know -- and it makes us who we are."
There's also a new slogan, short and to the point: "Employ. Ability."
When UW started teaching on the co-op system in 1957, nobody else in Canada was doing it, Clerk says. Now, more than half the country's colleges and universities run co-op programs (though Waterloo's is still the largest), the distinctiveness is hard to see and the jobs are harder to find with more competitors looking for them. "We have a brand, and we need to talk about it," she says.
"No other institution knows how it feels and what it means to grow up co-op," the main folder tells potential employers. "Available in every faculty and in over one hundred different programs, co-op permeates every aspect of life on and off the campus. . . . Different people entirely, Waterloo students self-select for this experience. Motivated just goes without saying."
Brochures talk about the six faculties ("Extremely well-rounded and savvy with technology and business, Arts students offer employers diversity and value") and single sheets, easy to update, will carry details about specific programs. Developing all these items started with brainstorming sessions with each faculty, discussions with professors and administrators on campus, and information sessions with employers. Clerk proudly stresses that the young people pictured are all "real students", dressed in all the variety of what students typically wear.
There's also a promotional DVD. "Work will continue on the remaining materials," an announcement from CECS says, "as well as the Employer side of the CECS web site, to ensure the suite works on all levels to reiterate key messages and Waterloo's commitment and belief in its co-op program and co-op students."
The project means drivers approaching UW from the west side will likely have to make a detour to use the Columbia Street entrance to campus. (An alternative might be to take Erb Street to Albert and then Seagram Drive. Traffic coming up Seagram will be able to cross University Avenue to get into campus.)
The westbound lanes of University are not affected. Later, after the city's work is finished, Waterloo Region also has designs on University Avenue, but plans are to keep one lane in each direction open all summer while that work goes on.
Also starting Monday is the Commuter Challenge, which invites everyone to walk, bike or bus to campus instead of driving -- and to sign up online to show how many people managed to do it.
UW's department of pure mathematics is hosting the gathering, says administrative assistant Kimberley Gingerich. "The program," a web site says, "will include a wide variety of sessions, a contributed paper session, plenary and prize lectures, and a public lecture."
Things start with a reception tonight in the Davis Centre. Other social events include a lunch for UW alumni tomorrow in the Math and Computer building, and a Saturday night banquet at the Centre for International Governance Innovation on Erb Street. Academic sessions will take place in various rooms in MC and the Davis Centre, and exhibits and booths will be open Saturday and Sunday in Davis.
Everyone is welcome at the public lecture, to be given by Moshe Milevsky of the Schulich School of Business, York University. He'll speak on "The Mathematics of Silly Investment Strategies, or How to Win the Globe and Mail's Stock Picking Contest", Sunday at 7 p.m. in Davis Centre room 1350. "During the year 2002, 2003 and then again in 2004," says Milevsky, "I won a national stock picking contest organized by the investments editor of the Globe and Mail. This presentation focuses on some of the mathematical issues surrounding this (dubious) achievement. . . . Oddly enough, the way to win such a contest is by doing the exact opposite of what one should do with their own personal portfolio. In addition, I will provide some general insights on investment management in a random environment and I will discuss some common mistakes investors make when allocating their personal wealth. And, while the mathematics underlying stock picking is quite beautiful and elegant, the practical implication is that you shouldn't pick stocks and investments for your own portfolio based on what you read in the newspaper."
The Canadian Society for History and Philosophy of Mathematics is also taking part. Delegates to the conference will be staying at the Ron Eydt Village conference centre and in local hotels.
| WHEN AND WHERE |
|
Samuel Ruiz,
bishop emeritus
of Chiapas, Mexico, peace mediator and human rights activist,
speaks at St.
Jerome's University, 1:30, Siegfried Hall.
Engineering reunions for classes of 1980, 1985, 1990, 1995, 2000, events include lunch Saturday at University Club or Federation Hall, Carl Pollock Hall open house, reunion dinner at Four Points Sheraton, details online. Ontario Women's Conference, United Church of Canada, today through Sunday, workshops, music, spirituality, 200 delegates expected. Black Knight squash tournament Saturday, 9 to 6, Physical Activities Complex. Author Patricia Josefchak, 1979 math graduate, signs her books, Angel on Her Knees and Keys of the Hollow, Saturday 3 p.m., Chapters bookstore. Friendly baseball game organized by UW Recreation Committee, Saturday 3:30, Columbia Lake. Academy of Dance recital, Humanities theater, Sunday 2 p.m. Grand River expedition -- canoe trip and gourmet picnic -- organized by school of architecture, Sunday, last-minute information ext. 7613. President's Golf Tournament in support of Warrior athletics, Monday, Deer Ridge Golf & Country Club, information online. Impaired driving simulator available Wednesday, 11:30 to 2:00, Student Life Centre, sponsored by Waterloo Regional Police. 'Ask a Gourmet Chef' seminar on barbecues and summer entertaining, Wednesday 12 noon, Arts Lecture Hall room 208, sponsored by Employee Assistance Program. |
The student-run UW Sustainability Project has declared next week to be Earth Week at UW, with some special events: There will be free eco-movies all week long, distribution of recycling bins and lug-a-mugs, and a display of innovative alternative modes of transport, for example the couch bike and the treadmill bike. There will also be workshops and displays as well as a vegetarian barbecue." Activities are concentrated at the Student Life Centre.
Construction machinery will be arriving shortly at yet another spot on campus: Renison College. A new building has been long awaited, and now work is about to start. "The landscape of Renison College will begin to change," says the college's alumni newsletter, reminding readers that "the new building will join the Luxton wing to include a new library, two group study rooms, a seminar room, a reading room and archival facility, 4 new classrooms, and a multi-media lab. Resident students will enjoy the addition of a new student lounge and more recreational space. Fundraising is continuing."
Short courses on computing skills, being offered this month by the information systems and technology department, are now listed online, a note from IST announces. "This month," Peggy Day writes, "we have PowerPoint for a Class Presentation, Posters with PowerPoint, SPSS, Database Management Using Access, and Finite Elements Analysis Using Femlab, plus UW-ACE courses. Information and registration are online.
For some years now the UW staff association has offered a scholarship each term for a child of a staff member who's doing undergraduate studies at UW. Now there's something new: a similar award for graduate students. The UWSA Graduate Award will be worth $500 and will be given each term, the association's newsletter announces. "Details are still being worked out," but the award will likely be given for the first time this fall.
The Computer Science Computing Facility experienced "an unusually high (10 to 100 times above normal) load" on its undergraduate servers in the first part of the week, apparently thanks to "processes that appeared to be for a recent CS456 assignment". . . . The engineering e-newsletter says a task force that was assigned to look at "staff issues", as part of the faculty's planning process, has delivered its report with a total of 184 items that came to its attention. . . . The continuing education office is offering a one-day course in "Report and Proposal Writing" next Wednesday. . . .
CAR