UW library staff held their Christmas party at the University Club on Tuesday. Among those celebrating: Bill Oldfield, Annette Dandyk, and retired staff member Lorraine Beattie. Photo by Nancy Collins.

Fall term dwindles, winter's just ahead

The Christmas holiday is near, and on the Waterloo campus the snow lies round about, deep and crisp and even. The fall term isn't quite over yet, as there are still exams today and offices open tomorrow, but it’s definitely getting quieter as we approach the eleven-day holiday break. Friday, December 21, is the last working day of the year for UW; the university will reopen on Wednesday, January 2, with classes for the winter term beginning on Monday, January 7. A thorough roundup of arrangements for the end of the fall term, the holiday period, and the return to work, study and life in January will appear in tomorrow's Daily Bulletin. That information will continue to be available from the UW web home page throughout the shutdown.

Meanwhile, the December issue of Connections, published online for UW’s distance education students, features a long profile of this year’s winner of the James D. Leslie Prize, given annually to the top graduating student from the DE program. She is Debbie Loubert, who was working as a hairstylist when she began her UW studies in 1995. She received her BA in social development studies at the fall Convocation ceremony in October — the first time she’d actually visited the campus. Loubert describes taking her young son to the playground at her local McDonald’s: “I would spread out my homework on a table while he played on the jungle gym — not the quietest place to study, but he was having fun and often it was the only way I would be able to get any work done.”

Here’s a reminder: the staff association has invited applications for members of the Dispute Resolution Pool that will be set up under the revised Policy 36 (“Dispute Resolution for University Support Staff”) when it gets final approval. The pool, a memo explains, “is a body of 12 individuals who will be chosen as members of a Tribunal when a staff member takes an issue through the formal stage. A Tribunal will consist of any three members from the Dispute Resolution Pool chosen by the Secretariat from a rotating list. Members of the Pool will undergo annual training on facilitation skills, Tribunal process, policy interpretation and the rules of natural justice.” The pool will consist of 12 staff members appointed by the president of the university, from six nominations submitted by the Staff Association and six by the provost. The association is looking to fill its six nominations — two for terms running until the spring of 2009, two until 2010 and two until 2011. “To be eligible for this committee,” says a memo, “you must be available for full-day training on February 12 and 13.” Anyone interested should send word by January 4 to Sue Fraser (fraser@uwaterloo.ca), chair of the association’s nominating committee, with “your contact information; years of service at UW; why you would like to serve; previous committee or tribunal experience; any other relevant abilities, information or experience you would like the Nominating Committee to be aware.”

Lynda Eby of the WatCard office, who’s been a member of UW’s staff since September 1984, officially retires January 1. • Martin Weber, a custodian in UW’s plant operations department from 1965 to his retirement in September 1974, died December 4. • John Yeow of UW's systems design engineering department has received this year's 7T6 Early Career Award from the University of Toronto engineering alumni association.

“Winter semester permits are available online,” says a note from Sharon Rumpel, the manager of parking services. That’s chiefly of interest to undergraduate students who may want parking permits for either the residence lots ($100) or the “unreserved” lots ($114) on the periphery of campus. The deadline for getting permits into the mail and delivered before the new year has passed; at this point, permits ordered online (payment by Visa, MasterCard or American Express) will be processed and held for pickup at the parking office in the Commissary building.

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Renison principal heads new university

Renison College announced last night that John Crossley (right), its principal since 2002, will leave shortly to take on a new challenge: president of a still unnamed university.

A statement from the UW-affiliated Anglican institution quoted this message from Crossley: “Although I was not looking for a career change, I have been offered the presidency of a new university. I cannot imagine working in a more rewarding or supportive traditional university environment than here at Renison. However, the new position is unusual, being at a non-traditional university and allowing me an opportunity to help build a new institution. As much as I enjoy Renison this is an opportunity that is unlikely to come up again during my career.

“Therefore, I will step down from the office of Principal of Renison College on the last day of February 2008.”

Lynn Schumacher, chair of the Renison’s board, said she was making the announcement “with regret . . . I have accepted Dr. Crossley’s resignation and in the near future, the Board will announce plans for a search for a new Principal and for interim arrangements until the new Principal is in place.

“We will miss Dr. Crossley. His leadership at Renison College has been exemplary and I know you will all join me in wishing Dr. Crossley much success as he moves forward in his career.”

The principal came to Renison from the University of Prince Edward Island, where he had served as chair of the political studies department, coordinator of Canadian Studies, dean of arts, and vice-president (academic support); he has also been chair of the Maritime Provinces Higher Education Commission. His research background is in public policy and aboriginal affairs.

Yesterday’s announcement did not say what new institution Crossley will head or even what province it’s in.

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Grad welcomes retirees' bursary

from the newsletter of the UW Retirees' Association

The UW Retirees Association Bursary continues to make an impact on undergraduate and graduate students for whom financial resources are an issue. The endowment fund for the UW Retirees Bursary Award grew to more than $302,000 last year. Twelve bursaries were awarded in the 2006-2007 academic year, with the number of awards distributed varying from year to year.

The Keystone Campaign's emphasis in recent years has been on increasing the value of the UW Retirees' Scholarship Fund. This endowment has grown to $115,000, enabling the university to offer an award to a graduate student for the first time.

Sean Meehan, who is in his third year of PhD studies in the joint Kinesiology-Behavioural and Cognitive Neuroscience program, received a $5,000 UW Retirees' Scholarship earlier this year. This substantial award was used to attract a 2:1 provincial match in the form of an Ontario Graduate Scholarship. Without the initial scholarship that was made possible because of the generosity of UW retirees, Meehan would not have received the additional $10,000.

Meehan's research focuses on how people use sensory information to guide movement. His long-term goal is to apply his knowledge to develop rehabilitative training techniques that could help those who have experienced a stroke or brain injury recover motor function.

"I am honoured to be the first graduate student chosen to receive the UW Retirees' Scholarship," says Meehan. "This award has allowed me to focus on producing research at the high standard expected within the University of Waterloo community. I hope that future graduate students are able to benefit from the UWRA’s generosity. Thank you!"

CAR

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