Athletics program offers 'body blast'

The athletics and recreational services department will be holding an open house tomorrow to show off its programs, including 33 varsity teams and scores of recreational sports. “Now is the time to engage yourself in UW Athletics!” says the publicity for tomorrow’s four-hour opportunity, which will run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the main gym of the Physical Activities Complex.

“Stop by the Athletics Open House,” a web site says, “to find out everything you need to know about Campus Recreation, Varsity and other ways to get involved. Visit a program or club booth for information, test your skills against a varsity athlete or watch our clubs perform. Lots of prizes to be won. This is the place to be to have all your questions answered and to find out about Athletics at Waterloo.”

Tomorrow's open house comes at the beginning of registration week for the campus rec intramural programs, which include leagues in sports such as basketball, dodgeball, hockey, flag football and even pool. Teams can sign up for those leagues between 9:00 and 4:00 any day this week in the athletics office, also in the PAC.

Next week brings registration for instructional activities, which are even more varied. Some of the programs sound pretty dramatic, including “Bronze Crash”, which is actually a form of lifeguard training; “Body Blast” (in the “fitness” category); and “Squash Privates”, which fortunately means private squash lessons. There are also learn-to-swim courses at various levels, Bollywood dancing, “total muscle conditioning”, learn-to-skate, tai chi, “yoga pop”, and dozens more.

As for clubs, how about archery? broomball? cycling? parkour? triathlon? “You can attend the information meeting at the start of the term,” the web site says, “or join the club at any time by attending a regular session and speaking with the executive. Some clubs do have limited space available, so be sure to get involved early in the term.”

“Learn more,” says an invitation to the open house, about “programs such as Fitness, Personal Trainers, Dance Lessons, Yoga & Pilates, Aquatics, and more; learn-to courses such as Skating, Swimming, Golf, and more; clubs such as Archery, Martial Arts, Kendo, Outers, Cricket, Table Tennis; certification courses like First Aid, NLS, CanFitPro, and NCCP.”

And more: “how to get involved in varsity athletics; job and volunteer opportunities; how to use the facilities.” (Most athletic activities at UW are based either in the PAC or at the Columbia Icefield with its associated gyms and playing fields.)

Of course, athletics always wants fans, and those with school spirit are welcome at the open house too, under the banner “We Are Warriors”. They might even meet King Warrior, the athletics mascot, who was on hand Saturday to see the football team defeat McMaster 30-17 on the new north campus playing field. The crowd included a lot of human supporters and at least one canine (pictured), who was accompanying Heather FitzGerald, director of UW's student life office.

A bit more about the campus recreation programs, which UW has traditionally boasted are more extensive, and involve more students, than those at any other Canadian university: “Campus Rec is committed to a positive, diverse set of programs that develop a sense of community, contribute to the quality of life, and foster ongoing relationships with and for the students.”

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Continuing ed sets its fall schedule

from UW’s distance and continuing education office

When Cathy Gravelle wanted real world knowledge in real world time, she turned to UW’s Continuing Education department and was quite pleased with the results.

“I definitely found gems I’ll be able to use right now,” she said after recently completing a continuing education classroom course. Gravelle, the executive assistant to Kitchener mayor Carl Zehr, is just one of the thousands of working professionals who depend on UW Continuing Education to provide practical information that can be implemented immediately in the workplace.

“Our students’ vocation of choice may differ but they all have one thing in common: They want a future filled of opportunity and prosperity. Our job is to help make it happen,” says Michael Hunt, associate director of continuing education.

“To make it happen,” adds Hunt, “our department consults with other business-focused departments on campus and business leaders throughout Canada for expert insight into the changes and innovations that will shape the workplace of the future.”

The insight gained from these consultations has fostered strong partnerships within UW and beyond and has led to the transformation of many university-based courses into non-credit continuing education courses specifically designed for the adult learner: “We offer a variety of interactive classroom courses, over 100 flexible online courses and customized corporate training Ñ all aimed at improving your workplace performance and increasing your work opportunities. Whatever your personal, professional or career goals, our programs can give you the edge you need to succeed.”

Classroom courses for this fall have varied start dates, beginning September 29. Online courses also start at various times over the months ahead. Some highlights of what’s being offered for 2008-09:

• Delivered in four 4-week modules, with a one-week break in between, UW's Certificate in Project Leadership was developed with the demands of today’s real world in mind. It combines project leadership and project management content into one, robust and comprehensive program that prepares students to sit the Project Management Institute’s Project Management Professional examination. Further, graduates of the certificate program benefit from not only have the necessary process-oriented knowledge as defined by PMI’s Project Management Body of Knowledge but also the all-important softer skills and knowledge required to manage the many human and organizational issues that can contribute to overall project failure or success.

• The new Leadership Certificate program will provide useful insight, knowledge and skills for both supervisors and managers, as well as people identified in an organization as possessing the potential to achieve supervisory and management positions.

• A new Project Management Certificate program is designed for people who want to become project management specialists capable of delivering on target, on time and on budget.

New classroom courses include Understanding Personal and Work Stress; Managing Work Expectations; Fundraising for Nonprofit Organizations; Effective Recruitment and Selection Techniques; Interviewing Skills and Evaluation Techniques; Direct Marketing; and Planning Your Network to Run Like a Business.

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Notes on the first day of classes

I don't suppose there's a National Bookstore Lineup Day, but if there were, today would be it, with thousands of students emerging from the first lecture of the fall term and heading on over to South Campus Hall to pick up the texts they now know they'll need. The bookstore will have extended hours (until 7 p.m.) today through Thursday to help cope with the rush. Also busy, and also staying open late this week, are the nearby TechWorx (the place to pick up pencils, lab coats and thumb drives) and the UW Shop (maybe a teddy bear or a pair of black-and-gold striped socks).

And then there's the Campus TechShop — a branch of UW's retail services department, like the other three stores, but located in the Student Life Centre, and marking a milestone of its own this week. As announced in July, the store is now an authorized Rogers Wireless dealer, able to set you up with cellphone or BlackBerry service: "Students living in residence or off campus will have access to the newest wireless devices, special UW student plans, SIM cards and great wireless accessories. These services are also available to staff and faculty for personal use." Details are online. And the store adds that "everyone is welcome to join us" for a grand opening celebration today, "which will kick off with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and cupcakes at 11:30 a.m. There will be door prizes, daily draws, and in-store specials throughout the week."

A memo went out to departments this week explaining the opportunity that's presented by the International Undergraduate Work-Study Program for the fall term. "You could employ an international student on a part-time basis for one-quarter the normal cost," writes Linda Jajko of the student awards and financial aid office. "International students are not eligible for provincial government financial aid (OSAP)," she explains, and "obtaining other financing or part-time employment that fits the student's schedule is very difficult." Hence the program, financed 75 per cent from "a central university fund", to subsidize up to 25 part-time jobs (up to 10 hours a week) in UW departments. "Jobs that tend to receive the most interest are those that create meaningful work experience for the students," Jajko notes, inviting faculty or staff members to submit job proposals by September 12 for the September-to-December term. More information: ext. 35726.

A memo from UW's library notes that books that were signed out by faculty, graduate students, and staff before August 18 are due on September 10, which is Wednesday. That means it's time for borrowers to return or renew them. Says Alex McCulloch from the circulation department's temporary quarters on the first floor of the Dana Porter Library: "If they are renewing on-line, they can link directly to 'your account'. On-line help for renewing is available. Patrons should not try to renew more than 50 books at a time."

Sue Fraser, long-time chair of the social committee for UW's staff association, says what she's offering today is the "last chance" for anybody who wants to get aboard the shopping bus in early November. That would be the association's annual "Retail Therapy 101" outing to Erie, Pennsylvania, home of tax-free clothing and bargain prices at Millcreek Mall. "Join us for a great weekend," says Fraser, also promising a "big sidewalk sale" at the Grove City factory outlet centre, which is en route. "The trip is fast filling up — sign up now so as not to be disappointed. For full information about the trip, including registration form and itinerary, please go to the UWSA website."

CAR

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