Student-run financial services are the goal of the Waterloo Banking Project, which invited alumnus Peter Chow, a senior vice-president of Citigroup, to offer advice on their plans last week. “The directors are leading a staff of students to research and complete plans for a co-operative venture that will aim to help students graduate with more money, less debt, and better financial skills,” says math-and-business student Helena Cao, seen at far left beside Chow. Also pictured at the meeting, held in VeloCity, are Erica Yao, a recent Wilfrid Laurier University business graduate, and Eric Zhang, a financial analysis and risk management student.

Engineers show off research, and more

A group of engineering researchers will show off leading-edge technology in an event tonight in the new Engineering 5 building. A total of 38 engineering faculty members and their students will present their work on everything from solar energy to multiple memory material technology at WE Innovate, the first engineering showcase of its kind.  It runs from 4 to 7 p.m. today. "This is a unique opportunity for our business partners and the media to meet some of Waterloo Engineering's exceptional faculty members and students and see their innovative research projects first-hand," says Rick Culham, engineering’s associate dean (research and external partnerships).  Among the research groups to be showcased: The Centre for Advanced Photovoltaic Devices and Systems, with research activities ranging from electronic materials synthesis to practical devices, all aimed at developing scalable technologies for high performance, cost-effective photovoltaics (solar energy). The Motion Research Group  will offer an overview of its research projects, including a hands-on display of a hardware-in-loop vehicle simulator. The Multi-Memory Materials Group is working towards greater functionality in medical devices such as stents, braces and hearing aids than is currently possible.  Besides being able to find out more about the latest advancements in Waterloo engineering technology, visitors tonight will be able to tour the student design centre in E5. There’s more information online, along with an opportunity to register for tonight’s visit.

The on-campus United Way campaign, which was aimed at collecting $200,000 for local agencies during October, is continuing into November as it sometimes does. One of the agencies that draws on United Way givings is Big Brothers Big Sisters, and the campaign’s web site currently features an interview with arts student Malcolm McAuley, who began his involvement through a placement opportunity when he was at Cambrian College and has now been involved with the organization for nearly nine years. “We all need mentors, especially children,” he says. “Consistent, positive contact with adults outside of the family home has a dynamic impact on the development of children. We make those relationships happen.” At this year’s training and kick-off luncheon for volunteers on September 29, McAuley spoke about the importance of supporting programs and initiatives like Big Brothers Big Sisters to allow every child the opportunity for guidance. Faculty, staff and retirees raised $209,390 for the United Way last year, and campaign organizers continue optimistic about a similar figure for 2010. “If you haven’t sent in your pledge form,” says the latest memo, “now is the time to do it to make sure we reach our goal and help the United Way support programs that benefit our community.”

Local MP Peter Braid has announced a federal government grant of $200,000 to the university to support an exchange project dubbed “LEIF: A Multicultural Exploration into Research and Education for Surface Computing”. The project will support student and faculty exchanges between Canadian and European post-secondary institutions to improve knowledge of computer technology. “This important field,” says a news release, “includes multi-touch smartphones and digital wall and tabletop systems that provide means for accessing and sharing information and media.” Says Braid: "It is through projects like LEIF that our government is demonstrating its commitment to enriching academic excellence in Canada. Our government believes that science, technology and innovation are vital to stimulating productivity, competitiveness and growth.” The International Academic Mobility initiative is meant to support the development of a highly skilled Canadian labour force by supporting the participation of universities and colleges in international education and student exchange partnerships. The International Academic Mobility initiative offers international learning opportunities to students through student mobility and academic cooperation exchanges among post-secondary institutions in Canada, the United States, Mexico and the European Union. Waterloo is one of four Canadian institutions involved; the overseas partners are in Germany, Austria and France.

Sue Horton, Waterloo’s associate provost (graduate studies) and a faculty member in health studies and gerontology, has been featured in a five-page article in something that’s not exactly a scholarly journal: the widely distributed Homemakers magazine. “Horton, an unassuming, down-to-earth Canadian economist, is bringing health and hope to people around the world,” writes Diane Peters in the magazine’s November issue. The article describes her work with health ministries around the world on the importance of micronutrients: “a lack of substances such as vitamin A, iron, zinc, folic acid and iodine can lead to birth defects, anemia, blindness, mental retardation and numerous other serious health problems. As an economist, she crunches numbers using existing data — life expectancies, birth defect rates, costs for health care and interventions — and she creates formulas to estimate how much certain projects will cost up front and save later.” Peters calls Horton “the poster child for micronutrients”.

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Future students see Waterloo Saturday

The University of Waterloo will offer an in-depth look at the university and campus life for prospective students and their families at an all-day event on Saturday. The annual fall open house comes as thousands of students across Ontario are getting ready to make their choice of university or college for entrance in September 2011.

Close to 5,000 visitors are expected at this single event — mostly on the main campus in Waterloo, with some at the school of architecture in Cambridge and school of pharmacy in Kitchener.

"This on-campus event gives future students and their families the opportunity to participate in activities that will increase their interest and level of commitment to the University of Waterloo," said Kim McKee, manager of Waterloo's visitors centre. "We hope the day will increase the number of students choosing Waterloo as their first-choice university."

She said the open house "showcases the university's academic strengths, world-leading co-op program, student life and leadership opportunities. Visitors can take a walking tour of the campus and speak with our student ambassadors about their personal Waterloo community experience."

The open house runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with student-led tours starting from the Student Life Centre every half hour until 3:00. Information booths will be open in the SLC all day. There's also an opportunity to visit athletic facilities and residences, as well as the four colleges. Parents can stop by the "parents' corner" in the SLC for tips on how to help with the process of applying to universities.

More detailed academic presentations will be offered by the various faculties: AHS in Matthews Hall and the Optometry building, arts in Arts Lecture, engineering in the Humanities Theatre, environment in EV2, mathematics in the Davis Centre, and science in the Coutts Engineering Lecture Hall.

The future students are invited to eat in the the SLC's food services outlets and browse in the bookstore and the Waterloo Store in South Campus Hall. Free parking is offered all day in half a dozen main campus lots.

Students who like the looks of Waterloo and decide to apply will be encouraged to attend the March break open house, the event (formerly called "Campus Day") aimed particularly at those who have applied for admission by that time.

For most of Saturday's visitors, the big looming deadline is January 12, 2011, the day the Ontario Universities Application Centre wants to receive applications from in-province high school students for admission next September. "Applications received after the deadline will be processed only if spaces are available," the timetable notes. The general application deadline, for students from outside Ontario, is March 31, with earlier cutoffs for a number of specific programs.

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Policy 18 (staff employment) revised

A revised version of the university’s policy on staff employment, first circulated last spring, was made official this week after approval by the president. The new text of Policy 18 is now on the secretariat’s web site.

Here are highlights of the changes to the document, as provided in a memo from the secretariat:

Section 1. Purpose. The introductory section includes a new sentence emphasizing that the Human Resources department serves in an advisory capacity with respect to the day-to-day administration of the policy. The last paragraph was relocated to this section from the former Section 10 (Interpretation) and revised to say that the committee may waive provisions of the policy if the application of such provisions would produce a result that is contrary to the spirit and intent of the policy. (The paragraph previously allowed the committee to set aside provisions in the interests of reorganization or management development.)

Section 2. Eligibility. This section was revised to reflect a recent decision of Executive Council (endorsed by the committee) to extend applicability of Section 8(c) (Process for Organizational Change — Loss of Employment) and Appendix B (Notice Entitlement) to staff whose appointments are contingent on funding and who have completed ten years or more of service at the university. For the purposes of this section, the calculation of years of service for part-time staff whose appointments are contingent on funding is not calculated on a pro-rated basis.

Section 3. Training, Development and Educational Opportunities. Language has been added to clarify that staff are entitled to up to 30 hours annually to pursue courses for personal and professional development and that the university encourages staff to undertake educational programs on a part-time basis by providing education benefits.

Section 4. Recruitment. This section was reordered and certain parts of the section were revised for clarity, in particular, those titled “Advertising,” “Selection Process,” and “External Applicants”.

Section 6. Performance Evaluation. This is a new section which sets out the timing and process for staff performance evaluations, and the training available to managers regarding the performance evaluation process.

Section 7. Disciplinary Action Including Dismissal from Employment. Changes were made within the written warning part of Section 7 to clarify what a written warning should include. A new sentence at the very bottom of the section was added re a Staff Relations Coordinator being present when dismissal is communicated to a staff member.

Section 8. Organizational Change. This section has been condensed and reordered for clarity. As well, the section now sets out the guiding principles for dealing with a staff member affected by a reorganization, and includes expanded protocols and procedures for handling organizational change with or without loss of employment.  

Section 9. Long-Term Disability. A note has been included at the beginning of the section to indicate that special provisions apply to staff approved for LTD.

Section 11. Interpretation. This section now states that the Staff Relations Committee, rather than the Vice-President, Academic & Provost, will make a determination on interpretation of the policy. The second paragraph of the section was moved to Section 1 (Purpose).

CAR

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