Plans to make Stratford campus a 'school'

“Some readjustment of current plans” will help make Waterloo’s Stratford campus an academic success, long-term as well as short-term, says the senior administrator who was asked a few weeks ago to oversee it.

“I have enjoyed spending the past month meeting with most of you, learning more about both past and planned activities in Stratford and better understanding the overall goals and objectives of the project,” says a memo issued this week by Tim Jackson, interim vice-president (external relations). “I am extremely appreciative of all you are doing to make Stratford successful.”

Says Jackson: “I have reviewed my findings and observations with senior management of the university and want to outline our plans moving forward. As an institution we are making Stratford one of our short-term priorities and as such we will modify/expand the scope of the ‘Stratford Initiative’ to deliver not only a world class centre for digital media education but also ensure we create a long-term academic/ research presence. This will require some resource allocation and some readjustment of current plans. Specifically:

“Subject to the normal approval process, we will seek to designate the Stratford Campus as a ‘School’ in order to facilitate cross campus collaboration and to allow multiple academic units to engage with and participate with Stratford while maintaining a leadership role for the Faculty of Arts.

“We will immediately commence a search for a Director for the school seeking an individual with an established research profile in a relevant academic discipline. In accordance with university policies and procedures, the successful candidate ‘will be a person of academic stature, appointed for her/his intellectual and administrative abilities, devotion to education and research, and qualities of leadership’.

“To further boost the academic presence in Stratford, we are exploring the possibility of aligning a vacant Canada Research Chair with the Stratford activities.

“Doug Peers and I have asked Emanuel Carvalho to investigate options that would see us have undergraduate students in Stratford sooner than the current plan (which calls for them to commence in September 2014). Emanuel’s review will look at options such as alternatives to the 2+2 strategy (e.g., 1+3), the possibility of commencing an upper year class with transfer students and other innovative ways to accelerate an undergraduate presence.

“A steering committee will be established with cross campus membership to oversee and advise on future directions and actions for Stratford.”

Says Jackson: “I am very excited about the prospects for uWaterloo’s future in Stratford. Consistent with our institution’s history of trail blazing, we have the opportunity to build a world class post-secondary presence that meets academic rigour in both research and teaching while advancing uWaterloo in the emerging field of digital media.”

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Warrior golfer now ranked 4th in Canada

a news release from athletics and recreational services

Warrior golfer Garrett Rank is having a summer to remember on the links and there are no signs of slowing down.

Over the past two months Rank (pictured above) has moved up more than 500 spots in the World Amateur Golf Rankings, and is currently sitting at 155 in the world and fourth amongst Canadian golfers. Most recently Rank qualified for the U.S. Amateur, winning a qualifying event played at the Webster Golf Club close to Rochester. Rank earned top spot shooting a combined score of 142 (two-under par) after two rounds of play.

Only two other players in the field of 60 qualified for the U.S. Amateur, which is to be held on August 22-28 at the Erin Hills Golf Club in Erin, Wisconsin. Rank battled a tough course in Rochester to capture the event and move up 29 spots in the World Amateur Golf Rankings.

“It was a tough golf course with really tight fairways and OB everywhere, but I managed to stay consistent and play my game,” commented Rank. “I finished with 15 pars, two birdies and one bogey in my final round, giving me a two stroke victory over (Jake) Katz of New York.” Rochester wasn’t Rank’s only victory of the summer golf season — he also claimed top spot at the Toronto Star Amateur in late July with a 20-foot putt on 18 to steal the victory.

“When I hit it I knew I got it started on the line we chose, and it was travelling pretty fast,” Rank said. “I knew that it had a chance. And you can only be excited and happy when it falls.”

Rank won the tournament, played at the Burlington Golf and Country Club, with an even score of 282 while three others tied for 283.

Other impressive finishes include a 69 at a qualifier for the Seaforth Country Classic, which runs August 15-22 and is one of only two Canadian Tour professional men’s golf tournaments; a third place finish at the Glencoe Invitational in Calgary; and a fifth place finish at an Ontario amateur event played at the Brampton Golf Club.

The way Rank has been playing this summer, there is no doubt in the mind of head coach and mentor Dave Hollinger that he will soon be one of the top 100 amateur golfers in the world. Prior to the tournament in Wisconsin, the busy and well-travelled Rank will compete in the Canadian Amateur Championship August 9-14 at the Niakwa Country Club in Winnipeg.

Rank returns to Waterloo next season to finish his undergraduate studies in economics with hopes of repeating as OUA individual champion. He was also featured in the Waterloo Region Record yesterday.

CAR

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