Provost updates campus on copyright

A memo from Vice-President, Academic & Provost Sallie Keller is clarifying campus copyright conventions, based on recent changes to the Copyright Act of Canada, and decisions of the Supreme Court of Canada, in particular Alberta v. Canadian Copyright Licensing Agency (Access Copyright) [2012] SCC 37, which have "expanded the scope of the fair dealing exception under the Act."

"This means that there are more situations in which a member of the university community may make copies of copyrighted material without having to seek prior permission from the copyright owner," the provost writes.

The memo explains that Fair Dealing is a user's right in copyright law permitting use, or "dealing" with, a copyright-protected work without permission or payment of copyright royalties. The fair dealing exception in the Copyright Act allows for use of other people's copyright material for the purpose of "research, private study, criticism, review, news reporting, education, satire or parody" provided that what is done with the work is considered "fair," which depends on the circumstances.

"The university's recently revised Fair Dealing Advisory (the "Advisory") outlines the guidelines for making copies under the fair dealing exception of the Act, including how much of a given work may be copied, how it may be distributed and for what purposes," the memo continues. "Please review the Advisory carefully so that you understand what you may copy under fair dealing."

The provost's memo goes on to say that the Copyright FAQ, Guide for Instructors, and Fair Dealing Flowchart have also been updated to reflect the changes to copyright law. "Additional guidance on specific areas of interest, such as course packs and copying from the internet, will be made available on the university's Copyright Page as they are developed."

Questions about the changes can be directed to Mark Haslett, Susan Routliffe, Rebecca Wickens, or the appropriate individual listed as a copyright contact.

"We are committed to providing support and advice to assist faculty, staff and students as we move forward," the provost concludes.

 

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Strategic plan website launched

by Matthew Bondy, Senior Communications Officer.

The University of Waterloo has gone live with a new strategic plan website, featuring a message from the president and robust documentation outlining the institution’s strategic goals and action areas.

“An innovative approach to education and our unique entrepreneurial culture have been key factors in our success, but so too is a strategic vision that guides us into the future,” says Waterloo’s president and vice-chancellor, Feridun Hamdullahpur, in his message to readers.

The strategic planning process currently centres on three key goals – quality of education, research excellence and impact, and the student experience – derived from the comprehensive Mid-cycle Review process.

The life-cycles of major institutional groups and strategic areas also feature prominently in the university’s strategic planning.

President Hamdullahpur is beginning to develop the university’s Innovation Plan, which will build on the updated strategic plan to deliver a vision for Waterloo’s global innovation leadership going forward.

 

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Safe lab shutdowns and other notes

The Safety Office has released its annual notice of seasonal holiday shutdown procedures for laboratories across the university. The office is asking that all labs require operations to be suspended by Friday, December 21 at 5:00 p.m. until Wednesday, January 2, 2013. Other precautions that should be taken include:

• Shut down all processes vulnerable to a failure of utilities;
• Remove hazardous waste from the lab. The last day for hazardous waste pickup is today, and the last day for drop-off at the Environmental Safety Facility is Thursday, December 20 (call ext. 35755 for more information);
• Shut off compressed gases and gas supply lines to equipment;
• Turn off and unplug, where possible, electrical devices such as hot plates, computers, and, if not containing hazardous materials, fumehoods and environmental chambers;
• Ensure lab contact information is updated with names, phone numbers and addresses in a location accessible to emergency response personnel (the inside of the lab door is a suggested location); and
• Include documentation on contents of freezers and refrigerators.

The Safety Office can be contacted at extension 35755 if you have any questions about preparing your lab for the holiday shutdown.

A note as the term winds down: Have you, your classmates, or your coworkers made a holiday video, or trimmed a tree on campus, or have decorated your office for the season? If so, send me some evidence of such merriment and I'll post it later this week.

Linda Cummings, who worked in the Library as a Library Assistant - Graphic Design, died December 6, Human Resources is reporting. She started working at the university in May of 1985 and retired on June 1, 2007. She is survived by her spouse, Tom.

 

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