Report promotes vision for English competency

With the release yesterday of the final report of the Task Force on Support for English Language Competency Development at the University of Waterloo (TFSELCDUW just rolls off the tongue does it not?), the notion of English language skills development as a continuous feature of the education experience is gaining traction.

The report "proposes a vision of how language competency can be developed by all students within all programs to ensure that all students can reach their full potential for lifelong success." Language competency includes speaking, reading, listening, and writing.

The task force's final report was presented to Dean's Council yesterday as an item for information and has been published on the Vice-President, Academic & Provost's website.

The task force, initiated in June 2011, was chaired by Gordon Stubley of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering and its members include Sheila Ager of Classical Studies, Serge D'Alessio, Office of the Dean of Mathematics, Audrey Olson of Mount Royal University's Languages Institute, and Bud Walker.

The task force evaluated the university's support service offerings to both Native English Speaking (NES) and Non-native English Speaking (NNES) students and assess present and future needs.

As an initial step, Judi Jewinski, Renison University College's administrative dean, will be appointed Special Advisor to the Provost for English Language Competency effective January 2, 2013 and will be responsible for continuing the discussion on campus as the university strives to meet the goals outlined in the report.

"Judi has made a fantastic contribution over the years to our English Language Institute and I am sure I speak for all of us when I say how much Judi will be missed," wrote Principal Glenn Cartwright, in a message to the Renison community yesterday. "However it is a great opportunity for her and a great challenge for the University."

In addition, Sheila Ager will be chairing a steering committee as part of this ongoing initiative, with membership to be determined at a later date.

"Task Force chair Gordon Stubley and the members of the task force all did an excellent job with this report," says Vice-President, Academic & Provost Sallie Ann Keller.

 

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Linda Kieswetter retiring after 35 years

Linda Kieswetter, Associate Vice-President, Principal Gifts, will be retiring from the University of Waterloo at the end of 2012, says a memo from Vice-President, Advancement Ken McGillivray.

“While we congratulate and celebrate Linda on this exciting milestone, she will be sorely missed at the University and especially within the Advancement team,” he writes.

The announcement marks a career that spans more than 35 years for Kieswetter (right), who has been recognized by her peers as a pioneer in post-secondary advancement in Canada.

An alumnus of the University of Waterloo who graduated with an Honours Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology in 1975, Kieswetter joined the kinesiology department in 1977 as an academic services officer, moving to the university's office of development in 1984 as a Development Officer. By 1995 she was Associate Director, Development and was named Director, Individual Giving in 1998. She became the campaign director for Campaign Waterloo in 2001 and became Associate Vice-President (principal gifts) in 2007. Most recently, in 2012 she took on the role of Special Advisor to the Vice-President, Advancement.

As campaign director for Campaign Waterloo—a multi-year institutional fundraising initiative concluded in 2011 and designed to enable capital investments across the institution—Kieswetter and her team drew $613.2 million into university coffers. Under her leadership, Waterloo became one of only three Canadian universities to raise more than $500 million in a campaign. These funds supported the addition of 2.5 million square feet of space added to the campus, including 10 new buildings, and additions made to 11 others. Waterloo’s endowment grew by almost $200 million, an increase of 352 per cent.

During the course of her career, she also developed a global network of advancement contacts spanning every continent, especially in strategic Asian regions.

“Rarely in a lifetime does one encounter a colleague and friend with the dedication, passion and drive that Linda Kieswetter exhibited every day during her career at Waterloo,” said Bob Harding (BMath ’80, LLD ’05), former chair of the university’s Board of Governors and chair of Campaign Waterloo.  “As an institution and a community, Waterloo has been fortunate to have been represented by Linda around the world. Her professionalism, sincerity and skill resulted in millions of dollars in private investment for the university and its students and thousands of relationships that have transformed Waterloo.”

Her colleagues have also highlighted Kieswetter’s community leadership, both inside and outside the campus borders, in constant partnership with her husband Tom, who retired in September after coaching the Warriors men’s basketball team for 20 years, and their adult children Matthew and Amanda. Her volunteer efforts include participation in the Foundations Committee for Grand River Hospital’s Campaign KW, and membership in an economic strategy committee for the City of Kitchener.

“As a volunteer, I continue to be grateful for the support and guidance offered by Linda, particularly in her role leading Campaign Waterloo to heights we couldn’t have imagined when we first started the campaign,“ Harding continues.

Kieswetter was also a member of the university’s 40^th anniversary and 50th anniversary steering committees.

“Linda is a model champion for this institution,” said Kieswetter’s colleague and friend Erin Sargeant Greenwood, Waterloo’s associate vice-president for development. “Everyone on the Advancement team at Waterloo, past and present, has benefited from the opportunity to learn from Linda. Someone with her talent and her commitment doesn’t come along every day.”

Kieswetter’s achievements will be celebrated at an event in the New Year.

 

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Examinations end, and the exodus begins

The examination period winds up today, so plant ops will be able to begin airing the odours of exam-takers' flop sweat and anxiety out of the Physical Activities Complex.

The Computing Help & Information Place (CHIP) has gotten into the holiday spirit with a decorations that include this lovely Christmas tree (at right).

Retail Services locations including Campus Tech, E Smart, and Media.doc facilities will be closed from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. for a staff luncheon today. Likewise, Communications & Public Affairs will be shuttered starting at 11:30 a.m. today as we lay waste to the buffet at the University Club.

A reminder: The Town Hall surveys for students and employees (both faculty and staff) are still running, and answers will continue to be collected until midnight on Friday, December 21.

A note from Balsillie School of International Affairs Director David Welch invites everyone to join him "in congratulating our very own Lucie Edwards, who was named one of Trent University's luminaries for 2012."

Edwards graduated from Trent in 1973 before beginning her career with the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade. She retired from her post in 2009 and came to Waterloo to do a PhD in Global Governance. Her primary research interests include the use of science and technology for the poor, with a particular focus on initiatives to support the "bottom billion" in Africa and Asia.

"This is a tremendous recognition," writes Welch. The announcement appeared in Tuesday’s Globe and Mail and Toronto Star.

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