Whether you like cheese, snowboarding, drawing, current events, or paintball, there is something for everyone this week as the Federation of Students hosts its Clubs and Services Days in the Student Life Centre Great Hall on Thursday and Friday, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Writes communications co-ordinator Kirsty Budd, “It’s a great chance to meet new friends and learn about the amazing clubs and services Feds is affiliated with!” Clubs listings and service listings are available online.

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Tuition rebate kicks in

Undergraduate students returning to campus this term received a late Christmas present from the provincial government as a new tuition grant, promised during last year's election, came into effect. Premier Dalton McGuinty made the announcement at an event at Wilfrid Laurier University last Tuesday and according to Maureen Jones, director of Student Awards and Financial Aid, there has been a great deal of interest already.

Eligibility requirements for the 30 per cent grant are straightforward: Full-time undergraduate students at a public college or university in Ontario who are less than four years out of high school and whose parents' gross income is $160,000 or less can apply for the reduction.

The grant affects tuition for first entry programs that can be applied for directly out of high school, which means graduate students, and Optometry, Pharmacy, and Social Work students are not eligible. The requirement that a student must be less than four years out of high school may prove a headache for upper-year co-op students in their fifth year of study.

As the grant is materializing mid-way through the academic year, the size of the grant is reduced by half — $800 for university and college degree students, and $365 for college diploma and certificate students.

When the program reaches maturity in September 2012, the grant will be $1,600 a year for students in degree programs at a public college or university, and $730 a year for students in certificate and diploma programs at a public college.

Students who receive OSAP this winter term do not need to apply for this grant and are being assessed automatically by the ministry. Students who do not receive OSAP can apply online.

The deadline for applying for the January 2012 grant is March 31. This term, OSAP recipients will find their grant deposited into their bank accounts or via cheque, and non-recipients will receive a cheque mailed to the address they provide the ministry, but Jones says that by the time the program is fully up and running in the fall the intention is to have the grant appear on a student's fee bill up front rather than as a reimbursement so that students will end up paying less by the promissory note deadline.

According to Jones, Waterloo and other Ontario institutions will be working on procedures and systems to verify student eligibility before the fall, when the program kicks into high gear. The details on how universities will invoice the government for the grant revenue will also be finalized by then.

For those seeking more information about the grant, there is a toll-free hotline at 1-888-449-4478 and a helpful FAQ on the ministry's site.

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Health Services establishes Travel Clinic

Health Services is opening a Travel Clinic on Monday, January 16 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.

“The University of Waterloo’s internationalization goals, articulated within the Sixth Decade Plan, are the inspiration for establishing this new clinic,” says Barb Schumacher, director of Health Services. “The clinic is open to all registered students, employees, visiting scholars and their families.”

The clinic is being established to provide expert travel advice to the campus community and to ensure good health for community members who travel for research, academic programs, vacations, or visiting family abroad, as well as enhancing the campus safety upon their return.

“We welcome to our staff Dr. Nicola Mercer, the physician with whom Travel Clinic clients will consult,” says Schumacher. “Dr. Mercer brings extensive knowledge and experience to the clinic, as she is the Medical Officer of Health and CEO for Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health and 2010 graduate of Waterloo’s Master of Public Health program.”

Schumacher says the clinic fills an important health care gap for university community members. “Family physicians do answer travel questions but often must refer to external clinics for special expertise, and that is not always timely or easily accessible, and can potentially be more expensive,” she explains.

Health Services regular clinic physicians who already offering travel advice remain open to travel health questions from their patients, but will not see students’ dependents or employees and their families.

Because travel medicine is not covered by OHIP or UHIP, there will be fees charged for consultation with Dr. Mercer, the vaccine and injection by the nurse. Payments are accepted by cash or cheque — debit, credit card and Watcard payments are not. According to the clinic’s fee schedule, the appointment fee for students and dependents is $50, $80 for couples, and a group of 3 or more at $35 per person. For others, the individual rate is $70, the couples’ rate is $120, and the group rate is $55 per person. TB skin test fees are $20 for students and dependents, and $30 for everyone else. The costs of vaccines vary, but there is a flat $10 injection fee.

Families and groups travelling to the same destinations with similar itineraries are encouraged to book appointments together to take advantage of couple and group rates.

Routine immunizations against influenza, hepatitis B, tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, polio, rubella, measles, and mumps are provided free of charge through Public Health, however there will be a nurse injection fee when these vaccines are required for travel.

The clinic is located in the Health Services building, and appointments can be made in-person or through the appointment line (519-888-4096).

The clinic will be held from 4:30 to 6:30 on Mondays throughout the fall and winter terms except during reading week in February. Health Services will announce the clinic’s schedule for the spring term when their plans finalize.

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Wednesday notes

The University of Waterloo Art Gallery is celebrating the launch of two new exhibitions with a reception tomorrow at 5:00 p.m.

"Clutch" transforms Gallery One into a garage featuring an "artist pit-crew" whose sculptures "reflect on aspects of North American motor-culture, addressing both its enduring appeal as a blue-collar status symbol while also eliciting the negative impacts of commuter culture." Work Steven Laurie, Zeke Moores, and Brandon Vickerd will be featured. In Gallery Two, Lauren Hall's "With Crystal Column and Clear Shrines of Pearl" is an installation "referencing topographic extremes ranging from remote arctic landscapes to sunny tropical beaches" using polystyrene, cellophane, coloured sand and glycerine, among other materials.

The artists will all be present at the reception at East Campus Hall.

Nominations have opened for the Federation of Students elections. Nomination forms for student councillors and the four Federation of Students executive positions can be found online. The nomination period closes at 4:00 p.m. on January 23 and campaigning begins on January 31. The election will take place from February 14 to 16, with the results released by February 17.

While we're on the subject of students, registration for the Student Leadership Certificate Program offered by the Department of Organizational and Human Development has now opened. "The intent of these offerings is to explore and enhance UW student’s leadership capabilities, and to help students gain knowledge and develop skills in leadership on campus and within the community," reads the program description on OHD's website. This series of 12 experiential workshops is free to any currently-registered student. Questions about the program can be directed to ohdslp@ uwaterloo.ca.

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