Emergency alert to be tested tomorrow

An announcement from the Emergency Planning Steering Committee

There will be a campus test of the university’s Emergency Warning System tomorrow, Tuesday, March 27, at 1:00 p.m. This is a test of the system that is conducted each term.

No action is required. The test will involve notifying campus that this is “a test of the Emergency Communication System — Go to the Home Page for information.” It will be seen on many computer screens across campus as a pop-up message activated by the university’s emergency planning steering committee. A link on the pop-up page will lead to a special emergency web page that in a real emergency will also be activated taking the place of Waterloo’s regular home page.

The same warning notification will also appear as a text message on cell phones listed with the university. Students can do this through the Quest info system, while faculty and staff can list their phones using the HR info system.

As well, the university now has an infoline number (1-866-470-0910) that will be engaged during genuine emergencies. In coming months a number of reminders to campus will advertise the number’s existence. This special number will help manage the flow of incoming calls to UW’s main campus in time of emergency.

Back to top

Disclosure: $100,000 salaries for 2011

The university has released a list of the 955 employees who were each paid more than $100,000 during 2011.

It's something public-sector employers in Ontario have had to do every March since the Public Sector Salary Disclosure Act was passed in 1996. Other universities, school boards, hospitals, colleges, municipalities, and the government itself are making similar information for last year public this week.

Most of Waterloo’s professors appear on the list, as the average salary of full-time faculty members in 2011-12 is $124,800, according to the office of institutional analysis and planning. That figure is based on the Statistics Canada University and College Academic Staff Survey.

The $100,000 list also includes a number of staff members as well as senior administrators. It includes people employed by St. Jerome's University, Renison University College, Conrad Grebel University College and St. Paul's University College as well as by the University of Waterloo itself.

Though he left the university in October 2010 to become Governor General of Canada, David Johnston still appears on the list for 2011. Like many university leaders, he has an administrative leave provision that entitles him to one year's leave for each term of service. This year's compensation is comprised of administrative leave and unused vacation time. His salary figure is the highest on the chart, with current president Feridun Hamdullahpur in second place, followed by dean of engineering Adel Sedra. President Hamdullahpur's salary includes compensation he received as Vice-President Academic and Provost as well as compensation as President and Vice-Chancellor.

In addition to the salary, a figure is given for taxable benefits received by each individual, for such extras as employer-paid life insurance and tuition benefits for dependents.

Past years' salary disclosure lists are available online.

Back to top

Lifetime achievement award for Niels Bols

by Sharon McFarlane, interim communications officer, Faculty of Science

Biology professor and researcher Dr. Niels Bols (right) was recently awarded the 2012 Lifetime Achievement award by the Society for In Vitro Biology.

The award was established in 1989 to recognize those individuals who not only excel in their chosen field of study but who have also made significant contributions in the field of in vitro biology and/or in the development of novel technologies that have advanced in vitro biology.

“Many people on campus know Niels Bols as the instructor of one of our main first-year Biology courses, in which he has taught many thousands of students over many years,” explains biology chair David Rose, “However, Niels has had a distinguished career at the cutting edge of research in cell biology and toxicology. This award is well-deserved recognition for Niels and we are proud to have him in our Department.”

Dr. Bols is the invited speaker at the SIVB World Congress on In Vitro Biology in Bellevue Washington this June. He will be presented with his award during the international conference on June 4, 2012.

As a favourite professor among undergraduate students, Dr. Bols has previously received the Distinguished Teacher Award in 1990. He even has a facebook page dedicated to him by undergraduate students, UW Loves Dr. Niels Bols on which students have posted some of his more colourful quotes.

Appropriately, the following is posted under the group’s info, which highlights his lectures:

His enthusiasm is unparalleled,
His hair ever so wispy,
Oh, Dr. Niels Bols,
How we love thee.

Back to top

Monday's notes

Melinda Szilva and Ann Plotkin of the Centre for Sight Enhancement will be appearing on Rogers Daytime program on Tuesday, March 27 to speak about the Centre for Sight Enhancement and its Low Vision Clinic.The Centre for Sight Enhancement is a clinical teaching and research unit within the School of Optometry and Vision Science and is the first and only rehabilitation service in Canada to be accredited by the National Accreditation Council for Agencies Serving the Blind and Visually Handicapped (NAC), and is the only such accredited service within any school of optometry in North America. The Low Vision Clinic sees about 600 patients annually with the ultimate goal of teaching people how to live, and live well, with their visual limitations. Daytime is available on Cable 20 and goes live at noon, with repeats at 3:00, 6:00, and 11:00 p.m.

The School of Architecture's latest Arriscraft Lecture will be taking place on March 28 at 7:00 p.m. and features Michael Stacey (above), Chair in Architecture and Director of Architecture at the University of Nottingham, giving a talk entitled "Concrete Poetry". The lecture will be held at the School of Architecture in Cambridge.

Here's the latest Nutrition Month "myth vs. truth" nutrition tip as supplied by Health Services dietician Sandra Ace.

"Myth": Superfoods will keep you super-healthy.
"Truth": No food has superpowers to keep you healthy on its own. Even if a food is loaded with an essential nutrient, your body needs more than that to be healthy. There is no official “superfood” definition, but this term is sometimes used to market trendy, pricey foods, like goji and açaí berries. While these foods do provide antioxidants and other nutrients that contribute to good heath, their superior health claims are not backed by scientific evidence at this point. Enjoying a diet that is rich in a variety of healthy foods, not just the trendiest, is the key to good health.

Back to top