Preparing student athletes for success

by Jodi Szimanski, Office of Student Success.

Success triggers further success and Warrior Athletics is doing everything they can to ensure that our student athletes thrive. This year, Athletics instituted a Student Athlete Success model. Since Orientation Week, Athletics encouraged all varsity coaches to direct first-year players to Student Success Office sessions. The goal is to start student athletes off on the right foot for an all-around positive student athlete experience.

Pictured above is Colin Behenna, a first-year Math and Business student and forward on the men’s hockey team.

Chris Gilbert, Interuniversity Sport Manager, developed the model in partnership with the Success Coaches of the Student Success Office, a Living-Learning Community at Renison, as well as peer mentors and tutors. Some student athletes become overwhelmed by the transition to university – new academic expectations, demanding practice schedules and game pressures. While coaches help on the field/court/ice, they also meet with the players one-on-one to ensure overall success, including academic.

“It’s a proactive plan,” explained Gilbert. “We want to give our student athletes a foundation of knowledge to set them on their way.” Athletics is tracking the results to prove the success of its new program. Brian Bourque, head coach of the Warriors men’s hockey team has already shared his goal with his players – he wants to see more than 10 Academic All-Canadian student athletes on his team. He’s nearly there; he’s had nine Academic All-Canadians on his team for the last two years. (Waterloo enjoys one of the highest percentages of Academic All-Canadian student athletes.)

Bourque has been working to help his players with their academic success since he joined Waterloo eight years ago. He has a program philosophy of success in every aspect of his players’ lives – as athletes, students, and people. “When players leave the rink after a win on Saturday night they feel motivated to hit the books on Sunday,” said Bourque. “And vice versa, a high mid-term mark puts the player in a better state of mind at practice.”

The new model helps coaches with recruitment as well. Both students and their parents feel that they’ll receive the support they need to succeed. “The orientation resources offered to first-year student athletes made the transition into my first semester at University much easier,” said Colin Behenna, a first-year Math & Business student and a forward on the men’s hockey team. “The Orientation sessions informed us on ways to effectively take notes and how to prepare for tests in order to achieve academic success while balancing a varsity sport.” The support system goes beyond athletic coaches –

Success Coaches are also available for one-on-one sessions in addition to the Orientation sessions. “The student athletes I met are extremely proactive; embracing the Waterloo academic standards while being passionate about sport,” said Success Coach Stephanie Johnson. “I am impressed by the discipline they need to excel in both. As Success Coaches, our role is to introduce them to tools and resources that will help them be the best version of their academic self.”

By setting the team up early with a support system, a Living-Learning Community, and co-op positions within the department of Athletics, Athletics is creating an environment to grow leaders. The Student Athlete Success Model helps existing mentorship programs build leadership opportunities. Not only does this help recruitment, it sets our student athletes up for future success through engagement on and off the field/court/ice and keeps them competitive: a great find for athletic and academic success.

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St. Jerome's president installed

a media release from St. Jerome's University.

Katherine Bergman (right) was installed as the 7th President and Vice-Chancellor of St. Jerome's University on Sunday, October 21.

It is with great pride that St. Jerome’s University celebrates the Installation of Dr. Katherine Bergman (right) as its 7^th President and Vice-Chancellor.

Professor Bergman was appointed in August 2012 by St. Jerome's board of governors. She has served as Vice-President Academic and Research at Nipissing University, as Dean of Science at University of Regina, as well as Special Advisor to the President during which time she was instrumental in establishing a collaborative nursing program.

The Installation Liturgy and Ceremony were officiated by the Most Reverend Douglas Crosby, O.M.I., DD and the Very Reverend Sam Restivo, C.R. and attended by elected officials, dignitaries from universities across Canada, members of the St. Jerome’s community, Board members, faculty, staff, alumni, students, friends and family.

Professor Bergman spoke to the value of a Liberal Arts education and the contributions of the humanities, social sciences and arts in today’s society. 

“Students of the Liberal Arts leave university with more than a broad understanding of their chosen discipline, they take with them the ability to communicate and collaborate with colleagues in a variety of disciplines, as well as the ability to understand evolving societal paradigms which is increasingly important for ongoing success.  Consider how much stronger the value of this education becomes when one extends education beyond the intellectual and emotional growth of the student, and engages in their spiritual growth.”

Working at St. Jerome’s is like coming home for Professor. Bergman, who grew up in Waterloo Region and received her Bachelor of Science in Honours Biology from the University of Waterloo. She received her Masters in Paleontology and PhD in Sedimentology from McMaster University, where she was an NSERC post-doctoral fellow.

In co-operation with the Board of Governors and other community partners, she is committed to advancing St. Jerome’s University’s mission, building on the strength of its past and the current momentum in teaching and research, with a view to our exciting future in supporting St. Jerome’s as a place where ideas inspire action.

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BufferBox to ride the rails with pick-up stations

with material from a BufferBox media release.

First they took the Student Life Centre. Now, BufferBox is launching a network of parcel pickup locations at GO Train stations after landing a contract with Metrolinx, the agency that oversees GO Transit stations in Ontario.

Beginning with installations in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA), BufferBox will enable GO Transit riders to conveniently pick up goods purchased online at a BufferBox in their local GO Station. (At right, GO Transit President Gary McNeil uses the first Toronto BufferBox as co-founder Jay Shah looks on.)

BufferBox was founded in 2011 and is designed with online shoppers in mind, offering an automated, self-serve parcel pick-up station as a safer and more convenient shipping alternative to home delivery. BufferBox notifies shoppers via email as soon as a parcel is available for pick-up, and provides a unique, one-time PIN code they can use to retrieve their goods from the BufferBox.

"Online shopping can be cost effective and time saving, but today's outdated and frustrating parcel delivery process can ruin the experience," said Mike McCauley, co-founder of BufferBox. "Our technology offers people shopping online peace of mind that their parcel is secure and available for anytime pick-up."

"Our agreement with Metrolinx -- the first of its kind in North America -- brings BufferBox's unique parcel pick-up service to commuters looking for a quick, secure, and convenient way to pick-up their packages en route." McCauley continued.

Founded by University of Waterloo alumni, BufferBox is headquartered in the VeloCity Garage on Charles Street in downtown Kitchener.

The founders "continue to be highly instrumental to the grass roots culture of sharing entrepreneurial insight to our other start up teams in the Garage," writes Kim Ho of VeloCity.

BufferBoxes are now situated within five GO stations: Union Station in the East Teamway (near the GO bus terminal), Clarkson, Burlington, Oakville, and Port Credit. Another five locations will be added in the coming months. By the end of 2012, there will be 21 BufferBoxes installed in the GTHA, with that number rising to 100 by the end of 2013.

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Friday's notes

Calling all film buffs: the Turnkey Desk has discounted Cineplex/Galaxy movie passes available at the new low price of $ 6.50 while quantities last. They can be used at any Cineplex, Galaxy or Famous Players location across Canada.

"Students from all six faculties took an active role in the university's United Way campaign over the last week, handing out United Way balloons across campus and chalking messages to help raise awareness," writes Kirsty Budd, community manager at the Student Success Office. "Now at the end of its fourth week the campaign has raised over $165,000."

Pictured at left are Applied Health Sciences students Danielle Luxton and Laura Cudmore.

"There's only one draw left so make sure you get your pledge forms in," Budd continues.

Last week's draw winners include Liz Doede of Information Systems and Technology, who won a day off with pay, and Karen Dubois (Dean of Engineering Office), Neil Hultin (retiree), Melissa McNown-Smith (Housing and Residences), and Sean Van Koughnett (Student Success Office), who won lunch with Vice-President Academic and Provost Sallie Ann Keller.

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