Reminder: strategic plan feedback sought

Comments are being sought from the university community on the latest draft of the University of Waterloo's strategic plan, which is now available for download as a PDF.

The draft document takes into account the University of Waterloo's particular strengths and outlines goals and objectives that will chart a course for continued growth and success for the remainder of Waterloo's sixth decade (2013-2017).

The plan covers eight priority areas:

• Groundbreaking research;
• Unrivalled entrepreneurship opportunities;
• Innovation in experiential learning: co-op and beyond;
• Outstanding academic programming;
• Global prominence in internationalization;
• A vibrant student experience;
• A robust employer-staff relationship;
• Promoting a sound value system;

And outlines a number of strategic goals within each area.

The draft plan is the product of a comprehensive consultation process that began with the Mid-cycle Review in 2011 and has continued with stakeholder representative discussions and action planning meetings involving a wide range of participants from the university community.

Comments may be sent in via email and will be reviewed by the Strategic Plan Working Group. Members of the university community who wish to provide feedback are being encouraged to do so by noon on Wednesday, May 1.

Two Town Hall meetings have been scheduled on Wednesday, May 8 from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. and Thursday, May 9 from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the Humanities Theatre to give members of the university community an opportunity to hear from the President and Provost about the feedback received on the draft plan.

 

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Renison's last living founder to visit campus

The last living founder of Renison University College is coming home.

The Venerable Harvey Southcott (pictured above), a retired Anglican Archdeacon, is returning to Renison for the College’s annual celebration of Founders’ Day on Saturday April 27. Southcott was the visionary for an Anglican college in Waterloo and one of the greatest community proponents of the College’s construction. Founders’ Day commemorates both the efforts of the founders to build the college and the founding of Renison University College, itself.

“We are very excited to have a founder of the College with us on Founders’ Day,” said Dr. Glenn Cartwright, Principal and Vice-chancellor of Renison University College. “As we mark more than half a century of Renison’s commitment to community and education, it is a very significant and special occasion to have The Venerable Harvey Southcott join us in celebrating the realization of his vision and all that we have accomplished, subsequently.”

Founded in 1959 by the Kitchener-Waterloo Anglican community, Renison College, as it was then called, was originally located at 193 Albert St, directly across the street from Waterloo Lutheran University (now Wilfrid Laurier University). On July 1,1960, it entered an affiliation with the University of Waterloo with the right to offer courses and programmes in arts and the social sciences for credit towards the Bachelor of Arts degree of the University. Renison was the first institution affiliated with the then new University of Waterloo.

The University of Waterloo transferred five acres of land on the west side of its campus to Renison in 1961. Today, Renison University College has added 3 new buildings and is home to 220 resident students.

"The Venerable Harvey Southcott’s return to Renison University College offers the Renison community a welcome chance to rediscover its shared history and heritage while reflecting on 54 years of development and growth," says a statement from Renison.

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All Science Challenge is more than kid's stuff

by Sharon McFarlane, Faculty of Science

More than 200 grade-school students from across Waterloo Region will test their scientific knowledge in an annual national science competition at the University of Waterloo this Friday.

Designed by post-secondary science students, the All Science Challenge is a unique, team-based event that is part of the nationwide Let’s Talk Science outreach program. The All Science Challenge features hands-on design activities that inspire Grades 6, 7 and 8 students to acquire science knowledge beyond their existing curriculum.

“This day-long enrichment competition helps kids get excited about science,” said Heather Neufeld, science outreach coordinator at Waterloo. “We are looking forward to welcoming 220 young science enthusiasts to our campus this year, and have a crowd of Waterloo scientists volunteering to make the day memorable for them.”

Following the opening ceremonies at 10:00 a.m. in the Mathematics 3 building, the teams will participate in a question-and-answer period with professors, post-doctoral fellows, staff and students from Waterloo's Faculty of Science, who will serve as judges. Students will test their knowledge in a range of disciplines, such as earth sciences, biology, chemistry and physics.

During the afternoon session, teams will compete in design project using only the immediate materials supplied to them. In past design challenges, students have constructed objects such as a rudimentary Morse code machine with only a nail, copper wire, paper clips and battery. Points accumulated from both events will be tabulated and an official winner, such as those pictured above from 2011, will be crowned.

 

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