Men with brooms: The Waterloo Warriors men’s curling team pose with the CIS/CCA Championship Trophy at the Kamloops Curling Club following their 7-5 win over Alberta in the gold medal match on the weekend.

Photograph courtesy of the Athletics department.

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Distinguished Teacher Award winners named

Distinguished Teacher Awards for 2013 will be presented to four faculty members at convocation, associate vice-president, academic Mario Coniglio announced at last night's meeting of the university senate. The winners are:

• Kelly Anthony
• Jeff Casello
• Duane Cronin
• Richard Ennis

Kelly Anthony has been a lecturer for the School of Public Health and Health Systems since 2005. Recently, she has been appointed the teaching fellow for Applied Health Sciences. Her teaching can be best described as a character and perspective building experience, underscoring a level of accountability and connectivity to the community. One student claims that Anthony has been a “catalyst to opening my perspectives of the world”, and another has developed “a unique belief set regarding our moral obligations to the KW community” thanks to her instruction. Ultimately, her students not only gain knowledge but become equipped with a sense of awareness and motivation to be better and more informed participants of the world. Like the best teachers, she intuitively cultivates interest and genuine enthusiasm in her students, “[lighting] up the fire” and stirring their dormant appetites. Anthony’s interactive teaching style stresses discussion-based classes and experiential learning, deftly eluding the passive transfer of facts. These discussion-based lectures “provoke conversations that guide learning and respective epiphanies… engaging [her students] in intellectual spars fostered by an environment that was facilitated by her open nature”.  Under her mentorship, several undergraduate students have developed research projects and participated in independent studies abroad. “Her passionate disposition, superior critical acumen and moral sensibility” confirms her place as a “distinguished teacher” at the University of Waterloo. 

Jeff Casello, an associate professor in the School of Planning cross-appointed to the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, began his career at Waterloo on July 1, 2004 . He is also the associate dean for undergraduate studies in the Faculty of Environment. Students laud his delivery skills, describing him as an “easy lecturer to listen to: easy-going and passionate at the same time”. His lectures are suffused with a supportive energy and a “commitment to environmental protection and social justice”. As one student claims, “by the end of the term, a sense of social responsibility has been grown in many of my peers”. The depth of his commitment to teaching is evidenced by his mentorship of both undergraduates and graduates, despite his many responsibilities. Casello’s guidance with his students’ academic and professional endeavors, and his salient efforts to engage his students cement his status as a “distinguished teacher”.

Duane Cronin, an associate professor in the department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering, has been a member of the University of Waterloo since 2001. He is widely known for his ability to trigger student interest in the driest topics by constantly relating abstract ideas to real-world applications, like using a “bicycle pedal to show material fatigue”. Fostering critical analysis and a meaningful engagement with concepts, Cronin has a “unique way of challenging students to develop independent learning strategies”.  One student cites him as the catalyst for his “newfound joy in engineering”. His teaching extends beyond the classroom as Cronin is a source of guidance to many students. Under his supervision, students participated in various extra-curricular activities such as the mini Baja team and the SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers). Cronin’s passion for teaching and commitment to his students truly makes him a “distinguished” teacher worthy of praise.

Richard Ennis has been a lecturer in the department of Psychology in the Faculty of Arts since 2003. Infusing lectures with humour and stories, Ennis has cultivated a reputation as an engaging and “legendary” teacher. Students applaud his ability to incorporate amusing anecdotes to elucidate the most abstract concepts. His dynamic teaching style “made an early morning class hard to miss”, “kept [students] at the edge of [their] seats” and, as one student extolls, is “more of a performance… [transforming the university classroom] itself into a theatre”. Many students cite his infectious enthusiasm as the deciding factor in their choice of majors. Others too, owe their newfound appetite and curiosity for psychology to his direct influence. Perhaps more significant is Ennis’ “exceptional empathy for the learning needs of his students”, offering academic, as well as personal support well past office hours. In sum, his “unique blend of humour and professionalism” in combination with the breadth of his knowledge and years of experience make Richard Ennis truly a “distinguished teacher”, and is, as an undergraduate notes, “without a doubt the jewel of the psychology department”. 

In addition, four graduate students have been named this year’s winners of the Amit and Meena Chakma Award for Exceptional Teaching by a Student. They are:

• Jonathan Eyolfson
• Kyra Jones
• Alex Shum
• Shuntaro Yamagishi

The winners of these student teaching awards will be profiled in tomorrow's Daily Bulletin.

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Efficiency group still seeking input

The Efficiency Working Group, created to "optimize the use of human, financial and capital resources," is seeking ideas from the campus community on how to improve administrative efficiency at the university. The campus community is encouraged to provide input by Friday, March 29.

A website and survey tool has been developed to help collect ideas. WatIAM authentication is required to make submissions, however the working group will review suggestions without personal attribution.

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Can you hear me now? We're working on that.

by Bruce Campbell, Director of Network Services.

Major cell carriers have identified difficulty responding to increased cell phone usage on the university campus, using existing cell towers on neighbouring properties.  Reports from students, faculty, and staff also indicate cell service dead zones in areas, including locations in the student residences (which no longer have land line phones).  The carriers advise that the increasing demand can only be met by antennae located on university property, ideally close to the centre of the south campus, where the majority of users are located.

Since a smartphone is the students' primary communication tool, dependable cell service is to be expected on campus. In addition, cell phones can augment Campus Phones if requesting emergency assistance.

The university has been exploring options to enhance campus cell coverage, and issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) late in 2012 for campus cell service improvements.  The responses to the RFP are still being evaluated for effectiveness, aesthetics, and operational impacts. 

If you experience poor cell phone reception on campus, please contact Bruce Campbell, Director of Network Services, Information Systems & Technology at x38323, by e-mail, or on Twitter.

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Sales, open houses, meetings, and more

Retail Services is holding its March Monster sale today and tomorrow from 9:30 a.m. to 4:40 p.m. in South Campus Hall. Select products in the BookStore are up to 80 per cent off, and at the Waterloo Store discounts of up to 50 per cent off can be found.

The Information Technology (IT) Strategic Plan team is hosting a second Open House for the campus community today from 10:00 a.m. to noon in DC 1302. Attendees will hear about the team's progress since December, including the emerging directions for IT at Waterloo, some of the areas that need addressing based on the team's findings, and next steps towards the first collaborative "IT Directions" plan, to be released in April. No registration is required, and the team looks forward to your participation and feedback.

Mark your calendars for Wednesday, March 28 at noon, when the university's Three-Minute Thesis (3MT) final competition takes place in room 0101 of the Quantum-Nano Centre. 17 finalists from faculty-level heats will be competing for the $1,000 first prize and $500 runner-up prize, plus the chance to compete in the provincial competition at Queen's on April 18. Additional information, including finalists’ details, can be found on the 3MT website.

Students are being "strongly encouraged" to attend the Federation of Students’ March General Meeting on Thursday, March 28 from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the SLC Great Hall. "Decisions on important issues will be made including a proposed fee increase to various departments within the Federation of Students," writes the federation's Jacqueline Martinz. "Other significant topics are the management of the Student Life Centre, and the ratification of the incoming Feds executive. The 2012-2013 executive will present the Feds Annual Report." If a student is unable to attend the AGM, they may give a proxy vote on the agenda items by following the instructions online.

Here's the latest nutrition "myth vs. fact" supplied by Health Services Dietician Sandra Ace:

"Myth:" A “nightcap” will help you sleep.

"Fact:" While alcohol may help you to fall asleep more quickly, a review of studies to date concluded that it disrupts the sleep cycle and lowers the quality of sleep. If you have trouble sleeping, try these more effective strategies. If you consistently struggle with either getting to sleep, staying asleep or wake up feeling tired after a full night of sleep (7 to 9 hours) talk to your healthcare provider.

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