Shining a LITE on latest grant recipients

The Centre for Teaching Excellence (CTE), in collaboration with the Office of the Associate Vice-President, Academic, has announced that two new Learning Innovation and Teaching Enhancement (LITE) Seed Grant projects were funded through the February 2013 competition.

As the announcement from the CTE explains, the purpose of the LITE Grants is to "provide support for experimenting with and investigating innovative approaches to enhancing teaching that aim to foster deep student learning at the University of Waterloo."

Two kinds of grants are available: LITE Seed Grants for projects up to $5,000, and LITE Full Grants for projects up to $30,000. Both grant formats emphasize the contribution of the project to the University of Waterloo learning community. 

CTE is also updating potential applicants that there are now two, rather than three annual application deadlines for the Seed grants: February 1 and June 1. There is a single annual deadline for Full Grants: October 1.

More information about the grants are available on CTE's website.

Registration is also open for upcoming LITE Grant Information Sessions. The next session is scheduled for Thursday, May 16.

To register for an upcoming LITE Grant Information Session, please visit the Centre for Teaching Excellence web site: .  The next session will be Thursday, May 16, 2013.

Julie Timmermans of the Centre for Teaching Excellence is available to discuss projects with those considering making an application. Contact her via email or by calling ext. 32940.

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Renison fêtes provost, others at Founder's Day

Vice-President, Academic & Provost Geoff McBoyle was among the honorees at Renison University College's Founder's Day event, held Saturday, April 27. The annual event celebrates the founding of the college in 1957 and is an opportunity for Renison to honour the achievements and contributions of members of its community.

McBoyle was one of five people named Honorary Senior Fellow at the convocation ceremony, alongside The Rev. Canon David Bowyer, Manfred Conrad, Shu Hing Man, and Lynn Schumacher.

Renison Principal Glenn Cartwright explained that McBoyle was being honoured "for his decades long friendship and support of the college, and his outstanding service both to the College and the University of Waterloo."

McBoyle also gave the convocation address. In his remarks, the provost spoke of the complementary nature of the relationship between the university and its federated and affiliated colleges. "We need to use our strengths to support each other," he said. "UW's Strategic Plan calls for internationalization, student experience, interdisciplinary, community - Renison has already delivered. Renison's Strategic Plan calls for research, graduate programs - UW can deliver here."

"There are opportunities to be taken as we move forward together."

Other people who received honours at Saturday's event included retired faculty member Linda Snyder, who was named a Fellow, and Charmaine Hammond (BA '95) who was named Outstanding Alumna. A special guest at this year's Founder's Day was The Venerable Harvey Southcott, Renison's last living founder.

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Student governments in transition

Today marks the day when the reins of power in student government are transferred, for the most part peacefully, from incumbent to incumbent.

For the Federation of Students, the term of office for executives Andrew Noble, Kumar Patel, Alexandra Russell and Adam Garcia wrapped up yesterday. Taking over today are President David Collins, Vice-President Administration and Finance Natasha Pozega, Vice-President, Internal Devin Drury, and Adam Garcia, who succeeds himself for a second term as Vice-President, Education.

For the Graduate Student Association, outgoing execs Hassan Nasir (president), Michael Makahnouk (Vice President, External), Robert Henderson (Vice President Student Affairs), Mahdi Safa (Vice President Internal) welcome President Robert Henderson (who moves from VP Student Affairs to the presidency), VP Communications and Events Maryam Shahtaheri, VP External Matthew Gaster, VP Internal Mike Makahnouk (who also switches portfolios) and VP Student Affairs Coleen Even, who were all acclaimed in February 2013.

In addition, new and in some cases re-elected faces will also appear at Students' Council, the Feds Board of Directors, and the GSA board of directors as their terms commence.

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May today and other notes

A new fiscal day dawns today for the university. The 2013-2014 fiscal year begins today, with everybody making a new start in calculating both revenue and expenditures. For faculty and staff members, annual salary adjustments go into effect today, and will become a reality on the next payday, which is May 3 for those who are paid every two weeks and May 31 (ouch) for those who are paid monthly.

Among the new faces taking leadership positions today include chemical engineering professor Marc Aucoin whose term as Academic Director, WatPD-Engineering goes into effect. He'll hold that position until April 30, 2016.

Retail Services stores, including the Book Store, Waterloo Store, and Write Stuff will be holding extended hours to accommodate students. From today to Friday, the Book Store, Waterloo Store, and Write Stuff will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and on Saturday, May 4 will be open from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. From Monday, May 6 to Thursday, May 9 they will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. On Friday, May 10, they will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and on Saturday, May 11 from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Campus Tech and Media.doc will be open on weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Waterloo LEARN's upgrade to a new version is still ongoing. The system will continue to be offline today.

Information Systems & Technology (IST) has announced that registration is now open for May and June workshops. These late spring offerings of the Skills for the Electronic Workplace (SEW) program are focused on the core web training for the Waterloo Content Management System (WCMS) as the university migrates sites to this new management system.  Also, featured are several accessibility courses for compliance matter with the Accessibility for Ontarians With Disabilities Act (AODA). The schedule is available on IST's website.

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