Charbonneau to lead Student Success Office

“The hiring process for the Director, Student Success Office is complete and I am pleased to announce that Pam Charbonneau has accepted the role,” wrote Associate Provost, Students Chris Read in an announcement circulated last week.

“Pam’s focus will be on evolving the SSO into a group that works with the faculties and others around campus to continuously enhance the experience of our students. Her passion for student success and for UW is evident to those who have been fortunate enough to work with her. ” writes Read.

Charbonneau has been a leader in the field of student experience at Waterloo for the last 14 years, working in senior positions in both the Student Success Office and the Department of Housing and Residences. She is a Waterloo grad with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours Economics and Applied Studies, International Trade Specialization) and a Master of Arts (Planning, specialization: community development, housing, integrated planning).

"I’m very excited to take on this new role that is so important in supporting our students and their success at Waterloo," Charbonneau says. "I look forward to working with an enthusiastic and dedicated team in the SSO to continue helping students reach their academic and personal goals."

Charbonneau assumes the role immediately.

“I would like to thank all the faculty, staff and students involved in the hiring process,” Read concludes.

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Science + co-op = success + satisfaction

by Suman Armitage

Recently, CECA sat down with Professor Terry McMahon, Dean of Science (left) to find out what makes University of Waterloo Science students so valuable to employers. Results show that it is their boundless curiosity and strong desire to discover new solutions that drive work term success.

Through diverse hands-on learning experiences, Science students connect theory with practice. Their flexible thinking and intrinsic quest for understanding allows them to improvise and innovate in a wide range of environments.

“Whether they are first or fourth year co-op students, these individuals have come well-prepared to work within a team, have demonstrated above-average learning and adaptation skills, and an exceptional work ethic,” one frequent employer of Science co-op students notes. “They bring new life and new experiences.”

To recognize exceptional workplace contributions, co-op employers are invited each year to nominate students for the uWaterloo Co-op Student of the Year award. Our most recent Science recipient was Diljot Chhina, Biotechnology/Economics.

“Diljot’s personal drive to go above and beyond expectations was evident in her willingness to roll up her sleeves, self-educate and take on tasks outside her skill set,” explains Marla Krakower, Project Manager at the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. “This can-do attitude and drive for excellence was not only a source of motivation for her team, it also earned her the respect of her colleagues.”

Career options for Science students are wide-ranging and diverse, as evidenced in the Science edition of the Centre for Career Action’s Career View Mirror. Log on to view profiles of notable Science alumni and learn where their unique career paths have led them.

Satellite Mission Planner, Clinical Research Coordinator, Hydrogeologist, Research Assistant – these roles represent just a small sampling of the Science career opportunities in existence today.

Many of today’s Science students are pioneering future careers in emerging fields. Their penchant for problem solving, combined with our innovative environment and the Science Faculty’s leading-edge research, provides a winning combination to ensure they’re well-prepared for the success that comes with a University of Waterloo Science degree.

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Organizing for random acts of kindness

by Jenn Zehr, Communications and Public Affairs.

The University of Waterloo and the Federation of Students have partnered with The Kitchener and Waterloo Community Foundation (KWCF) to participate in Random Act of Kindness Day on Friday November 1.

Random Act of Kindness Day inspires people to practice kindness and to pass it on to others. This annual event is an opportunity for our campus to demonstrate that we care and contribute to our community and helps to strengthen our community-at-large. You are invited to participate in this day to celebrate the generous and vibrant community in which we live.

Volunteers are the heart and soul of this event. We are looking for students, faculty and staff volunteers to assist with various activities taking place on campus in the Student Life Centre as well as across the Waterloo campus to spread kindness. If you are looking to get out and engage with our community, then this is the opportunity for you. Contact Community Relations if you are interested in volunteering.

Submit your story of kindness including images, video, and quotes by using #UWaterlooRAK on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and we’ll spread the word. Submissions will be added to the University of Waterloo’s Random Act of Kindness Storify to be shared with the Waterloo community. All submissions will be entered into a draw to win a gift package.

Kindness cards will be distributed across campus. You are encouraged to take a card and perform an act of kindness for someone. Then, encourage others to ‘pay it forward’ with an act of kindness. The KWCF has provided 101 Acts of Kindness suggestions (PDF).

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Mental Health Wellness Day tomorrow

by the Mental Health Wellness Day committee.

Get your orange t-shirts ready, because tomorrow is Mental Health Wellness Day. This annual initiative brings the campus together to demonstrate to our students that uWaterloo is a caring community where it is safe to talk about mental health concerns and that we have the resources to help.

More than 2,500 t-shirts have been delivered across the main and satellite campuses, thanks to the help of Central Stores and student volunteers, along with an information card listing the three key messages to share with students:

• 1 in 5 Canadians will be affected by mental illness in their lifetime
• uWaterloo is a caring community and is a safe place to ask for help
• We have the resources to help you

The back of the t-shirts reads ‘1 in 5 – Ask Me’ as a way to reinforce to students that any faculty, staff or student leader can direct them to available resources. There is also information about a new, 24-hour national hotline called Good2Talk, similar to the Kids Help Phone but for university-aged students.

If you would like to show your support for this important initiative, there are still a few shirts available. You can contact Mark Beadle, Director, Campus Wellness today. Don’t forget to wear your Mental Health Wellness Day t-shirt tomorrow and get ready to tweet how you stay mentally healthy using the #1in5 hashtag. You can follow along on uWaterloo’s Storify page.

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Bubble tea mascot birthday bash, other notes

“The popular Campus Bubble mascot, Tappy, will be celebrating its second birthday on October 24 with a party for the University community,” writes the Federation of Students’ Jacqueline Martinz.  “Campus Bubble staff members will serve cake, tea, and more to attendees from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the shop’s location in the Student Life Centre.”

The first 50 guests to arrive will receive free t-shirts. Tappy was introduced to the University of Waterloo in 2011 when Campus Bubble opened. The mascot has helped promote fresh fruit smoothies, and exclusive bubble tea flavours.

The Earth Sciences Museum with the Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences will be hosting the annual University of Waterloo Gem & Mineral Show this Friday, October 25 from 12:00 noon to 6:00 p.m. and Saturday, October 26 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The show will be located on the first and second floors of the EIT building in the Earth Sciences Museum. There will be jewellery, minerals, rocks and a chance to win a door prize - a ‘picture sandstone’ from Kanab, Utah (a close-up of which is seen above left).

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