The search for a new Registrar has begun

The nominating committee for the University Registrar has begun its work and is seeking community input as the search for this senior leadership position continues, according to a memo circulated last week.

The committee's members are:

• Geoff McBoyle, Vice-President, Academic & Provost (chair)
• Mike Grivicic, Assistant University Secretary (committees)
• William Chesney, Associate Dean, Undergraduate (Arts)
• Mario Coniglio, Associate Vice-President, Academic
• Adam Garcia, Vice-President, Education, Federation of Students
• Robert Henderson, President, Graduate Student Association
• Shelley Hulan, Associate Professor, English Language & Literature (FAUW representative)
• Maureen Jones, Director, Student Awards and Financial Aid, Registrar's Office
• Debbie Knepper, Administrative Officer, Registrar's Office
• Wayne Loucks, Associate Dean, Undergraduate (Engineering)
• Chris Read, Associate Provost, Students

The university has engaged Janet Wright & Associates, a professional executive search consulting firm, to assist the nominating committee.

The University Registrar is a key position within the university, overseeing undergraduate student recruitment and marketing, admissions, enrolment, examinations, the development and application of academic policies, and convocation.

The Registrar's Office facilitates the recruitment and timely admission of highly qualified undergraduate applicants; secures production and maintenance of accurate student records on which the conferral of degrees and the university’s grant claim are based; handles the administration of provincial student aid and bursaries; administers Waterloo’s local financial aid guarantee; manages merit-based scholarships and awards; financial aid counselling; determines the most prudent use of classroom space through the creation of class schedules that support the multi-disciplinary character of the curriculum and the interests of students; creates the examination timetable and the administration of final examinations; organizes and executes convocation ceremonies; and is a central source of information, providing help and services as they relate to these tasks and responsibilities.

The committee is inviting members of the campus community to consider the following questions:

• What opportunities and challenges will the Registrar encounter over the next few years, including but not limited to:
  
  • Recruiting and admitting premier undergraduate students to the university
    
  • Providing exemplary customer service for clients: students, faculty and staff
    
  • Developing class and examination timetables
    
  • Administration of student awards and financial aid
    
  • What are the implications of these challenges and opportunities for the new Registrar?
    
    
• Specifically, what do you consider to be the essential mandate of the new incumbent and this person’s first year and longer term priorities?
  
  
• What are your thoughts on the most important qualifications for the position - in terms of leadership style, organizational experience, and functional experience?
  
  
• Are there any particular individuals you would like to recommend for consideration?
  
  

Members of the campus community are invited to send comments to any member of the committee, to the search consultant Janet Wright, or to the committee secretary Mike Grivicic no later than Tuesday, November 5.

All comments will be held in confidence within the nominating committee.

More information about the nominating committee, its activities, the position advertisement and description will be posted to the Secretariat's website when available.

The current University Registrar, Ken Lavigne, will retire in January 2014 after 37 years with the university.

 

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COU launches online accessibility resource

A message from AccessAbility Services.

We are pleased to announce that the Council of Ontario Universities (COU) has launched a new website filled with rich resources and strategies to enhance accessibility at universities across the province.  The Accessible Campus contains information  on a variety of topics including a series of videos featuring university faculty, staff and students designed to reduce stigma and improve awareness surrounding mental health on campus, tools to make university websites accessible, and resources  for faculty to enhance accessibility in their teaching environments.

The Accessible Campus is a culmination of efforts with contributions from all Ontario Universities.  Two key areas of note are the Best Practice section, which features University of Waterloo Web Resources, and the Centre for Teaching Excellence Teaching tips.

The website offers a toolkit to help us meet the AODA Accessibility Requirements and will host a Q&A section for Educators and University personnel to encourage knowledge sharing on a continuum of topics as we advance our mission to create inclusive, accessible university environments.  For more information, please contact Rose Padacz or visit the AccessAbility Services website.

 

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United Way donor profile: William Chesney

by Jacqueline Martinz.

For the past 20 years, William Chesney, the associate dean, undergraduate studies in the Faculty of Arts, has been contributing to the United Way. He credits his parents for helping him recognize the importance of giving back to the community. “I can remember my mom canvassing for the Red Feather campaign in Montreal when I was growing up,” he said. “My parents were big believers in service of all kinds, and were very active in their church and community.”

Presently, Chesney donates to the University of Waterloo’s United Way Campaign through automatic monthly withdrawals. He encourages others to support the organization, and is able to list different reasons as to why he continues to. “I am satisfied that the governance and funding practices of the United Way ensure that the maximum amount of revenue possible flows to the groups who really need it,” Chesney said. “Also, I like the grass-roots approach of building awareness and support, such as what is done at Waterloo with departmental reps during the month of October, and fun events to raise money.”

According to Chesney, it is especially imperative for staff and faculty within the University community to contribute. “We are privileged to have one of the best workplaces in the world; good working conditions, surrounded by opportunities to learn about our world from highly informed and skilled sources, and a pleasant physical environment (despite the geese),” he says. “It behooves each of us to share our good fortune however we can; the United Way campaign on campus makes it easy and fun.”

Information about how to donate is available on the campaign webpage.

Photograph provided by Bill Chesney.

 

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Notes, and remembering Remembrance Day

On Thursday, October 24, President Feridun Hamdullahpur hosted his first President's Community Breakfast at the Mike & Ophelia Lazaridis Quantum Nano Centre. Invited guests included community partners from the non-profit, corporate and government sectors, all of whom partner with the University in various capacities throughout the year. The inaugural event is intended to welcome our community partners to campus and showcase emerging news and collaboration opportunities.

In addition to networking with fellow community partners at one of the University's state of the art research buildings, the President shared highlights of the University's two recent strategic achievements, the new strategic plan and the exclusive launch of the University's Economic Impact report. The president's website has further details.

Today, the Federation of Students will be holding an Annual General Meeting from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the Student Life Centre’s Great Hall. "All undergraduates are able to attend the AGM to ask student leaders questions, participate in discussions about issues on campus, and vote for candidates running to join the Board of Directors," writes the Federation's Jacqueline Martinz. "Free pizza will be served during the event." More information about the event and its agenda, which includes proposals for some sweeping changes to the federation's electoral system, is available online.

Also, today is the first Flu Clinic for High Risk Populations at Health Services. The clinic will be held from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., Health Services. "High risk" in this case includes uWaterloo Policy, daycare workers and Optometry students currently in clinic, health care providers who work in facilities and community settings, persons 65 years of age or over, all children from 6 to 59 months of age, pregnant women, aboriginal people, persons with diabetes, cardiac or respiratory conditions, cancer, or anyone whose immune system is weakened. A full list of high risk populations can be found on Health Services' website. Health Services would like to remind all employees that they are encouraged to take advantage of these on-site clinics.

An Engineering Teaching event entitled "Engaging Student Attention in Large Classes" will be held tomorrow, October 29, for all Engineering faculty members, sessional instructors, and teaching assistants from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in E5 3102. The event will be co-facilitated by Veronica Brown, Instructional Developer with the Centre for Teaching Excellence, and Gordon Stubley, Associate Dean, Teaching, and will "provide participants with valuable tools and concrete strategies for engaging their students." Two instructors, Wei-Chau Xie of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Hamid Jahedmotlagh, will be featured at the event, sharing their theories of student motivation and reflecting on their own teaching practices "to develop classroom strategies to increase student engagement."

Also on Tuesday morning, the automatic doors on the east side of the Davis Centre will be closed to pedestrian traffic due to emergency repairs to the doors, according to Gary Kosra. "Steel angles will be welded to existing HHS steel to support overhead glass," he writes, noting that the doors will be closed for much of the day. The process will be repeated on Wednesday, October 30 for the doors on DC's west side facing Math & Computer. Barricades and signage will be erected to facilitate the work.

"So you've mastered Angry Birds on your phone. How would you do with an actual slingshot?" write David Ha and Bonnie Bishop. "Come join the School of Accounting and Finance for our final United Way campaign event." The game will take place on Tuesday, October 29 from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. in HH 180. The entry fee is $5 for a two person team. There will be a prize for the team who knocks the most pigs down with the fewest number of shots. All proceeds will go to the United Way campaign.

It's hard to believe that October is almost over, but looking ahead:

"In 2005, UW initiated the practice of observing a minute’s silence at 11 o’clock on November 11 – Remembrance Day," writes Vice-President, Academic & Provost Geoff McBoyle in a memo circulated last week. "I would therefore ask that, if possible, whether you are alone, with a group, or in front of a class, you take time at 11 o’clock on November 11th to observe a minute’s silence, remembering and honouring the men and women who have served, and continue to serve our country during times of war, conflict and peace."

 

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