Orientation in full swing...

The University of Waterloo has welcomed more than 7,800 new students for Orientation, that week-long extravaganza that introduces new undergraduate and graduate students to academic, social and community life at Waterloo.

“We know that starting university is a big change for new students and their families," said Chris Read, associate provost, students at Waterloo. “Orientation is a great opportunity for them to connect with the campus. We’re aware that this is a transition for parents as well. So there are events planned for them, too.”

The Federation of Students and the Student Success Office partner with the faculties, Housing and Residence, as well as the federated university and affiliated colleges to organize Orientation. The week also involves more than 1,000 upper-year student volunteers.

it's a busy week full of programming for students both on-campus and off, international students, students transferring from another institution, and students at nearby satellite campuses in Cambridge and Stratford.

Today's events include a cross-campus orientation for graduate students, and first-year students will also be earning their hard hat (if they are in Engineering), their shades (if they are in Arts) and their goggles (if they are in Science). Students in Applied Health Sciences will be taking part in the "Amazing Ahssie Race," travelling around the campus completing challenges and detours in a fast-paced, high-stakes race against the clock. Math students will gather in the DC Quad to do battle with pirates in an event known as "The Final Frontier."

Aerial photos of the incoming classes for Applied Health Sciences, Science, and Engineering will also take place today.

Today, Orientation's evening event is "Choose Your Own Adventure." There's no keeping your thumb on the previous page for do-overs with this event, which provides a wide range of activities all across campus, including hip-hop and ballroom dancing, soccer and Ultimate Frisbee, and showcase events that include a hypnotist, a bonfire concert, an improv performance, and dance. Students will also be given the supplies needed for them to create their masks for the Masquerade party that serves as Orientation's grand finale at week's end.

And for the second year in a row, the university will provide its students with a new way to navigate the campus; using their smartphone. The university has partnered with MappedIn, a company founded by three former students, to provide mobile wayfinding. Through the free app, students are able to get turn-by-turn directions right to their classroom door.

MappedIn has also mapped other popular places for Waterloo students, including Uptown Waterloo and Conestoga Mall, allowing them to discover local restaurants, shops and nightlife. In other words, making Waterloo home.

Orientation isn't limited to incoming students. New faculty members and their families will be welcomed at a BBQ event to be held in Kitchener's Victoria Park Pavilion at 5:30 p.m. this evening.

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...as student leaders take charge

by Jacqueline Martinz, Federation of Students

Orientation Week is considered a time for first-year students to make lifelong friendships, create lasting memories and build a collection of hilarious stories to share. Yet there is another group it has an impact on: student leaders. This year, about 1,200 upper-year undergraduates are participating in Orientation Week. From organizing social events to helping the new class settle into residence, they will be involved in nearly every aspect.

Among the leaders is Ben Cornish, the orientation programs assistant for the Federation of Students. A fourth-year honours kinesiology student, Cornish has spent the last eight months working closely with the Federation Orientation Committee (FOC), which is a team of 33 undergraduates who plan and organize events.

“My duties include overlooking the team’s event plans and helping them make decisions about how their event will be experienced by both leaders and first-year students,” he said. “I also assist with the events, and ensure they run in an efficient and proficient manner.”

The next few days will be the most hectic for Cornish, who is planning to be running around campus to support different groups. He is looking forward to seeing the rewards of the hard work put into Orientation Week by himself and the other student leaders.

“This campus will be a home away from home for first-year students,” he said. “I want to see them have fun and get excited to start as undergraduates at the University of Waterloo.”

 

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Heralding the return of the shield

We've got your lions and chevrons right here.

The long-running initiative to update the university’s visual identity has taken an important first step with the introduction of a refined logo that features the return of the university’s shield, wedded to the existing Waterloo wordmark.

“This initial step reinforces our reputation as a world-class institution rooted in a distinguished history, and sustained by our distinctive character,” wrote President and Vice-Chancellor Feridun Hamdullahpur in a memo sent to campus this morning.

Those with sharp eyes will have noticed that the logo has begun to appear on signage around campus, including the north and south campus entrances, UW Place on Seagram Drive and entrances to the university colleges along Westmount.

The heraldic shield, which features three lions on a gold pallet divided by a bold chevron, goes back very nearly to this institution’s beginnings – the coat of arms that was adopted in 1961. The combination of a gold shield with black and white chevrons incorporates all three of Waterloo’s official colours (and yes, there are three – black, gold and white). The three red lions signify strength and courage and are a reference to the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. The counties of Waterloo and nearby Wellington both gained their names from said battle, in which the Duke of Wellington famously defeated Napoleon. The distinctive black and white chevrons are borrowed from the coat of arms of Lord Kitchener.

The decision to reintroduce the shield to the wordmark was based on broad consultations and support from campus departments and Faculty leaders. Though phased out of the university’s logo in 2009, the shield has remained in use continuously, appearing in the university’s seal, which appears on diplomas and other official documents.

“In our rapidly globalizing and highly competitive post-secondary education sector, it is essential that our identity and messaging are clear, bold, unified, and easily identifiable,” the president writes.

The process of updating the university’s visual identity will continue with new letterhead, business cards, and other university materials.

More information can be found on the university’s Brand Guidelines page. There, members of the university community are able to download new logos and order stationery. Stay tuned for further updates on the visual identity front in future Daily Bulletins.

 

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Safety director retiring and other notes

Kevin Stewart (right) is retiring after 22 years as Director of Safety. Stewart was appointed as the University of Waterloo's second safety director in February 1991, taking over from Nick Ozaruk, who served as the university's top safety official from 1969 to 1991.

Kevin came to Waterloo from the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health & Safety (CCOHS) where he was a project scientist. Previously he was in the metal and automotive industry.

“It has been my pleasure to work with great staff, faculty and students”, Stewart says. ”I wish that I was a few years younger to be involved with implementation of the Safety Office’s role in uWaterloo’s Strategic Plan, as I believe it will be a very exciting time to be on campus.”

Please join the Safety Office in acknowledging Kevin’s years of service at uWaterloo at a reception Open House in the Safety Office, Commissary Building on Wednesday, September 4, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Fall extended hours are in effect for a number of retail units across campus. The Book Store is open Tuesday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Saturday, September 7 from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Campus Tech is open Tuesday to February from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Media.doc Dana Porter reopens today. The Waterloo Store is open 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday. Write Stuff is open Tuesday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Saturday from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Feds Used Books is open from Tuesday to Sunday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

A number of Food Services locations have reopened as of today, including Browser's in the Dana Porter Library (open 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. this week), Brubaker's in the Student Life Centre (open 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. this week), Eye Opener in Optometry (8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. this week), Subway (8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. this week), and the coffee taps have been turned back on with Tim Hortons Davis Centre open 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., Tim Hortons Modern Languages from 8:00 am - 3:00 p.m. Tuesday to Thursday and 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Friday, Tim Hortons South Campus Hall from 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. this week, and Tim Hortons Student Life Centre from 7:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.

All spouses and partners of international students, visiting scholars, faculty and staff are invited to join the International Spouses group this September for a number of events, including a walking tour, English conversation group, book club and movie group. Canadian spouses are welcome as well.

On Sunday, September 8, the first "Movie & Coffee With Patty" event will take place with a trip to the nearby Galaxy Cinema for a screening of classic caper comedy "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World" at 12:15 p.m. On Wednesday, September 11, there will be a walking tour of UpTown Waterloo starting at 10:00 a.m. More details can be found on the International Spouses website.

 

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