Performance review season begins

a message from Human Resources.

Staff Performance Appraisal season is now upon us and you share the responsibility with your manager to review, document and discuss your performance for 2013.

There have been no changes to the performance evaluation forms for the 2013 cycle with the exception of spell check and text box expansion improvements. Staff members should take an opportunity to review the Performance Management website that is available to both parties in the review process and contains all the necessary forms, guides, and tips for achieving an effective performance review.

The annual review should include a meaningful discussion highlighting your accomplishments aligned to desired goals.

Appraisals are a two way conversation and this is a good time for you to identify your areas of success, areas that you would like to work on improving, as well as interest in future career opportunities and further development.

Reviews should take place between February 3 and March 7. The deadline to submit completed hard copy performance evaluations to Human Resources is March 14. Staff members should check with their managers to confirm departmental timelines, which often vary within the overall deadlines.

 

Any staff member with questions can discuss with their manager.

 

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There's still time to send a Treat-A-Gram

by Carrie Ann Nickerson.

There are only five days left to buy your treat-a-grams so be sure to submit your order by this Friday February, 7at 4:30 p.m.!

Just $3.00 each, Treat-a-grams are a fun way to say “thank you” to a friend or to recognize the hard work of a colleague.

Order yours now!  Visit Keystone Campaign:  Treat-a-gram 2014!

CAUTION: Receiving treat-a-grams may cause excessive smiling. Have a funny or heart-warming treat-a-gram story? Share it with us at keystone@uwaterloo.ca!  

Treat-a-gram is brought to you by volunteers of the Keystone Campaign, which engages and inspires the campus community in philanthropy. Every year, our family of faculty, staff and retirees donate over $1 million and countless volunteer hours to support the University of Waterloo.

 

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Students make it rain with CA$H battle win

Three University of Waterloo business students came in first in this year's edition of the Battle for CA$H. The Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario held its annual competition on January 25 to give teams of university students considering a career as a Chartered Professional Accountant the opportunity to compete, have fun and earn some cash prizes.

The winning team members are Thinisha Gunsekera, Katherine Chan and Samantha Tjong, who won the CA$H Cup plus $3,000 and an additional $1,500 for their school's accounting club.

In second place was a team from the University of Toronto - St. George, with a team from Wilfrid Laurier University earning a third-place spot.

To win, the three-person student teams took part in a friendly competition stressing the use of CPA skills such as communication, teamwork, leadership and time management. A total of 37 three-person teams from 20 post-secondary programs were run through a skill-testing simulation to test the participants' ability to think on their feet and problem solve.

"The CA$H competition is a chance for students to learn about the skills they'll need to succeed in the world of business, while competing for prizes that can help fund their education," said Sheetal Gupta, Associate Director, Career Information at CPA Ontario. "It's a fun event that gives participants a chance to network with peers from across the province and meet representatives from the Approved Training Offices. The winners enjoy the cash they get from CA$H but, for the students who didn't win, we think this competition demonstrates the value of considering the CPA profession; a decision that would certainly make them a winner in the long run."

Other campuses taking part in the competition included Brock University, Carleton University's Sprott School of Business, Lakehead University, McMaster University's DeGroote School of Business, Queen's University, Ryerson University, the University of Guelph, the University of Guelph-Humber ,the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT), the University of Ottawa, the University of Toronto - Mississauga Campus, the University of Toronto - Scarborough Campus, and the University of Windsor.

 

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Hagey Bonspiel, governors meet, other notes

The 42nd annual UW Hagey Curling Bonspiel is taking place on Saturday, February 22 at the Ayr Curling Club in Ayr.

The bonspiel is a longstanding tradition, and is named for the first president of the University of Waterloo, Gerry Hagey.

"Whether you are an experience curler or have never curled before, you will enjoy the fun and frolics of this non-competitive event," writes Sheila Hurley of the Safety Office. "Brooms, sliders are supplied all you need is soft-soled shoes (running shoes)."

The registration fee is $40, which includes two curling games, a morning and afternoon snack, sit-down luncheon, and of course prizes.

More information on the event and registration form is located online.

On the agenda at tomorrow's Board of Governors meeting are decisions on the 2014-2015 residence fees and tuition and incidental/co-op fees for 2014-2015, an update on the University's 2013-2014 Operating Budget, and approval for name changes to the department of Communications and Public Affairs to Marketing and Strategic Communications, and to the Secretariat, which will be known as Secretariat and Office of General Counsel. Several units in the office of the Vice-President, University research will be changed as well, pending the board's vote. The University's Senate approved the CPA name change in November 2013, and approved the Secretariat's title modification in January 2014, but final approval rests with the Board of Governors.

Governors will also hear reports from the President, the Vice-President, Academic & Provost, the Dean of Environment, and a research presentation from Professor Jennifer Clapp of Environment and Resource Studies.

Human Resources has reported that a number of retired staff members have passed away recently:

• Violet Morrison, who started at the University in September 1970, died January 23. She retired as Food Services Assistant in Food Services in April 1985;
• Manfred Rieck, who began working at the University in February 1974, died January 28. Rieck was an Electrical Technician in the School of Optometry and retired in October 1994. He was predeceased by his spouse Edeltraut; and
• Robert Reed, who started in March 1979, died January 20. He retired as an Electrician in Plant Operations in May 1989. He was predeceased by his spouse Eileen.

Human Resources is also reporting that retired Professor Arnulf Remole (right) of the School of Optometry, who started at the University as an Assistant Professor in July 1969, died January 11. Remole, whose research interests were in biomolecular vision, physiological optics and visual perception, received tenure in July 1973, became an Associate Professor in July 1974, and Professor in July 1981. He retired in July 1993.

He is survived by his spouse Joan.

Plant Operations has served notice that a number of rooms in Biology 1, including 001, the Fish Lab, 369, the penthouse and elevator, will be without electrical power, fumehood exhaust, heating, ventilation and A/C from 5:00 a.m. to 7:00 on Thursday, February 6 as renovations are carried out in Room 183. Computers should be shut down in advance of the repair, and I hope the fish will be okay.

 

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