A classy photo: First-year Arts students and their Orientation leaders spelled out "Arts 2014" on the St. Paul's Green yesterday afternoon. Aerial class photos are a longstanding Orientation tradition.

 

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Advancement reunited and it feels so good

The Office of Advancement is leading a wave of campus change as the first University of Waterloo unit to make the move to new space in one of five buildings purchased from BlackBerry late last year.

Under the purchase agreement, signed in December 2013, the University took immediate possession of Buildings 1, 2 and 3, located at the corner of Columbia and Phillip streets, on the northeast corner of the main campus. BlackBerry may remain as the tenant Buildings 4 and 16 for up to five years. In total, the purchase provides up to 300,000 square feet, including additional office and research space for the University, along with 1,000 additional parking spaces.

For the Office of Advancement, the first phase of a move to Building 1  — dubbed “Reunited 2014” — means a reconsolidation of operations previously spread across several buildings, including Math and Computing, Psychology, Anthropology and Sociology (PAS), Health Services Centre and the Research Advancement Centre (RAC). The second phase of the move will see the student call centre relocated from South Campus Hall.

While adjustments to the new space continue, campus partners are welcome to visit.

Information Systems and Technology is expected to follow Advancement later this fall, shifting their main operations to Building 2. Final names for the buildings will be determined at a later date.

Subsequent moves are expected to follow in quick succession, creating a ripple effect across campus as units vacate existing space, making it available for other use.

Scott Nicoll, manager of space planning, says the purchase of the buildings has created a unique opportunity for the University to improve operations by co-locating some key units, while at the same time addressing the space needs of a fast-growing campus.

Since the purchase of the buildings was finalized in February, work has been underway to update infrastructure and establish formal space assignments. To make the buildings move-in ready, Nicoll said teams from Plant Operations, Custodial Services went to extraordinary lengths, completing a thorough cleaning, painting and repairs in a tight time frame.

 

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Campus Rec now "Warrior Recreation"

a message from the Department of Athletics and Recreation.

The Department of Athletics and Recreation has enjoyed a steady increase in participation over the past decade and as we enter another exciting term we are pleased to introduce the term ‘Warrior Recreation’ for all programming areas.

Warrior Recreation will replace the previously used term Campus Recreation and includes the four main programming areas; Aquatics/First Aid, Conditioning, Fitness and Wellness, and Intramurals/Clubs. It also includes other areas of recreation such as open recreation, fitness swims, and using the fitness centre and/or conditioning room.

“Warrior Recreation has been adopted to align ourselves with the rest of the department to promote that we are all Warriors and recreational activities are an important part of student-life,” says Associate Director of Recreation and Business Development Marc Iturriaga. “Our intention is that Warrior Recreation will resonate better with our students as we continue to provide high quality, diversified programs.”

Waterloo Recreation programs are also available for faculty, staff, and alumni through the purchase of a recreation membership. For $110 plus HST per term, membership leads to access to open recreation time, fitness swims, the fitness centre and conditioning room, squash courts, and more.

Membership benefits include the convenience of campus-located programming before work, during lunch hours, after work, and on weekends, the opportunity to participate and engage with students in a non-academic environment, full access to facilities and open recreation opportunities including 200+ programs (at student prices).

More details, including a breakdown of available programs, are available online.

 

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New guidelines on learning resources issued

Revised University of Waterloo Guidelines Pertaining to Learning Resources and Field Trips have been published, replacing the previous guidelines of June 19, 2013, according to a memo circulated by Associate Vice-President, Academic Mario Coniglio earlier this week.

"The revisions take into account recent changes to the MTCU guidelines that previously prohibited universities from requiring students to purchase digital assessment tools created by third-party vendors," reads the associate vice-president's memo to Executive Council and other stakeholders.

The latest MTCU guidelines recognize the “contribution that these resources can make to the quality of teaching and learning, including support for adaptive learning and formative assessment.” Importantly, MTCU has delegated to universities the responsibility for developing policies on the use of third-party digital learning resources.

"The revised guidelines now permit instructors to use digital learning resources created by third-party vendors for assessment subject to specific conditions. The guidelines provide further clarity around the use of tangible learning materials and do not change existing UW practice pertaining to the use of textbooks, iClickers, or other material resources."

The revised guidelines strike "an appropriate balance" between the desire to incorporate technology-enabled learning, and the expense that these resources can impose on students.

"The revised guidelines have benefitted from consultation with students and been approved by the Faculty Deans."

Instructors have been asked to ensure that details concerning the use of third party digital resources are clearly communicated in course outlines.

The associate vice-president's memo notes that these are interim guidelines, which will be monitored and reviewed in the spring 2015 term, and may be modified at that time.

 

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Thursday's notes

"If you aren't able to move into your accommodations because they aren't finished building them, you are not going to want to miss this!" reads a post on the Housing and Residences blog dealing with off-campus housing construction delays.

"Off-Campus Housing has gathered advice from Waterloo Community Legal Services and will be holding an open meeting on Thursday, September 4 at 11:30 a.m. in room 2143 in the Student Life Centre," the post says, referencing the fact that some students will not be able to occupy off-campus housing properties due to construction delays.

The Graduate Studies Office staff extend their heartfelt wishes to Lynn Judge, GSO director, who is celebrating an extra special birthday today. Best wishes Lynn!

Orientation continues today with several faculty-specific events, including:

• Arts: Global Business and Digital Arts students will be spending the day at the Stratford Campus;
• Applied Health Sciences: Pulse at the Elora Gorge starting at 10:00 a.m.;
• Engineering: Junkyard Wars, beginning at 9:00 a.m. on the Village 1 Green, followed by "Meet the Tool" at 1:00 p.m., the Student Teams Showcase, and Engineer's Guide To The Galaxy;
• Science: Morning Mingle on the BMH Green at 9:00 a.m., Leader Chase at 2:30 p.m., and class aerial photo at 3:30 p.m.

 

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