Tracing the roots of the "Me Generation"

Baby Boomers have been referred to as the Me Generation, but new research indicates that people actually started to become increasingly self-centred more than 100 years ago.

In the first study of its kind covering a 150-year period, researchers looked at U.S. culture to determine how and why people there became more independent and less reliant on family ties, conformity and duty. This phenomenon is called individualism.

“We found that changes in the social class structure precede changes in individualism,” said Professor Igor Grossmann, of the Department of Psychology at the University of Waterloo and the study’s first author. "As demands of U.S. society shifted from manual labour to office jobs, Americans gained education and wealth, both of which promote self-direction and ultimately facilitate individualism."

Grossmann and Professor Michael Varnum, of Arizona State University, found that the significant cultural change American society experienced started before the turn of the last century.

They tested six factors commonly thought to influence cultural change toward individualism: urbanization, secularism, socio-economic structure, climatic demands, infectious disease and disaster. Then in the context of those factors, they examined the growth of eight indicators associated with cultural individualism, such as presence of individualist words in books, percentage of single-child families, percentage of adults living alone and divorce rates. Since preference for uniqueness is also a key factor of individualism, the researchers looked at the prevalence of unique baby names — those not in the top 20 for the time.

"Cultural levels of individualism affect everything from marketing to election outcomes to education — based on whether we tend to prefer unique or common products, politicians who appeal to achievement or to a sense of duty and whether we motivate students through their sense of belonging to the group and family obligation or due to their being special," said Professor Grossmann. "Knowing where it is heading and what may determine the change may help in many of these domains to prepare for the future."

While the research used the United States as a case study, the Canadian culture of individualism is similar, so it is possible that the pattern of cultural change would be as well.

The findings appear in the journal Psychological Science.

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Welcoming new retirees

Human Resources is reporting that the following staff members have retired, effective February 1:

• James Illig, who started working at the University of Waterloo in April 1994 and retired as Library Assistant, Facilities in the Library;
• Diane Mousso, who began working at the University in August 1997, retired as Residence Facilities Clerical Support – Housing and Residences;
• Patricia Moore, who started at the University in September 1994 and retired as Executive Manager at the Faculty Association;
• Janet Moser, who started at Waterloo in May 1991, retired as Administrative Assistant in the Centre for Extended Learning;
• Jane Britton, who began working at the University of Waterloo in September 1974, retiring as the Library’s Head of Special Collections and Archives;
• David Corke, who started at Waterloo in March 1989 and retired as Electrical Repairperson in Plant Operations;
• Devika Gopaul, who started in August 1978, and retires as Admissions/Records Assistant in the Registrar’s Office;
• Albert Todd, who started at Waterloo in November 2004 and retired as Building Operation II in Plant Operations; and
• Angie Rohrbacher, who started at the University in September 2001 and retired as School Records Co-ordinator in the School of Planning.

Congratulations all!

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Board approves tuition, incidental fees

At its first meeting of the year, the University's Board of Governors voted to approve the 2015-2016 residence fees, effective in the Fall 2015 term.

Fees in the Student Villages, UW Place, Columbia Lake Village and the Minota Hagey residences will increase by 3.5 per cent, and the family residences in Columbia Lake Village will see an increase of 1.6 per cent.

Governors also voted on the Recommended Tuition Fees for 2015/2016. In the broadest of terms, the categories are below:

Undergraduate students (domestic):

• Regulated programs (year 1) - 3 per cent
  
• Regulated programs (upper years) - 3 per cent
  
• Deregulated programs (year 1) - 5 per cent (with exceptions)
  
• Deregulated programs (upper year) - 4 per cent to 5 per cent
  
• Deregulated AFM, Biotech/CA. CFM, Math/CA
  
  • Year 1 - 3 per cent
    
  • Upper years - 1 per cent
    
• Accountancy Diploma - all years - 3 per cent
  
• Global Business & Digital Arts - all years - 1 per cent
  
• Pharmacy - all years - 1 per cent
  
  

Graduate Students (domestic):

• Specifically identified master and diploma programs - 1 per cent to 5 per cent
  
• Research Master and PhD programs - 1 per cent
  
  

International Students:

• Undergraduate programs - 9.2 per cent
  
• Graduate programs except research programs - 5 per cent
  
• Graduate research programs - 3 per cent
  
• Specifically identified Master and Diploma programs - 1.2 per cent to 10 per cent
  
  

Variability in tuition increases from program to program is driven by a number of factors, including the relative competitiveness of Waterloo's current tuition rates with its Canadian peers, the overall 3 per cent MTCU cap, a 3 per cent cap for regulated programs and a 5 per cent limit for deregulated programs, and a 1.2 per cent increase for international undergraduate and master's programs to offset the MTCU-imposed $750-per-student International Student Recovery and the $75-per-student Grant-in-lieu of taxes reduction.

Governors also voted to approve a selection of incidental fee changes, including an increase to the Applied Health Sciences Undergraduate Members Society Fee, the Graduate House Fee, and the Co-op fee.

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Portal available to Math students this term

This article originally appeared on the Faculty of Mathematics news page.

The Faculty of Mathematics is partnering with the Student Success Office to invite students to the student portal this term. This new online communications tool is enhancing the student experience by delivering just-enough, just-in-time information for current students.

The portal is mobile-friendly and customizable by each user. It aggregates existing academic and campus information to deliver time-sensitive content such as

• when and where exams are
  
• real-time GRT bus information
  
• what is being served in campus food outlets
  
• when academic deadlines are approaching
  

Over time, the portal will be a tool to help reduce the amount of mass email sent to students, by allowing staff to more effectively target specific student groups.

This short video explains the student portal and how it works.

Students in the Faculty of Mathematics, both undergraduate and graduate, will be invited in groups to log into the student portal, starting February 9th.

Please contact Amy Aldous or the student portal team with any questions.

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Monday's notes

The University of Waterloo Staff Association (UWSA) and the Education Credit Union are hosting a Lunch 'n Learn session on Tuesday, February 10 from 12:00 p.m. to 12:45 p.m. in DC 1302.

The session is entitled "Tax Talk - Taxes don't have to be tricky!" and will feature speakers Alan Wintrip and Paul Drouillard of DSK Professional Chartered Accountants.

Sandwiches and beverages will be provided by Education Credit Union.

OUA playoff season starts this week, so keep checking the Athletics Department website for update on how the Warriors are doing.

Waterloo Off-Campus Housing is hosting a panel discussion in the Village 1 Great Hall on Wednesday, February 11 entitled "How To Be An Off-Campus Pro." Upper-year students will share their experiences living off-campus and answer questions. Attendees can gain valuable insights from the panel about the off-campus living experience, and refreshments will be provided. The panel discussion takes place at 6:30 p.m. More information can be found on the event's Facebook page.

On a personal note, I will be on vacation for the next two weeks, returning Monday, February 23. During that time, the Daily Bulletin will be in the hands of my capable colleagues in Marketing & Strategic Communications.

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