University of Waterloo
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Thursday, October 12, 1995
Progress on computing plans
The University Computing Committee is holding a special meeting today
to work on "the first draft of an updated computing directions statement".
Revising that statement (the current
version dates from 1989) has been a major job for the UCC this year,
undertaken at the request of the Commission on Institutional Planning.
In a
"Status Report" just made available on UWinfo (look under "Institutional
Planning"), the UCC lists public meetings it's held so far, most recently
one on September 15 with computing support staff and one on September 21
that was open to everyone on campus (but that drew only "moderate"
attendance).
"UCC will be happy to continue to receive input on these issues at any
time," the status report notes.
Talking about education funding
The
Federation of
Students holds its forum this afternoon about proposals on education
funding put forward by the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations.
The most controversial aspect of the CASA paper,
"Making Higher
Education Work", is a proposed Graduate Beneficiary Contribution to
university funding -- a surtax on "that portion of the
graduates' income which is above the average yearly wage for
non-university graduates".
That idea, and the whole paper, have led to some controversy at UW;
the Federation's council has so far failed to vote its support for the
national proposal. Today's open forum, starting at 5:30 in Engineering
Lecture room 101, is designed "to continue discussion on this important
issue" and maybe come up with some new ideas, says Xander LeRoy, academic
affairs officer for the Federation.
Planning for retirement
Early retirement is in the air again at Waterloo, with the likelihood that
an "incentive" will be offered to older faculty and staff to retire early,
as one way of reducing the university's payroll fairly painlessly. At the
same time, other faculty and staff are of course approaching normal
retirement age.
So a series of retirement planning sessions, announced this week by the
human
resources department, is timely.
The first session happens this coming Monday, October 16, with
David Gillians, of TD Trust, speaking on estate and financial planning.
The evening will also include "a panel of retired members who will share
their experiences on financial and psychological adjustments to
retirement". Future sessions: October 23 or 24 about the UW pension plan
and government retirement benefits; November 6 or 7 with Gillians again
about financial planning.
Says the human resources newsletter: "The sessions are designed to
complement each other, and thus participants are encouraged to attend all
three, if possible. They will be of particular interest to faculty and
staff who are over 45." There's no charge, but attendance is limited.
Anyone interested can get in touch with Linda Bluhm in HR, at ext. 2046,
e-mail llbluhm@mc1adm.
A few other Oktoberish notes
- We can breathe in Needles Hall this morning after all. The ventilation
shutoff, scheduled for today for annual maintenance, has been postponed
to November 2.
The co-op department is taking credit for the postponement: "Because of
the large number of employers coming to interview tomorrow we
have asked plant operations to delay the maintenance until the main
interviews are over," says Olaf Naese there.
- Waterloo Showtime, the city of Waterloo performing arts series,
presents "Revenge of the Woman Dressed Largely in Black" tonight in the
Humanities Theatre. It's a "thriller spoof" based on the conventions of
Victorian melodrama. Tickets: 888-4908.
- UW's
earth sciences museum is one
of the museums invited to exhibit
today through Sunday at the Greater Detroit Gem and Mineral Show,
being held at 4400 East Eight Mile Road in Detroit. The museum will
show off some of its gem carving collection, says curator Peter Russell.
"Those who appreciated the gem show at Village Two last year will
enjoy other feature exhibitions from major museums, such as Harvard,
Royal Ontario Museum, the American Museum of Natural History and
Smithsonian. Over 60 dealers in minerals, fossils and gems will be
on hand, and lectures will be given on Saturday and Sunday."
- Renovation work at the key control office is almost finished, but
for the final stage of things, key control expects to be closed all day
tomorrow. If you need a key tomorrow, you should call ext. 2669 and
arrangements will be made.
- The university secretariat advises that
nominations of candidates for by-elections to UW's senate closed at 3 p.m.
on October 4. Results:
The Applied Health Sciences Faculty seat to Senate (to April 30, 1996)
remains vacant.
The Applied Health Sciences Undergraduate Student seat to Senate (to
April 30, 1996) remains vacant.
There will be a Faculty at-large election (term to April 30, 1998). The
candidates are
James E. Curtis (Sociology) and
Robert J. LeRoy (Chemistry).
Statements from the candidates will appear in the Gazette, or
can
be seen now on UWinfo under "Departments", then "Secretariat".
Voting closes November 1.
Chris Redmond
Information
and Public Affairs, University of Waterloo
(519) 888-4567 ext. 3004
credmond@watserv1.uwaterloo.ca
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