Daily Bulletin

Tuesday, January 21, 1997

Fed president returns for 1997-98

Mario Bellabarba

Bellabarba was a fourth-year civil engineering student when he was elected in a five-way race last spring.

Two of the three vice-presidents who will work with him in the coming year have also been acclaimed. They are Raju Patel of mathematics, as VP (administration and finance), and Kurt Schreiter of science, as VP (internal).

There will be an election, though, for the final executive position, VP (education). Two candidates were nominated for that post: Chris Buchanan of science and Jeff Gardner of arts.

Balloting in the Federation race is set for February 11 and 12. At the same time, undergraduate students will elect representatives to students' council (the Federation's governing body) and to the UW senate. And there will be a referendum on a proposed $5-a-term fee to pay for renovations at Federation Hall and keeping the flagship student pub in operation.

Progress on student systems

"Our current systems were developed in the 1970's and 80's and have served us well," says the memo -- signed by provost Jim Kalbfleisch, associate provost (academic and student affairs) Gary Waller, and associate provost (computing and information systems) Jay Black. "However, they are old, highly paper-driven, and operate in an environment unsupported by the vendor. Today, we require systems that can use modern technologies to help improve service to all students, faculty and staff."

So, PeopleSoft's SAS has been chosen as the solution. Says the memo: "In order to achieve timely implementation and full value for its investment, the University will no doubt have to adapt some of its regulations and operational procedures to those accommodated by the new system.

"Over the next six months, further evaluation of the system in parallel with its continued development will help us identify the impact on our processes. Once this evaluation is complete, we anticipate a phased implementation leading up to and including the year 2000."

The memo also says it's going to be tough to find the people to do the work, as such departments as the registrar's office, the graduate studies office, and information systems and technology are already short of people. "Although there may be some short-term efficiencies gained by further enhancement of our current systems, the best use of resources at this time is on the implementation of our new system from PeopleSoft. Therefore, we are instituting a moratorium on all systems work, save that which is imposed on us by government legislation or regulations.

"We will also require full-time participation by a number of experienced users from the faculties. Interested individuals should contact Jay Black."

Presenting the 40th anniversary

The 40th anniversary activities got rolling last night with a presentation to UW's senate by university president James Downey and chief librarian Murray Shepherd, who's chairing the 40th anniversary committee. Along with giving a rundown on plans for celebrations, they unveiled the logo and mentioned that a 40th anniversary booklet, prepared by the information and public affairs office, will be published next month.

And I hope you'll be following the history of the university as told in the somewhat grumpy tones of Simon the Troll; the series began in the Gazette last week.

Board executive meets today

The Building and Properties Committee . . . met with three developers/proponents in late December: Manulife Financial; Snyder Reichard March Architects, Waterloo in partnership with Green Scheels Pidgeon Planning Consultants and Monarch Development Corporation; and Euromart International. The purpose of these informal and exploratory discussions was to discern whether there was sufficient interest from proponents in establishing a technology park on the North Campus and if there were, what process to follow. On the basis of these discussions and the interest expressed, the Committee anticipates placing an ad . . . in February asking proponents to submit expressions of interest; from those submissions a short list will be developed . . . and each firm short-listed will be requested to submit why it should be selected as the firm to be granted an exclusive negotiation right to develop the first phase of the technology park. The preferred proponent identified as a result of this process will be recommended to the Board of Governors for approval.

The talk of the campus

I happened to notice the new environmental studies van this morning. It's an elegant shade of burgundy, rather than the white in which most UW vehicles are painted, and (like so many things around here lately) it bears a message that it was financed by alumni donations. . . .

The organizing committee says this year's Hagey Bonspiel will be held March 22 at the Ayr Curling Club. Watch for more information, or e-mail Steve Cook, scook@mc1adm.

CAR

Editor of the Daily Bulletin: Chris Redmond
Information and Public Affairs, University of Waterloo
credmond@watserv1.uwaterloo.ca -- (519) 888-4567 ext. 3004
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