Daily
Bulletin

An entrance to the J. R. Coutts Engineering Lecture Hall (RCH) appeared yesterday -- it's now possible to get into the building's lower floors from outside as well as through the underpasses from other engineering buildings. Above-ground work continues on the $7 million project to expand the building.

In praise of younger co-op students

The department is putting a special emphasis on first-year and second-year students, describing them as "Waterloo's answer to insider stock picks" in an article just published in the Recruiter newsletter for employers.

Says the article: "You rarely recruit junior co-op students. Why is that? Does their age put you off? Lack of experience? Incomplete education? If you shut out junior co-op students for one of these reasons, you may want to rethink your approach. Smart employers are savvy investors. They want the best bang for their buck. They recognize that junior students are an amazing deal. Not only are juniors intelligent, capable, enthusiastic and full of potential, but they're also less expensive to hire because their value isn't widely appreciated!"

It uses one first-year student and her employer as an example of what's possible -- Jasmine Censner of accounting, who spent last winter's co-op term with Gordon B. Lee & Co., Chartered Accountants, a Windsor-based firm that specializes in audits and Canadian and cross-border tax planning.

Gordon Lee "was impressed with the capable, unpretentious student", says the article: "So impressed, in fact, that he's already offered her a full-time position on graduation. Censner has ambition, ability and a strong work ethic, reports the Windsor professional. 'She's very driven; she works very hard,' he says."

In this respect, Censner is not unlike her classmates, the article goes on. "With little flaunt-worthy university experience, junior students must rely on mental faculties and motivation to get them through. Their flexibility also works to their advantage: think for a moment of the changes they've adapted to in the last months. Surely they can adjust to the demands of a co-op employer!

"Ambition and adaptability, however, are only part of the story. Lee cites Censner's concern for clients' welfare, for example, as an important ingredient in her success. One tax planning case in particular comes to mind: a husband and wife duo 'of modest means' with a business and two children in university. 'They had had some hard luck and she really took an interest in them,' Lee explains. 'She took it as a project to come out with the best tax deal. If one thing didn't work, then she'd go to something else and continually work on it. Since she's a student, she knew about the sections of the tax return that deal with tuition and the education credit and transferring to the parents.'

"He notes, too, that one of the strengths of UW's arts accounting program is its emphasis on relevant software. Thanks to her grasp of tools like these, Censner was more productive during her time at the firm than previous co-op students, all of whom studied at other universities."

What are Censner's impressions of her first work term? "I liked the office and the atmosphere, and I liked the city. They want me to continue. It's really nice," says the soft-spoken young woman. She adds with quiet pride that she'll be sent out alone on audits when she returns for a second work term in January 2002.

Former dean to be VP at Conestoga

Says a Conestoga news release: "Dr. Burns will assume academic leadership at Conestoga, with a mandate to move the College forward towards its goal of polytechnic institute status." Conestoga, founded as a "college of applied arts and technology" like Ontario's other community colleges thirty years ago, has been ambitious for a larger role, including the right to grant degrees as well as the present diplomas.

"I am a firm believer in a multi-layered postsecondary system," Burns said, according to the news release, "and I welcome the opportunity to assist the College in preparing for and achieving excellence in applied-degree programming, and in the transformation into a polytechnic. I know industry definitely needs an increasing number of highly skilled and educated people, and I wish to see Conestoga even more successful in filling the gap, addressing local industrial needs."

Said Conestoga president John W. Tibbits: "We are extremely pleased to have someone of David Burns's calibre, who brings to the college a wealth of academic, research and industrial experience, plus demonstrated leadership ability. Certainly, Conestoga will continue to be a comprehensive college, meeting a wide variety of needs. Yet, excellent as we have been, the college must grow and evolve, the better to serve our students and communities, and the better to be an effective agent of economic growth and development for our region. Dr. Burns will help make all this possible."

Born in England, Burns was an undergraduate at the University of Bristol, as well as an apprentice in the engine division of Bristol Aeroplane Company. He obtained his PhD from the University of Bristol in 1962, and then worked for Imperial Chemical Industries before taking a teaching post at Imperial College, University of London. In 1967, he joined the department of mechanical engineering at UW. A Professional Engineer (Ontario), Chartered Engineer (United Kingdom) and Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (United States), he has produced more than 120 research publications. He is a director of Materials and Manufacturing Ontario, a founding director of the Advanced Design and Manufacturing Institute, and a current member of the Canadian Engineering Resources Board of the Canadian Council of Professional Engineers.

Says Conestoga's announcement: "Dr. Burns has combined his academic and industrial interests through a variety of activities. For many years, he was a consultant to Conch Methane, UK, the first company to design ships for transporting liquefied natural gas. He is currently Chair, Research and Development Advisory Panel to the Board of Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd."

Food services opens PAS outlet

The little outlet replaces a student-run coffee shop that was formerly in operation in the same lounge. Operating hours are Monday to Friday, 8:15 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

The PAS Lounge actually started selling food -- and coffee, the elixir of life -- last week. Today's opening event runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Says Jeannie Watt of food services: "Various suppliers will be there providing samples of their products. We also have prizes to be won. Special pricing on our food products will be in effect. Our BBQ on the roof will feature sausage on a bun for $1.99."

And just a few other notes

On another matter, the police chief says I was mistaken in yesterday's Bulletin when I said that a UW student was stabbed at a keg party on Albert Street on Saturday night. While details remain confused, apparently the stabbing victim was from out of town.

Computing courses are scheduled The information systems and technology department (IST) is offering computing courses in September to UW faculty, staff and students. The following courses are planned: IST Services for UW Students; Using PowerPoint for a Class Presentation; Using Word to Prepare Assignments; Safe Computing for UW Students; Introduction to Unix; Creating a Web Page Using HTML. The following courses are part of the Skills for the Academic e-Workplace program, and are offered to faculty, grad students, and staff with instructional responsibilities: Using the Campus e-Classrooms; Marks Management Using Excel; Statistical Analysis with SAS; Scoring Multiple Choice Exams; Information about the courses, along with a registration form, can be found on the web. There is also information about a workshop called "Parallel Programming on the IBM SP". New courses will be taught every month, and advertised at the same web location.

A meeting in the Humanities Theatre this afternoon is described as "a must" for students who will be graduating this winter or next spring. It'll provide information about the job interview process, "with helpful hints and suggestions", and how people can register on-line to be part of the graduate job process. The meeting will last about an hour, starting at 4:00, and will be repeated tomorrow, same time, same station.

"Welcome Week" continues at the Graduate House, with a rather special lunchtime event. Not only are graduate students invited to stop in and meet the leaders of the Graduate Student Association and UW administration; it'll also be the launch of next April's Graduate Student Research Conference, under the title "Sharing Discovery". "All graduate students are invited and encouraged to participate in this unique opportunity to share their research with the wider University community," a flyer says. It also notes that keynote speakers for the conference will include this year's winners of the UW awards for "excellence in research", to be officially announced next week. The conference is scheduled for April 1-5.

Tonight, the week of special grad activities continues with "games night" at the Campus Cove in the Student Life Centre ("free games and pizza", admission $2 for grad students, $5 for others).

UW's joint health and safety committee will meet at 1:00 this afternoon in Health Services room 127. Agenda items include -- as always -- the rules about rollerblades on campus, plus electrical safety, recent injury and fire reports, and traffic speeds.

A meeting will be held today for people interested in being involved with the Bike Centre this term. It runs from 1:30 to 3:30 in Student Life Centre room 101A, but "you don't have to be there the full two hours," I'm told. "Just come by and fill out a timetable sheet. The main responsibility of a volunteer is a two-hour shift once a week. We're not assuming any previous bicycle mechanic experience, but hopefully there's a curiosity to learn more." Advance note: the Bike Centre will hold an auction of used bikes this Friday, starting at noon.

CAR

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