New guidance on gifts and honorariums

Finance and Human Resources have jointly developed guidance related to several common tax and payment-related issues.

The Gifts and Gift Cards/Certificates procedure and Honorariums Guideline have been created to address questions from the University community and to ensure that the University is in compliance with legislation and Canada Revenue Agency administrative policy related to taxation of earnings and taxable benefits.

The Gifts and Gift Cards/Certificates procedure outlines general information, identifies the accountabilities and describes the processes for reporting cash, near-cash, and non-cash gifts purchased with University funds.  In most cases, giving a cash or near-cash gift (i.e. gift card) results in a taxable benefit to the recipient.  Please note that the guidance for Remuneration to Research Participants is unchanged.

The Honorariums Guideline outlines what an honorarium is, when it is appropriate (or not), provides answers to common questions asked, and lays out the request and reporting procedures.

As a publicly funded organization, the University falls under the Broader Public Sector Accountability Act.  Please keep in mind that any individual incurring expenses on behalf of the University must be able to demonstrate the prudent and responsible use of public funds.

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President receives Order of Merit

by Mackenzie Jacklin-Graham.

Feridun Hamdullahpur, president and vice-chancellor of the University of Waterloo, received the Order of Merit of the Republic of Turkey last week from Abdullah Gul, former president of Turkey. The ceremony took place at the Turkish Embassy in Ottawa on Sunday, November 23.

This award recognizes international scholars who have “tremendously contributed to Turkey’s civilization, language, architecture and culture.”

“I was delighted to receive this honor, especially since it reflects the strong and growing international profile of the University of Waterloo,” said Hamdullahpur.

President Hamdullahpur completed his undergraduate and master’s degrees at Istanbul Technical University in Turkey.

Congratulations!

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Power project wins Jack Rosen Award

by Sam Toman. This article was originally published on the Faculty of Environment's news page.

With renewable energy systems such as solar and wind power now commonplace, safely harnessing power from beneath the sea could be the next frontier of sustainable energy generation.

That’s the idea behind The Marine Mill, and entrepreneurial idea from a group of second-year Environment and Business students who recently won the $1,000 grand prize in the The Faculty of Environment’s Jack Rosen competition.

The Marine Mill combines the design of a Dyson Fan with a wind turbine and places it underwater to produce a new form of hydroelectricity. The device has an enclosed turbine and could be placed in an area of the ocean with strong tidal current. The design of the Marine Mill also allows for minimal disruption of marine life, as the turbine is internal, meaning there is little concern about the fish being harmed and plants or corals being damaged.

“We put a lot of time and effort into this,” said Stephanie Houghton, one student who worked on the project. “Hydrokinetic power already exists, but the big concern is harming fish and the marine ecosystem. Our idea doesn’t do that.”

The Marine Mill was chosen for the award by a panel of judges including Tania Del Matto, director of GreenHouse at St. Paul's University College, John Lewis, a researcher in the School of Planning, and Tristan Lehari, Velocity Alpha Mentor and President & CEO at TritonWear.

The competition called on students in the Faculty of Environment to come up with an innovative idea for a product, process, program or service to prevent, mitigate or solve an environmental problem.

Read the rest of the story on the Faculty of Environment's news page.

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Find something to do over Christmas break

by Ryan Connell, Student Success Office.

While some students may be going home for the holidays, students staying in Waterloo during the break still have a reason to celebrate.

Student leaders with the International Student Experience team are hosting Winterloo, a series of fun, festive and traditional Canadian events running from December 20, 2014 to January 4, 2015. Winterloo provides an opportunity for many international and out-of-province students unable to travel home during the break to meet new students.

Winterloo events are open to all UWaterloo students and their families. Events include winter snow tubing, a New Year’s Eve concert, volunteering at St. John’s Soup Kitchen and a games night. Students are encouraged to register for Winterloo events in advance.

With the university closed during the December break, all students are required to move out of their on-campus residence. Students who need assistance finding short-term accommodations are encouraged to contact the Off-Campus Housing office.

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Notes as examinations loom

The Bookstore Concourse Sale will take place today and tomorrow from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the South Campus Hall concourse.

Who brought baseball to Japan, and how and why has the sport endeared itself to the local populace, both as athletic practice and spectator sport? What does a story of baseball's diffusion across the Pacific tell us about the America’s place in the world? How great a movie was "Mr. Baseball?" On Tuesday, December 2, guest speaker Sayuri Shimizu, Professor in the Department of History at Rice University, will answer these questions (okay, maybe not that last one) and more as she delivers a presentation entitled "Transpacific Field of Dreams" that charts the course of baseball's remarkable odyssey across the Pacific to become one of the most beloved "imported" traditions in Japan and other areas where it has left its cultural footprints. The impact of baseball on Canada will also be discussed in this braided story about baseball, national identities, and cultural diffusion.

The event takes place at Renison University College Room 2102 starting at 1:30 p.m. RSVP to Kari Stewart if you're interested in attending.

On Wednesday, December 3, a crane will be set up on the top end of the Mathematics road next to MC to unload a Genset power unit onto a concrete pad poured behind the grounds building. There will be a tractor trailer carrying the Genset unit as well as supporting vehicles in the area, which will be cordoned off by H&C Electric. The delivery of the unit will take place from the midmorning to the midafternoon, according to Plant Operations. One lane of the math road will be kept open for emergency vehicles.

Don't forget about the Five Days of Christmas Re-Gifting that begins this Thursday, December 4. Got any recently-received gifts that you'd like to re-gift while burning off some pre-holiday calories traveling around campus? Then you'll enjoy this second in a series of "Get Up and Go" healthy workplace challenges offered by the Healthy Workplace Committee.

Your passport and travel details and locations will be posted daily on the Daily Bulletin.

It's easy to participate:

• Register at uwworkwl@uwaterloo.ca. You can do this alone, with a friend, or create a team.  Be creative and give yourself a festive name.
• Find your “Re-Gift”, wrap it up and bring it with you as you visit all the interesting locations.  Get your travel stamps on your “Re-Gift” as you go.  Don’t forget to bring your passport, too. 
• Since it is the holiday season and giving is key, if you are able, please bring a new toy for a child when you come to the FINAL destination. The toy will be placed under the Angel Tree and donated to children in need.
• Bring your unwrapped toy for the Angel Tree Donation, your stamped “Re-Gift”, as well as your passport, to the final destination where hot chocolate and cookies, a Re-Gift Exchange and lots of fun will be enjoyed by all.
• The final travel destination is the University Club at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 10.

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