Students vote on Fall Break this week

Students will weigh in on whether or not they'd like to see a Fall Break as the referendum gets underway today. The online voting period runs from today to Thursday, November 6.

The referendum question is as follows:

"Should classes start on the first Thursday after Labour Day in order to allow for two additional days off in the fall term?"

The referendum question includes the preamble "It is currently unknown at what point of the fall term the break would be. This referendum is to help determine student opinion."

The results of the referendum will be announced on Monday, November 10 at 1:00 p.m. in the Student Life Centre's Great Hall.

Currently, 14 of 20 Ontario universities have a fall break of some sort, in the neighbourhood of 2 to 5 days in length. Wilfrid Laurier University launched the first of a three-year pilot break following the Thanksgiving long weekend this year.

The University convened a Fall Break Task Force, which recently delivered a report to the Vice-President, Academic & Provost outlining the potential impacts of a fall reading break on the University.

 

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Environment nominating committee seeks input

The nominating committee for the Dean of Environment, constituted under the terms of Policy 45, is now in place and has begun the process of identifying Dean André Roy's successor, according to a note from George Dixon, Vice-President University Research and chair of the Dean of Environment Nominating Committee.

Committee members have been consulting broadly since the formation of the committee, and students, faculty and staff in the Faculty of Environment are being encouraged to share their views on the deanship in writing to Erin Windibank, associate university secretary & legal counsel, or to Janet Wright, an executive search consultant supporting the committee.

"The committee especially invites you to consider the following questions," says the Vice-President's note, "and seeks your input and feedback:

1. What are the issues, challenges and opportunities facing the Faculty of Environment?
   
2. What are your aspirations for the Faculty in the next five years?
   
3. What advice do you have for the search committee as to the background, credentials, qualifications and leadership style that should be sought in the next dean?
   
4. Do you have any suggestions as to individuals to whom the committee should speak about this opportunity?"

The members of the nominating committee are also available for people to pass along their their feedback and input.

The committee members include:

• George Dixon, vice-president, university research (chair), x32531,
  
• Michael Drescher, faculty, planning, x38795,
  
• Marko Dumancic, staff, mapping, analysis & design, x35794,
  
• Julie Friddell, staff, geography & environmental management, x32689,
  
• Rob Gorbet, faculty, knowledge integration, x33489,
  
• Richard Kelly, faculty, geography & environmental management, x35451,
  
• Dan McRoberts, graduate student, geography & environmental management,
  
• Maren Oelbermann, faculty, environment & resource studies, x37552,
  
• Robert Savoy, undergraduate student, geography & environmental management,
  
• Suzanne Tyas, faculty, public health & health systems, x32890,
  
• Tara Vinodrai, faculty, geography & environmental management, x33278, and
  
• Steven Young, faculty, environment, enterprise & development, x38419
  

Comments are due no later than Friday, November 14 and will be held in confidence within the committee.

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GreenHouse an innovation award finalist

by Eugenia Anderson

St. Paul’s GreenHouse, a live-in social innovation community, has been selected as a finalist for the Ashoka U-Cordes Innovation Award, identifying GreenHouse's work as ‘one of the premiere models of social innovation in higher education.’

The award recognizes high impact and highly replicable education innovations, and the winner will be decided at an awards ceremony at the Ashoka U Exchange at the University of Maryland in Washington, DC in February.

The Ashoka U Exchange is the world’s largest convening for social entrepreneurship in higher education with a global network of 150 colleges and universities.

"We’re looking forward to being part of this event and learning from our colleagues around the world on ways we can advance social entrepreneurship at the University of Waterloo,” said Tania Del Matto ,director of St. Paul’s GreenHouse.
For more information on the Ashoka U-Cordes Innovation Award, visit the award website.

 

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Open House recap and other notes

Cold weather and the first snowfall of the season couldn't keep the crowds away from the annual Open House event held on Saturday, November 1. With more than 12,000 registered visitors, it was one for the record books. Student ambassadors (pictured above) gave over 80 tours to 1,600 future students and their families over the course of the day.

Here's a message from the Arts Undergraduate Office: "The Arts Undergraduate Office (PAS 2439) will be closed from 8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, November 5 for a staff meeting. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Please go to the Arts Undergraduate Office webpage for our regular office hours."

The UWaterloo 3D Print Centre is celebrating the launch of the University's second 3D printer in E5 2004 on Tuesday, November 11 at 2:30 p.m. The University community is invited to visit the 3D Print Centre, take a look at some of the demonstration parts created by the additive printing process, and have your questions answered by the 3D printing experts from Cimetrix Solutions, a Canadian 3D printing company. There will be a reception and a "Name the Printers" contest, as well as a talk by James Janeteas, president of Cimetrix Solutions, and tours of the 3D Print Centre.

The UWaterloo 3D Print Centre is a partnership between the Faculty of Engineering and Retail Services' New Media Services department.

The Sustainable Campus Initiative has organized ECOLOO, an environmental fair, on Wednesday, November 5 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the Student Life Centre's Great Hall.

"Come out to learn about sustainability in your community and how you can get involved! Visit booths, listen to speakers, win prizes and more!" says the official note. "Make sure to pick up your passport when you arrive, if you collect stamps from the vendors, and attend 1 presentation, you will enter a draw for our grand prize!" There are free giveaways and a photo booth. CarShare is also waiving their $75 membership fee for one day only, so come out and take advantage of the deal.

St. Paul's University College is offering Spring Residence Scholarships to students who "have made a difference to the College, the University of Waterloo, or another community." The scholarship is valued at $2,500, and will be paid as a reduction in residence fees. Spring 2015 fees are $4,570 for a double room and full weekday meal plan with 5 swipes per day. With the scholarship, residence fees would be reduced to $2,070. A Free $375 single room upgrade is possible if single rooms are available.

Anyone with questions should contact Stephen Prentice or Jenn Brewster, or fill out the online application form.

Human Resources has announced the following retirements, effective November 1:

• Lynn Crema, who started at the University of Waterloo in May 1976, retires as Undergraduate Advisor/Co-ordinator in Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering.
  
  

There's still time to sign up for Random Act of Kindness Day, which is set for Friday, November 7. It's a great opportunity to volunteer to help spread kindness across campus and the community.

Registration is still open for Winterfest 2014. "Join us at Columbia Icefield for an afternoon of ice skating, snacks, crafts, balloon animals, and of course a visit from Santa Claus and his little helpers," says the note from UWSA.

Winterfest is free for UWSA members and their adult guests (14 years of age and older). If you would like to have your child (13 years of age and under) receive a gift from Santa, there is a charge of $9 per child. The cost for non-UWSA attendees is $5 per adult and $14 per child (if they are receiving a gift). The various toys are described online.

Registration forms can be submitted along with payments to the UWSA Office, located in DC 3603, to Melissa Zapletal at extension 33566. Registrations are due by Thursday, November 6. The UWSA is also looking for volunteers - if your teenager could use some volunteer hours and would be interested in helping out at Winterfest, please contact Jo Voisin.

If you happened to purchase unpasteurized apple cider at the St. Jacob's Farmer's Market and elsewhere in Waterloo on October 11, you might be interested in this recall notice from the Ontario government.

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