Editor:
Brandon Sweet
University Communications
bulletin@uwaterloo.ca
CUPE, University approve three-year agreement
A new contract between the University and its 400 employees working in 2025 ݮƵ and Plant Operations, has been officially approved by CUPE (Canadian Union of Public Employees) members and the University.
This new agreement is retroactive to May 1, 2015 and is in place until April 30, 2018. CUPE members voted and ratified the agreement on December 11, 2015, followed by the University board of governors in early January.
The CUPE contract matches the faculty and staff contracts that were established in 2015 in the way its pay increases are structured: 1.95 per cent as of May 1, 2015, 1.95 per cent again on May 1, 2016, and 1.5 per cent on May 1, 2017. Kenton Needham, human resources director, as the Chief Negotiator for the University, indicated that the agreement includes market adjustments to certain positions in order to remain competitive with the marketplace. Regular employees within the bargaining unit, covered under the new agreement also received a $500 signing bonus.
Other features of the agreement include an increase in the allowances for safety shoes and boots, extended probation periods for new employees, and some revisions to current language typical in a labour agreement.
Registration opens for 2016 Advisors Conference
On February 17, the University of ݮƵ’sCommunity of Advisorswill host the2016 Advisors Conferenceat Federation Hall.Online registrationis open until February 8. Faculty and staff who advise students are invited to attend the event, free of charge.
The conference will be opened by Ian Orchard,Vice-President, Academic & Provostand Chris Read,Associate Provost, Students. Their remarks will be followed by keynote speeches from, Director of Student Success Initiatives at Mohawk College and, Principal at the ݮƵ Region District School Board. Roundtable discussions and facilitated small group sessions will complete the day.
The Community of Advisors is supported by a working group that includes an advisor from each faculty and representatives from the Student Success Office. Together they organize opportunities for staff and faculty to connect with others in similar advising positions across campus. The working group also provides advisors with opportunities for professional development, and information and resource sharing, includingmonthly coffee chats. These informal gatherings are for faculty and staff to share best practices in advising, and learn about the services and resources available on campus.
Please contact a member of theworking groupif you have any questions about the 2016 Advisors Conference or the Community of Advisors.
Manfred Conrad named Renison's chancellor
Renison University College has appointed one of ݮƵ's top business leaders as its ninth chancellor.
Manfred Conrad, CEO and founder of The Cora Group Inc.,succeeds the Right Reverend Ralph Spence, who has served since 2008. The installation ceremony will take place May 7, at Renison's Founders' Day service and convocation.
“I am honoured to be invited to step into the role as chancellor of Renison University College,” said Conrad. “As a member of the Board for the past seven years, I have been able to witness the importance of the education Renison provides at the community, national and international level and look forward to continued growth in the future.”
Conrad is a founding member of Communitech andsupports many initiatives and institutions within ourcommunity including The Conrad Business, Entrepreneurship and Technology Centre at ݮƵ, the Manfred and Penny Conrad Institute for Music Therapy and Research at Wilfrid Laurier University, and the Conrad Centre for the Performing Arts.
Born and raised in Germany, Conrad came to Canada in 1963. He established The Cora Group Inc. in 1978 and spearheaded it to become one of ݮƵ Region’s largest commercial real estate development companies.A leader in the community, he has served on many boards, including the Kitchener-ݮƵ Symphony Orchestra, the Four Points Church, and Realex Properties Corporation. He is also a long-time supporter of the German-Canadian Business and Professional Association, past member of the Kitchener Downtown Business Association, and current member of Renison University College’s Board of Governors.
“With Manfred Conrad’s proven commitment to higher education and to furthering educational and community initiatives, we are delighted and proud to have him as the chancellor of Renison University College,” said Wendy Fletcher, Renison's principal and vice-chancellor. “His great capacity for systematic analysis and strategic thinking along with his ability to build relationships across a diverse sector of local and global communities will be critical as we plot our course into the next chapter of growth at Renison.”
In 2009, Conrad received an honorary Doctor of Laws from the University of ݮƵ for his outstanding business and philanthropic community leadership. Renison inducted Conrad as an Honorary Senior Fellow in 2013 in recognition of his work in the spirit of volunteerism, service and the community. He was inducted into the ݮƵ Region Entrepreneur Hall of Fame in recognition of the positive impact that his business excellence has had on the community and economy in the Region of ݮƵ.
Seminar to talk open education
The Centre for Teaching Excellence is hosting a faculty workshop on Monday, February 8 entitled "Open Educational Practices."
“Open Educational Practices” is a broad term that encompassesthe creation and adoption of open educational resources, open course development, and open pedagogy – all practices that are designed to broaden access and eliminate barriers to learning.
Facilitating the workshop is Professor Rajiv Jhangiani. Professor Jhangiania faculty member atKwantlenPolytechnic University, where he conducts research in the scholarship of teaching and learning and open education. He is a Faculty Fellow with the BC Open Textbook Project, the Associate Editor ofNOBA, an Associate Editor of the journal Psychology Learning & Teaching, and the Director of Research, Resources, and Special Initiatives with the STP Early Career Psychologists Committee. ProfessorJhangianihas revised two open textbooks and works with faculty, administrators, and staff at institutions across North America to facilitate the adoption of open educational practices.
Jhangianiwillmake a case for why the move away from traditional (closed) practices is not only desirable but inevitable, and how students, faculty, institutions, and our communities all stand to benefit greatly from this transformation.
The session is open to faculty, andis required. The workshop takes place on Monday, February 8 from 1:00 p.m. in 2:30 p.m. in DC 1302.
Thursday's notes
ճFederation of Students election campaignis well underway.
Candidates for the Feds Executive positions appear to be grouped into two slates this year,Ի.
Incumbent Feds president Chris Lolas is running for re-election, alongside Team Impact colleagues Deanna Priori (Vice-President, Internal), Sarah Wiley (Vice-President, Education), and Brian Schwan (Vice-President, Operations and Finance).
The PeoplesVoiceUW slate is made up of candidates Razan Qaoud (President), Kinsey Schurm (Vice-President, Education), Amanda Fiorini (Vice-President, Internal), and Jeremy Spira (Vice-President, Operations and Finance).
Independent candidateis also running for the Vice-President, Internal position.
No word yet on how many Students' Council or undergraduate Senate positions are being contested or filled by acclamation.
Running concurrently is a student referendum on the proposed ݮƵ Centre/Physical Activities Complex expansion. Undergraduate students will vote on whether or not they wish to contribute a per-term fee of $18.00 to cover the bulk of the cost of the new building.
Voting is scheduled to take place from 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, February 9 to 10:00 p.m. Thursday, February 11.
ճUniversity of ݮƵ Staff Association (UWSA) Special General Meetingwill be held on Thursday, February 25 from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. in DC 1302. Topics on the agenda include a report on the election of the president-elect, constitutional changes, and a presidential roundtable.
Members are invited for coffee and treats starting at 8:45 a.m. The complete agenda can be found onthe UWSA website. There will be door prizes.
Human Resources is reporting thatretireePatricia MartinJanuary 30. Martin worked as the Secretary/Office Manager for the University of ݮƵ Staff Association (UWSA) from September 1984 until her retirement in August 1997.She was predeceased by her spouse, Professor Hugh Martin of the Mechanical Engineering Department, in March 2008.
Who's afraid of theFASS? Find out this week
The University community's amateur theatre company FASS (Faculty, Alumni, Staff, and Students) will be performing its annual "original-ish" musical comedy production, "Who's Afraid of the FASS?" this week.
If you'd like to hear about Frat Boy Hades, ghosts of FASSies past, duels between real and software pirates, and the Goosebusters, then this is the show for you.
Performances take place in the Humanities Theatre on the following nights:
- Thursday, February 4 -8:00 p.m.
- Friday, February 5 - 7:00 p.m.
- Friday, February 5 - 10:30 p.m.
- Saturday, February 6 - 6:00 p.m.
Tickets can be purchased at the Humanities Theatre Box Office.
Link of the day
When and where
BechtelLecture Dinnerwith Dr.JannekenSmucker, “Abstract Art or Country Craft: The Quilts of the Amish,” Thursday, February 4, 6:30 p.m.,SchlegelCommunity Education Room, ConradGrebelUniversity College. Contact AlisonEnns(519) 885-0220 x 24217 oraenns@uwaterloo.cafor ticket information.
Staff Relations Committee meeting, Friday, February 5, 12:30 p.m., NH 3318.
, Thursday, February 4, 8:00 p.m., Friday, February 5, 7:00 p.m., 10:30 p.m., Saturday, February 6, 6:00 p.m., Humanities Theatre.
Philosophy Colloquiumfeaturing, Sophia M. Libman NEH Professor of the Humanities, Visiting Assistant Professor, Hood College, “Canada’s (Neo)Colonization of Reproductive Labor,” Friday, February 5, 3:30 p.m., HH 373.
Bechtel Lecturefeaturing Dr. Janneken Smucker, “Unexpected Intersections: Amish, Mennonite, and Hmong Textiles and the Question of Authenticity,” Friday, February 5, 7:00 p.m., Great Hall, Conrad Grebel University College.
Nominations for the Distinguished Teacher Award (DTA), are due on Friday, February 5, 2016. For more information contact Verna Keller at 519-888-4567 ext. 33857.
The Ritual of the Calling of an Engineer, Saturday, February 6, 12:00 p.m., 1:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m., ML Theatre.
Bookstore Winter Reading Sale,Monday, February 8 and Tuesday, February 9, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., South Campus Hall concourse.
Faculty Seminar Series, featuring Angela Hildyard, "Leadership in the Post-Secondary Environment", Monday, February 8, 1:00 p.m to 3:30 p.m., Federation Hall, rooms A and B -.
Renison presents a Chinese New Year Tea Party, Tuesday, February 9, 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., Renison Atrium.
, Tuesday, February 9, 7:30 p.m., Velocity Start, SCH 2ndFloor.
Noon Hour Concert:Michael Wood Trio, Wednesday, February 10, 12:30 p.m., Conrad Grebel University College.
, Wednesday, February 10, 7:30 p.m., Velocity Start, SCH 2ndFloor.
Treat-a-Gram, Thursday, February 11. Orders are due Thursday, February 4.
WatCACE webinar, “The Co-op Workplace Support System and its Effects on Student Commitment to Work, Team, and Host Organization,” Thursday, February 11, 1:00 p.m., E5 2004.. Contact Judene
Pretti attjpretti@uwaterloo.cafor
more information.
Communication for the Workplace,Thursday, February 11, 2:30 p.m.
Nominations for the Amit and Meena Chakma Awards for Exceptional Teaching by a Student (AETS)are due on Friday, February 12.For more information contactVernaKeller at 519-888-4567ext. 33857.
Family Day holiday, Monday, February 15, most university operations closed.
UWRC Book Club, “Undermajordomo Minor” by Patrick deWitt, Wednesday, February 17, 12:00 p.m., LIB 407.
Battling Internet censorship and surveillance, "Find out how Ian Goldberg is combating Internet censorship and surveillance with privacy-enhancing technologies,"Thursday, February 18, 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m., DC 1302.– seating is limited.
HageyBonspiel, Saturday, February 20, 9:00 a.m., Ayr Curling Club.
Noon Hour Concert:Timepoints: The Toronto Percussion Ensemble, Wednesday, February 24, 12:30 p.m., ConradGrebelUniversity College.
New Faculty Information Social Series:Copyright and Licensing,Wednesday, February 24,2:30 p.m. to4:00p.m.,EV1 241.
, Wednesday, February 24, 7:30 p.m., Velocity Start, SCH 2ndFloor.
UWSASpecial General Meeting,Thursday, February 25, 9:00 a.m., DC 1302. Coffee and treats available at 8:45 a.m.
Declutter Your Life: The Physical & Visible,Thursday, February 25, 12:00 p.m., MC 5501.
, Saturday, February 27, 10:00 a.m., Downtown Toronto.