Friday, June 12, 2020

Friday, June 12, 2020

Editor:
Brandon Sweet
University Communications
bulletin@uwaterloo.ca

ݮƵ students awarded prestigious Governor General's Gold Medal

a pile of gold stars

By Angelica Sanchez.

(This article was originally published inݮƵ Stories.)

The University of ݮƵ is proud to announce that two of its students will receive one of Canada’s highest honours in academia — the Governor General’s Gold Medal.

For highest standing in a doctoral program, Psychology PhD student Harrison Oakes (MA ’16) with the Faculty of Arts is recognized for his accomplishments in the research on social environments that stigmatize concealable identities. Former master’s student Joanne Marie Fitzgibbons (MES ’19) with the Faculty of Environment is being celebrated for her explorations in the process and politics of planning for urban resilience.

Harrison Oakes

Harrison Oakes

Recognized for his interdisciplinary research on identity suspicion, Harrison Oakes highlights that social environments that stigmatize concealable identities (e.g., mental illness, being gay) oppress both people with the stigmatized identity and people with the contrasting non-stigmatized identity. For example, Oakes’ findings have demonstrated that in homophobic environments, people suspect even straight-identifying students with stereotypically straight interests of hiding a stigmatized sexual identity. As a result, students in these environments are expected to conceal behaviours and interests associated with the stigmatized identity to avoid having their identity questioned by their peers.

Oakes has a broad range of research experience, spanning work in identity perception, moral psychology, reasoning about social conflicts and identity expression on dating apps. Much of his research has been published in leading journals, including Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Oakes has also received multiple awards for his scholarly work, including the prestigious Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship.

Oakes draws inspiration from his own experiences of homophobic bullying to drive his years of work as an advocate for anti-bullying curricula in schools. He uses his strong passion to use research to promote more inclusive communities and inspire social change.

[Editor's note: Read more about how Oake's researchrevealshow homophobia can affect everyone]

Joanne Marie Fitzgibbons

Joanne Marie Fitzgibbons

Having graduated with a Master of Environmental Studies (Planning) in fall 2019, Joanne Marie Fitzgibbons’(MES ’19) list of accomplishments continues to grow. Her Master's thesis explored how urban planning for resilient and sustainable cities can be more equitable and just.

Fitzgibbons’ findings have led to the conclusion that urban planners can build resilience in a way that is equitable and inclusive, when city planners deliberately consider issues of redistribution and recognition, as well as participate during both strategic development and implementation stages.

This summer, Fitzgibbons is doing an internship with the City of Vancouver's Board of Parks and Recreation, while being enrolled in the Resource, Environment and Sustainability PhD program at the University of British Columbia.

Governor General’s Gold Medal

Created in 1873 by Canada’s third Governor General Lord Dufferin, the Governor General’s Gold Medal is an award given out annually to students from different institutions who achieve the highest level of academic scholarship for their cohort at their institution. The award is divided into four categories ranging from bronze at the secondary school level to gold at the graduate level.

ݮƵ awarded for creativity on international stage

A round, wooden pin that reads Faculty of Environment

By Jude Doble, Office of Advancement

This week, the(CASE) announced three strong wins for ݮƵ projects. This is an annual competition with hundreds of submissions from universities and colleges around the world.

Congratulations to:

  • Faculty of Environment undergraduate recruitment for winningSILVERin Best Design|Speciality Pieces for Living Our Values: Sustainable Swag from ݮƵ's Faculty of Environment
  • University Relations for winningBRONZEin Video|General Information Video – Short for thefeaturing alumnus Richard Yim (MBET ’17)
  • University Relations for winningGOLDin Video|News and Research Videos for thefeaturing alumnus Lauren Smith (MES ’17)

Additionally, another ݮƵ project was recognized by CASE in the2020 District II Accolades. A team of alumni, students and groups across campusin Videos Promoting Intercultural Understanding for theI am African and I am Caribbean videos.

These recognitionsbuild on theݮƵ awards receivedfrom the Canadian Council for the Advancement of Education (CCAE), CASE’s Canadian counterpart. Hats off to our creative colleagues who help to showcase ݮƵ’s creativity and strategy on the international stage.

Ask an online expert: I'm developing an online course - where do I start?

hands typing at a computer

Moyo Studio / E+ / Getty Images

By Katelin Hamilton,SeniorOnlineLearning Assistant

This is the first article in a series by theCentre for Extended Learning

While the task of transforming an in-person course to an online environment may seem daunting, there are many resources available to support this transition, including theTemplates for Remote Teachingdeveloped by Gillian Dabrowski, Julia Burke, and Nick Szyngiel from theCentre for Extended Learning.

The Templates for Remote Teaching LEARN site provides a sample course structure that can be freely used for all Fall 2020 courses. It includes a variety of resources, including a standard Fall Remote Teaching Syllabus, sample formats for assignment and content pages, as well as significant guidance on online content creation and LEARN how-to documents.

This resource is designed to be easy to use – instructors can self register for the course on, import the templates into their own courses and easily edit and update them to meet their course needs. These templates go beyond providing a starting point for instructors. They’re designed to save time by being easy to update while also enhancing content delivery by making the student experience consistent and clear.

Multiple instructors from across faculties have used these templates in designing their Spring term courses. Lecturer Keith Delaney (Earth and Environmental Sciences) said the most important thing for other instructors to know is that the templates exist! He found the templates saved time, perhaps days or even weeks of work. As the structure of the course was already built-in, Dr. Delaney found the move to remote teaching to be less stressful than starting from scratch. He said, “the Templates really helped. There’s no doubt about it.”

If you are interested in using these templates, self-register for “Templates for Remote Teaching” in LEARN.

If you need further support, it is available! Contactlearnhelp@uwaterloo.cafor assistance using these templates orremoteteaching@uwaterloo.cafor assistance in setting up complex assignments (e.g. group work, student presentations, e-portfolios, and peer review).

And don’t forget there are also many great resources on theKeep Learningɱٱ.

Spotted (and striped): Good Buddies outdoors

On this beautiful Friday, the Daily Bulletin team hopes these Good Buddies will inspire you to get outside this weekend.

a white pelican in a lake

Alison Boyd, senior director in Alumni Relations, made a rare spotting last weekend. "I took this picture of an American White Pelican that I spotted on Columbia Lake on Sunday June 7 around 3:30 p.m." she writes."According to the ݮƵ Region Birds Facebook group this is a rare sighting - white pelican’s haven’t been in ݮƵ Region in a very long time."

Gio the horse

"Gio is an off-the-track thoroughbred who has been a riding horse for several years and excels at dressage.He is very sociable – and loves his mint," writes Recreation and Leisure Studiesassociate professor Steven E. Mock.

two skunks

"I was working on my patio Tuesday afternoon when a committee of fourapproached me.I grabbed my laptop and made good my escape, since Ialways try to avoid meetings and this one looked likely to turn outbadly," writesTerry Labach,systems integration specialist inInformation Security Services."These young ones have obviously not received the memo thatthey are nocturnal."

Beyond the Bulletin

Beyond the Bulletin banner with an illustration of two vintage microphones

Our Beyond the Bulletin podcast will resume next week. In the meantime, you can peruse our.

Linkof the day

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When and Where to get support

Studentscan visit theStudent Success Officeonline for supports including academic development, international student resources, leadership development, exchange and study abroad, and opportunities to get involved.

Award fromGSEF-GSA-GSPAforthesis-based master’s and PhD studentswho have lost funding because of COVID-19.

Բٰܳٴǰcan visit theKeep Learning websiteto get support on adapting their teaching and learning plans for an online environment. The following workshops are current offerings from the KL team (CTE, CEL, ITMS, LIB):

Teaching Online: Basic Skills for TAs,June 1 to 30.

Teaching Online: Advanced Skills for TAs,June 1 to 30.

,Friday, June 12, 1:00 p.m.

Deepening Your Course Design: Remote Edition, Monday,June 15, 1:30 p.m.

Google Translate – a tool for cheating or a tool for learning?Wednesday, June 17, 2:00 p.m.

Creating Accessible Presentations,Thursday, June 18, 10:00 to 11:00 a.m.

Introduction to OER Textbooks,Wednesday, June 24, 2:00 to 2:30 p.m.

Introduction to OER Activities, Exercises, and Student Work Examples,Thursday, June 25, 10:30 to 11:00 a.m.

Employeesto help them work remotely, includingmanaging University records and privacy of personal information

Interested in learning more about engaging your students in an online course?The Centre for Extended Learning has created a new resource for you called

ThisOpen Educational Resourcewas designed for post-secondary instructors and teaching assistants who would like to better understand the critical role of facilitation in online course delivery, and build practical skills and strategies that are relevant, effective, and authentic.

Here are sometips for staying healthywhile working from home.

ճWriting and CommunicationCentre has gone virtualto provide assistance.

Grad Writing Cafésand#ݮƵWrites,self-registration on LEARN:

  • Tuesdays: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
  • Wednesdays: 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
  • Fridays: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Virtual Drop-In Appointments,Tuesday, May 19to Thursday, August 6, registration on WCONLINE

  • Sunday - Thursday from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.
  • Sign upbegins at 5:55 p.m.
  • Closed for the holidays on July 1 and August 3
  • Appointments are 25 minutes long

We understand that these circumstances can be troubling, and you may need to speak with someone for emotional support.Good2Talkis a post-secondary student helpline based in Ontario, Canada that is available to all students.

If you feel overwhelmed or anxious and need to talk to somebody, please contact theUniversity’s Campus Wellness services, eitherHealth Servicesor Counselling Services.

The Libraryhasonhow to avoid information overload.

ճFaculty Association of the University of ݮƵ (FAUW)continues to advocate for its members.for more information.

ճUniversity of ݮƵ Staff Association (UWSA)continues to advocate for its members.Check out the UWSA blogfor more information.

WUSA supports for students:

food hampersare currently available from the Turnkey Desk on weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.in the ݮƵ Centre. If you have any questions please email us atfoodsupport@wusa.ca.

– Providing general online Peer Support via Skype to undergraduate students. To set up an appointment, please go to:

- Providing online Peer Support for the LGBTQ2+ community via Skype to Undergraduate students. To set up an appointment, please go to:

– Providing online Peer Support via Skype to undergraduate students. To set up an appointment, please go to:

– Providing online Peer Support via Google to undergraduate students. To set up an appointment, please go to:

Now OPEN by appointment for your bicycle repair and rental needs in the ݮƵ Centre! For more information or to schedule an appointment, please go to:

Centre for Academic Policy Support-CAPS is here to assistݮƵ undergraduates throughout their experience in navigating academic policy in the instances of filing petitions, grievances and appeals. Please contact them atcaps@wusa.ca. More information at

WUSA Commissionerswho can help in a variety of areas that students may be experiencing during this time:

-Seeking legal counsel can be intimidating, especially if it’s your first time facing a legal issue.The legal assistance helpline provides quick access to legal advice in any area of law, including criminal. Just call1-833-202-4571.

is a confidential mental health and wellness service that connects students with qualified counsellors 24/7. They can be reached at 1-844-741-6389.

When and Where (but mostly when)

Every Wednesday from June 3 to July 15. Free online sessions highlighting a wide range of topics featuring Warriors Coaches and staff. Register in advance for the zoom link.

, Friday, June 12, 1:00 p.m.

Co-op Problem Award tuition scholarship application deadline, Sunday, June 14.

presents"Anti-racism and Christian Responsibility"Sunday, June 14, 6:00 p.m.

Entrepreneurship@Environment presents,Tuesday, June16,1:00 to 2:30 p.m.

Résumé Tips: Thinking Like an Employer, Tuesday, June 16, 12:30 to2:00 p.m.

Portfolio & Project Management Community of Practice (PPMCoP) session, "Estimating in Projects"Wednesday, June 17, 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

ճMoving careers forward: Community of Practicefor women presents:Achieve your goals with 1% effort,Wednesday June 17 at 12:00 p.m.Register in.

Entrepreneurship@Environment presents,Friday, June, 19,1:00 to 2:30 p.m.

Black Lives Matter Here,June 19 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.

, Tuesday, June 23, 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Entrepreneurship@Environment presents,Tuesday, June, 23,12:00to 1:30 p.m.

Women in Computer Science presents","Tuesday, June 23, 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Registration required.

Graduate literature reviews A: Organizing research,Monday, June 29, 10:00 a.m.Live Q & Aon LEARN.