Tuesday, September 21, 2021

Tuesday, September 21, 2021

PreviousNext

Editor:
Brandon Sweet
University Communications
bulletin@uwaterloo.ca

Registration opens today for Keeping Well at Work 2021

Keeping Well at Work conference logo.

A message from Organizational and Human Development (OHD).

In this day and age, is it even possible that our work can be part of our personal wellness? With the amount of time we dedicate to work – thinking about it, preparing for it, travelling for it, in addition to the time we’re working – it must.

This October, Organizational and Human Development (in partnership with the Healthy Workplace Committee) will explore what it means toKeep Well at Workwith two focused conference days for UݮƵ employees onOctober 13 and 19,along with sharing daily wellness inspiration on the Daily Bulletin and OHD’s Twitter feed.

Keynote speakers

Keeping Well at Work(KW@W) 2021 will open and close with two powerhouse Keynote speakers:

Anthony McLean.

Anthony McLeanhasdelivered hundreds of inspiring talks across Canada, the US and Australia on diversity, anti-racism, and mental health. His research-backed tools and actionable strategies leave his audiences inspired to bring their best every day.

As KW@W’s opening Keynote, on Wednesday, October 13, 2021 at 10:30 a.m., Anthony will tackleThe Intersection of Mental Health and Anti-Racism.Register.

Robyne Hanley-Dafoe

Dr. Robyne Hanley-Dafoedescribed as one of the most sought-after, engaging, thought-provoking, and truly transformative international speakers and scholars in her field, Dr. Robyne is a multi-award-winning psychology and education instructor who specializes in resiliency, navigating stress and change, and personal wellness.

JoinDr. Hanley-Dafoe, KW@W’s closing keynote, on Thursday, October 19at 1:30 p.m. when she’ll speak to the timely topic ofEveryday Resiliency in Ever-Changing Times.

This year’s virtual conference workshops and daily inspirations will cover topics aboutnutrition,mental health,physical well-being,wellness through an equity lens,community and campus wellnessandoverall personal health.

Registration opens today, September 21 at 12:00 noon.

Questions? Connect withOrganizational & Human Development.

Dean of Environment Nominating Committee to begin consultations

A nominating committee has been constituted under the terms ofPolicy 45is now in place and has begun the process of identifying DeanJean Andrey’s successor.

"Over the coming weeks, committee members intend to consult broadly," writes James Rush, vice-president, academic & provost in a memo circulated to Faculty of Environment employees and students. "Your input and feedback will be very important in shaping the position profile and informing the direction of the search."

Dean Andrey'ssecond term as Dean of Environment runs to June 30, 2022.

Members of the Faculty of Environment are invited to consider the following questions and provide 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?

Members of the Faculty of Environment are encourages to convey their viewson matters concerning the deanship in writing to Mike Grivicic, associate university secretary (mgrivicic@uwaterloo.ca) or to any member of the nominating committee no later than October 8, 2021. Your feedback will be held in confidence within the committee.

Dean of Environment Nominating Committee members

Celebrate International Education Week from November 15 to 19

International Education Week banner.

A message from ݮƵ International.

International Education Week (IEW) is an opportunity to recognize and promote the value of international education, experiences and collaboration. It celebrates outbound activities, internationalization at home, and is intended to bring global conversations to campus. This year, the University of ݮƵ will celebrate IEW from 15-19 of November, showcasing international education through a variety of programs, events, collaborations, debates, discussions, and an array of activities. Please join ݮƵ International in celebrating our international students, staff and faculty at home and let’s experience the world together.

Interested in hosting an event for International Education Week? ݮƵ International is currently seeking interest from student groups, academic support units, departments and faculties interested in hosting international education-themed event during this week. Please contactAisha Shiblifor more information and to register your event on the IEW calendar of events. Interested parties are advised to submit their proposed events to ݮƵ International before November 1, 2021.

As planning continues to unfold, and we start to book events in celebration of international education, please continue to check theݮƵ International – International Education Weekwebpage for the lineup of events.

New tools and resources available for persons living with dementia

An elderly woman stretches her arms out in front of her.

By Eugenia Xenos Anderson.

Many things change when a person is diagnosed with dementia, but one thing that doesn’t have to is the ability to exercise.

Dementia-Inclusive Choices for Exercise (DICE) is a cross-Canada research team, led by the University of ݮƵ, that has developed a new series of tools and resources to help exercise providers create inclusive programs and spaces for people living with dementia and support their knowledge and confidence to continue or begin exercising.

The team is made up of 29 people from 10 organizations, including researchers, persons with dementia, care partners and 10 community organizations from Nova Scotia to Northern British Columbia.

“Exercise has important benefits to physical, mental and social well-being for people living with dementia,” saysLaura Middleton, a Kinesiology and Health Sciences professor who leads the group. “People living with dementia who take up exercise have improved functional abilities day to day. This may be the result of several direct benefits, including improved aerobic fitness, better balance and mobility, increased strength and, less conclusively, increased cognitive function.”

Middleton says there are also important social benefits to exercise, especially when it is done with others. “People living with dementia receive encouragement and social support from their instructor and peers. They feel a sense of community and inclusion. As a result of improvements during exercise, they can also feel more confident in all aspects of life. For those who have been active earlier in their life, exercise can help maintain their sense of identity despite dementia.”

Middleton assembled the DICE research team after collaborating with the Alzheimer Society’s Minds in Motion program. She realized that no one program is sufficient to meet the preferences and needs of a diversity of people living with dementia. “Our goal for the Dementia-Inclusive Choices for Exercise project is to make more community and clinical exercise programs accessible and inclusive. That way, people living with dementia can choose a program that is close to them and aligned with their needs, goals and preferences for exercise programming.”

DICE provides training modules that educate and train exercise providers to understand and meet the physical activity needs of people living with dementia. This includes education about the rights of people living with dementia to inclusion in exercise and physical activity programs, the benefits of physical activity, physical activity recommendations, approaches to communication, exercise program delivery and planning, as well as facility design and the diversity of dementia (such as age of onset, abilities and challenges).

“The most profound change for exercise providers is the realization that their actions affect the ability of people living with dementia to participate,” Middleton says. “People often think that participation is only based on the abilities of the person living with dementia. This isn’t true!”

She says small things – from altering the environment (by reducing noise, using clear signage and removing mats or carpets, for example), to tweaking exercise delivery through simple, clear communication or altering how providers demonstrate, give feedback or pay attention to their clients – canenablepeople living with dementia to participate in their communities.

“In the end, people living with dementia have a right to benefit from health care and rehabilitation through exercise and to participate in sports, recreational and other leisure activities in their communities. This is a right supported by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability.”

To access the training modules and videos, please see.

Postdoc Awareness Week continues and other notes

A message from Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs in support ofNational Postdoc Appreciation Week.

Today, as part ofNational Postdoc Appreciation Week, we are proud to showcaseXia HanandTariq Aziz. Follow these links to their profiles if you want to learn more about them and the work they do.

Xia Han

Xia Hanis a postdoc with the Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science in the Faculty of Mathematics. She joined the University of ݮƵ in September 2020, and has been working with David Landriault and Ruodu Wang as supervisors. Her current research focuses on issues within the field of quantitative risk management.

Tariq Aziz.

Tariq Azizhas been a postdoc in the Faculty of Science since 2018. He works in the Ecohydrology Research Group,developing methods and tools to better inform policy-makers of thebenefits of using natural resources sustainably. His work is motivated by a desire to improve water quality and enhance public support for important sustainability initiatives.

Are you also a postdoc doing important work here at the University of ݮƵ? If so, pleaseShare Your Storywith us so that we can add you to our collection ofPeople Profilescelebrating the contributions of other amazing postdocs in the UݮƵ community.

Postdoc fact of the day: Postdoc population growth

University of ݮƵ is home to nearly 400 postdoctoral fellows and has seen a 33% increase in the number of postdocs since 2016. Over half (56 per cent) of all our postdocs are international. We are proud to welcome such an incredibly diverse group of exceptional scholars.

Speaking of awareness, here are some other bits of campus info:

The University of ݮƵ Place(UWP) southeast parking lot(accessible off Seagram Drive) will be closed from Friday, September 24 until Monday, September 27, according to Plant Operations.

The members of the Full House Brass and their instruments.

The latest in theNoon Hour Concert series,Pandemic Polka, is set for Wednesday, September 22 at12:30 p.m. online and will feature theFull House Brass. Full House Brassconsists of five versatile and creative brass players: two trumpets, one French horn, and two trombones. This concert will feature arrangements of dance music, including waltzes, tangos, polkas, a soft shoe, and more.

Upcoming office closure

Campus Wellness will be closed onThursday, September 23from 8:30 a.m. to11:00 a.m. for staff training.

Linkof the day

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.

Instructorscan visit theto get support on adapting their teaching and learning plans for an online environment.

are available within your course in LEARN to help you build and edit your content and assignment pages quickly.

The following workshops, webinars, and events are offered by the KL team (CTE, CEL, ITMS, LIB):

Employeescanto help them work remotely, includingmanaging University records and privacy of personal information.Here are sometips for staying healthywhile working from home.

Stay informedabout COVID cases on campus byconsulting the COVID case tracker.

Thehas virtual services and programs to helpundergrads,grad students, postdocsandfaculty memberswith academic writing.

Co-op studentscanget help finding a joband find supports to successfully work remotely, develop new skills, access wellness and career information, and contact a co-op or career advisor.

TheCentre for Career Action (CCA)will be expanding somein-person services for fall 2021. The Tatham Centre will be open with front-desk support beginning September 7, with limited in-person appointments and co-op consults beginning September 20. All services will continue to be offered virtually this term. Book an appointmentor visit ourto connect with our Client Support Team. The CCA is here to help.

If you feel overwhelmed or anxious and need to talk to somebody, please contact theUniversity’s Campus Wellness services, eitherHealth Servicesor Counselling Services. You can also contact the University'sCentre for Mental Health Research and Treatment.Good2Talkis a post-secondary student helplineavailable to all students.

Whilethe Librarycontinues to focus on digital resources andconsultations, our spaces are open for the fall term. Dana Porter Library is open Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Davis Centre Library is open Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.for drop-in individual study space,bookableindividual study rooms,drop-in access to computers and printers, book pick-up servicesand IST Help Desk support.Special Collections & Archivesand theGeospatial Centrewill be accessibleby appointment.Library staff are available for questions viaAsk us.Full detailsoncurrent services and hours are available ontheLibrary’sCOVID-19 Update webpage.

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

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

The Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Office (SVPRO)supports all members ofthe University of ݮƵcampuscommunitywho have experienced, or been impacted, by sexual violence.This includes all students, staff,facultyand visitorsonthemain campus, the satellite campuses, and at the affiliated and federated ݮƵ Institutes and Colleges.For support, email:svpro@uwaterloo.caor visit theSVPRO website.

TheIndigenous Initiatives Officeis a central hub that provides guidance, support, and resources to all Indigenous and non-Indigenous campus community members and oversees the university Indigenization strategy.

TheݮƵ Indigenous Student Centre, based at St. Paul’s University College,provides support and resources for Indigenous students, and educational outreach programs for the broader community, including lectures, and events.

WUSA supports for students:

Peer support - MATES, Glow Centre, RAISE, Women’s Centre -Visitto book an appointment either in person or online for the Fall term!

Food Support Servicefood hampersare currently available from the Turnkey Desk 24/7 in the ݮƵ Centre. Drop off locations are also open again in SLC, DC, DP, SCH and all residences.

Co-op Connectionall available online. Checkfor more details.

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..

WUSA Student Legal Protection Program-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 at1-833-628-5589.

When and Where (but mostly when)

(Online Fitness)

.Starts September 7. A wide range of programs are being offered this term. Intramural deadline: September 13, 11:00 a.m. Instructional deadline: September 19, 11:59 p.m..

Warriors vs. LaurierBloodDonation Battle. Join your fellow Warriors, donatebloodand help us win theBloodBattle against Laurier for a second year in a row.or add the PFL code: UNIV960995 to your account if you have ablood.ca account already. Questions? ContactWarriorsInfo@uwaterloo.ca.

Drop-in toWarrior Virtual Study Hallson Wednesdays from5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Come together in this virtual space to set goals and work independently or in groups each week.

continues to offervirtual events and workshopsto help students practice their English language skills.

Anti-racism book club,White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo and Michael Eric Dyson (2018), Tuesday, September 21, 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m.

NEW -Virtual Tour of Mohawk Institute Residential School, Tuesday, September 21, 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

GEDI Exchange Webinar - A 30 Minute Exchange with HueX and Tim Hortons,Tuesday, September 21, 1:00 p.m. Join this discussion with HueX and Tim Hortons as they discuss improving the customer experience with technology by bringing voice-enabled conversational AI to the drive-through.

WaterTalk:What are the Priority Research Needs for Environmental Quality and Environmental Public Health Practice?presented by Bryan Brooks, Thursday, September 23, 10:00 a.m.

, Thursday, September 23, 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

NEW -Truth, Reconciliation and You, Thursday, September 23, 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Friday, September 24 and Saturday, September 25. Various events including a virtual concert, panel event, trivia, and more.

NEW - Alumni Black and Gold Day Women’s Rugby vs. Trent.Saturday, September 25, 2:00 p.m.in advance and come cheer on your Warriors at Warrior Field.

,Friday, September 24, 12:00 noon to 1:30 p.m.

NEW - Information session for ݮƵ faculty and staff:NSERC Alliance and Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI) Voucher for Innovation and Productivity (VIP) Joint Program, Tuesday, September 28, 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Please register.

NEW -Understanding Islamophobia: Root causes, Impact and Action,2-Part Workshop, Wednesday, September 29 and October 6, 10:00 a.m. 12 noon.

NEW -Noon Hour Concert: Fire and Rain, Wednesday, September 29 at 12:30 p.m.online.

ݮƵ Womxn + Nonbinary Wednesdays (W3+) presents Invisible Stories, Sound(Mapping) Inequality, and Responsible NEW - Representationwith panelists Lai-Tze Fan, Jessica Thompson, and Jin Sol Kim, Wednesday, September 29, 12 noon to 1:00 p.m..