About the initiative

In 2023, À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ at 100 laid out a bold vision for where we aspire to be by our 100th anniversary, in the year 2057. An immediate priority was identified, which was to revisit our values to embrace our strengths and foundation while also promoting a more nimble and collaborative culture. Ìý

Values Journey Snapshot

Scan of uwaterloo.ca produced

150+

individual values statements

(as of Oct 2023)

More than 75 consultations with staff, faculty, alumni and students

We heard from nearly 200 students

À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ at 100 Consultations

Ìý(throughout 2022)Ìý

To begin, we leveraged the vast consultations conducted through 2022 to inform À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ at 100.Ìý These consultations engaged thousands of students, faculty, staff, alumni, and members of the broader À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ community.Ìý The topic of values was ever-present throughout these discussions relating to the University’s future.Ìý For more details, see À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ at 100.Ìý
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PART Report

This re-assessment of our values was also informed by the President’s Anti-Racism Taskforce report, published in 2020, recommendations to revise our values, applying the lenses of anti-racism and anti-oppression.ÌýÌý To contextualize the PART Report, we began our consultation process with the Office of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Anti-racism and the Office of Indigenous Relations. Ìý
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PAC Report

Another key source for value was the Provost’s Advisory Committee on Building a Resilient University of À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ and their report published in 2023.

Team Leads, Values Advisory GroupÌý

Organizational & Human Development (OHD) and University Relations (UR) were tasked with leading this initiative. This work was overseen by the Office of the President with input and ongoing guidance from the Values Advisory Group consisting of:Ìý

  • Nenone Donaldson, Vice-President, AdvancementÌý

  • Sanjeev Gill, Associate Vice-President Innovation & Executive Director WatSPEEDÌý

  • Fayaz Noormohamed, Senior Director, Strategy and ImplementationÌý

  • Jacinda Reitsma, Vice-President, Administration and FinanceÌý

  • Johanna Wandel, Associate Professor & Associate Dean, Faculty of EnvironmentÌý

  • Mark Weber, Senior Advisor to the Provost, Leadership Strategy and DevelopmentÌý

Values Working Group

To help inform and guide this process, a Values Working Group was established, consisting of members, spanning faculties and Academic Support Units.Ìý This working group included:Ìý

  • Joyce Barlow, AccessAbilityÌý

  • Karla Boluk, Faculty of HealthÌý

  • Rebecca Butler, University RelationsÌý

  • Jon Coburn, Special Constable ServicesÌý

  • Amanda Cook, Sexual Violence PreventionÌý

  • Jude Doble, LibraryÌý

  • Sue Grant, AdvancementÌý

  • Yessenia Guerrero, Staff AssociationÌý

  • Fayaz Noormohamed, Office of the PresidentÌý

  • Anita Taylor, Office of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Anti-racismÌý

  • Melissa Star Ireland, Indigenous RelationsÌý

  • Mark Weber, Faculty of EngineeringÌý

  • Rebecca Wickens, Faculty of EnvironmentÌý

  • Jenn Willoughby, UÀ¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Life - Associate Provost, Students OfficeÌý

  • Susan Willsie, Organizational and Human DevelopmentÌý

Values Consultations

Ìýstudents | faculty | staff | alumniÌý

further consultations were conducted with…

  • Faculty:Ìýall 6 faculties through faculty council meetingsÌýÌý

  • ASUs:ÌýCo-operative and Experiential Education (CEE), Office of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Anti-Racism (EDI-R), Indigenous Relations Office, Human Resources, Office of Research, and the Sustainability OfficeÌý

  • Executive CouncilÌý(September 14, 2023)Ìý

  • Council of Academic LeadersÌý(December 14, 2023)Ìý

  • Leadership ForumÌý(October 5, 2023, June 6, 2024)Ìý

  • SenateÌý(September 27, 2023)Ìý

  • Student Feedback on CampusÌý(Intercepts): (February 2024)Ìý

Drop-in Feedback Sessions

From Winter 2024 a series of 6 drop-in focus group sessions (available both online and in-person) were made available for faculty, staff, students and alumni to provide feedback and input into the creation of the values.Ìý

The values were endorsed by the University of À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Board of Governors on June 26, 2024. Many thanks to the entire À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ community for their input, feedback and passion for À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ.

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