UW Daily Bulletin, Tuesday, December 2

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Tuesday, December 2, 2008

* [4]Yesterday
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* [8]About the Daily Bulletin
* [9]UW Opinion

* One-day IT conference is under way
* Faculty association meets, talks tenure
* Co-op hiring still allowed, and more

* Editor:
* Chris Redmond
* Communications and Public Affairs
* bull...@uwaterloo.ca

One-day IT conference is under way

There’s a conference today in Rod Coutts Hall, and what it is, is WatITis
— subtitled “a conference to promote collaboration among IT staff at
Waterloo”. It’s the sixth annual one-day event of its kind.

The conference web site gives background: “Information Technology (IT) is an
integral part of the University of Waterloo’s mission to deliver academic
excellence to its students, faculty and to the greater community. As IT
support staff, we are privileged to be able to play an important role in the
advancement and future of our institution.

“The conference continues to promote the sharing and dissemination of the
work and ideas of our computer support staff across campus, underscoring the
importance of ‘collaborative IT’ in UW’s mission to provide teaching and
research excellence in an academic environment. Innovation and collaboration
are a cornerstone of our IT profession.

“We are pleased to be able to bring IT people together from all across
campus to share our experiences and knowledge with a full day of topical
presentations and discussion sessions.”

Today’s conference begins with an 8:45 keynote talk by Meg Beckel, UW’s
vice-president (external relations), under the title “Making the Future” — a
phrase that surfaces often in discussions of UW’s “branding” or
[10]“identity”, and just happens to be the overall theme for WatITis 2008.
The day winds up with a reception at the Graduate House from 3:30 to 4:30.

In between, these sessions are on the program, four at a time so that
conference participants will have to choose:

• “A Paperless University: Are We Ready?” by Carolyn Dirks, UW records
manager, university secretariat.
• “And One Schema to Rule Them All: The Online Faculty Information System”
by Paul McKone of the Centre for Knowledge Integration and Marlon Griffith
of engineering computing.
• “Blackbaud” by Nigel Henriques of development and alumni affairs and Dave
Kibble of information systems and technology.
• “Campus Email Projects Update” by Trevor Bain and Martin Timmerman of IST.
• “Capturing Screen Video Using Camtasia Studio” by Carrie Howells of the
Math Faculty Computing Facility.
• “Crisis Management” by Erick Engelke of engineering computing and Jason
Testart of IST.
• “Don’t Just Do Something, Sit There: Mindfulness at Work” by Marilyn
Perdue of counselling services.
• “Green IT: Walking the Walk” by Anne Grant of environmental studies and
Lowell Williamson of applied health sciences.
• “HALP! Something Is in My Tubes!” by Jason Testart of IST and Michael
Patterson of the Computer Science Computing Facility.
• “Investigations into Web Content Management Systems” by Eva Grabinski of
engineering, Terry Stewart of AHS and Megan McDermott of communications and
public affairs.
• “Joberloo” by Trevor Grove and Doug Suerich of IST.
• “NextGen Wireless” by Steve Bourque of IST.
• “Primo: Introducing a New Search and Discovery Interface for the
Library” by Allan Bell, Nancy Collins and Alison Hitchens of the UW library.
• “Resnet Enhancements and Directions” by Bill Baer of housing and Bruce
Campbell of IST.
• “Sharing Data in a Privacy-Friendly Way” by Urs Hengartner of computer
science.
• “Tracks: Time Management and Task Organization” by Daniel Allen of CSCF.
• “Velocity, Mobile + Media Incubator” by Sean Van Koughnett of UW Graphics.
• “Virtual-Simul Classrooms” by Koorus Bookan of IST.
• “What Do You Need to Know About Information Technology Infrastructure
Library?” by Andrzej Gadomski of Wilfrid Laurier University.
• “World Community Grid” by Peter Schepers of IST.

[11]Back to top

Faculty association meets, talks tenure

Issues about tenure for UW faculty members — and, especially, appeals by
professors who have been turned down for tenure — continue to keep the
faculty association’s Academic Freedom and Tenure Committee busy, a report
says.

It’s one item on the agenda for the fall general meeting of the association,
which starts at 2:00 today in Math and Computer room 4020.

Over the past half year, “there were two cases involving promotion or tenure
which went to the appeal level,” AF&T chair Frank Reynolds of the statistics
and actuarial science department says in his report. “In cases where there
are problems at the department level or above, the AF&T Committee supplies
the support of an academic colleague to any member who requests it. The
tenure case was denied at appeal, though the AF&T committee members involved
thought the case for tenure stronger than one last year where tenure was
granted. . . .

“There are continuing discussions with the Administration about the
interpretation of the policies governing the appeals process. It is the view
of FAUW that the interpretations and practices that have evolved over time
at UW have produced a good, workable system. Unfortunately, in the
estimation of the AF&T Committee, in the past year the policies have been
interpreted by some in the Administration without consideration for
established practice. This has had unfortunate consequences for the fairness
of the system.”

Reynolds reports that his committee has also been involved in several cases
involving older faculty members who have received “disappointing”
performance reviews: “This development was anticipated when mandatory
retirement was abolished. . . . There have also been cases where it appears
that Administrators have unfairly treated people who are ill, or simply
asked too many difficult questions.”

On another front, “an important concern on Canadian campuses in recent years
has been bullying of faculty, and UW, unfortunately, is not an exception.
One worrying form of bullying has been student petitions that are sharply
critical of a professor which, in many cases, turn out to be cases where a
professor’s standards are perceived by the students as too high. . . .

“Finally, one case has been referred to arbitration. CAUT feels that it
involves national issues and is supplying the legal services of one of its
staff lawyers.”

Today’s meeting will also hear from faculty representatives to the UW
pension and benefits committee, a working group on faculty performance
evaluations, and other committees. The feature presentation will involve
leaders of the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations —
president Brian Brown, of the University of Windsor, and full-time executive
director Henry Mandelbaum — speaking on “The Fall Economic Statement, the
2009 Provincial Budget, and the Implications for University Funding”.

[12]Back to top

Co-op hiring still allowed, and more

Some UW departments are worrying about heavier workloads since the
announcement that there will be no hiring (without special permission,
anyway) before the end of this fiscal year next spring. In that context,
here's an announcement of interest from the department of co-operative
education and career services: "The hiring freeze at UW does not extend to
department hiring of co-op students. CECS has become aware of some UW staff
and faculty who did not know that they could still offer co-op work term
employment. In fact, this might be a good time to hire co-ops. Despite the
hiring freeze there isn’t necessarily less work to be done. Co-ops can fill
the void quite nicely on a temporary basis, and there are still plenty of
students looking for January-April employment. Please call us at
519-888-4026 or go to [13]the CECS web site and start the ball rolling."

Students getting ready for exams may want food and drink at odd hours, and
UW's food services department is responding. From today until the end of
next week, REVelation cafeteria in Ron Eydt Village will be open 24 hours a
day. More modest hours will be in effect for a few days after that, December
13-17. Mudie's cafeteria in Village I isn't doing the overnight thing, but
will be open daily from 7 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. through exams. On the main
campus, there are just a few immediate changes to food services operations.
Tim Hortons in the Student Life Centre will run 24 hours a day for the next
few day; Pastry Plus in Matthews Hall is closed now, reopening in January;
and Festival Fare in South Campus Hall is closed for regular meal service,
but providing a by-reservation Christmas lunch buffet. Details are, of
course, [14]on the food services web site. Some special events coming up
from food services: a "Christmas celebration dinner" December 9 in Brubakers
in the SLC, and December 10 in REVelation; the "Dons' Do" Christmas meal at
Mudie's on December 11.

About 350 Waterloo Region high school students will participate in Canada's
only Federal-Provincial Government Conference Simulation in UW’s arts
buildings today and tomorrow. Organized by UW's political science department
and the local association of history department heads, the simulation has
been an annual event at UW for more than 30 years. This year, delegations
from 17 schools will take part. "The conference is an excellent opportunity
for students to become interested and engaged in politics while in high
school," says John Jaworsky, professor of political science. The role of
Canada's prime minister will be handled by Anna Cunningham of Kitchener
Collegiate Institute (there's no word of any coalition attempts to displace
here). Other students from KCI will serve as federal ministers. Students
from other schools will represent provinces and territories, holding first
ministers’ conferences and sessions on finance, justice, health, the
environment, agriculture and economic affairs, immigration and aboriginal
affairs. Working sessions take place in several rooms in the Arts Lecture
Hall, Hagey Hall and the Modern Languages building; the concluding plenary
session will be held in the Theatre of the Arts tomorrow starting at 1:45.

The graduate studies office sends word that December 12 is the deadline to
apply for this year's [15]Trudeau Foundation Doctoral Scholarships, which
offer as much as $40,000 plus a travel allowance for graduate study in the
humanities and social sciences. • The athletics department says more than
$4,000 was raised for breast cancer research by the weekend's Think Pink
promotion, "well ahead of the $2,000 goal". • It was interesting to spot an
ad in Friday's Imprint from the University of Toronto at Mississauga,
offering [16]rooms in its residences, just north of Dundas Street, for
Waterloo co-op students on work term.

CAR

[17]Back to top

Link of the day

[18]Emirates National Day

When and where

Christmas luncheon buffet at University Club, December 1-23 (Monday-Friday),
$19.25, reservations ext. 33801. Dinner buffet December 10 and 17, $36.95.

Holiday book sale at UW bookstore, South Campus Hall, December 2-4.

Touring Players children’s show, “The Velveteen Rabbit”, 10:00 and 1:30,
Humanities Theatre.

UW Gamers present Rock Band 2 battle of the bands, 12:00, Student Life
Centre great hall.

A-Z Dining Experience organized by [19]UW Recreation Committee, Mandarin
Restaurant, Kitchener, 5:00.

Society for Technical Communication workshop: “The Proposal as Project, and
You as the Leader” 6:30 p.m., Davis Centre room 1304. [20]Details.

John Ralston Saul, “Three Radical Truths About Canada”, 7:00 p.m., Centre
for International Governance Innovation, 57 Erb Street West, sponsored by
CIGI and UW bookstore. [21]Registration.

International TA and professor relationships, workshop sponsored by Centre
for Teaching Excellence, Wednesday 11:00, Flex Lab, Dana Porter Library.
[22]Details.

Christmas at the Davis Centre: UW Chamber Choir and Chapel Choir annual
concert, concluding with carol sing-along, Wednesday 12:00, Davis Centre
great hall.

‘Improving Your Financial Health’ seminar by Heather Cudmore, Catholic
Family Counselling Centre, sponsored by Employee Assistance Program,
Wednesday 12:00, Davis Centre room 1302.

Alumni dinner in Hong Kong Wednesday 6:30, Craigengower Cricket Club,
speaker David Li (PhD 1995), China International Capital Corporation.
[23]Details.

Perimeter Institute presents Ben Schumacher, Kenyon College, “The Physics of
Impossible Things”, Wednesday 7:00, Waterloo Collegiate Institute, ticket
information 519-883-4480.

Surplus sale of UW furnishings and equipment, Thursday 12:30 to 2:00 p.m.,
East Campus Hall.

Centre for Teaching Excellence [24]workshop: “A Course Design Model That
Works” Thursday 12:30, Flex Lab, Dana Porter Library.

Master of Business, Entrepreneurship and Technology program information
session Thursday 4:00, 295 Hagey Boulevard suite 240.

Fall term exams December 5 through 19. [25]Details. Unofficial fall term
grades begin appearing on Quest December 22; grades become official January
26.

Social Innovation and Community Change one-day event with displays and panel
discussions, co-sponsored by UW Social Innovation Generation, December 8,
9:00 to 4:30, Centre for International Governance Innovation, 57 Erb Street
West. [26]Details.

Social work program [27]application deadline for 2009 is December 15, 2008.

Ontario Ballet Theatre presents “The Nutcracker”, December 15, 7:00 p.m.,
and school performances Tuesday, 10:00 and 12:30, Humanities Theatre.

Fee payment deadline for the winter term: December 17 (cheque, money order
or fee arrangements), December 30 (bank transfer).

Christmas and New Year’s holidays: Tuesday, December 23, last working day at
UW for 2008. First working day of 2009 is Monday, January 5.

Winter term classes begin Monday, January 5.

Social Innovation Generation project presents “Studio Earth”, with remarks
by environmentalist Severn Suzuki, sessions on social finance, social
technology, political advocacy, January 11, 12:30 to 5:00, Kitchener City
Hall, registration $10, call ext. 38680.

Application deadline for September 2009 undergraduate admission is January
14 for Ontario secondary school students. General deadline, March 31.
Exceptions include pharmacy (for January 2010) January 30; accounting and
architecture, February 13; engineering and software March 2. [28]Details.

One click away

• [29]'Scholars weigh merits of western-style universities in Persian Gulf'
• [30]The attractions of federal civil service jobs
• [31]'Students facing increasing difficulty funding their education'
• [32]Students with disabilities seen as a growth market
• [33]UW researcher in study of calcium-depleted lakes
• [34]Institute for Liberal Studies held seminar at UW
• [35]'Fiscal restraint' at U of Guelph
• [36]Universities look outside academia for presidents (Globe)
• [37]'Freedom of speech taking a beating' (National Post)

[38][Sports report]

[39][Athletes of the week]

[40]Yesterday's Daily Bulletin
[41]Campaign Waterloo

[42]Communications and Public Affairs
[43]University of Waterloo
200 University Avenue West
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3G1
+1 519 888 4567
[44]Contact us | [45]http://www.bulletin.uwaterloo.ca | [46]© 2008
University of Waterloo

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