A new web service launching today will allow people to visit the UWindsor campus over the internet.

The YouVisit virtual tour (www.uwindsor.ca/virtualtour) offers photos and videos of buildings and facilities—interiors as well as exteriors—with a flexible interface that allows users to explore their individual interests.

“This interactive tour will connect UWindsor with prospective students through our website, Facebook pages, mobile devices and virtual reality,” says Lionel Walsh, assistant vice-president for North American recruitment. “This is an opportunity to showcase our campus to prospective students who make our website their first visit to the University of Windsor.”

Narrated by drama graduate Callum Gunn (BFA Acting 2016), it highlights recent improvements to the campus and includes a GPS-enabled mobile application that will facilitate in-person tours of the grounds. Signs to be posted at key locations will allow users to find information on the spot.

An exciting new feature is the virtual reality element, says Walsh.

“We will be able to provide a fully-immersive environment that we think will appeal to prospects from around the world who want a sense of the UWindsor experience,” he says.

The tour was produced by YouVisit Studios, with support from the offices of the Vice-Provost, International Development; Student Recruitment; and Public Affairs and Communications. It will greet readers on the UWindsor.ca homepage, the admissions page for prospective students, and recruitment’s campus tours site.

Departments across campus can also add the tour to their own websites, featuring their areas as the starting point. Find instructions in this document.

With the help she got from faculty at the University of Windsor, she didn’t need an editor to ready her first book for publication, says Marnie Lamb.

A graduate of the master’s program in creative writing (MA 2000), award-nominated short story writer and freelance editor, she has launched a crowdfunding campaign in support of her debut novel, The History of Hilary Hambrushina.

The story—based on characters she first started writing about as a 12-year-old—originated as her master’s thesis project, Lamb says.

“At the end of my year-long creative writing seminar, each student had to write a statement explaining why they chose their particular thesis project,” she says. “I remember writing that this was a story I needed to tell.”

The story revolves around Hilary, who sets out to become popular in her first year of junior high. Things don’t turn out the way she hoped, and she is plagued by bullying, self-doubt, and a troubled relationship with her mother.

“As someone who was bullied as a teenager, I feel both humbled and energized to be able to bring to light a story about girls whom you might meet in your daily lives,” says Lamb. “I hope that this book will make all its readers, especially those currently experiencing bullying, feel less alone.”

She says that members of her faculty review panel helped to nurture her work: “They really acted as developmental editors…. Windsor gave me the time to focus solely on my writing and helped me rediscover the joy of writing.”

After years of sending her manuscript to traditional publishing houses, she lit upon Iguana Books, a Toronto-based hybrid publisher. Iguana publishes a wide array of books, with quality being the number one criterion for the acceptance of a manuscript. But the company also asks authors to help defray production and distribution costs, including cover design and layout, before a book is published.

Although Lamb was prepared to shoulder those expenses, company representatives suggested she consider crowdfunding.

“I am excited to be undertaking this campaign not only to raise the money, but also to get the word out,” she says. “People can be my partners in helping to get the book produced.”

The campaign offers rewards to supporters at varying levels, including signed copies of the finished paperback and hardcover books. Find details, including an excerpt, on the PubLaunch crowdfunding site. The campaign runs until September 14.

With so many people joining the UWindsor faculty, this year seemed like an opportune moment to expand the orientation program exploring the roles, responsibilities, and possibilities of their new positions on campus, says provost Douglas Kneale.

More than 70 presenters, facilitators, or networking partners welcomed 30 newcomers to New Faculty Orientation last week. The three-day event included a campus network fair which drew presenters from 30 campus units and services, and working sessions on research, teaching and the tenure process.

The intention is to establish a more extended orientation to campus for faculty, to include a mentoring network, as well as online resources and workshops for early career faculty.

“We are thrilled to be welcoming so many new faculty on campus this year,” Dr. Kneale says. “Everyone involved—both new and established members of the community—showed the energy and enthusiasm that is really at the heart of what’s great about the University of Windsor.” 

Lisa Salfi, a recent hire in the Faculty of Engineering, calls the orientation program a “wonderful and beneficial” experience.

“It provided numerous resources, information on many topics, opportunities to make meaningful connections, and much more,” she says. “I feel extremely welcome, well-equipped, and supported in my new role at the University of Windsor.”

These new members of faculty participated:

• Maher Abdel-Khalek, Electrical and Computer Engineering;
• Michael S. Boroughs, Psychology;
• Pascal Calarco, Leddy Library;
• David Court, Dramatic Art;
• Kelly Daniels, Dramatic Art;
• Boram Do, Odette School of Business;
• Kathryn Edmunds, Nursing;
• David Firang, Social Work;
• Ryan Flannagan, Student Experience;
• Brent Furneaux, Odette School of Business;
• Guangrui Guo, Odette School of Business;
• Adrian Guta, Social Work;
• Nicholas Harney, Sociology, Anthropology and Criminology;
• Jeffery Hewitt, Law;
• Christopher Houser, Science;
• Mehdi Kargar, Computer Science;
• Michelle MacArthur, Dramatic Art;
• Elena Maltseva, Political Science;
• Scott Mundle , Chemistry and Biochemistry, Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research;
• Jesse Ovadia, Political Science;
• Julien Poloni, Languages, Literatures, and Cultures;
• Helen Power, Leddy Library;
• Simon Rondeau-Gagné, Chemistry and Biochemistry;
• Lisa Salfi, Engineering;
• Beth-Ann Schuelke-Leech, Mechanical, Automotive, and Materials Engineering;
• Catherine Shea, Odette School of Business;
• John Trant, Chemistry and Biochemistry;
• Vasanthi Venkatesh, Law;
• Valarie Waboose, Law; and
• Emily West, English Language, Literature, and Creative Writing.

The event was capped off with an optional walking tour of Detroit facilitated by faculty members. View a slideshow of images here:

The highlight of spending a semester designing and building your final project is watching it crumble, says a civil engineering student.

Junaid Khan was one of five University of Windsor engineering students tasked with building and predicting the strength of a bridge beam for the American Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute (PCI) Big Beam competition.

Khan said the pinnacle of the project was when the team tested the strength of the 17-foot-long beam with a hydraulic actuator in the university’s structural lab.

“This project prepares you for the real world and what you can expect when you encounter a problem,” Khan said. “As soon as the beam failed, we knew how accurate our design was and what we could do to fix it.”

The team of fourth-year students: Alaeldeen Abdelmoneim, Omar Albarazi, Majid Elkhereiji, Sofia Tahat and Khan, finished in 16th place among 30 international teams and third among Canadian universities, snagging a $250 US cash prize. The students were judged on a number of factors, including design accuracy, cost, weight and most accurate prediction.

The students meticulously planned everything from the structural design of the beam, to the concrete mix before turning to Prestressed Systems Inc., a Windsor manufacturer, to assist with the construction. The team used prestressed concrete, which is compressed with highly-stressed steel strand for added strength. However, a design flaw in the thickness of the flanges—the top and bottom caps of the beam—resulted in the beam’s failure.

“This is why I like civil engineering,” Khan said. “You instantly see the results of your work and if it makes sense.”

The team worked under the supervision of civil engineering assistant professor Amr El Ragaby and associate Shaohong Cheng, and was required to submit project results and a video outlining the construction process by June 2016. The results were announced in August.

Watch the team’s video:

Campus Police Services will benefit from a training exercise by Windsor Police in and around Alumni Hall on Wednesday, says director Mike MacKinnon.

The municipal force’s emergency services unit will simulate response scenarios using actors and blank ammunition August 24 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The exercise will test techniques, tactics, and command protocols.

“It’s a great opportunity for our officers to work together with Windsor Police to test our communications and procedures, so we work seamlessly together to further enhance campus safety,” MacKinnon says.

Wednesday’s training event will see police and their vehicles around Alumni Hall. Signs and officers posted at access points will alert passersby and assure them there is no hazard to the public.

MacKinnon invites the university community to direct any questions or concerns to him at 519-253-3000, ext. 5083.

The Senate Governance Committee on Special Appointments and Honorary Degrees welcomes nominations for honorary degrees.

Anyone wishing to nominate a candidate for an honorary degree must submit a nomination form by Friday, September 30. Read the selection criteria or print a nomination form here.

For more information, contact Maria Giampuzzi at 519-253-3000, ext. 3317, or by e-mail at woody@uwindsor.ca.

Campus employers interested in hiring a student may be able to get help from the UWindsor Work Study program. Co-op, Career and Employment Services is now accepting job proposal requests for the 2016/2017 academic year.

Work Study is a financial aid program which funds approximately 400 on-campus, part-time positions to students who have demonstrated financial need.

Find additional information about the UWindsor Work Study program and the associated process on the Work Study website:

• On-Campus Employers Job proposal submissions can be submitted through the mySuccess system on or before September 30. Please note: only University of Windsor employees are eligible to submit a job proposal for the UWindsor Work Study program.
• Students Approved students who have applied by September 11 will receive their authorization to participate in the program on or before October 2. Winter-start students can be accommodated provided that they apply by the October 15 Work Study application deadline.

The confirmation of hiring deadline will be extended to January 20 only for employers intending to hire a winter-start student.

UWindsor graduate assistants (GAs) and teaching assistants (TAs) and students interested in teaching and learning are invited to register for a full-day professional development event, the 10th annual GATAcademy, taking place Wednesday, September 7, in the Odette Building.

Organized by the Centre for Teaching and Learning and the GATA Network, GATAcademy is a faculty-sponsored series of workshops tailored to new and returning GAs and TAs. The event has helped to prepare more than 1,000 students from diverse disciplines for future careers as teachers, researchers, and scholars.

This year’s workshops—led by a group of experienced and award winning GAs, TAs, and instructors—will feature a range of topics, including:

• tips for surviving your first day as a GA/TA;
• teaching to a multicultural audience;
• teaching with technology;
• navigating copyright laws; and
• managing the University of Windsor’s new Blackboard learning management system.

Workshops are free for GAs and TAs.

The Graduate Studies GA/TA Orientation will take place at 3 p.m. September 7, immediately following GATAcademy. This session will offer practical information about entering into a new GA/TA role.

More information and online registration for GATAcademy are available on the CTL webpage.

University of Windsor faculty and students will face off Tuesday in a local escape room that features electrical components designed by a UWindsor electrical engineering student.

Members of the Windsor Engineering Student Society will compete against an engineering faculty team at 10 a.m. August 23 at Hidden Trail on 3147 Tecumseh Road East.

Earlier this year, Hidden Trail hired Joel Bondy, an electrical engineering undergraduate student, to assist with the design of several electrical components in two of its escape rooms: the Speakeasy and the Mad Hatter’s Birthday.

During the challenge, the UWindsor faculty and student teams will enter the two rooms at the same time. The first team to escape wins. Hidden Trail owners say it takes most groups approximately an hour to solve the series of puzzles and storylines before they escape the room.

For more information about Hidden Trail and escape rooms, visit http://www.hiddentrail.co.

Interested in serving the community while gaining extraordinary learning opportunities? The University of Windsor is offering its employees a chance to volunteer for a position promoting the success of the 2016 United Way campaign on campus.

This position reflects the University of Windsor’s continuing commitment to the United Way of Windsor-Essex County. The loaned representative to the community United Way will provide support to the management of the overall campaign. Duties of the loaned representative include giving presentations, showing the annual video, organizing canvasser kits, and helping companies with their in-house campaigns. It may also involve visiting several United Way agencies.

This person receives a release from regular work duties on campus for 15 weeks (September 6 to December 16, 2016) and will participate in intense orientation, training and workshops on motivation, team-building and delivering presentations. Candidates must have access to a vehicle and all mileage will be reimbursed. The loaned representative will continue to receive a regular university pay cheque.

To apply for this position, contact the President’s Committee on the United Way, c/o Rita LaCivita, vice-president, human resources, by fax at 519-971-3688, by e-mail to mimma@uwindsor.ca or in writing to the Department of Human Resources, by the deadline date Friday, August 26.