The official dedication of Turtle Island Walk will take place on Thursday, Sept. 21, but the campus community got an early glimpse of the vibrant banners that will anchor the six prominent seating areas along the pedestrian thoroughfare this week.

The art featured on the banners is the work of First Nations artist Teresa Altiman who grew up on Walpole Island and draws inspiration from both the landscape and her indigenous heritage.

Turtle Island Walk will recognize the First Nations history of the land that the University of Windsor sits on with a series of plaques and will feature the Seven Teachings of the Ancestors - Wisdom, Love, Respect, Bravery, Honesty Humility and Truth as well as the art work.

The dedication will include a full day of special events, and more details will follow.

Last week more than 30 new faculty members met with faculty, staff and students to explore the roles, responsibilities, and possibilities of their new positions at New Faculty Orientation. More than 80 individuals from the campus community contributed as presenters, facilitators, or networking partners. The three-day event included a campus network fair which drew presenters from 35  campus units and services, as well as working sessions on research, teaching, service, working in academia,  facilitated with the help of faculty from across campus.

One new feature this year was “one-minute elevator pitches” by new faculty members, who took the opportunity to introduce themselves and their work to their new colleagues. Slides prepared by new faculty presenters have been uploaded to the Provost’s Office website for those interested in learning more about their new colleagues.  “This event was a lot of fun,” noted provost Douglas Kneale, “the breadth and depth of our new colleagues’ work is truly impressive, and there were many intriguing areas of possible connection across their areas of research and creative activity. We are truly thrilled to be welcoming these talented scholars to campus.” 

The event was capped off with an optional walking tour of Detroit facilitated by faculty member Dale Jacobs and CTL Director of Teaching and Learning Development, Erika Kustra.

For a full list of new faculty orientation participants visit: http://www1.uwindsor.ca/provost/nfo2017

It’s an experience Asheley wanted to hold onto forever.

And so, the 13-year-old snapped photos as she and her friends excitedly explored Devonshire Mall, trying on new clothes in anticipation of the first day of high school.

“It was the best day,” Asheley said, who will be going into Grade 9 at Assumption College Catholic High School in September.

“I took lots of pictures so I can remember this moment and look back and say, ‘remember when I went shopping?’”

Asheley was among a group of 50 students who are part of the United Way’s On Track to Success Program.

United Way's Alicea Fleming talks to participants of On Track To Success at Devonshire Mall on Thursday, Aug. 24, 2017.

The program provides resources to families in Windsor and Leamington who are unable to afford tutoring, mentoring, counselling, transportation and school supplies.

On Thursday, Asheley and 20 other students from Assumption, Cardinal Carter and Westview Freedom Academy secondary schools shopped for back to school supplies at Devonshire Mall thanks to a $1,000 donation from the University of Windsor’s CUPE Local 1393.

Also in the program are Leamington District Secondary School and Honourable W.C. Kennedy Collegiate.

“It’s really important to ensure that these students have what they need to start school,” said Alicea Fleming, On Track to Success’s West Windsor program coordinator.

“It also provides a really fun trip for some students who don’t get to do the traditional back to school shopping trip with the family.

“This experience itself can also be really valuable.”

University of Windsor’s Sara McNorton said many of these students might end up at the University after high school and it’s important to support them through this program.

“On Track to Success really resonated with me,” McNorton said, who worked at the United Way last fall as a sponsored employee.

“As a union, we thought it would be important to give these students as much support as we can to help them thrive in high school.”

For more information about the program, visit www.weareunited.com.

There was beer, brewery tours, pizza, science, and trivia for all to enjoy at Beer Science last Saturday at the Walkerville Brewery, a new event presented by Evidence for Democracy in collaboration with the Faculty of Science.

"Walkerville Brewery gives tours on a weekly basis, but they are usually focused on the brewery's rich history," says Allison Mistakidis, the event's host and ambassador for Evidence for Democracy.

“We wanted to give the public a chance to learn a little bit more about the science involved in the creation of their favourite beverage, while also encouraging our science community to engage with the public in a novel way."

Each ticket for the sold out event included tastings, a 12 oz. beer, and a free beaker courtesy of VWR Scientific. The tour was conducted by Walkerville Brewery head brewer Michael Beaudoin, who said he enjoyed the opportunity to talk more about the science of brewing.

"It was a nice change to have questions about what really 'makes' beer", and to have people interested in learning more about the process.”

Department of Biological Sciences professor Tanya Noel then gave a talk about the biology of beer before participants tested their knowledge with Mack Flash Beer Trivia.  

Several UWindsor faculty and staff members participated, including Women and Gender Studies professor Emily Rosser who said:  "It was great to get out in the community to do something fun and educational. I really enjoyed this event and would love to see more like this."

Beer Science was the first of the Science on Tap Series of outreach events where the Faculty of Science will engage with the public. The next event, Science Uncorked, will be held on September 14th at the Art Gallery of Windsor and will feature talks by Earth and Environmental Sciences professors Maria Cioppa and Alan Trenhaile on the topic, From Ice Age to Ice Wine: the beginnings of Canada's Wine Industry.

Dean of Science Chris Houser says the vision for the Science on Tap series is to, "bring science to the public and allow people to ask questions and learn how it’s relevant in their everyday lives.”

Tickets for From Ice Age to Ice Wine are $15 and available on Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/from-ice-age-to-iced-wines-the-beginnings-of-canadas-wine-industry-tickets-36517374450

As virtual reality becomes cheaper and more accessible to students, the power of the technology as a teaching tool is being realised.

One of the leading providers of virtual labs for higher education, Labster, will be on campus Friday to provide a workshop on their technology and how it can be used to improve student learning in science.

“This technology is really exciting and research is showing the huge potential it has to improve students’ learning in lab settings,” says Nick Baker, director of the Office of Open Learning.

Baker says these labs have been shown to reduce time needed in traditional labs because students are better prepared, reduce equipment breakage and waste, and increase student learning, especially when paired with traditional labs.

Labster provides more than 60 high fidelity virtual labs focused on such topics as chemistry, genetics, microbiology, ecology, embryology, diabetes, neurology, anatomy, forensics, microscopy, and general lab safety, with more simulations being added all the time. The full range of simulations is available at: (https://www.labster.com/simulations/) and faculty can sign up for a free trial.

The University of Windsor has also recently been awarded a ‘sandbox grant’ through eCampus Ontario to try Labster during the 2017/18 academic year.

Faculty interested in learning more about Labster technology and what it can do for students are invited to the workshop, taking place Friday from 2:45 to 4 p.m. in room B06 Odette School of Business. Sign up is required and available at: https://ctl2.uwindsor.ca/openlearning/workshops/6/

For more information on Labster, contact Nick Baker in the Office of Open Learning, nbaker@uwindsor.ca, or ext. 4925.

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 2017 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, as well as 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 a 15-week period (September 11 - December 22, 2017) 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 e-mail to vphr@uwindsor.ca by the deadline date of Tuesday,  September 5, 2017. 

Consent is a hot topic, but how can discussions with young people move beyond awkwardness and buzzwords to make it relevant?

A session Sunday, September 3, in the residence quad will consider how to create a campus culture of respect, safety — and fun.

Speaker Karen B.K. Chan is dedicated to sex education that is plainly spoken, emotionally honest, and grounded in justice. In her presentation “Consent for Real People,” she will:

• identify the real barriers to sexual consent;
• address why it’s hard to say and hear “no” as well as “yes;” and
• develop new sexual scripts that people will use.

The event, which will begin at 6 p.m., comes at the close of Residence Move-in Day, and at the beginning of UWindsor Welcome Week orientation activities for new and returning students. For your guide to welcome week, download the app, available for iOS, Android or web devices.

An application available for iOS, Android or web devices provides a guide to activities during UWindsor Welcome Week, September 3 to 9.

The app allows users to schedule their events, register for faculty teams, access campus resources, and share their experiences through social media.

A to-do list suggests everything from “Pick up your free student planner” to “Find out where your classes are located,” from “Pick up your bus pass or parking pass” to “Purchase your textbooks at the Campus Bookstore.”

Users must register for the week’s orientation activities through the app. Download it now.

The Senate Governance Committee on Special Appointments/Honorary Degrees is welcoming nominations for Honorary Degrees.  Anyone wishing to nominate a candidate for an honorary degree must submit a nomination form by September 29, 2017. Read the selection criteria or print a nomination form here.  For more information, contact Maria Giampuzzi, at Ext. 3317 or by email at woody@uwindsor.ca

Most UWindsor offices, including the Paul Martin Law Library, will close Monday, September 4, in observance of the Labour Day holiday.

The Leddy Library will open Monday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and commence regular fall hours on Tuesday, September 5.

The CAW Student Centre will open:

• Saturday, September 2, 9:30 a.m. to 9:45 p.m.
• Sunday, September 3, 9 a.m. to 1:45 a.m.
• Monday, September 4, 9 a.m. to 1:45 a.m.

And begin its regular semester hours Tuesday: 7:30 a.m. to 1:45 a.m. weekdays, and weekends 9 a.m. to 1:45 a.m.

UWindsor graduate assistants (GAs) and teaching assistants (TAs) or anyone interested in teaching and learning are invited to register for a full-day professional development event, the 11th annual GATAcademy, taking place Tuesday, September 5, in Dillon Hall.

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;
• exploring criteria and guides for marking;
• teaching to a multicultural audience;
• teaching with technology;
• navigating copyright laws; and
• managing the University of Windsor’s new Blackboard learning management system.

Free lunch will be provided to all attendees.

The Graduate Studies GA/TA Orientation will take place at 3 p.m. September 5, 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.

A upgrade to the Blackboard system promises users a new look and feel, as well as improved security, and a host of features most requested by instructors and students.

Among new options are:

• Blackboard Collaborate Ultra (used for Virtual Classrooms) with a streamlined look and easy-to-use options. (Note: Instructors can still choose the Classic version if they prefer);
• Ability to import and export rubrics between sites;
• Assignment submission receipts;
• Installation of the U.S. language pack for better quality control[JR1] [LS2] ;
• Grade Centre, where instructors can send assignment reminders for those missing work;
• “Drag and drop” feature where available, for assignments and content creation;
• New, updated mobile apps for both students and instructors;
• Online UWindsor Help now quick-linked based on user role. Instructors, GA/TAs, staff, or students can access this feature at http://www.uwindsor.ca/blackboard.

 “I use Blackboard for every element of my course, from providing students with videos of my lectures, to mapping out their readings, to serving up quizzes and weekly assignments, to tracking all student grades,” says law librarian Annette Demers.

“I find the new interface to be straightforward to use. I am looking forward to new features, in particular, the student receipts for work that they have submitted, as in the past students were confused about how to keep track of their submissions. The drag and drop feature will be most welcome as well.”

Blackboard users should choose either Firefox or Chrome as their browser to receive the best system performance.  UWindsor offers a quick link to check browser capability with Blackboard at http://www.uwindsor.ca/bbchecker. 

The LMS Team says that Blackboard may be unavailable each day from 5 a.m. to 6 a.m. for  system maintenance. After September 2, the regular maintenance schedule will apply and will be posted on the login page.

For more information, review the Blackboard Project updates article.  Blackboard user problems can be addressed by submitting a Service Request.