Alternative Spring Break logoAlternative Spring Break is seeking faculty, staff, and graduate students willing to serve as team leaders.

Alternative Spring Break now recruiting participants and leaders

Organizers of a service-learning opportunity for UWindsor students have issued a call for faculty, staff, and graduate students willing to serve as team leaders.

Alternative Spring Break (ASB) will send teams to three destinations during Reading Week 2019, February 16 to 23:

  • Walpole Island to continue the work of restoring cultural capacity at the Heritage Centre, in partnership with the Aboriginal Education Centre and the Faculty of Education;
  • Costa Rica to study and support economic, environmental, and educational development, in partnership with the Faculty of Science;
  • Jamaica to work on community-based learning and social action.

Each team requires two advisors drawn from faculty or staff as well as a graduate or senior undergraduate student leader. Program co-ordinator Simon du Toit also hopes to recruit videographers to help document each trip.

“As an ASB team member, you will engage in meaningful community-driven service and critical personal reflection,” he says. “You will help participants connect their academic studies to the project, and actively reflect on how social justice commitments can engage with real-world challenges.”

The deadline to apply for a leadership position is Friday, September 14.

Applications for student participants are due by Friday, October 5.

Find details on the ASB website.

Representatives of the Odette School of Business cheer at an assembly welcoming first-year students to the University of Windsor, Wednesday in the Dennis Fairall Fieldhouse.Representatives of the Odette School of Business cheer at an assembly welcoming first-year students to the University of Windsor, Wednesday in the Dennis Fairall Fieldhouse.

Celebration welcomes incoming students

Talha Fareed got a welcome to the University of Windsor he’ll never forget: a semester’s tuition free courtesy of the alumni association.

Just about to begin studies in computer science, Fareed won a draw for the prize during the Welcoming Celebration for all first-year students, Wednesday in the St. Denis Centre.

“I feel like I’m going to wake up and find out it’s a dream,” he said excitedly as he accepted a certificate — worth up to $4,000 — from association president Jean Wright. “It will make affording school a lot easier on my parents.”

Hundreds of new students, grouped by academic program, turned out for the celebration, basically a pep rally with addresses by university officials, along with cheers and prizes.

UWindsor interim president Douglas Kneale told the assembly that university education should form, and transform, youth.

“We are a community where we take care of each other,” he said, “but the journey is yours to take and it’s uphill. Pick a gear and dig in. It’s your ride.”

The event concluded a day’s itinerary that included orientation sessions for new students in all academic disciplines.

UWindsor Welcome Week continues Thursday, September 6, with the start of fall semester classes. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., the University of Windsor Students’ Alliance executive will meet constituents in their tent outside the student centre and the office of Career Development and Experiential Learning will distribute free frozen treats in the Joyce Entrepreneurship Centre.

On Friday, September 7, the Campus Community Garden located at 380 California Avenue will host a tour and tasting from 10 to 11 a.m. The Science Society will hold a barbecue, “Dunk the Dean,” and a fun run outside Essex Hall.

Find a full list of UWindsor Welcome Week events on the program website.

Talha Fareed, Jean Wright
First-year student Talha Fareed accepts congratulations from alumni association president Jean Wright on winning a draw for a semester’s free tuition.

students working in labChemistry and biochemistry students will get the chance to use knowledge attained in the classroom to conduct research in a professional setting.

ChemBiochem internships to apply student knowledge

Undergraduate students studying chemistry or biochemistry will now have the opportunity to apply for a paid internship in their third year of study.

The new internship program will ensure that placements are relevant to each student’s interest, and will be a valuable asset for any students wanting to use their classroom knowledge to conduct research in a professional setting.

The program will also offer a job preparation module designed to help students create resumes, write cover letters, and prepare for interviews.

“Students have come forward saying they want this real-life experience,” says Simon Rondeau-Gagné, assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, the first department in the Faculty of Science to offer a paid internship program.

“Students will now get to use their knowledge gained from inside the classroom within the context of the workplace.”

Dean of science Chris Houser says students become more employable when they get out of the classroom and experience hands-on research while working in the industry.

“We understand that a degree is important, but to succeed in today’s world you need to be a well-rounded individual with a background of related experience,” says Dr. Houser. “And this is what the new internship program will offer our students.”

While other schools have been offering co-op programs, most places offer multiple single-semester placements, each with a different employer.

“That type of program often does not allow for students to build a strong relationship with their employer,” says Dr. Rondeau-Gagné.

The offered internships are instead one single placement with the same employer over a longer period of time. This also means that companies will invest more time and effort into training students, which will lead to a stronger relationship between interns and their employers.

“This stronger relationship allows for a better training of the students directly in the workplace, ultimately helping them to enter the job market after completing their degree,” Rondeau-Gagné says.

The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry is accepting applications through Monday, September 17. To learn more about the internship opportunity or submit an application, visit the program website.

Darko Milenkovic

football ref signalling successful field goalIt’s up and it’s good — the alumni association is sponsoring a halftime field goal contest at the Lancer football game September 29.

Contestant to have a kick at prizes on Alumni Weekend

Placekickers, assemble! The University of Windsor Alumni Association is sponsoring a field goal contest as part of the halftime festivities during the Lancer football game on Saturday, September 29.

The promotion is part of a campaign encouraging alumni and friends to update their contact information, and to attend events during Alumni Weekend. Entries are due by September 23 — one drawn at random will receive two complimentary tickets to the football game as well as the chance to kick field goals at halftime to win prizes.

The Lancers will host the Toronto Varsity Blues on Alumni Field; game time is 1 p.m.

Find the full contest rules and an online registration form on the alumni website.

course code graphicUWindsor course codes will change in the Winter 2019 semester.

Introduction of revised course codes to coincide with new student information platform

The University of Windsor is introducing new course codes starting in the Winter 2019 semester.

The Senate-approved new course numbering framework was developed by a Provost’s Task Force led by Jeff Berryman. Alphanumeric course codes, consistent with the framework and established practice at other universities, were then identified in consultation with faculties, departments and programs.

During the 2016-17 school year, academic departments undertook a wholescale review of their course offerings to identify new course numbers and to provide a more reasoned presentation of courses, consistent with the new course numbering framework.

The new course codes begin with a four-letter subject code identifying the discipline followed by the catalogue number. The first digit of the catalogue number signifies the level of study, while the last three digits have been determined by the academic area.

For example, the course code for Cell Biology is currently 03-55-141. In the new course code structure, it will be BIOL-1400.

Subject Code: BIOL

Catalogue Number: 1400

First digit of Catalogue Number:

  • 1xxx – first-year undergraduate course
  • 2xxx – second-year undergraduate course
  • 3xxx – third-year undergraduate course
  • 4xxx – fourth-year undergraduate course
  • 5xxx – secondary-entry programs (education, law)
  • 6xxx – post-baccalaureate diploma or certificate courses
  • 8xxx – Masters’ and doctoral level courses
  • 9xxx – Doctoral level courses (where the courses are unique to the doctoral program)

Information Technology Services has developed a course code translator to assist with the translation of old course codes to new ones and vice versa; it is available at www.uwindsor.ca/registrar/courses/translation.

The introduction of new course codes is timed to align with the implementation of UWinsite Student, the University’s new student information platform.

“We’re pleased to support Senate’s new course code initiative,” says Alice Miller, university registrar and stream lead for UWinsite Student. “It will help improve program and course transparency for students and departments as well as provide greater clarity when sharing information with prospective students about the University of Windsor’s offerings.”

UWinsite Student, which will go live on November 26, 2018, is the final piece of the UWinsite Project. It follows the launch of UWinsite Finance, UWinsite Service, and UWinsite Engage earlier this year.

To learn more about the UWinsite Project, visit www.uwindsor.ca/uwinsite.

Meghan Hall pulls tray of sushi from fridgeFirst-year kinesiology student Meghan Hall visits the new sushi display in the student centre’s Marketplace food court.

Sushi finds home in Marketplace

A cooler dedicated to the Japanese specialty will provide fresh sushi five days a week in the student centre’s Marketplace food court.

“We have found sushi is popular with students and so wanted to broaden the product lines we offer,” says Jane Meunier, a manager in Food Services. “Our new fridge displays more varieties made fresh every day.”

Sushi burritos and 10-piece packages of maki sell for prices between $7.49 and $8.99. The display is located between the Subway and Pizza Pizza stations.