students sitting in residence common roomUWindsor residences are at full capacity, driven by enrolment approaching record numbers.

UWindsor enrolment approaching record levels, president reports

With projections of about 16,000 students — graduate and undergraduate, domestic and international, and full-time and part-time — the University of Windsor is expecting one of the highest enrolments in its history, interim president Douglas Kneale reported in a communiqué sent to faculty, staff, and students Monday.

“Many thanks to our colleagues in all aspects of recruitment and admissions for their hard work in bringing these students to our door,” he wrote.

In the second such message since he assumed the presidency, Dr. Kneale noted that the four campus residences: Alumni, Cartier, Laurier, and Macdonald halls, are at full capacity.

Kneale has appointed law professor Richard Moon to chair a committee to develop a policy on free speech, in accordance with direction set by the Ontario government.

“The task force will have broad representation by stakeholders and will undertake campus-wide consultation as it develops our new policy,” Kneale said, promising details in future.

Other topics addressed in his message include:

  • the provincial election and implications for university mandates and funding;
  • progress on capital projects and the new student information system;
  • the completion of programs to hire 50 tenure-track and five Indigenous faculty;
  • publication of the first University of Windsor Student Mental Health Strategy; and
  • a note of thanks to outgoing chancellor Ed Lumley for his 12 years of service.

Read the entire communiqué on the President’s website.

Iain Baxter&Professor emeritus Iain Baxter& will discuss his conceptual art in a free public presentation at noon Wednesday in the SoCA Gallery.

Free public lecture to introduce conceptual art exhibit

Visual arts professor emeritus Iain Baxter& will make a free public presentation at noon Wednesday, September 12, discussing his practice as a pioneering conceptual artist.

The event is held in conjunction with his exhibition, “Iain Baxter& the &Man — the Power of &,” in the SoCA Gallery through September 19.

The gallery is located in the Armouries building at 37 University Avenue East.

The public is also invited to a closing reception in the gallery, 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, September 19.

two speech bubbles

Event to explore online learning and teaching

An informal, friendly, and supportive gathering for instructors to share experiences and information about online, open, and technology-enhanced teaching and learning will hold its first session of the school year on Friday, September 14.

The Office of Open Learning hosts the online teaching Community of Practice, where members share new technologies, best practices, tips and tricks (and coffee!), and more that others can use in their own online teaching.

The one-hour discussion will begin at noon in room G117, Lambton Tower.

“Come visit us in our newly-renovated space in the basement of Lambton Tower,” says Nobuko Fujita, an online learning specialist in the Office of Open Learning and one of the organizers.

“In this first session, we’ll introduce the new Certificate in Online & Open Learning (COOL) launched earlier this year, and we hope to meet some new faculty, as well as reconnect with past collaborators.”

Registration for the event is now open, but spaces are limited; register at https://ctl2.uwindsor.ca/openlearning/workshops/9/. For more information, contact Fujita by email nfujita@uwindsor.ca or phone 519-253-3000, ext. 2105.

Group a chance to improve English conversation skills

Students looking for a chance to practice speaking English can do so in a fun, safe, and supportive atmosphere provided by the English Conversation Group in the Leddy Library, starting Thursday, September 13.

Whether it’s through games or presentations, everyone gets a chance to improve their English skills. The group is open to everyone and meets each Thursday at noon in room 302, West Leddy.

No registration is required, but students may sign up for email updates on the group’s website.