University issues response to legalization of recreational Cannabis

Following the enactment of the Cannabis Act (Bill C-45), recreational cannabis products will be legally consumable across Canada as of October 17, 2018. In preparation for the legalization, each province and territory has or is in the process of establishing regulations outlining legal minimum age, where you can buy it, where you can use it and how much you can possess.

In Ontario, these regulations include:

  • Individuals need to be 19 years of age or older to buy, use, possess and grow recreational cannabis and will be able to possess a maximum of 30 grams of dried cannabis in public.
  • Cannabis use will be permitted in locations where smoking tobacco is permitted under the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017. Such as, in private residences, many outdoor public spaces (e.g. sidewalks and parks), designated guest rooms in hotels, motels and inns and controlled areas in long-term care homes.
  • Individuals will be able to purchase 30 grams of dry cannabis online at the Ontario Cannabis Store and grow up to four plants per residence. A private retail licensing model will be implemented on April 1, 2019, when the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario will become the provincial regulator authorized to grant store licenses.

Given the provincial framework, effective October 17, 2018, individuals 19 years of age or older will be permitted to smoke cannabis on campus only in clearly marked designated smoking areas. At the same time, the University will commence a process to create a smoke-free campus by 2020. Once the University reaches this goal, smoking cannabis will no longer be permitted on campus.

Students who live in residence will not be permitted to smoke cannabis in their rooms, kitchen or any other common area, as well as cooking, baking or warming up a cannabis product for the purpose of creating edible cannabis. Cannabis products purchased from the Ontario Cannabis Store, Ontario’s only legal place to buy recreational cannabis, will not be delivered to residences or any other location on campus.

“While it is everyone’s expectation that students will take the legalization of cannabis in stride and will attend classes and labs as they always have, if there are any disruptions to class that instructors are concerned about they should connect with their Department Head” says acting provost Jeff Berryman. “While it’s unlikely to be needed, the Student Code of Conduct and other policies are in place to support the academic mission of the University.”

From a workplace perspective, “the legalization of recreational cannabis has not changed the expectation and requirement that employees report to work fit for duty” says Rita LaCivita, vice-president, human resources. “In keeping with its obligations under the Occupational Health and Safety Act, the University requires that all employees (faculty, staff, graduate and teaching assistants, student employees, etc.) report fit to work and remain fit to work.”

In addition, individuals in safety-sensitive positions are not permitted to consume cannabis while at work. According to the Canadian Human Rights Commission, a safety-sensitive position can be defined as one that, if not performed in a safe manner, can cause direct and significant damage to property, and/or injury to the employee, others around them, the public and/or the immediate environment.

Safety-sensitive positions include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Campus Community Police
  • Individuals working at heights
  • Individuals who operate motor vehicles as part of their job duties
  • Individuals working in labs
  • Individuals working in a kitchen or serving/preparing food
  • Individuals operating machinery or equipment of any kind

To keep faculty, staff, and students informed, the University has launched the Legalization of Recreational Cannabis website (www.uwindsor.ca/recreationalcannabis). This website includes University of Windsor resources such as the Cannabis at the University of Windsor Frequently Asked Questions; an information bulletin from the Vice-President, Human Resources, on the legalization of cannabis; and resources developed by various organizations designed to help faculty, staff, and students make informed decisions.

students in conversationFAHSS students can use the Reach peer e-advising portal as a virtual conection to assistance from senior students.

Peer advising program to Reach students online

A new program of the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences will enable its first-year students to contact senior students online for advice on achieving academic and personal success.

The Reach peer e-advising portal, administered through Blackboard Collaborate, operates Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Students can seek guidance on topics from study habits and time management, to student life and campus services and resources.

“The good thing about this program is that it is administered online. This gives students an option to receive support where they do not need to come onto campus,” says Tony Vo, online programs co-ordinator. “Additionally, the program is run weekdays from mid-morning to early evening. Students can receive support outside the regular office hours.”

The program is the latest in a series of online advising initiatives to help students, he says.

sandwichSavoury sandwiches grace the menu of the Hum Café and Lounge.

Festivities to mark opening of student centre lounge

Food and drink specials will mark the grand opening of the Hum Café and Lounge, on the lower level of the CAW Student Centre, Wednesday, October 17.

The eatery, operated by the University of Windsor Students’ Alliance, offers a menu of savoury sandwiches, flatbread pizzas, coffee, and brunch items.

Alliance president Jeremiah Bowers said the long-term goal is to establish a relaxed space to serve students and the campus community.

“This new community space began as a mandate to the UWSA by students back in 2013,” he said. “At that time, the student community called for a new and innovative place to eat, hang around, study, relax and create lasting memories with their friends. While it’s been years in the making, we’ve achieved just that.”

Wednesday’s specials will begin at 11 a.m. At 2 p.m., formal program will include remarks and a cake-cutting.

Mohamed Aboelnga and Michelle GuerreroMohamed Aboelnga and Michelle Guerrero received the Governor General’s Gold Medal, Saturday in the St. Denis Centre.

Medals recognize top grads’ academic achievements

A pair of doctoral graduates were honoured for outstanding academic achievement this past weekend during the University of Winsdsor’s 110th Convocation ceremonies.

Mohamed Aboelnga, who received a PhD in chemistry and biochemistry in 2017, and Michelle Guerrero, who received a PhD in kinesiology at Convocation ceremonies in June, received the Governor General’s Gold Medal, Saturday in the St. Denis Centre.

The medals were established in 1873 by Lord Dufferin, Canada’s third Governor General after Confederation, to encourage academic excellence across the nation. Over the years, they have become the most prestigious award that students in Canadian schools can receive, recognizing students graduating with the highest grade point average among peers.

For his doctoral studies Dr. Aboelnga, now an assistant lecturer in chemistry at Egypt’s Damietta University, applied computational chemistry methods to understand a critical step in the translation of genetic codes of cells into proteins. He has written or co-written nine peer-reviewed journal articles, with others currently submitted.

According to her doctoral supervisor, Krista Chandler, Dr. Guerrero has already proven herself a young leader in the area of sport and exercise psychology. She is the author or co-author of 13 articles in peer-reviewed journals and nine book chapters. Guerrero is currently a postdoctoral fellow in the Healthy Active Living and Obesity Research Group at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario in Ottawa.

Also recognized during Fall Convocation were winners of the Board of Governors Medals in engineering, awarded to the graduating student with the highest academic standing in each program:

  • Civil and Environmental Engineering: Charly Fung Xu
  • Electrical and Computer Engineering: Eric Parker
  • Mechanical, Automotive and Materials Engineering: Nicholas MacMackin

Medals in other faculties are awarded during Spring Convocation.

silent auction itemsA silent auction will raise funds for students participating in Alternative Spring Break.

Alternative Spring Break soliciting items for fundraising auction

Organizers of a service-learning opportunity that engages students from a range of academic disciplines are seeking donations for a charity auction to offset the costs of their travel during Reading Week to experiences near and far.

Alternative Spring Break (ASB) will mount a silent auction in the CAW Student Centre Commons on November 28 and 29.

A similar event last year garnered many donations-in-kind from faculty and staff, reports co-ordinator Simon du Toit: “and these proved to be among our most popular items.”

He invites anyone with cultural artifacts, artworks, framed photographs, or other interesting items to donate, to contact him at asb@uwindsor.ca.

“The support of our faculty and staff is so important to the success of the program,” Dr. du Toit says. “The ASB has already had a great impact on students’ lives; your support will help us continue that work.”

This year’s teams will visit one of three locations — Walpole Island First Nation; San Isidro, Costa Rica; and Petersfield, Jamaica. Find more information about the ASB on its website.

Ableton Live digital audio workstationWorkshops Wednesday at the School of Creative Arts will explore the Ableton Live digital audio workstation.

Workshops to explore software music sequencer

DJs Justin James and Anthony Gomez will demonstrate the digital audio workstation Ableton Live in a pair of free workshops Wednesday in the Alan Wildeman Centre for Creative Arts.

The software is designed as an instrument for live performance as well as a tool for composing, recording, arranging, mixing, and mastering. One of the first music applications to automatically beatmatch songs, it offers a suite of control for crossfading and other effects.

The October 17 workshops are part of a tour of events on university campuses across North America:

  • A 2:30 p.m. session is exclusively for UWindsor students and will explore some of the more advanced possibilities of music production with Ableton software and hardware.
  • A 5:30 p.m. session is open to the general public and will offer a more general introduction to making music with Ableton Live. Attendees are required to register via Eventbrite.

Both are set for the Multimedia Studio, room 107, in the centre at 360 Freedom Way, and promise door prizes and other giveaways.

appleA campus union will hand out apple cider and doughnut bites to students at lunchtime Wednesday, October 17.

Autumnal apples on offer in appreciation

Hot apple cider, spiced Timbits, and orchard-fresh apples are on offer for UWindsor students Wednesday, courtesy of local 1393 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees, which represents campus trades, technical, and professional staff.

The student appreciation event is set for noon outside the east entrance to the CAW Student Centre, and will continue while supplies last.

Part-time students to gather for social Thursday

Discussion of campus services and issues are on the agenda for the Fall Social hosted by the Organization of Part-time University Students at 5 p.m. Thursday, October 18, in the CAW Student Centre’s Alumni Auditorium.

Presenters include:

  • Alice Miller on the UWinsite Project;
  • Marnie Elliott on the Greenshield drug and dental plan;
  • Marian Doll on student awards and financial support;
  • Sattar Altaee of Peace of Mind paralegal;
  • D’Anne Mullin of the Great Beginnings child care centre;
  • Sandra Ondracka on Lancer Recreation; and
  • Frances Cachon of Women’s and Gender Studies.

Author Fartumo Kusow will sign copies of her book, Tale of a Boon’s Wife.

Free refreshments and door prizes will be available; part-time students in attendance may enter a draw for a $250 bursary.

The event is free and open to all students, but organizers ask that those intending to come RSVP by October 16 to opus@uwindsor.ca so they know how much food to order.

screen displaying UWinsiteInvitations for training in the UWinsite Student system have gone out to the affected faculty and staff.

Registration now open for training in UWinsite Student

Want to learn about UWinsite Student, the University’s new student information platform? Faculty and staff required to interact with the system to perform their jobs have received invitations to attend training in preparation for its go-live date of November 26.

The invitations were sent from the uwinsitetraining@uwindsor.ca email address and included registration details and a learning path listing the courses that faculty and staff need to take based on their respective roles. These learning paths have been designed to help the campus community navigate through more than 90 courses being offered between October 22 and November 23.

Project members encourage faculty and staff to register online for their identified courses by end-of-day Friday, October 19.

“After this date, the online registration system will be closed in order to make the necessary preparations to support a positive learning experience,” says Marcela Ciampa, director of organizational development and training, Department of Human Resources, and training lead for the UWinsite Project.

Faculty and staff who need to make changes to their registration or sign up for courses after this date should contact the UWinsite Training Team at uwinsitetraining@uwindsor.ca.