Town Hall Meetings

Building on the Common Ground: January 12, 2012

If the foundations of courage, love and hope are compromised, an education will fall short on its promise, UWindsor President Alan Wildeman said in a public address Thursday, January 12, 2012 in Vanier Hall.

“I believe it is the University’s duty to provide a supportive environment and spaces within which every person, regardless of who they are, can feel that those foundations are enabled so that their own human spirit can thrive,” he said to a crowd of hundreds of faculty, students, staff and members of the broader community.

In his address, entitled “Building on the Common Ground,” he looked ahead to 2013, the 50th anniversary of the University’s founding, and laid out a master plan for the campus that includes centralization of student services and a Welcome Centre to greet visitors and campus newcomers.

“We cannot have a University where students have to go to multiple buildings to get the basic services they need,” Dr. Wildeman said. “So we have spent the past two years developing the vision that will see us embark upon the next 50 years with a fully revitalized campus.”

That revitalization also includes the construction of an Innovation Centre and parking structure slated for the southeast intersection of Wyandotte and Sunset streets, completion of the Centre for Engineering Innovation, the renovation of Essex Hall, and the creation of a downtown campus for music, visual arts, film production, social work and professional education programs.

He stressed that capital projects will be funded in ways that do not strain the University’s operating budget: “We are not doing realignment to free up money to build a building.”

In addition to introducing the Service Excellence Program (see related story), Wildeman played a video about internationalization efforts in the Faculty of Education (see related story), and encouraged individuals to share stories through the Are You Proud? campaign.

View the video of the January 12, 2012, presentation.

Meeting December 7, 2010

Like charity, a good reputation begins at home.

"We need to change the conversation," UWindsor President Alan Wildeman told about 250 faculty, staff and students at a town hall meeting on December 7, 2010 in Erie Hall.

He invited members of the campus community to share their good news with the Office of Public Affairs and Communications for dissemination across the University and beyond. On the new Web site www.uwindsor.ca/yourstory, users will be able to submit story ideas for consideration for the UWindsor.ca Web site, DailyNews, View magazine and other University publications, as well as external media.

"There is something happening right now that makes you proud to be here at the University of Windsor," Wildeman said. "We want to tell everybody about it."

Another page, uwindsor.ca/takingaction, lists some of these stories and how they contribute to achieving the goals laid out in the University's strategic plan. Other highlights included:

• Video interviews with attendees at the fall open house (watch it here), detailing some of the reasons they like the University;
• A discussion of the University's pension obligations and how they will affect the budget realignment process;
• Introduction of philosophy and psychology student Josh Chauvin, UWindsor's first Rhodes Scholar;
• A presentation on the progress of the Centre for Engineering Innovation and explanation of the Integrated Parking/Innovation Centre concept;
• Information on current talks regarding the possible relocation of music, social work and visual arts programs to Windsor's downtown.

Review slide show of December 7, 2010

View the video of the December 7, 2010 Town Hall.

Meeting held May 4, 2010

On Tuesday, May 4, 2010, faculty and staff were invited to discuss Thinking Forward... Taking Action, the draft new Strategic Plan for the University. A draft of the plan is available as a PDF file at www.uwindsor.ca/takingaction.

Dr. Wildeman also provided an update on the University's 2010 budget, and on the impacts of the provincial budget on the University of Windsor.

Review the slide show of May 4, 2010 presentation.

View a video record of May 4, 2010 meeting.

Meetings in June, 2009

On June 3 and 11, 2009, faculty and staff were invited to join President Alan Wildeman for updates on key issues impacting the university ,such as the 2009 Budget, Strategic Planning Process, and the Positive Work Environment Initiative.

The proceedings are available here:

Download the PowerPoint slides
View the President's presentation
June 3, 2009, question period
June 11, 2009 question period