The English Language Improvement Program (ELIP) welcomed its Intersession 2021 cohort with pre-program start communication through the ELIP iCent App.

The app is designed to guide students through the onboarding steps needed to start online learning effectively, says office co-ordinator Shelby Marchand.

“It features resources such as UWindsor student services and direct links to the Windsor community to facilitate student exploration of the campus and beyond, even if they are not in the country,” she says. “We anticipate this communication channel will be a useful tool to help students navigate through the supports offered.”

Anouchka Plumb, manager of language programs for Continuing Education, says the app serves to build the confidence of students as they embark on their UWindsor language pathway experience.

“This mobile software suite has helped our team connect with international students to provide them with a range of program, university-wide, and community-based information which serves as preparation for the coming terms,” says Dr. Plumb.

She notes that current conditions have increased the value of providing students with access to resources before they begin their studies.

“We want our students to feel they have made the right decision in choosing our program to develop their skills for continuing success,” Plumb says.

The Faculty of Engineering is offering new entrance scholarships to support Black and Indigenous students.

Dean Mehrdad Saif says academic institutions play an important role in helping increase the number of underrepresented minorities in science, technology, engineering, and math fields.

“Diversity in all of its forms makes for a healthy and vibrant environment, and in team-based activities such as engineering design, diverse teams are the strongest,” he says.

“In engineering, we need to create an inclusive environment so that women, Indigenous, and Black students are included and feel like they belong so that they can freely contribute and co-create while in school, and later, in the engineering profession.”

The $1,000 Black Students in Engineering Entrance Scholarship will be awarded annually to 12 students who are admitted directly from high school to first-year engineering. The University of Windsor is offering to match up to $50,000 in donations to the scholarship.

Additionally, the faculty is offering an unlimited number of $1,500 entrance scholarships for Indigenous engineering students.

Students will receive automatic consideration for these scholarships based on their submitted entrance application profiles.

UWindsor Engineering launched a similar entrance scholarship for female students in 1996. In the last 10 years, female enrolment in engineering has more than doubled. Female students who identify as Black or Indigenous may receive both entrance scholarships.

For more information, contact Katie Mazzuca, the Faculty of Engineering’s major gift officer, at 519-253-3000, ext. 5959, or katie.mazzuca@uwindsor.ca.

—Kristie Pearce

From new diversity entrance scholarships to new technologies increasing manufacturing efficiency, UWindsor Engineering’s spring newsletter highlights the latest faculty initiatives and research.

Read the latest issue of the Windsor Engineering (WE) newsletter. The faculty’s online newsletter is distributed quarterly to engineering alumni, students, faculty, staff, and industrial and community partners.

To automatically receive the newsletter by email, visit the faculty’s subscription webpage.

Members of the Graduate Student Society’s (GSS) new executive team — president Adam Pillon, vice-president of academic affairs Mahabuba Sultana, vice-president finance Katherine Matchett, and vice-president university affairs Youstina Asaad — have officially settled into their roles.

Advocacy is a top priority for his term, Pillon says. He hopes to ensure graduate students feel welcomed and connected to the campus community.

“I want to implement programs that provide more benefit to the GSS members, such as student award programs to recognize outstanding graduate students,” says Pillon. “I’d also like to see the implementation of free menstrual products and changing tables across campus to increase accessibility to these services.”

The new executive will serve through 2021-22. To learn more about the GSS, visit its website: uwindsorgss.ca.

Microsoft Lists is an app that helps users track information and organize work. The app offers list and calendar views, formatting options and the ability to make a view personal or public.

Watch Information Technology Services team member Jonathan North’s newest Tech Talk as he walks through the list view in this 113-second video and the calendar view in this 120-second video.

If you want more information about Microsoft Lists, click on the link in the Comments section below the video. Alternatively, check out IT Services’ growing series of Tech videos about Lists here.

Tech Talk is a presentation of IT Services. More Tech Talks are available at www.uwindsor.ca/its/tech-talk.

Friday, May 14, is the final day to submit entries in the Workplace Wellness Committee’s Spring Shutter Bug Photo Contest sponsored by Human Resources.

Each member of faculty or staff may enter up to three images of their favourite seasonal sights.

The campus community will vote on the photos, with a $100 gift card for the top finisher and a $50 gift card for the runner-up.

Find details of the requirements, judging, and prizes on the contest website.