Patrick Lauzon, grand prize winner in the Get Social About the JabPatrick Lauzon, grand prize winner in the Get Social About the Jab

Big Payoff for Jab Contest Winner Marks Conclusion of Vax Campaign

A third-year mechanical engineering student has won the grand prize of a $3,000 tuition voucher in the Get Social About the Jab to Win contest. The contest was a highlight of the Take a Jab vaccination campaign initiated by the University of Windsor in July. 

 

Winner Patrick Lauzon says he has an autoimmune condition and wanted to protect himself with the vaccine as soon as he could. 

“I also want to play my part in helping to defeat COVID. This has been a thing that has taken people’s lives, hurt people’s businesses, and also hurt people’s social lives.” 

University of Windsor President and Vice-Chancellor Robert Gordon, said the campaign was a broad one with a focus not only on the on-campus community, but extending to the University’s west-end neighbourhood and beyond. 

 

“Because COVID has had such a significant impact on our region we felt it was important to take a leadership role in helping our community increase overall vaccination rates. Our campus is not only vital to our students, faculty, and staff, but efforts have been made available throughout the pandemic to lessen COVID’s impact on our entire community.” 

 

The campaign featured a robust online component featuring University of Windsor students and faculty members engaging in question and answer sessions, as well as information on community resources, vaccination clinics in the area, and a frequently asked questions section.  

 

As well, a series of on-campus clinics supported by community health partners brought easy vaccine access not only to the campus community but to everyone in the area. 

 

A highlight of the campaign was the Get Social about the Jab to Win contest. Now closed, it offered prizes worth a total of more than $17,000 for UWindsor students, staff, and faculty who shared their stories about the fight against COVID-19. 

 

Dr. Gordon said he was pleased to see so many members of the campus community willing to share their reasons for being vaccinated. 

 

“We heard some really important, and often poignant stories about the human impact of COVID-19, but we also heard a lot of encouraging news from students, faculty, and staff who not only took the initiative to be vaccinated themselves but made the effort to get involved and bring that message to their community."

 

See the campaign thank-you video here.

 

 

Student performing Indigenous dance

Tepperman Family Commits to Graduate Scholarships for Indigenous Peoples

A multi-year financial commitment by local family-owned furniture and appliance chain Tepperman’s will provide post-graduate scholarship opportunities to Indigenous Peoples looking to reach the highest levels of education, says Andrew Tepperman, third generation president of the 96- year-old company. 

The Tepperman Family Graduate Scholarship for Indigenous Peoples will award two fully-funded scholarships annually – one each for qualifying students in Masters and PhD programs. 

“We believe this program fills an important educational gap that will empower these graduate students to be better equipped to make a difference within their communities and Canada,” Tepperman said. 

University of Windsor President and Vice-Chancellor Rob Gordon says systemic bias and lack of financial supports are among the many reasons Indigenous Peoples are not appropriately represented in academia. 

“Students in graduate programs need financial support and personal encouragement to continue their educational path and eventually share their own expertise through teaching, research, and creative activity,” Dr. Gordon says. 

“We are grateful to the Tepperman family for recognizing the importance of providing this support. We all benefit when the best and brightest among us have the opportunity to pursue their talents and abilities without barriers.” 

The Teppermans’ commitment to academic opportunity has provided more than 700 students with post-secondary tuition funding since 1988. This latest community partnership aligns with the company’s corporate Vision 2025. 

Tepperman notes that Canada is a country of immigrants living on the traditional land of Indigenous Peoples and says all Canadians must find ways to reflect on how they can acknowledge and begin to rectify historic injustice. 

“There are many ways to support Truth and Reconciliation. Tepperman’s has chosen the path of higher learning.” 

Hy-flex classroom transformation offers new engagementProfessor Dave Bussiere teaching in a newly upgraded hy-flex classroom.

Hy-flex classroom transformation offers new engagement

Nineteen classrooms across the University were transformed with hardware and software upgrades to provide hy-flex course delivery this fall semester. The hy-flex class mode offers an engaging method for teaching and learning for both students and faculty, while under pandemic restriction protocols.  

The endeavour brought multiple departments together to implement this innovative technology and pedagogy. “Our team worked tirelessly to add key features including tracking cameras, software and hardware to capture and stream classes in these hy-flex environments. Their commitment to the project has been incredible,” says Ryan Kenney executive director, Information Technology Services (ITS). “The execution of this project was possible due to the collaboration of the Office of Open Learning (OOL) and the Centre for Teaching and Learning (CTL).”  

“The summer term usually provides the opportunity to improve and update three classrooms, completing the 19 is monumental, along with two additional rooms that will be upgraded by the Winter term. It’s remarkable how much was accomplished during five months leading up to September,” says assistant director - ITS Marcin Pulcer   

Before the start of classes, the Office of Opening Learning, in collaboration with CTL and ITS, facilitated over 30 sessions supporting the campus in preparation for teaching and learning in the hy-flex classrooms. This effort included delivery of training sessions in hy-flex mode to over 80 instructors interested in offering hy-flex classes, and more than 60 specialized hy-flex teaching assistants.  

“The hy-flex approach offers faculty and students the flexibility to safely engage in learning in ways that we couldn’t before, but it also takes a lot of commitment to learn to teach effectively in this way, especially when many faculty had already spent considerable time learning how to teach online over the last year and were finally starting to feel comfortable in that mode,” says Nick Baker, director of the Office of Open Learning.  

“While it’s early days yet with this model, and there are always going to be challenges with new technology, we are hearing many positive things from the hy-flex classes as these pioneering professors creatively explore the possibilities of these spaces,” Baker says. 

Hy-flex courses have been intentionally developed to provide flexibility and choice for learners in how they attend the course. Students have the option to meet in class for face-to-face instruction, within COVID limits, or attend online synchronously, with both groups being able to interact with each other in real-time. The remote and in-person learners can typically also review the course content asynchronously if they cannot take part at the scheduled time.  

The implementation of this hy-flex project positions the University well to connect with learners during the pandemic but will also provide considerable flexibility for instructors in the future to continue enhancing the experience and choice for students. 

Watch a video walkthrough of the hy-flex classrooms experience.  

 

 

 

Students wishing to showcase what makes them #UWindsorProud should volunteer for the open house Saturday, Oct 23.Students wishing to showcase what makes them #UWindsorProud should volunteer for the open house Saturday, Oct 23.

Open House planning committee issues call for student volunteers

Organizers of the University’s first-ever hybrid Open House invite students wishing to showcase what makes them #UWindsorProud to register to volunteer on Saturday, Oct 23.

This year’s event will combine a completely virtual platform with some in-person activities, including campus tours, an outdoor services fair, and program presentations offered in new hyflex classrooms.

“With your help, we will showcase why the University of Windsor is an exceptional choice for academic opportunities, campus life, and student support,” says Zora Savic, events co-ordinator in the Office of Enrolment Management.

She notes there are a variety of volunteer positions available in either the morning or afternoon. Leaders are needed on campus to direct potential future Lancers and their families throughout their day, ensuring they have both an enjoyable and safe experience.

Successful completion of the Safe Lancer App Covid-19 Self Assessment Tool, proper mask wearing, and maintaining social distancing are required. Sign up to volunteer by completing this online registration form.

 

Chalkboard with Blackboard Learn written on it

Learning Management Survey closing October 15

Faculty, staff, and students who wish to share their opinions regarding Blackboard, the University of Windsor’s learning management system (LMS), are encouraged to complete the LMS Review survey soon.  These anonymous surveys, one for faculty and staff, and one for students will close at the end of day October 15th.

The surveys are the first step of community engagement in UWindsor’s LMS Review. Coordinated by a multidisciplinary team of faculty, staff, and students the LMS review aims to gather perspectives from across campus regarding the usability of current tools, desired features, and anticipated needs for the LMS.

As the technological landscape is constantly shifting, and the campus has extensive experience with online learning and a wide variety of tools, the insight provided in these surveys will be invaluable for informing future decision making about the LMS.  (For more details about this project, please see the LMS Review web page.)

The survey will take approximately 20-minutes to complete.

Upon completing the survey, participants will have the option to enter a raffle draw (one draw is available for each survey) for one $250 Amazon gift card and five $50 Amazon gift cards. The surveys have been cleared by the Research Ethics Board.

For faculty and staff: Click this link to complete the survey.

For students: Click this link to complete the survey.

For more information about the LMS Review and how to get involved, visit https://uwindsor.ca/ctl/lmsreview.