The transfer of city-owned properties to the University of Windsor will advance planning for the development of its downtown campus, president Alan Wildeman said Monday, after Windsor City Council voted to turn the Armouries, the former bus depot and the Chatham Street parkette over to the University.

The downtown campus expansion plans touches on every goal of the University’s strategic plan, said Dr. Wildeman.

“We continue to work with the faculty and student user groups to ensure we are meeting their needs and providing spaces for inspiration, innovation, and community partnership,” he said. “As the university is focused on redeveloping learning and research spaces, we are also focused on showing students how their education is relevant to the world around them. All of the facilities are being designed in a way that will encourage engagement with the community and partners. “

The transfer of these lands is in addition to the $10 million the City of Windsor has given to the University toward the development of these properties. The provincial government has also donated $15 million toward the University’s expansion into the downtown core.

A closing date for the transfer will be dependent on the University meeting a list of conditions, which are standard for most transfer agreements. One unique factor is the proximity of the properties to the Windsor-Detroit Tunnel, something that has been a key consideration in the architectural designs.

The Windsor-Detroit Tunnel runs under the road on the east side of the Armouries, which will be the new home of the combined schools of music and visual arts, and directly below the former bus depot where a one-storey studio building is planned to house the film production and sculpture programs. One of the conditions of the transfer agreement is that the Windsor-Detroit Tunnel must approve the designs of any buildings over its property.

Craig Goodman, principal architect from the firm CS&P architects, presented conceptual designs to City Council and has taken special care to meet this unusual circumstance.

“Although the Armouries doesn’t sit directly on the tunnel, the renovation project will be choreographed so that heavy construction equipment being used along Freedom Way will not impact the tunnel,” he said. “The new space for the film production program on the bus depot property has also been specifically designed so that there will be no impact.”

An excavation will see the creation of a new lower level added to the Armouries, allowing for additional learning spaces and a performance venue, with a stage and tiered seating for approximately 140.

See more images of the proposed spaces on the Web site of the downtown campus.

University of Windsor president Alan Wildeman said his receipt of a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal is a tribute to cross-campus partnerships that serve the community.

Dr. Wildeman received the medal in a ceremony August 25 at the nomination of Windsor West MPP Teresa Piruzza, who cited his outstanding contributions to higher education and the economic development of the Windsor-Essex region. The Canadian government created the medal to mark significant achievements in celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Queen’s coronation.

“I am truly honoured to receive the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, and will forever cherish it,” Wildeman said. “It is without question a tribute to the efforts of the faculty, staff and students at the University of Windsor, and of the many alumni, friends and volunteers who work with us, to make the Windsor-Essex community stronger.”

Wildeman was one of 14 local luminaries to receive the honour Saturday.

“I am proud to have been given this opportunity to recognize 14 outstanding citizens in Windsor Essex,” Piruzza said. “Their spirit of contribution is fittingly recognized with this Diamond Jubilee medal, and we are lucky to have them in our community.”

A full-day retreat brought together academics, administrators and student leaders Friday to discuss issues surrounding academic integrity.

The event was organized by the office of student and international affairs.

“I pick a theme each year for the purpose of giving the staff in my area a chance to engage with the campus,” said Clayton Smith, vice-provost, students and international.

He said Friday’s session, which included an update on the Academic Integrity Review Action Plan and group discussion of related issues, provided a chance to take stock.

“We know we must check in with the campus community to get a sense of how we’re doing,” he said. “It’s an opportunity for a look back as well as a look forward.”

Dr. Smith noted the conversations ranged from efforts to educate students and faculty about their obligations regarding academic integrity to proposed changes to the investigation and enforcement procedures.

“The retreat is highly interactive, with the small group discussions really the heart of the day,” Smith said.

At the end, he said, there was broad agreement to focus on enhancing academic integrity education efforts and developing sanctions that teach students more about the importance of doing their own work. To that end, he hopes the university will move to a model of investigating minor offenses within academic units while moving major infractions to university judicial panels.

A trip to Western University last week helped UWindsor staff and leaders of student government learn about other ways to deliver services.

It’s the second year for the “dean’s trip,” said Clayton Smith, vice-provost, students and international.

“It gives my staff to engage with the leaders of each of the student governments so we can build a good working relationship,” he said. “We’re taking it from a formal institutional relationship to gaining understanding of each person’s perspective.”

This year’s trip explored Western’s student success centre, and involved meeting with students leaders and administrators there to discuss the benefits and challenges of its development.

“We want to go where the students have an opportunity to learn about other models,” said Smith. “The choice of location is driven by what they are interested in.”

He said the leadership of all three student governments—the University of Windsor Students’ Alliance, the Graduate Student Society, and the Organization of Part-time University Students—have expressed interest in the consolidation of student services.

“Both members or my staff and the students can get some other perspectives on how things are done elsewhere,” Smith said. “This annual trip is definitely a keeper. I would like to make it just a regular part of how we work with student leaders.”

Lancer football head coach Joe D’Amore is looking forward to building on what his team accomplished last season.

“I feel we grew as a football team,” he said. “Our players worked extremely hard and are looking forward to taking the next step in our development as a program.”

In 2011, his first as head coach, D’Amore led his squad to the Yates Cup semi-finals. A full 21 of that team’s 24 starting players are returning to the Lancers this year, including third-year quarterback Austin Kennedy, an Ontario all-star. Last year he led the league with 20 touchdown passes and a pass completion rate of 65 per cent.

The coach is proud of his recruiting success, noting he expects some of the younger players to contribute immediately.

“I am very excited to see how far we can take this,” D’Amore said.

The Lancers open the 2012 season with the Labour Day Classic, hosing the Ottawa Gees Gees at south campus stadium on September 3. Kick off is at 1 p.m.

• Read the team’s full season preview on the web site of Canadian Interuniversity Sport.
• Take a quiz to win a set of four gold-seat tickets to Monday’s home opener.

Over the 2011/12 academic year, the UWindsor Senate approved three new graduate programs, a graduate certificate, two undergraduate certificates, four undergraduate degree completion programs, a new program stream, and 59 new course proposals.

The current Senate Report reveals that fact, along with updates on bylaws, changes to Senate policies, other academic news—and even a pedagogic word search puzzle.

Published by the University Secretariat, the newsletter covers the period September 2011 to June 1012. It is available for viewing on the Senate Web site.

UWindsor faculty and staff must submit 2012/13 job proposals for the Work Study Program through the myCareer system administered by the Centre for Career Education.

The program funds part-time employment for students demonstrating genuine financial need—generally at no cost to campus employers.

Students apply through the Awards Search on the Student Information System or Student Portal and eligibility is determined through the Student Awards Office.

UWindsor faculty and staff hoping to hire work-study students must first create an account on myCareer to begin the process.

The UWindsor e-newsletter DailyNews will resume Monday-to-Friday publication with its edition Tuesday, September 4. It has been publishing twice weekly for the summer months.

The University has declared a number of computer systems for sale by bid as Disposal File 883. Please click here for details.