The Student Mental Health Strategy Fund has adopted a rolling submission framework for applications, aiming to increase student, staff, and faculty opportunities for creative projects geared at improving and promoting student mental health at the University of Windsor.

The next monthly application deadline is today, Jan. 30, with a final date of Feb. 28 for all Student Mental Health Strategy Fund applications for the 2022-23 Academic Year.

In line with the strategy’s goal of fostering communities of caring, collaborations are valued and encouraged.

Visit the fund’s website to learn more, view funded proposals, and submit an application.

Growing a crystal is no simple task. But one high school team from Leamington grew a crystal so fine it won the Best Quality award at Canada’s 2022 National Crystal Growing Competition.

Students from Windsor and Essex County high schools worked with chemistry professor Nick Vukotic and Faculty of Science experiential learning specialist Michelle Bondy in preparation for the national competition.

“A few of my graduate students — Michelle Dao, Ali Baranbo, and Joy-Lynn Kobti — helped choose the best two crystals from local high schools. Leamington and Riverside’s crystals were sent off to the national competition,” says Dr. Vukotic, a researcher with UWindsor’s Advanced Material Centre of Research.

The team from Leamington District Secondary School, 10th graders Tyson Bergen, Owenn Flaming, and Kailee Tait placed first in the quality category to claim a $250 cash prize. A team from Riverside Secondary School, led by science teacher Amy Root with student Ridhima Jain, placed seventh for Best Overall crystal.

Vukotic’s industry research partner Proto Manufacturing was one of competition’s sponsors.

“It is wonderful to see science and chemistry-based activities such as this being so successful in our local region,” says Vukotic.

“Students involved in these activities should consider a career in chemistry as the skills they are developing now could result in new technologies and research which can make a significant impact on people’s lives. I hope to see them on campus in a few years.”

Science and chemistry teacher Lauren Caza led the winning team from Leamington. She says she loves the inquiry process that comes with growing the crystals.

“Growing crystals is the perfect opportunity for students to get a small taste of more of the scientific process,” says Caza.

She says she gave them basic instructions, but ultimately the details were up to the students.

“It is actually very exciting to see them fail and keep trying different methods until they come up with something they are proud of,” says Caza.

“It builds their problem-solving skills, co-operation, resiliency, scientific knowledge, and pride.”

She added that the students were keen to tell her that participation in the contest solidified their desire to pursue a career in STEM and they were excited about future opportunities in science, even thinking ahead to adding this to their university applications.

“They were excited about the cash prize but even more so about the bragging rights!”

Two-time UWindsor grad Jody Fraser (BA drama in education 1993, BA psychology 1993) has accepted an appointment as the University’s associate vice-president, human resources, effective April 3, interim vice-president, equity, diversity, and inclusion Clinton Beckford has announced.

In her new role, Fraser will work as a leadership partner in the development, implementation, and evaluation of transformative and strategic initiatives underway at the University. Dr. Beckford said that as the University’s “people officer,” she will act as a champion for equity, diversity, inclusion and anti-racism strategies to ensure that these principles are embedded in HR initiatives, policies, processes, and practices.

“Please join me in welcoming Jody, a proud UWindsor graduate, back to the University and our campus community,” Beckford said. “I look forward to working closely with her, along with the HR team, through an exciting period of innovation and change.”

Fraser will lead the human resources team in the areas of training and development, labour relations, talent acquisition and retention, workforce planning, compensation management, pension and benefit administration, information and analytics, and occupational health and safety.

Her office will have a consultative relationship with the Office of the Provost and Vice-President, Academic as it pertains to academic labour relations, which is part of the provost’s portfolio.

Fraser brings over 20 years of experience in delivering services and implementing initiatives related to institutional transformation, change management, policy development and labour relations. She has held leadership roles in human resources at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology and the University of Calgary, as well as being an active member of the Alberta Labour Relations Board. She holds designation as a Chartered Professional in Human Resources as well as certificates in human resources management, organizational design, and labour relations.

The Office of the Vice-President Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion is pleased to announce that it will be administering, on behalf of the University, the Leadership Development Fund for Marginalized and Historically Underrepresented Groups — formerly the Career Development Fund for Women and Designated Groups administered by Human Resources.

This fund has been designed to address barriers to career advancement and support the leadership development of Indigenous peoples, people with disabilities, racialized people, women, the 2SLGBTQQIA+ community, and other equity-deserving groups through offsetting the cost of participation in leadership-development opportunities up to $3,000.

“This is part of the University’s commitment to addressing systemic barriers, contemporary and historical injustices and inequities, and fostering a more equitable, inclusive, and just campus for all,” says Clinton Beckford, acting vice-president, equity, diversity, and inclusion.

“Funding applications are accepted on an ongoing basis from faculty and staff who hold a permanent appointment at UWindsor and self-identify as a member of a marginalized or historically underrepresented group,“ says Marcela Ciampa, director of organizational and leadership development. “We look forward to being able to fund a minimum of 16 requests annually.”

Find more information, and an online application, on the Office of the Vice-President, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion website.

WE-Spark Health Institute hosts monthly networking events for members of the Windsor-Essex health research community to get to know one another through fun and casual conversations.

The next will be held Thursday, Feb. 2, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Bourbon Tap & Grill, 1199 Ottawa St.

This is an opportunity for anyone interested in health research to make connections in an informal and enjoyable atmosphere. There is no formal agenda, and all are welcome. No RSVP is required.

WE-Spark Health Institute is a partnership of the University of Windsor, Erie Shores HealthCare, Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare, St. Clair College, and Windsor Regional Hospital designed to take healthcare to the next level through research.

Friday, Feb. 10, is the deadline to submit nominations for the inaugural Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion awards.

These awards honour, celebrate, and shine a light on individuals and teams who have made significant contributions towards building a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive campus community and who have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to address the systemic barriers, contemporary and historical injustices, and inequities experienced by Indigenous peoples, people with disabilities, racialized people, the 2SLGBTQQIA+ community, women, and other equity-deserving groups.

Students, faculty, staff, and alumni are invited to submit nominations in the following categories:

• Student EDI Award
• Faculty EDI Award
• Staff EDI Award
• Academic/administrative leader/manager EDI Award
• Team/committee EDI Award
• Alumni EDI Award

Find details, including criteria and nomination forms, on the EDI Awards website.