Women United is a network of caring and professional local women volunteering time and talents to worthy projects. The Campus Campaign for United Way invites women at the University of Windsor to learn more at a lunchtime session Wednesday, March 29.

With a mission of mobilizing the caring power of women to support kids in Windsor-Essex from cradle to career, the group is investing directly in United Way’s On Track to Success program, which helps young people graduate high school and attend post-secondary or trade education.

“Joining efforts with the amazing women of Women United as well as supporting causes that have become so dear to me has been more rewarding than I could have imagined,” says co-chair Melissa Caschera. “I am grateful for the experiences I have had thus far, interacting with children and teens who have truly benefited from some of our efforts, including On Track to Success and Summer Eats for Kids programs.”

The March 29 event is sponsored by Unifor Local 2458 and will run noon to 1 p.m. Admission is free and includes a free meal, but attendees must register by March 21: forms.office.com/r/JWgApa9h9K.

Every three years, the University invites undergraduate students in their first and final years of study to take part in the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE), sharing their perceptions of what’s happening in and out of class, what engages them, what works — and what needs work.

Research undertaken by the developers of the NSSE has identified that certain educational strategies, such as high-impact practices, help students to become deeply involved in their learning, while also fostering strong relationships with others on campus.

High-impact practices include:

• Being part of a learning community or some other formal program where groups of students take two or more classes together;
• Taking courses that include a community-based project (service learning);
• Working with a faculty member on a research project;
• Internships, co-ops, field experiences, student teaching, or clinical placements;
• Studying abroad;
• Undertaking a culminating senior experience, such as capstone courses, senior project or thesis, comprehensive exam, portfolio, etc.

Faculty are encouraged to invite their first- and final-year students to participate in the survey to ensure the response is representative. Eligible students will be contacted via email with invitations to take part. Students who complete the survey by April 21 will receive $5 credited to their UWinCARD. The response rate as of Monday was 11 per cent.

More information about NSSE is available at uwindsor.ca/provost/NSSE2023.

Lancer athletes claimed four medals at the U Sports track and field championship meet in Saskatoon, March 9 through 11.

Mandy Brunet won a gold medal in women’s triple jump; Nicholas Neri earned gold in the men’s 1000 m para run; and bronze medals were won by Anthony Atkinson in weight throw and Caleb Keening in high jump.

In the overall team standings, the Lancer men finished in sixth place and Windsor’s women 10th. Find the full results at goLancers.ca.

Looking ahead, the Lancer men’s volleyball and hockey teams will compete for national titles in their respective sports this weekend after second-place finishes in their Ontario University Athletics playoffs.

On the ice, Windsor hosted the defending champion UQTR Patriotes for the Queen’s Cup on Saturday, but came up short in a 3-2 thriller decided in triple overtime. Goaltender Nathan Torchia turned away 56 of 59 shots through 100:38 minutes of play; Matt McNamara and Nolan Gardiner each scored a goal and an assist for the blue and gold. The team is seeded fourth in the University Cup tournament this weekend in Charlottetown, and will open by meeting the Alberta Golden Bears at 11 a.m. Friday, March 17.

On the court, Lancer men’s volleyball advanced to the Forsyth Cup final for the first time in program history, but had to settle for silver, losing to the three-time champion McMaster Marauders 14-25, 16-25, and 21-25. The squad will head back to Hamilton as the No. 5 seed in the national title tournament, starting with a match against the Sherbrooke Vert & Or at 3 p.m. Friday, March 17.

All games from both the hockey and volleyball competitions will be webcast live on CBC Sports digital platforms, up to and including Sunday's gold medal game. The full webcast schedule will be available throughout the tournament at usports.ca/en/broadcast.

WE-Spark Health Institute is now accepting applications to stimulate the development of early-stage, novel, and innovative health research and education projects in Windsor-Essex.

WE-Spark Igniting Discovery Grants will provide funding for projects that have any health research focus across all health themes: biomedical research; clinical research; implementation science; educational health programs; health services research; and social, cultural, environmental, and population health research.

The objectives of the grants are to provide new research teams and programs with support to pursue quality projects and encourage exploratory and discovery-oriented projects, and boost collaborations among the Windsor-Essex community and beyond.

The letter of intent deadline is April 3 at 5 p.m.

For complete information including guidelines and application forms, visit the WE-Spark Health Institute website.

A pair of webinars this month will address issues in patient safety. Presented by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement as part of its Open School, these free online events are open to everyone.

On Wednesday, March 22, Master of Nursing student Jennifer-Grace Sharrow will discuss “The Importance of Mindfulness for Patient Safety.” Sharrow is a registered nurse who works at Beaumont Hospital in Dearborn, Michigan, in the cardiac critical care unit — and a certified yoga instructor. Her presentation will reflect research indicating that healthcare providers who practise mindfulness are happier, safer, and calmer. Attendees will learn how mindfulness can be used to enhance quality of care, patient safety, and joy in work. It will run 1 to 2 p.m. on Microsoft Teams. Register here to access the live event or the recording afterwards.

Sara Williams, Indigenous curriculum and pedagogy advisor to the Faculty of Nursing, will discuss “Engaging in Meaningful Relationships with the Indigenous Patient” on Monday, March 27. A registered nurse with over 10 years experience working in Indigenous health, Williams is Anishinaabe Kwe from Aamjiwnaang First Nation and part of the Sucker Fish Clan. Her presentation will enhance understanding about intergenerational trauma due to the impact of colonization. Participants will learn about how to initiate a respectful and trusting relationship with the Indigenous patient. It will run 1 to 2 p.m. on Microsoft Teams. Register here to access the live event or the recording afterwards.

These are interprofessional education events; participants will receive certificates of attendance.

UWindsor staff, faculty, and students have until Friday, March 17, to respond to a survey on their commuting habits.

Responses will help the campus develop more sustainable transportation systems, establishing benchmarks and shaping decisions around infrastructure and transportation planning.

The online form takes less than 10 minutes to complete and offers a chance to win one of four $25 gift cards. Take the survey.

Awards of up to $5,000 are available to UWindsor faculty and librarians through the University Diversity, Indigeneity, and Anti-Racism Professional Development Funds.

Applications for the March 2023 disbursement are due by March 15. Find more information, including the application form, on the Office of the Vice-President, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion website.