Two funding programs supported by Global Affairs Canada are accepting applications to support students and scholars seeking study, research, or professional development opportunities at the University of Windsor during the 2025-26 academic year.

The Emerging Leaders in the Americas Program promotes partnerships, student mobility, and research collaboration between post-secondary institutions in Canada and the Americas. Students from eligible countries may receive between $8,200 and $11,100 for a period of four to six months.

The Study in Canada Scholarships program is designed to diversity international connections among Canada and a wide range of countries in Asia, Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, and Sub-Saharan Africa. Eligible students may receive between $10,200 and $12,700 for a period of four to six months.

Internal application forms can be accessed on the UWindsor Global website. The deadline to complete the application for study or research at the University of Windsor is March 12. Questions regarding the scholarship programs or applications can be directed to Kennedy Wonnacott, global partnership co-ordinator, at kennedy.wonnacott@uwindsor.ca.

The Faculty of Nursing has launched its strategic plan, Advancing Nursing and Health Care: Education, Research, and Partnership, aligning with the University’s Aspire plan.

Introduced at the beginning of January, the plan was developed through an inclusive process incorporating more than 6,100 data points, ideas, and suggestions from students, staff, faculty, and community partners. It builds on recent achievements while charting a sustainable path forward.

With six strategic priorities guiding decision-making through 2025 and beyond, the faculty is committed to advancing nursing education, research, and practice while continuously adapting to the evolving needs of the profession.

“I am thrilled to move forward with our ambitious and strategic plan that was built on a foundation of our faculty’s hard work,” says Debbie Sheppard-LeMoine, dean of the Faculty of Nursing. “This plan will inspire new conversations and ways of collaborating while shaping a bright future for our students, faculty, health-care system, and the community.”

The plan begins with a launch phase lasting until fall 2025, establishing infrastructure, refining processes, and implementing initial initiatives. Subsequent phases will align objectives with the academic calendar, integrate budgeting, and evaluate progress. Regular reviews will include faculty council updates every six months and annual impact reports.

This evolving plan ensures UWindsor nursing remains a leader in education, research, and health-care innovation, says Dr. Sheppard-LeMoine: “By fostering meaningful collaboration, supporting students and faculty, and investing in growth, the faculty is positioning itself for a stronger, more transformative future.”

View the Faculty of Nursing Strategic plan 2025-2030.

Dominik Dziura (BSc 2022) says his study abroad trip to the neutron scattering facility at the Institut Laue–Langevin in Grenoble, France, helped advance his membrane research.

Neutron scattering is a powerful tool that can study matter at microscopic levels.

The graduate student received a Canada Graduate Scholarship - Michael Smith Foreign Study Supplement (CGS-MSFSS) which he turned into a three-month exchange at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Center for Neutron Research in the United States.

As a Masters student in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Dziura works in professor Drew Marquardt’s lab on lipid membrane research. When he worked at NIST, he collaborated with instrument scientist Elizabeth Kelley. For their work they needed to use a small angle neutron diffractometer, but the reactor at NIST was down, so the team travelled to the ILL research institute in France for two weeks.

“With Dr. Kelley’s neutron scattering expertise I was able to learn more about the techniques, including collecting data and modelling,” says Dziura.

“Neutron scattering is a really good technique to look at biology in real time and membranes in real time because you’re able to probe super small structures and learn information based off that.”

Dziura says he is working on two main research projects, the first looking at the antioxidant Vitamin E.

“Vitamin E moves within membranes. It is an antioxidant and protects the membranes from oxidation. We’re looking at how its movement throughout the membranes can explain its antioxidative protection,” he says.

Using neutron scattering, he says, relies on neutron contrast and based on how we change the system we can look at specific components.

“With Vitamin E, everything is invisible to the neutron except the Vitamin E when it scatters and based on how it scatters. Based on how the intensity of scattering changes over time, you could relate that to the kinetics of the movement and determine the half-life of this process.”

He is also interested in the structural arrangements of membranes which are composed of different lipids. Natural cell membranes are asymmetric but synthetic membranes, which are models used to study membranes, are symmetric. Dziura wants to help create better synthetic models that are asymmetric.

Both research projects were advanced thanks to his time spent with experts at NIST and ILL.

“It comes down to their expertise and having those opportunities to work with them, not just Dr. Kelley, but there is a plethora of researchers at NIST and ILL — top-end scientists in the field of neutron scattering,” he says.

“For example, I learned how to code a program to process my data in large batches quickly. They have access to resources that we don’t have here.”

The latest accolade for a campy horror spoof shot entirely in Windsor-Essex is cementing the film as one of the most celebrated genre comedies of the last year, says writer-director Mike Stasko (BA 2002), a professor in the Department of Communication, Media, and Film.

A loving homage to 1950s drive-in creature features, Vampire Zombies...From Space! was named best Canadian feature film at the Victoria Film Festival in Victoria, B.C.

“We set out to make a film that would entertain, surprise, and make people laugh,” Stasko says. “Seeing it resonate with audiences and win multiple awards around the world has been beyond rewarding.”

Among previous awards, the film won best feature film at Fright Nights Film Festival in Austria, the audience choice award at the Ravenna Nightmare Festival in Italy, best feature at South African HorrorFest, and best sci-fi feature at New York City Horrorfest. It is scheduled for a dozen more screenings through the spring.

Regular updates are posted on www.vampirezombiesmovie.com.

As part of the institution’s ongoing efforts to address financial challenges, the University of Windsor is offering voluntary retirement incentives to eligible employees.

For members of the Windsor University Faculty Association, a voluntary retirement incentive option — or Voluntary Contract Termination (VCT) per an agreement between WUFA and the University — provides members aged 65 and older an opportunity to retire on June 30, 2025 (or later if they are exhausting accumulated leave banks). In return, eligible WUFA members will receive either a lump-sum payment equivalent to 12 months of regular salary or salary continuance for 12 months.

The deadline to apply for the voluntary retirement incentive is April 15, 2025. To help members make an informed decision on their retirement options, a dedicated webpage has been developed by the Office of the Provost: https://www.uwindsor.ca/provost/VCT-2025.

Staff groups interested in exploring retirement incentive options are encouraged to connect with their unions.

To comply with the Province of Ontario’s public sector taxable benefit guidelines and updated regulations from the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, the University of Windsor has introduced a Mobile Phone Procurement and Subscription Policy, effective immediately.

Under the new policy, a UWindsor corporate cell phone plan subscriber needs to meet the following criteria to remain on or enroll in the corporate plan:

1. Be a current University of Windsor employee who possesses a mobile device or monthly plan paid by the University;

2. Be in a role that meets one or more of the business necessity conditions listed in the policy; and

3. Have their manager’s or principal investigator’s approval.

In the coming weeks some individuals currently enrolled in the University of Windsor’s Corporate Cell Phone Plan through Telus will be notified via email about the status of their account.

For individuals who are not eligible for the Corporate Cell Phone Plan, the Employee Personal Plan (EPP) remains available through Telus. The EPP is not impacted by the new policy and provides current and retired UWindsor employees with exclusive savings on smartphones, tablets, phone plans, internet, streaming services and home security.

Read the Mobile Phone Procurement and Subscription Policy and Procedure.

“The potential of 3D concrete printing is enormous,” says civil engineering professor Sreekanta Das.

He spoke as one of two plenary speakers at a workshop hosted by the National Institute of Technology Karnataka (NITK), one of India’s oldest and top technical institutes.

The Collaborative Workshop and Capacity Building on 3D Concrete Printing: Innovations and Applications, held Feb. 21 and 22 as a collaboration between NITK and Projectile Infra, brought together academics and innovators to discuss the transformative potential of 3D printing technology in revolutionizing and automating the construction sector.

Dr. Das highlighted the importance of international collaboration in the field.

“It’s about more than just technology,” he says. “It’s about building a global network to tackle the challenges of the housing industry, share knowledge, and work together toward practical solutions.”

He emphasized how this innovative technology is revolutionizing traditional construction processes, offering new possibilities for faster, more efficient, and sustainable building practices. Das argues this novel technology can help address Canada’s housing crisis.

“With the growing interest in 3D printing in construction, this workshop marked an important step toward global cooperation and the development of groundbreaking solutions that have the potential to reshape the future of the industry,” he says.

A collaborative conference co-hosted by the faculties of law at the University of Windsor and Indonesia’s Universitas Gadjah Mada marked a significant step in fostering international legal dialogue, says professor Shanthi Senthe.

One of the organizers of the inaugural “Private and Public Law in Motion: A Comparative Exploration of Legal Regimes,” she says the one-day event, Feb. 7 in Yogyakarta, brought together legal scholars, researchers, judges, and legal practitioners from Indonesia, Canada, and the U.S.A.

“The conference provided an invaluable opportunity for participants to explore how different legal systems address common challenges,” says Dr. Senthe. “It marked a significant step in fostering international legal dialogue.”

Attendees discussed various issues, ranging from the intricacies of legal theory to practical applications in a globalized world, particularly in the context of cross-border co-operation and the role of emerging trends.

“By fostering collaboration between legal experts across these countries, the conference aimed to highlight shared experiences while also considering unique traditions and practices within each jurisdiction,” Senthe says.

The CAW Student Centre will convert the Alumni Auditorium into a roller rink Monday and Tuesday, March 3 and 4.

“There are no roller rinks around, let alone roller skates to be found,” says organizer Sandra Riccio-Muglia, director of events and programming for the student centre. “The Alumni Auditorium gives us an enclosed space the perfect size for this, and we’ll be lighting it up to give a real 1980s feel of how it was to roll those wheels.”

The event is free for students and staff and promises themed hours of music genres, a designated time for families to join the fun, pop-up snacks, and more. It will run noon to 7 p.m. both days; find details on the centre’s Instagram page.

All skates and safety equipment will be provided at no charge on a first-come, first-served basis.

The event offers a fun, interactive experience, Riccio-Muglia says.

“The student centre has these amazing spaces — from vendor areas and the Commons lobby to the Alumni Auditorium,” she says. “We like to get creative in utilizing all our spaces for a variety of events to showcase what we have to offer to our campus and beyond into the community.”

March marks the month of the Francophonie in Canada and internationally. This year, the Chapitre Jeunesse – Club Richelieu, the student-led social club for francofans on campus, is organizing Franco-Fête from March 3 to 7.

This week of festivities aims to give members of the University community an opportunity to celebrate the French language and culture in a fun and relaxed setting.

Monday, March 3: Sweet Study Night

Franco-Fête begins with a sweet study session. Students are invited to Winclare Hall between 3 and 7 p.m. to study or work on their upcoming projects and exams. Cookies, cupcakes, and delicious pancakes, prepared by Franco-African chef Aunty B, will be served.

Tuesday, March 4: Family Feud – Profs vs. Students

Franco-Fête continues with a Family Feud game, opposing professors and students. Student participants will be able to test their French knowledge and challenge their professors in a friendly and festive atmosphere. The event will run from 4 to 6 p.m. in Winclare Hall. Snacks and drinks will be offered.

Wednesday, March 5: French Jeopardy!

This French Jeopardy game is a great way for francofans to improve their French or to demonstrate their knowledge of Francophone history and popular culture. The event takes place from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. in Winclare Hall. Prizes — including gift cards — will be distributed.

Thursday, March 6 : Bingo

Francofans are invited to take part in a classic game of bingo starting at 5:30 p.m. in Winclare Hall. Participants get the chance to win great prizes: Gift cards for Whamburg, Indigo, and much more.

Friday, March 7: Karaoké

The karaoké evening is the perfect opportunity for francofans to sing their favorite French songs and have a fun time with friends. The event will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. in Winclare Hall. On the program: guaranteed atmosphere, laughter, and surprises.

Franco-Fête is sponsored by French Studies and Club Richelieu Windsor.

Connect with the dynamic Windsor-Essex health research community at WE-Spark Health Institute’s monthly networking event. This is a great opportunity to engage with others passionate about health research through both casual conversations and structured networking.

WE-Spark After Dark takes place from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 6, at Bourbon Tap & Grill, 1199 Ottawa St.

Whether you’re an active member of the health research community or simply curious to learn more, this informal gathering provides a welcoming space to build meaningful connections. The first hour will focus on meeting like-minded individuals with an interest in health research.

Registration is encouraged but not required — feel free to bring a friend or colleague you’ve been wanting to connect with. Click here to register.