Dr. Rob Gordon, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Windsor is pleased to announce that Ms. Beverley Hamilton has been named Chief of Staff in the Office of the President. Ms. Hamilton will serve as a key advisor and support person to the President, and participate as a core member of the Senior Leadership Team, while also providing critical support to the Chancellor, the Senate and the Board of Governors. She will also work closely with the President on operational matters, communications and stakeholder relations that are of critical importance to the University. In this role, she will also lead special and strategic projects and key institutional initiatives.

Bev is currently the Academic Initiatives Officer in the Provost’s Office. Her appointment as Chief of Staff will be effective November 1, 2020 and comes at a time of change in the President’s Office. Ms. Jane Boyd has made the decision to retire as Executive Assistant to the President on March 31, 2021 and will continue in that role until her departure.

Congratulations to Bev on this exciting appointment, where she will make considerable and impactful institutional contributions.

The Carnegie Canadian Community Engagement (CCCE) Pilot team has released two reports which capture the reflections, perceptions, and experiences of some of UWindsor’s community and industry partners, and its faculty and staff regarding the university’s present community-engaged practice.

In March, several community and industry partners were invited to share their experiences during the “Growing Together” partners appreciation and consultation breakfast. In total, 76 members from UWindsor and the surrounding Windsor-Essex community participated in round table discussions focused on what the University is doing, as well as what it can do to support and enhance its partnership work more effectively.

The resulting report describes key themes that came out of discussions around partnership impact and goals, and also highlights community-engaged efforts by the campus community during COVID-19. The report outlines commitments in the short-term related to community engagement. To UWindsor’s partners, President and Vice-Chancellor Robert Gordon wrote, “We are extremely grateful for your honesty and insights – and for the commitment and effort you have already brought to this initiative.”

The findings from the partners appreciation and consultation breakfast event complement findings from UWindsor’s faculty and staff. Eighty-five faculty and staff members provided input to the CCCE Pilot team by completing an electronic form or by participating in an interview. The resulting report provides examples of outstanding community-engaged work that is being carried out on campus. The report also highlights areas of needed growth, including faculty and staff desire to see:

• Greater awareness, recognition, and reward for outstanding community-engaged work;
• A university-led vision for community engagement and supporting infrastructure; and 
• Specific supports for more inclusive participation in community-engaged work.

“On behalf of the CCCE Steering Committee members, I want to thank every faculty, staff, and community partner who took time out of their busy schedules to participate in this important process. We look forward to moving ahead with concrete recommendations to better support and enhance the wonderful community-engaged work that is at the heart of our university mission,” said Dr. Cheryl Collier, Professor in the department of Political Science and Chair of the Steering Committee for the CCCE Pilot.

The CCCE Pilot team continues to invite feedback from the community, as the project deadline has been extended until December 15 due to COVID-19. Upon completion, the reports’ findings will inform long-term planning to most effectively build and support partnerships and the Univerity’s community-engaged actvity.

For more information about the CCCE Pilot, contact the team at community@uwindsor.ca.

In an article published last month by the journal Mouseion, Max Nelson, Associate Professor of Greek and Roman Studies in the Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures, suggests that a millennium before chess was first played, the ancient Greeks designed the first war games in the west.

While the earliest known board games -- those from Mesopotamia and Egypt -- involved racing playing pieces along a course to a finish line, ancient Greeks devised a new sort of game, depicting fighting on sea and on land.

“War games, whether played online or on the table, fascinate many, yet most have no idea that these originated among ancient Greeks.”

Dr. Nelson says that it is even a surprise to most classicists, those who study ancient European civilizations, to learn that ancient Greeks played a board game simulating war at sea.

“Traditionally, such aspects of cultures have been neglected as trivial, but all facets of everyday life, including pastimes, can tell us quite a bit about a society.  Ancient Greeks were highly competitive and quite bellicose, and war games are a logical manifestation of that ethos.”

Nelson says that in the past, those who studied ancient board games spoke about the Greeks playing a game called Five Lines.

 “I am the first to identify this game as Ship-Battle (naumachia), which involved the simulation of a naval battle using a board, counters, and dice."

Another game, City-State (polis), was played on a grid and replicated a land battle, with players capturing each other’s pieces by surrounding them with two of their own.

He says these games were pastimes not for children but for adults, with Plato speaking of the high skill involved in playing, referring to the small number of top-notch gamers. Romans later imitated the Greeks with their own game of “little soldiers”, which even emperors played.

Nelson says today’s video games simulating war, such as the Call of Duty series, are extremely popular, while more abstract tabletop simulations of war, like chess, are intensely studied and elicit high-level competition, and his own interest is both personal and professional.

"I am a historian and a gamer,” he says.  “So it seemed natural to explore the origins of board games."

The University has launched an external review of its Procedures for Addressing Student Non-Academic Misconduct (‘Procedures’).  

The first part of this review was an assessment of the Procedures against the legal and regulatory framework within which they operate, as well as a comparison of the Procedures with similar procedures at other Ontario universities. The resulting external consultant's report on this review can be viewed by clicking on the following link: External Consultant's Report

Members of the University Community are invited to provide anonymous feedback on the external consultant’s report no later than October 30, 2020.  To provide your feedback go to: https://www.uwindsor.ca/secretariat/345/survey

In addition to this report, the external consultant is inviting members of the University Community to meet with her, one-on-one, to share comments and suggestions on the Procedures. 15-minute meeting slots have been set aside between 10am-12pm and 2-4pm on Monday, November 9, 2020 and Tuesday, November 10, 2020. Individuals will be scheduled on a first come, first served basis. To request a one-on-one meeting, email usecretariat@uwindsor.ca.

The Windsor Review launched its open access chapter this month, with a re-launch of its online journal – now available as an open access resource with help from the Leddy Library.

The Windsor Review is a long-standing journal that began in 1965, featuring both scholarship and creative writing. Published biannually by the University of Windsor Faculty of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences and the Department of English and Creative Writing, the journal currently features poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, and review essays.

Over the years the journal has evolved with technology, moving from print to digital formats, yet always remained behind an access barrier.

“The problem was that the first iteration of the digital form was behind a paywall that limited access to both readers and writers who wanted to get a feel for the journal,” said Dale Jacobs, current editor of The Windsor Review. “When I came on board, the first thing I did was partner with Leddy Library so that we could be online and open access.”

Open Access publishing encourages free, unrestricted access to content for readers without barriers or fees. To facilitate the open access publishing process, The Library’s Centre for Digital Scholarship worked with The Windsor Review team streamline the process and prepare the new website, including the addition of an electronic submission function that allows writers to submit their work for publication online.

“Libraries recognize how essential Open Access is as a means to make scholarly and creative work widely accessible.” said Mita Williams, scholarly communications librarian at Leddy Library. “When scholars opt to transition their publications to an open access framework, we are enthusiastic to work with them through this process.”

The Fall 2020 issue is now available online. Submissions are now open for the next two issues of The Windsor Review and will remain open until May 31, 2021. Upon publication, each author will receive an honorarium in the form of a gift certificate for All Lit Up: $10 per poem and $25 per piece of fiction or creative nonfiction.

“The fact that readers and writers can read the journal without it being behind a paywall is a key component as we relaunch and rebrand the journal,” said Jacobs. “We look forward to reaching a broader audience and hope to encourage new readers and writers.”​

Learn more about Open Access publishing by celebrating Open Access Week, Oct. 19 to 25, with the Leddy Library.

Newly graduated University of Windsor student Kaila Wilson has created a one-of-a-kind tool for local organization Fight Like Mason Foundation to help families with children going through cancer treatment.

"As a parent first and a forever student I created this resource to help other parents understand what it looks like to have a child going through cancer treatment in Windsor/Essex,” said Wilson. “With so much available online these days, it can be overwhelming and hard to find a resource that is research-based, up-to-date, and local. I wanted to help direct parents to credible sources of information and community-based resources, so it is one less thing to navigate during a difficult time for families."

Wilson created the handbook as part of her Cancer Undergraduate Research & Education (CURE) course. CURE (BIOM 3750-1) engages students in learning about the science of cancer and directions in cancer research. Students get a chance to interact with scientists conducting a spectrum of multidisciplinary research and work in collaborative teams to design and implement tools to communicate cancer research to the public, to patients, to other students, and to the government.

“CURES is a hands-on learning course where students’ ideas directly contribute to moving cancer research forward in Windsor-Essex” said Dr. Lisa Porter, Biology Professor and Executive Director WE-SPARK Health Institute. “Our students are bright, they have amazing talent and their contributions are making a direct impact in our community.”

The Fight Like Mason Foundation was formed by Iain Macri and Chantelle Bacon, parents of Mason Bacon-Macri. Their son Mason was diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma (a form of childhood cancer) on May 4th, 2015 at the age of two, passing away June 27, 2016 at the age of four. They advocate all year, and every September they designate all of their fundraising dollars to childhood cancer research programs donating $300,000 to date.

"The Paediatric Oncology handbook from Kaila is a fantastic resource for anyone seeking information regarding childhood cancer, in a clear and concise way” said Iain Macri. “Plus, the illustrations are a great visual, we knew it had to up on our new website!" View The Paediatric Oncology Handbook here: https://fightlikemason.org/index.php/resources Click here for more information about the University of Windsor CURES course.

The offices of Co-op & Workplace Partnerships and Career Development & Experiential Learning are recognizing the 2019 recipients of their Co-op & Internship Awards, after having to cancel a March event marking the occasion.

“We had a ceremony planned, but once COVID hit, we had to cancel,” says Judy Bornais, Executive Director of the Office of Experiential Learning.

“We felt it was important to recognize the deserving students and partners for their excellence in experiential learning, and since a face-to-face event isn’t possible at this time, we decided to go ahead and announce the winners now.”

Career Development & Experiential Learning Award winners are:

Hafsah Alum (former Business/Accounting Assistant at House of Sophrosyne), who is receiving the Rising Star Student Award – VIP-CSL , recognizing one VIP Community Service Learning student each year who has experienced personal growth while making a positive impact in the local community, and who has done an exemplary job of representing the VIP-CSL program within the broader community;

Unemployed Help Centre of Windsor Inc., which is receiving the Community Partner Award, as an organization which has had a long-standing partnership with the University of Windsor; has consistently supported VIP-CSL student placements; and/or has created exceptional experiential opportunities through the year.

Co-operative Education & Workplace Partnerships Award winners are:

Michelle Montminy (Human Kinetics co-op student and former Partnerships Intern at Ottawa Senators Hockey Club), who is receiving the Rising Star Student Award – Co-operative Education, for making a unique contribution in the workplace, and doing an exemplary job of representing the Cooperative Education and Workplace Partnerships department within the broader community; Active Care Management (ACM), which is receiving the New Employer/Internship Employer Award for meeting criteria which include having hired more than 10 students throughout 2019 in one discipline or more; being actively engaged with on-campus activities to the benefit of student learning; and/or having created exceptional work term experiences throughout the year;

BlackBerry, Vistaprint, FCA (Fiat Chrysler Automotive) Group, RBC Royal Bank of Canada, and WDBA (Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority), which are all being recognized with the Co-op/Internship Employers of the Year Award, for meeting criteria which include a long-standing partnership with the University; having hired more than 10 students throughout 2019; actively engaging with on-campus activities to the benefit of student learning; and/or having created exceptional work term experiences throughout the year.

Bornais expressed congratulations to the Student Award recipients for their continued excellence and ambassadorship on behalf of the University, as well as gratitude to employer recipients for their commitment to student learning.

“Through collaboration and partnerships with the private and not-for-profit sector we are uniquely positioned to make significant contributions to the economic, cultural, environmental and social development of the region”, she said.

“We learn so much from each other and that exchange is a true source of innovation and community strength. Together our partnerships can enrich our communities and provide students with opportunities to grow and develop into the leaders of tomorrow.”

The previously scheduled virtual web broadcast of Convocation Session 9 for the Faculty of Science has been rescheduled for tonight - Oct 19, 2020 at 7 p.m. EST.

The session includes graduates from the cohort-based masters programs in Master of Applied Computing, Master of Actuarial Sciences, Master of Applied Economics Policy and Master of Medical Biotechnology. 

WATCH LIVE @ 7 P.M. EST

Read about the latest UWindsor Engineering projects tackling the global pandemic, a $4.3M investment in a UWindsor electric vehicle partnership with industry, and the recently launched UWindsor Engineering COVID-19 Action Fund in the Faculty of Engineering's Fall Newletter.

Windsor Engineering Fall 2020 contains details about the Action Fund, which will support time-critical research, help students who are experiencing hardships, and maximize curriculum resources for online distance learning amid the COVID-19 crisis. 

The online newsletter is distributed quarterly to engineering alumni, students, faculty, staff and industrial/community partners. To subscribe, visit the faculty’s subscription webpage.

President Robert Gordon has announced the appointment of Vincent Georgie as the University of Windsor's acting associate vice-president external for a two-year period, effective Nov. 1.

Dr. Georgie will oversee the departments of Alumni and Donor Communications, Advancement, and Public Affairs and Communications. A UWindsor grad (MBA 2004), Georgie is currently director of the School of Creative Arts and a member of the marketing faculty in the Odette School of Business, and will leave those roles to serve as the associate VP external.

This leadership role will enhance the University of Windsor’s commitment to meaningful and transformative community engagement. This will include overseeing strategic communications and public relations, providing oversight in supporting institutional marketing, working with the University leadership to grow our collective advancement efforts, and supporting alumni initiatives.

“We are thrilled to have Dr. Georgie’s passion, commitment and leadership in this important role at the University of Windsor. Vincent has demonstrated incredible dedication to our University and the Windsor-Essex region and I see this only growing in his new role,” says Dr. Gordon.

Georgie shares: “As a faculty member, as an administrator, as an alum, and as a donor, the University of Windsor is the proudest association of my life. Expanding our outreach, deepening our public impact, and proactively developing sincere and sustaining partnerships all to the benefit of the University community are among the priorities that the president has identified as key to moving us forward.”

Georgie will serve in the associate VP external position for about two years, during which time the University will conduct a search for a candidate to serve on a permanent basis.

Georgie is a well-known member of the University community. He joined its faculty in 2009 and currently serving on both the Board of Governors and the University Senate. His record of being a community-focused, highly collaborative and strategic leader is longstanding.

During his tenure at SoCA, he has overeen the historic move and opening of its downtown facilities and its successful integration into the broader community. Previous to this, he ran MBA programs at the Odette Business School and is a lauded marketing educator, having received the University’s highest teaching recognition, the UWindsor Alumni Award for Distinguished Contributions to University Teaching, in 2016.

Holding a PhD in marketing from HEC Montréal, Georgie is an authority on the marketing of the film industry. Since 2013, Georgie has served as executive director and chief programmer of the Windsor International Film Festival (WIFF), recently named Canada’s largest volunteer-run film festival.

Georgie will begin meeting with his team and key members of the University community in preparation for the start of the appointment.

Students from the Department of Mathematics and Statistics will have an opportunity to virtually meet with UWindsor alumni who now work at Willis Towers Watson, to network, get career advice and ask questions about the company.

Willis Towers Watson is a global multinational risk management, insurance brokerage and advisory company. Their Southfield, Michigan office has been hiring mathematics students from the University of Windsor for many years.  

Students must register by midnight, October 20 by emailing wac@uwindsor.ca for a registration form. Willis Towers Watson will send a Microsoft Teams invitation a few days after registration. The virtual networking session is from 4 to 6 p.m. on Wednesday October 28.

With the transition to online teaching and learning in Fall 2020 well underway, UWindsor instructors are now looking ahead to their students’ online experiences in Winter 2021. In their continued efforts, the Office of Open Learning is preparing instructors for success, through offering an advanced workshop series, Introduction to Teaching Online II.

Building on the successes of the Introduction to Teaching Online course, which supported over 200 instructors in bringing their courses online for the Summer and Fall semesters, the Introduction to Teaching Online II series is a more advanced, supported pathway through deliberately designing for the online teaching and learning environment. And for those who were unable to participate in the summer, the first level of this Introduction to Teaching Online series will be running simultaneously, in a more distributed format.

“We’ve seen some really incredible reflections and work through our first Introductions course,” says Dave Cormier, Learning Specialist and co-facilitator of the workshop. “Now what we’re seeing is a hunger for a bit more -- just that little extra edge for instructors to deliver an exceptional online course in the winter, and maybe even beyond. So we want to build on that momentum along with them, and develop increased skill sets in our community of practice.”

Based on feedback from the spring and summer participants, and the continuous support she’s been involved in with instructors this term, co-facilitator, and fellow Learning Specialist Ashlyne O’Neil says building this advanced course has been on the minds of OOL for awhile. “Our team has been sharing the great work of our instructors, and we knew this was the right time for some of them to elevate their practice, to use the internet to build the kind of courses that students will enjoy learning in.”

With time constraints of current workloads, personal bandwidth, and care for families in mind, OOL is running this workshop series bi-weekly, in the evenings. There will be three live sessions, with some independent work and feedback from the instructors incorporated over the course of 6 weeks. The first live session of the advanced course will take place 6pm- 8pm on Tuesday, October 27th, with the first level of the course starting on Thursday, October 29th. UWindsor instructors can register for either of these workshops on the Open Learning workshop database: https://ctl2.uwindsor.ca/openlearning/workshops/.

Open Learning and the Centre for Teaching and Learning are offering a varied range of other workshops and courses to help instructors explore all the possibilities for developing their online course. Check out some of the offerings that will help you!

Tax receipts for donations to an annual scholarship fundraising concert to honour the life of School of Creative Arts voice teacher Catherine McKeever (BMus ’94) will be issued for gifts over $10, not $20 as erroneously stated in yesterday’s story. The University will transition its policy to align with Canada Revenue Agency Regulations on October 20, 2020.  We apologize for any inconvenience this information may have caused.

The concert series will move online this year to accommodate social distancing.

Each day during the week of October 19 – 23 a video of a live performance by one of Cathy’s former students, Cathy’s sisters, or Cathy herself will be posted on the University of Windsor YouTube channel, SoCA Facebook page and SoCA website, along with a link for friends, alumni, and supporters to donate on the University’s secure website.

Watch at: https://www.youtube.com/user/uwindsor SoCA

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/soca.uwindsor

To donate, visit the secure website at: https://www.uwindsor.ca/donate#  -- under “Designations”, click on the “Other” button and type in “Catherine McKeever Scholarship”and fill out the required information.