Winter 2023 courses and certificates through Continuing Education are now open for registration. These learning opportunities are open to the community and are designed for individuals who wish to augment current skills, learn a new skill, or work towards career advancement.

Online, evening, and weekend classes are available for select courses. See the Continuing Education website for course fees and most up-to-date schedules.

In collaboration with the School of Creative Arts, University of Windsor Lab School: Strings offers music instruction for students ages 4 to 17 who wish to study the violin, viola, or cello through a curriculum that includes group class instruction, theory and master classes, chamber music, and performance opportunities at the University of Windsor’s School of Creative Arts. These classes take place on Saturdays, 2 to 3 p.m. (beginner), or 3 to 4 p.m. (intermediate), starting Jan. 14.

Introduction to Microsoft Excel dives into the fundamentals of using Microsoft Excel from a practical perspective. The course covers principles of data collection and analysis, building functional spreadsheets, Excel tools, and macros. Emphasis is placed on practicality. Tutorials use the framework of a business case to illustrate the real-world application of course content. Class takes place Mondays and Wednesdays, Jan. 16 to Feb. 1 from 6 to 8:30 p.m.

Delivered in partnership with Procept Associates, an authorized training partner of Project Management Institute, Continuing Education’s Accelerated Project Management Certificate is comprised of two levels. Level one of the certificate, Project Management Essentials, provides a hands-on journey through a project from initiation to closing, with special emphasis on initiation and planning. This six half-day course takes place Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, starting Jan. 18, from 8:30 a.m. to noon.

The Siemens Mechatronic Systems Certification Program (SMSCP) Level 1, developed by Siemens Technik Akademie Berlin, is delivered in collaboration with the Faculty of Engineering. This comprehensive industry skill certification was developed as a result of high demand for qualified and motivated personnel. Class takes place on Fridays, 1 to 8:30 p.m. and Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., from Jan. 27 to April 22. The SMSCP Level 1 exam will take place May 13 at 2 p.m.

The miniMBA Certificate will provide individuals with a comprehensive overview of core business functions. Upon completion, participants will be able to understand the basics of all business functional areas, increase organizational competitiveness with new strategic insights, learn to view the “big picture” of an organization, and operate more effectively in a team-oriented environment. Take each course individually or complete all six to achieve the miniMBA Certificate. Classes take place from 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays, Feb. 4 to June 24.

Honing skills in effective written communication is key in any educational or workplace setting. Develop writing that is clear, concise, persuasive, and accessible to all readers with Writing Foundations – Improve Precision. The workshop series will help identify and correct sentence structure errors, present the facts through concise writing to deliver clear and professional content. This four-class series takes place on Saturdays, Feb. 4 to 25, 9 a.m. to noon.

Delivered in partnership with Transform Shared Service Organization, the Health Informatics program covers an array of topics related to health information management — from the fundamentals of health informatics and project management to systems implementation. Recognized as a required skill set to advance the health care system, this foundational program will provide an overview of the growing field of health informatics. Classes take place on Saturdays, Feb. 11 to June 3, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Select programs are eligible for the Canada-Ontario Jobs Grant and OSAP Micro-credentials application. See individual course pages for details.

More courses will be announced soon. To stay up-to-date with all upcoming Continuing Education programs, visit continue.uwindsor.ca.

As the University of Windsor’s first-ever sustainability officer, Nadia Harduar will provide expertise and leadership in co-ordinating sustainability activities already underway across the campus and expand these efforts to bring the University into alignment with accepted best practices.

“Sustainability is core to the University of Windsor and a priority in the strategic planning process that is currently underway,” says acting provost Patti Weir. “This position was created to help advance our initiatives on the environmental, social, and economic fronts.”

Since joining the UWindsor staff, Harduar has been working closely with operations and academic leadership teams, external partners, and community members to enhance and expand campus sustainability.

She and School of the Environment professor Joel Gagnon, special advisor on sustainability to the provost, have been meeting with stakeholders to baseline current practices and develop a plan to embed a culture of sustainability across the University.

Other projects underway include:

• finalizing Windsor’s Fair Trade Campus designation;
• assessing compliance with the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education’s Sustainability Tracking, Assessment, and Rating System (STARS);
• co-ordinating efforts to support development of a campus carbon neutral master plan;
• pursuing funding opportunities; and
• becoming active with the newly announced United Nations Regional Centre of Expertise for the promotion of Education for Sustainable Development, achieved through strategic partnership between UWindsor and Wayne State University.

Harduar invites those who have a sustainability project underway or would like ideas on how to incorporate sustainability into daily activities to reach out to her at Nadia.Harduar@uwindsor.ca.

New recruit Madison Hollohan, who will join Lancer women’s hockey in 2024, will be a strong offensive presence helping the team in the faceoff circle and on the scoreboard, says head coach Deanna Iwanicka.

“She has shown time after time she can be strong and consistent in these areas,” Iwanicka said of the 5'8" forward who has played seven seasons with the Sudbury Lady Wolves.

Hollohan said she chose the University of Windsor because of the professional approach it took to recruiting.

“From the current players, the scouts, the coaches, and the welcoming reception by the staff at the University, I’m really looking forward to working on my game with the Lancers,” she said.

Read the full story at goLancers.ca.

Workshops for current and prospective UWindsor graduate and teaching assistants promise to be educational and informative for both new and experienced attendees.

The Winter GATAcademy will run 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Jan. 3 and 4.

Presented by the GATA Network, the event covers a number of professional development topics, from grading and giving feedback, to leading effective discussion and promoting mental wellness.

Registration is free but participants must register for each session separately. Find details here.

Summary: The Winter GATAcademy offers professional development for graduate and teaching assistants Jan. 3 and 4.

Pat Roberts, office co-ordinator in Continuing Education, will wrap up a 40-year career at the University of Windsor this month.

She held support positions in the Faculty of Education, Department of Kinesiology, Facility Services, and Centre for English Language Development before joining Continuing Education, and volunteered for campus committees for United Way, health and safety, and job evaluation.

“It has been wonderful to work alongside Pat for the last seven years of her career at the University of Windsor,” says Jennie Atkins, executive director of Continuing Education. “Her commitment to the University over 40 years is impressive and the impact she has had on students, colleagues, and staff across a broad range of departments and faculties is truly remarkable.”

In lieu of a retirement party, Roberts’ co-workers are asking members of the campus community to share well wishes and memories with her. To contribute, complete the online form here by Dec. 16.