For recent UWindsor nursing graduate Melissa Mastroianni (BScN 2024), enticing job opportunities know no boundaries — literally.

Mastroianni could have chosen to live in Windsor and work in Detroit, but opted to stay at the oncology unit at Windsor Regional Hospital before she graduated in May.

An “externship” that offers nursing students $20.60 an hour while providing hands-on experience introduced her to the department.

“I really fell in love with the environment on the oncology floor,” says Mastroianni. “There’s nurses that have worked there for 20 years and you can see that they’re still affected by what they do and that they care so much.”

The provincial government funds the externships as well as a $25,000 signing bonus — both measures aimed at reducing nursing vacancies. The programs have significantly lowered the nursing vacancy rate at Windsor Regional, from a high of 12.5 per cent in 2021 to 2.7 per cent by April 2024.

Employers from both sides of the border have considerable incentives for nursing professionals. Detroit hospitals offer competitive pay on a strong U.S. dollar, full-time positions, and flexible schedules; Windsor hospitals also offer signing bonuses, and much longer maternity leave policies.

The externship program, which became permanent in 2021, has helped to recruit and retain numerous nursing students. Additionally, the Community Commitment Program for Nurses has attracted both new graduates and experienced nurses from the U.S. by offering substantial bonuses for committing to full-time positions in Ontario.

While the allure of working in Detroit hospitals has inherent benefits, Windsor Regional has successfully leveraged the provincial programs to bolster its nursing staff, demonstrating a viable model for addressing nurse shortages in other Canadian hospitals in similar situations.

Read the full original news article in the Globe and Mail, “How a pair of provincial efforts helped stem Windsor’s nursing exodus,” by health reporter Kelly Grant.

The University of Windsor’s Human Resources Information System (HRIS) is undergoing a transformational change. As mentioned in an email to staff, a new HRIS system, UWinsite People, will launch this fall, modernizing how the University handles employee data and human resources. The new platform will eliminate manual processes and help the campus work toward its strategic goals.

“The new HR system is a positive step in our commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) on campus,” says Clinton Beckford, vice-president, people, equity and inclusion. “It will help us enhance accountability with real-time data and assist in measuring our EDI goals. I would like to thank the incredible team of people who have worked to bring this to fruition.”

Planned to roll out in the fall, UWinsite People aims to improve human resources and payroll departmental processes, says Jody Fraser, associate vice-president, human resources.

“Our HR team is committed to bettering the way we work. UWinsite People will help us transform and re-evaluate how we work,” she says. “During the recent system integration testing, our staff tested the new platform to ensure that it will meet our ever-evolving institutional needs.”

In the first phase of the UWinsite People project, the Oracle-based HR and Payroll Services system will offer a solid foundation for administering institutional faculty and staff data. Employees will have the ability to update such information as home address and banking details, add vacation requests, report absences, view paycheque details, download T4s, and more, all in one centralized hub. Additionally, it will also streamline human resources, payroll, and finance processes, eliminating myUWinfo and my Attendance platforms.

A thorough implementation process that includes change management, communication, training, and resources will ensure the campus community is prepared for UWinsite People.

Visit the UWinsite People website for more information, to provide feedback, or to ask questions about the project.

Posters and presentations by the 2024 cohort of Elevate interns were inspiring, said Jennifer Johrendt, associate dean of engineering for student affairs.

Instituted by dean of engineering Bill Van Heyst, Elevate scholarships afford opportunities to students from equity-deserving groups: those who identify as Black, female, non-binary, or Indigenous. Beneficiaries receive a $5,000 scholarship and upon completion of their first year, a $10,000 summer internship to conduct research with a faculty member.

“Faculty are challenging these students after their first year of engineering and our students are thriving,” Dr. Johrendt said. “The engagement and energy during the event were further evidence of the community we are building within our undergraduate students, and particularly amongst our Elevate students.”

Faculty and staff attending the poster presentations, Aug. 2 in the atrium of the Centre for Engineering Innovation, voted for prize winners:

• Best Poster: Diya Boparai, Dongju Seo, Shusmita Sur, Annie Poisson – Ford Mach-E Rear Motor Teardown
• Best Presentation: Ava Richardson – Developing Insulated Pavement for a Durable and Sustainable Road Infrastructure
• Honourable Mention: Naimah Ishaque and Gwynnevere Lawrence-Tayler – Developing a Foundation for “Design for Additive Manufacturing”

To learn more about the Elevate scholarships or to make a donation that will be matched, visit the engineering website.

UWindsor researchers can share their insights on the impact of Ontario’s Digital Research Infrastructure ecosystem thanks to a new survey commissioned by Compute Ontario.

The Digital Research Infrastructure ecosystem refers to things like the high-performance computing infrastructure, data storage and management, and software that supports research activities.

Compute Ontario will use the survey to collect feedback on how the digital tools, resources, and services available through the ecosystem influence research.

The anonymous survey takes about 15 minutes to complete. It will be available until Aug. 30. Access the survey here: https://online2.snapsurveys.com/COSurvey.

Compute Ontairo has commissioned the Evidence Network to conduct the survey. For questions, contact Ashley Walker at walker@theevidencenetwork.com.

From July 8 to 12, the University of Windsor welcomed 45 top-achieving high school students for the 11th annual Science Academy. The event aimed to provide students with opportunities to explore the Faculty of Science’s diverse programs, expand their interests, and connect with faculty, staff, and peers.

Throughout the week, students participated in interactive presentations from various departments, enjoyed a campus tour, took part in an alumni question-and-answer panel, competed in the “Amazing Science Race,” and explored different clubs and programs at the University of Windsor. Over 30 student volunteers, alongside staff and faculty from all nine science departments, played a key role in organizing and supervising the activities.

Adam Bakos, a third-year biochemistry and biomedical Sciences student who attended Science Academy as a high school student, took on a leading role this year as student co-ordinator, working alongside experiential learning specialist Michelle Bondy and Dora Cavallo-Medved, associate dean of science, faculty and student engagement.

Reflecting on his own experience, Bakos says, “I attended Science Academy when I was in high school, and I really appreciated exploring all the different forms and fields of science, especially before choosing what programs to apply for in university. So, I jumped at the opportunity to get involved once I entered university, and I’m grateful and eager to help high school students who are in the same position as I once was.”

Bakos also highlighted the Amazing Science Race as the standout event: “The students were extremely passionate about completing each science-related challenge, travelling from each station by deciphering obscure clues, and working with team members, most of whom they had just met that week!”

Students who participated every day were awarded a $1,000 entrance award to any Faculty of Science program. Additionally, two students were awarded sponsorships to attend the Ontario Nature Youth Summit, thanks to a collaboration with Friends of Ojibway Prairie.