UW Senate President ’ s Report April 18, 2011

1. UW Senate President’s Report April 18, 2011

2. Former student donates $1M to VeloCity • Town Hall Meeting • Revisiting the Sixth Decade Plan • Lieutenant Governor David Onley visits campus • Launch of Canadian Index of Wellbeing @uWaterloo • AUCC Meeting in Victoria • Mental Health: Students • Academic Freedom • 100th Year of AUCC: The New Narrative • Alumni Meetings in Calgary

3. Senior Position Vacancies • Vice President Academic and Provost (Search) • Vice President External(Search) • Vice President Research (Review) • University Secretary(Search) • Dean of Engineering (Search) • Dean of Science (?) • Associate Provost, Students (Search)

4. Ontario Budget 2011 – March 29 • $50M over 10 years for the Perimeter Institute • $28M for undergraduate growth in 2011-2012 • $94M for undergraduate and graduate growth in 2012-2013 • $163M for undergraduate and graduate growth in 2013-2014

5. Ontario Budget 2011 – March 29 • $60,000 additional student spaces; 41,000 allocated to universities: • 10,600 in 2011-2012 • 18,400 in 2012-2013 • 26,365 in 2013-2014 • Commitment to increase international enrolment by 50 per cent • $58M in OSAP to address enrolment increases and $10M for OGS • Ontario Public Service to reduce size by 1,500 spaces • Reduction in “executive office” costs by 10 per cent over two years

6. 2011 Federal Election – May 2 • Liberal Party of Canada – Canada Learning Passport • First plank in Liberal Party’s “learning strategy” • $1 billion a year student aid program • Government would contribute $1,000-$1,500 to an RESP annually for four years • Quebec CEGEP students would get same amount over five years • Used as up-front payment at beginning of school year • Would replace education and textbook tax credits • Source: The Waterloo Region Record, March 29, 2011 • Conservative Party of Canada – Loans for foreign credential recognition • Financial assistance to pay for training and skills upgrading necessary for recognition of foreign credentials

7. 2011 Federal Election – May 2 • New Democratic Party • Dedicated $800M transfer to provinces and territories to reduce tuition • Increase funding in Canada Student Grants program by $200M • Raise education tax credit from $4,800 to $5,760 annually • Source: New Democratic Party platform, 2011 • Green Party of Canada • Increase post-secondary education bursaries by $400M a year • $200M energy retrofit program for universities, hospitals, schools • Source: Green Party of Canada platform, 2011

8. QS World University Rankings by Subject – Engineering and Technology • Computer Science and Information Systems • Waterloo is 36th, the fourth-highest Canadian university in the top 50 • University of Toronto (10), McGill (23), UBC (26), McMaster (51-100) • Civil and Structural Engineering • Waterloo is 41st • University of Toronto (20), McGill (33), UBC (37) • Electrical Engineering • Waterloo is 46th • University of Toronto (13), UBC (30), McGill (31)

9. QS World University Rankings by Subject – Engineering and Technology • Chemical Engineering • Waterloo in 51-100 category • University of Toronto (14), McGill (15), UBC (46) • McMaster, Queen’s, University of Alberta also in top 100 • Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing • Waterloo in 51-100 category • University of Toronto (31), McGill (34) • University of Alberta, UBC also in top 100