view . fall 2011
15
The fifth Boiling Point Wheelchair Track Classic was
the biggest and best yet,
says organizer Jeff May BA ’01.
Canada’s premiere track and field competition for athletes
with a physical disability was held on July 9 at the University
of Windsor Alumni stadium.
“It was truly a
world-class field,
exemplified by the fact
that seven American
region records were set
and three world-record
holders took part,” May
says. The records were
set in men and women’s
shot put, men and
women’s javelin, men’s
discus, and the men’s
100-metre sprint.
The meet attracted
108 competitors
from Bermuda, Finland, Germany, Japan and the United
Kingdom, as well as the U.S. and Canada.
Over the five years of the Boiling Point Wheelchair
Track Classic, it has seen 11 world records shattered and
attracted athletes from more than a dozen countries who
went on to win a total of 56 medals at the 2008 Beijing
Paralympics.
The meet is equally important for the impact it has on
newcomers to the Boiling Point experience. They receive
an opportunity to try para athletic track and field activities
such as shot put, javelin,
jumping and racing.
May speaks of
one young boy who
travelled from Petrolia
with his parents and
participated in the
session:
“I don’t think he
had tried many of these
events before. It was
pretty cool to see him
get interested in sports.”
The Boiling Point
Classic continues to
grow in significance. Next year’s meet will function as a
qualifier for the 2012 London Paralympic Games.
Also, in July, the federal government announced a
$50,000 grant to Athletics Canada in support of the event.
A Service Excellence Initiative currently in
development for the UWindsor campus
is another
opportunity to strengthen the University’s reputation
as a welcoming place that provides an exceptional
undergraduate experience, says President Alan Wildeman.
“We are all striving to have our university be one where
students can receive individualized attention that responds
to their needs and helps them have the most successful
experience possible,” he says. “The Service Excellence
Initiative has been developed by employees, and will help
all of us to strive for and to recognize efforts that best serve
all who come here to study, and all who work or interact
with our campus.”
The project arose from the human resources
department as a way to support the University’s strategic
priorities, said executive director Rita LaCivita: “The
decisions we make, the words we say and the service
we provide will help us to achieve our vision of being a
student-centred university, attracting more students here.”
Headed up by manager of learning and organizational
development Marcela Ciampa, the project will result
in a campus-wide set of standards to guide all service
interactions. A working group composed of staff from
major service areas has provided guidance and input in
drafting a discussion document.
Ciampa has begun a process to review the content,
presenting it to various groups on campus. Over the next few
weeks, she will be conducting focus groups across campus to
share the draft standards and get feedback from staff.
“In addition to the Service Standards, a Service Guide,
training program and other tools are being developed in
support of the initiative,” she said.
While the project is aimed at creating a student-centred
culture, Ciampa said it recognizes that staff also interact
with service users internal and external to campus.
“For example, some departments may consider faculty
and staff to be their primary service users,” she said. “We
want to ensure that the standards are broad enough to
create a positive outcome for everyone, including members
of the broader community, who interacts
with the University.”
Ciampa said the list of standards and the related guide,
as well as training materials, will be readied for a launch in
late October.
ON THE RIGHT TRACK
PROJECT TO ENHANCE CAMPUS CULTURE OF SERVICE TO STUDENTS
Competitors from around the globe set world records on the UWindsor track.
