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view . spring 2012
dear
viewer
ALAN WILDEMAN
President and Vice-Chancellor
If you haven’t returned to campus for a number of years, you may not recognize your alma
mater by the end of 2012; but I hope you will be inspired.
This is an exciting period of development at the University of Windsor with construction
about to begin on the Innovation Centre and parking structure, the opening of our Centre
for Engineering Innovation this fall, and the plans to expand to the downtown core well
underway. Also, Cody hall and the former drama building will soon be demolished to make
way for future development.
Amid the heightened activity and complex logistics, there are a multitude of details to
manage; but at UWindsor, they all fall under one category. Every detail is aligned with
our Strategic Plan. This is the lens through which we view all of our efforts to position the
University of Windsor as a place of excellence and innovation.
Our steadfast focus on the student experience is reinforced through our efforts to rebuild
the campus and invest in what is important to us, and prospective students are taking notice.
The number of applications for our upcoming fall semester has increased by more than six
per cent, compared with the province-wide increase of two per cent.
UWindsor is attracting more attention as we create new spaces where our students, faculty
and staff, can not only be engaged in learning and discovery, but also partner with industry,
the arts and social agencies, combining teaching and research in ways that can make a
difference in our community.
By giving students opportunities to connect with the community through these new spaces,
we cultivate entrepreneurial thinking and give them that sense that they can go out into the
world and contribute and make a difference. That’s what a university education is all about,
inspiring minds to be prepared for whatever lies ahead.
One source of inspiration comes from celebrating the achievements of others. This issue
of VIEW features our commitment to new student support services that are helping to ensure
that students have the tools they need for success. You will get to know an alumnus who
followed his dream to become Canada’s top ‘weather geek’, and a student who journeyed
to the Democratic Republic of the Congo to help rebuild a community. We also celebrate
the outstanding milestone of the graduation of the first class from the Windsor program of
the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry. This program truly exemplifies the power of
community and educational partnerships that are fused for the betterment of society.
By embracing connections to the world we live in, UWindsor strives to be a place that
inspires people to achieve their very best. It is our duty to create services and spaces where
people can feel connected and supported, in an environment where the pursuit of knowledge
and discovery can flourish. It is our privilege to be able to celebrate the efforts of those who
make this happen, and the achievements of those whose lives have been touched by it.
Dr. Alan Wildeman
