The Retirees' Newsletter

The Retirees's Association ( Faculty, Librarian, Administrator), University of Windsor, Windsor, Ont. Canada

Vol X , No. 3, June 2000

University of Windsor

Wins Big Through Superbuild

The University of Windsor was given a major boost when its two SuperBuild proposals were funded by the provincial government for a total of $28 million. The SuperBuild funding provides nearly half of the total amount required for the following projects.

1. The University of Windsor Multimedia Learning Centre and Dramatic Art Project, which involves three initiatives including some upgrades to existing classrooms, is a $21.96 million project, of which $10.66 million is provided by SuperBuild. This project provides several badly needed improvements to the University of Windsor.

(i) Multimedia Learning Centre

The Multimedia Learning Centre is the heart of the University's new developments. This is a $10.94-million facility that will be equipped with state-of-the-art learning technologies in new classrooms designed to promote new modes of teaching and learning and to provide the best possible learning environment for students.

The site of the Multimedia Centre has not been determined but it is expected to be built behind the Neil Education Building or behind the Odette Business Building. The University will move immediately to develop designs for the centre with a target to having it ready for students by the fall of 2002.

(ii) Dramatic Art Wing

This new $7-million facility will be built on the west side of Essex Hall and connect to the Essex Hall Theatre. It will be a new and well deserved home for the University's flagship Dramatic Arts program. It will include faculty offices, dedicated classrooms and specialized labs for the Dramatic Art and Drama-In-Education programs.

Demand for Windsor's Dramatic Art programs continues to be among the highest at the University of Windsor. The new facilities will now allow the university to meet that demand. Dramatic Art offers the only Music Theatre degree program in Canada and the only Drama in Education degree program in Ontario.

(iii) Other Classroom and Lab Renovations

Approximately $4 million will be allocated to upgrade existing educational facilities -- $2 million for the technological upgrading of small and medium-sized classrooms, and $2 million for laboratory improvements in Science and Engineering.

2. The University of Windsor and St. Clair College Integrated Engineering and Technology Learning Centre Project is a $5.92-million project shared between the University and the College, of which exactly half is being provided by SuperBuild. The University share of the funding will supply equipment and renovations to the Centre for Automotive Research and Education (CARE) in the former Lucien Beaudoin school on California Avenue, and a CAD facility in a 60-seat design centre in Essex Hall. Under a student-focused joint program which is still under development, students will be able to pursue integrated studies in a shared learning environment and take advantage of the strengths of both institutions.

"The project will be symbolized in very practical terms by a dedicated shuttle bus between the two institutions," Dr. Paul said.

External Funding

The balance of the funding for the University of Windsor projects will come from both public and private sources and will be announced in due course. The University is committed to raising an additional $11.3 million and already has some contributions, pledges and undertakings to match the government funding.

"We are very grateful for the tremendous external support we have received for these projects. We would not be able to realize either project without this support," the president said.

"I am particularly grateful to our Chancellor, Mr. Eric Jackman and the Jackman Foundation, for his tremendous support of the creative arts at the University, to the Ambassador Bridge Company, and to the Mayor of Windsor, Mr. Michael Hurst, and the Warden of Essex County, Mr. Pat O'Neil, who have been very encouraging and supportive of these initiatives.

"We are also especially grateful for the cooperation and collaboration in fund-raising which we have been developing with St. Clair College and a number of leaders in the local and regional auto sector who are working with both institutions in conjunction with St. Clair's Advanced Manufacturing initiative previously approved," Dr. Paul said.

University to Hire 56 Professors

On Tenure Track for September 2001

The University of Windsor will take money from central funding used for sessional instructors and give it to program areas to fill tenure-track faculty positions. In all, the university will hire 56 faculty in the coming year to begin teaching September 2001.

President Ross Paul said the decision to hire more full-time faculty now reflects the university's confidence that there will be more operational funding for universities in the future, but it will be tied to enrolments.

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