Marking a significant milestone, the University of Windsor announced Tuesday the naming of its latest student residence as Rodzik Hall, recognizing the Don Rodzik Foundation’s significant contributions to the University and the Windsor-Essex community.

“Rodzik Hall symbolizes our commitment to supporting the educational journey and well-being of students here at the University of Windsor,” said Don Rodzik. “We are honoured to contribute to a project that will have a lasting impact on the University and the broader community.”

Rodzik Hall, located on Sunset Avenue south of Wyandotte Street West, marks a major development in campus housing. This six-story residence will become the University’s fourth residence hall, offering 238 units with a total of 452 beds, including private, barrier-free, and double occupancy options.

Rodzik Hall will act as a multifunctional hub designed to meet various student needs. Key construction elements, such as a two-story wrap-around glass dining hall and an insulated building design, will ensure both aesthetic appeal and energy efficiency.

In addition to its modern living spaces, Rodzik Hall boasts extensive communal areas, including a shared laundry facility, six community lounges, and a house lounge, fostering a vibrant student community. The residence also features a spacious 13,770-square-foot dining hall offering a variety of restaurant options, including a Global Fresh Market, an Indigenous Kitchen, and a coffee shop.

“Rodzik Hall will be a welcoming, vibrant, and inclusive space that will benefit our students, staff, faculty, parents, and entire community,” said president Rob Gordon. “Having it named in honour of the Rodzik family is exceptionally fitting, given their unwavering commitment to the University and dedication to students, both now and for generations to come.”

This project, a collaboration with Tilbury Capital Corporation, represents a significant investment in the University's infrastructure while addressing the critical housing shortage in Windsor-Essex, offering much-needed accommodations for students.

The Rodzik family, champions of the University, have long been instrumental in its growth and success, exemplified by their generous support for the Faculty of Law’s Ron W. Ianni building in 2018.

Rodzik Hall is scheduled to open its doors in September 2025, just in time to welcome students for the fall semester.

The University of Windsor and community partners like Windsor Hackforge and Connecting Windsor-Essex have collaborated to create and offer a series of workshops to help teach career-building skills.

The “Improving Employability Summer Series” is designed for international students in the Master of Engineering (MEng) and Master of Applied Computing (MAC) programs as they look to gain additional skills that will be useful as they transition into their careers in Canada.

“The events have been curated with the goal of helping students improve their chances of employment in Canada,” says Victoria Abboud, series creator, organizer, and UWindsor professor.

This series, Dr. Abboud says, brings together insights from industry and community organizations, including research from Europe and Australia, that will support students as they embark on careers in Canada.

“The series complements the courses in both MEng and MAC by engaging students in co-curricular activities,” she says.

“Offering these sessions engages the participants with the public and experts to learn about Canadian, and Windsor-Essex, work environments. Their education can help secure employment, and the co-curricular skills like leadership, innovation, inclusive practices, etc. help them build careers."

The series opened May 27 and will continue with:

• Wednesday, May 29 – Becoming an innovative employee in the workplace
• Thursday, June 6 – From campus to career: Alumni insights on STEM education and employment
• Monday, June 17 – Introduction to agile project development
• Friday, July 12 – Career planning in Canada for the IT and engineering sectors

Thomas Carey of Workplace Innovation for Canada will lead the May 29 workshop. He says his session will help students understand what employers may expect from them and how they can begin to prepare themselves with the required capabilities.

“In job ads from Canadian employers in tech sectors, the expectation for ‘innovative’ employees frequently appears,” says Dr. Carey.

“For newcomers to Canada, it may not be clear what they will be expected to know and do as employee innovators: innovation can mean different things in different cultural settings, and there is a greater public emphasis in Canada on entrepreneurial innovation than on employee innovation.”

Although the free workshops and events are intended for international graduate students, they are open to current students and the public. Registration is required. Some registration links are still in development so visit the Windsor Hackforge event website for details. Contact Abboud with any questions at vabboud@uwindsor.ca.

The Schulich-UWindsor Opportunities for Research Excellence Program is marking its 10th anniversary with grants to 15 medical school students.

The students are pursuing 10 research projects, each under the supervision of a UWindsor professor. Each project is awarded $5,000, funded jointly by the University of Windsor and Western University.

“SWORP has provided a valuable opportunity to explore research within my community,” said Mihir Modi, a second-year student at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry’s Windsor campus. “Under the guidance of my research supervisor, I acquired essential skills for conducting clinical research, while also establishing connections and honing my expertise through conferences and presentations.

“Clinical research is a long and lengthy process, but the program has provided me the support to make significant progress with my current project. My positive experience with this program has inspired me to continue to integrate research into my professional journey, and in turn, hopefully make meaningful contributions to the evolving landscape of medicine.”

Seven medical students were the inaugural recipients of grants at the 2014 launch of the SWORP, which provides funding for first and second-year students to undertake projects in any area of biomedical, medical, or health-related research. In its 10 years, the program has awarded 70 grants totaling $350,000.

WE-Spark Health Institute serves as the collaborative research hub for the SWORP, co-ordinating the adjudication process and supporting the medical student research projects.

Kinesiology professor Paula van Wyk, a SWORP supervisor, said the program is important to students, researchers, and the wider society.

“SWORP is an important avenue for providing opportunities to enrich the understanding of knowledge and the development of skills through research for medical students,” Dr. van Wyk said. “Being involved with this unique program enables my capacity to help facilitate the research journey of a student. When the appreciation for and the proficiency with the research process are fostered during the academic years, it enables the pathways for medical students to incorporate research activities into their future careers, and ultimately, positively impact the lives of Canadians.”

This year’s SWORP recipients are:

• Francesco Vito, Rufina Ning, and Allyson Ripley, “Retrospective analysis of the impact of prognostic and mortality scores in post-induction mortality in acute Leukemia Patients treated at Windsor Regional Hospital,” with supervisor Sahar Khan, clinical professor of biomedical sciences.
• Kim Nguyen and Temitope Esther Olayemi Akintola, “Exploring Emergency Department Utilization Trends Amongst Housed and Underhoused Individuals in Windsor, Ontario”, with supervisor Jennifer Bondy, clinical professor of biomedical sciences.
• Pedrom Farid and Marco Herrera Quaijano, “A Review of Quality Care Metrics for Patients with Sickle Cell Disease Presenting to Hospital: A Multi-Centre 10-Year Experience,” with supervisor Andrea Cervi, clinical professor of biomedical sciences.
• Arani Sivakumar, “Clinical Perspectives of Prescribing and Deprescribing Benzodiazepine Receptor Agonists in Older Adults across Southwestern Ontario,” with supervisor Paula M. van Wyk, assistant professor of human kinetics.
• Chrystal Huynh and Emily Doucet, “Retrospective Chart Review of Sickle Cell Crises Management in Pediatric Patients at WRH, ESHC, and CKHA,” with supervisor Mohammad Jarrar, clinical professor of biomedical sciences.
• Alexander Mung, “Identification of Patient Characteristics Affecting Outcomes in Mono-Immunotherapy Versus Combination Chemotherapy-Immunotherapy Treatment in Stage IV NSCLC Patients: A Prospective Cohort Study,” with supervisor Swati Kulkarni, clinical professor of biomedical sciences.
• Janelle Bykowski, “Evaluating the Prevalence of Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S) Among Varsity Athletes at the University of Windsor,” with supervisor Chad Sutherland, learning specialist in human kinetics.
• Biren Dave, “Identifying therapeutically targetable tumour-immune cell interactions in small cell lung cancer,” with supervisor Luis Rueda, professor, Computer Science.
• Jiil Chung, “Investigating the effects pre-, during and post- the COVID-19 lockdown on cancer patient self-reported symptoms intensity in a Southwestern Ontario Cancer Centre,” with supervisor Laurie Freeman, associate professor of nursing.
• Allison Souter, “The Effect of Aberrant Clock Gene Expression of Human Colorectal Cancer Disease Morphology,” with supervisor Phillip Karpowicz, associate professor of biomedical sciences.

Research saved her life, says Mckenna Lumley, a 14-year brain tumour survivor who just completed her first year of studies in the School of Dramatic Art.

“I recognize the diagnostic technology, surgical techniques, innovations, medications, and expertise that went into me having the wonderful outcomes and life I have now,” she says. “I’m proud of the research taking place at the University of Windsor and am excited to play a small role in supporting local researchers.”

Lumley and her mother Karen Metcalfe, assistant director of the WE-Spark Health Institute, are among the organizers of Connecting for a Cause, a fundraiser in support of the Windsor Cancer Centre Foundation.

The event, 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, May 31, in the Essex Centre of Research atrium, will offer a chance to meet brain tumour researchers and tour their laboratories, connecting with local superheroes.

“I personally know people who have not survived or struggle after treatment,” Lumley says. “I truly believe it is up to those of us who are fortunate enough to have positive outcomes to support and give hope to those who haven’t had the same experience.”

Biochemistry professor Nick Vukotic lost his mother to a brain tumour well before he had his own lab.

“Now as a researcher my group focuses on developing new drug release materials to improve medical treatments,” he says. “Seed funding significantly increases the number of new approaches we can try and gives us the opportunity to test new ones.”

Teams and individuals who participate in the fundraising campaign will sponsor a research grant through WE-Spark.

Learn more and sign up to join the cause on the campaign website.

The transition from the Electronic Graduate Application System (eGAS) to UWinsite Student for the graduate admissions process is now complete. This marks a significant milestone in the University’s ongoing commitment to enhancing the student experience and leveraging modern technology to improve processes, says Patti Weir, dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies.

“The successful transition to UWinsite Student represents a significant step forward in our ability to manage graduate admissions. We are grateful to the project team for delivering a tool that enhances the efficiency of the admission process,” Dr. Weir says. “Our faculty and staff can now access graduate applicant information directly within UWinsite Student.”

To support this transition, how-to guides and videos are available on the Office of the Registrar’s website, on the Graduate Admissions Resources page.

“We appreciate everyone’s patience and cooperation during the transition. We’ve developed resources to help those who support the graduate admissions process,” says University Registrar Ray Darling. “Future students can also learn about the application process in the Ask.UWindsor knowledge-base articles.”

Marcin Pulcer, associate vice-president, Information Technology Services, says his team is excited about the capabilities UWinsite Student offers to the graduate admissions process: “Modernizing the system has been a major goal of the department for several years.”

As always, in the event of any issue with the graduate admission process in UWinsite Student, users can open a ticket. The team from the Faculty of Graduate Studies, Office of the Registrar, and IT Services will review tickets and address issues as they arise.

UWindsor sustainability officer Nadia Harduar will provide an overview of the University’s efforts since sustainability was identified as a key priority in its strategic plan during a conference of officials in charge of campus infrastructure today.

“I will discuss significant improvements we’ve made to waste, transit, energy; outline our Carbon Neutral Masterplan roadmap; and share what we’ve learned from feasibility studies into renewable energy” in a talk scheduled for the opening morning of the conference, Harduar says.

Windsor is hosting the Ontario Association of Physical Plant Administrators this week, gathering professionals in higher education facilities management for informative sessions and networking opportunities. With a theme of “Sustainability is the Future: Strengthening Ontario’s Economy,” attendees will consider how to embed principles addressing financial responsibility, climate change, and diversity into organizational and operational strategies.

“Sustainability is driving a complete reframe of how we define successful facilities,” says conference committee chair Danny Castellan, manager of projects and construction in Facility Services. “Our conference will help our colleagues across the province find new approaches to meeting the needs of students and faculty while protecting our natural environment.”

Learn more on the conference website.

Education professor Cam Cobb will discuss his biography of Windsor-born rock star Skip Spence in an online presentation Thursday, May 30.

While Spence spent much of his life battling addiction and mental illness, during his lucid moments he performed in several bands and is best known for his work with Jefferson Airplane and as the co-founder of the cult rock group Moby Grape.

Cobb tells the story in Weighted Down: The Complicated Life of Skip Spence.

His virtual talk, an entry in the Faculty of Education’s “Sharing Ideas” series, is open to the campus community and will begin at noon Thursday. Log in here to attend.

The book will enjoy a launch June 19 at Canada’s biggest record shop, Sonic Boom Music. The event will feature a discussion with, and performance by, Spence’s bandmate Don Stevenson.

Sports betting has proven disastrous for gambling addicts, says kinesiology professor Craig Greenham, and he sees little reason to think the industry will address its harms beyond ensuring it doesn’t infect the legitimacy of competition.

“Kids as young as eight-years-old are hooked and it’s only going to get worse,” Dr. Greenham writes in an analysis in the Conversation, which publishes news and views from the academic and research community.

“Anti-gambling advocates are pleading for the sports industry to re-think its approach to betting, but the practice has only become more pervasive and accessible,” says Greenham.

“In the end, sports leagues will protect the integrity of the game: there’s money in preserving the trust and loyalty of their audiences. But will these same leagues demonstrate the integrity necessary to reverse course and protect vulnerable members of society from developing a gambling addiction? There’s no money in that, so don’t bet on it.”

Read the entire article, “Professional sport commissioners are fighting to preserve league integrity amid gambling scandals.”

The newest piece of equipment in the University Print Shop is winning praise for its versatility.

The Xante X-33 printer supports printing on such varied materials as coroplast, wood, metal, acrylic, tile, foamboard, magnets, and more.

“With the Xante X-33, we can create in-house personalized signage, promotional items, and even ADA Braille materials,” says operator Scott Thorpe.

Equipped with UV-cured ink technology, the Xante X-33 ensures vibrant, long-lasting prints suitable for both indoor and outdoor use. With its ability to print white frosting effects or on 3D products up to six inches tall, the possibilities are endless. 

Alongside this addition, the Print Shop continues to offer its comprehensive range of services, including brochures, flyers, banners, and more. All services are competitively priced, with the added attraction of no taxes charged to internal accounts.

“Visit us today to explore our expanded capabilities and bring your vision to life,” Thorpe says.

For inquiries or to request a quote, contact the UWindsor Print Shop at printshop@uwindsor.ca or visit its website.

The Johnny Loaring Classic track and field meet will bring elite athletes to Alumni Stadium on Sunday, June 2.

A stop on the Athletics Canada national tour, the competition enables participants to prepare for the Paris Olympic Games and earn world ranking points.

New this year, the event is a qualifier for Ontario’s Fastest Kids. Winners will advance to compete in Toronto in July. Learn more.

The meet continues to grow each year, says chair Brett Lumley, who also serves as associate head coach of Lancer track and field.

“The sport of track and field is deeply rooted in our city’s commitment to athletic excellence with a strong history of great athletes, coaches and sport builders making Windsor the place to come to compete,” Lumley says. “We want to pack the stands and cheer on Canada’s athletes as they prepare for the 2024 Olympics.”

Find more information, including event schedules and ticket details, on the meet website.