University of Waterloo

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In the heart of the Waterloo Region, at the forefront of innovation, the University of Waterloo is home to world-changing research and inspired teaching. At the hub of a growing network of global partnerships, Waterloo will shape the future by building bridges with industry and between disciplines, institutions, and communities. From quantum computing and nanotechnology to clinical psychology, engineering, and health sciences research, ideas that will change the world are at the heart of who we are. The University is co-educational, and as of 2016 has 30,600 undergraduate and 5,300 postgraduate students. Alumni and former students of the University can be found across Canada and in over 140 countries. The University ranked 200-300th in the 2015 Academic Ranking of World Universities, 152nd in the 2015–2016 QS World University Rankings, and 179th in the 2015–2016 Times Higher Education World University Rankings.

Consistently ranked Canada's most innovative university, Waterloo is home to advanced research and teaching in science and engineering, mathematics and computer science, health, environment, arts, and social sciences. Waterloo brings ideas and brilliant minds together, inspiring innovations with real impact today and in the future from quantum computing and nanotechnology to clinical psychology and health sciences research. As home to the world's most extensive post-secondary co-operative education program, Waterloo embraces its connections to the world and encourages enterprising partnerships in learning, research, and commercialization. With campuses and education centers on four continents, and academic partnerships spanning the globe, Waterloo is shaping the future of the planet.

In 1957, innovation and entrepreneurship brought the University of Waterloo into being. A group of business leaders imagined a new university built to tackle some of the world's most daunting challenges. It was the age of the Cold War and the space race when a single computer filled a room. Discoveries in science, medicine, and engineering were coming fast and furious. Industry leaders in Kitchener-Waterloo knew moving forward meant more than just training people in the technology of the day.

The University of Waterloo renewed our vision and blueprint for excellence with our strategic plan, A Distinguished Past, a Distinctive Future. This five-year plan began in 2013 and recognizes the need for a different kind of university education — one where learning is enhanced by experience, research has the power to transform, and entrepreneurial spirit thrives. To develop our plan, more than 3,400 stakeholders, including students, faculty, staff, and alumni, shared their thoughts on where the University of Waterloo stood in global terms and the challenges and opportunities that existed for the institution. The result was a bold strategic plan, supporting a single, crystal-clear ambition. Over the next five years, the University of Waterloo will be recognized as one of the world's top innovation universities. The plan builds on the traditions of excellence established by our founders, with a clear view of where energy and resources must be focused to achieve our full potential.

The University of Waterloo is an international community dedicated to creating, testing, and proving new ideas. By encouraging an environment where individuals can learn and work according to their own needs, and where each individual's right to express and present themselves relative to their religion, culture, ethnic background, sexual orientation, gender identity, physical and mental ability is acknowledged, Waterloo is a place where knowledge can thrive.

In 2009, a committee was formed to develop a framework to meet the campus's diverse needs. From that committee, The Principles of Incivility were created to acknowledge, communicate, and promote an understanding of the complexity and uniqueness of the University of Waterloo's campus community, presenting the ideals by which campus members should engage one another – with respect, sensitivity, and fairness.

The University of Waterloo has a longstanding commitment to supporting persons with disabilities as they participate in or access university programs, services, and facilities. To continue with this commitment and to honor — and whenever possible to exceed — obligations set by the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), the University will make all reasonable efforts to provide goods or services in a way that respects the dignity and independence of persons with disabilities.

Through Human Resources, customer service training is provided to staff, faculty, and student leaders who interact with the public. The University also works to make the public aware of policies regarding the use of assistive devices, service animals, access to support persons, a notice of temporary disruption of services, and what to do if a person is having difficulty accessing university goods or services.

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