The University of Windsor and Windsor-Essex County Health Unit Announce Strategic Partnership
The opportunity allows for expanded collaboration and community benefits
The University of Windsor and the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit (WECHU) have entered in a strategic partnership that will bring the strengths of both institutions to work collaboratively for the benefit of the community.
Via a memorandum of understanding, the partnership looks at exploring opportunities such as co-location, joint programming, and future collaboration in the areas of research, teaching, community service and experiential learning.
“We are thrilled to partner with such an important organization and are excited about the opportunity this brings to our campus and region” said Dr. Robert Gordon, University of Windsor president and vice-chancellor. “This partnership aligns with the University’s vision of being an engaged and meaningful community partner and opens the door to collaboration resulting in exceptional teaching, learning and research opportunities”.
This partnership will formally bring together and engage individuals from across both institutions focused on learning, research, community service and public health to examine potential synergies in the areas of joint training and learning opportunities, student health and wellness services, increased programming collaboration and more. The partnership also includes a proposed retrofit of the University’s Residence Hall West to suit the needs of WECHU operations, including expanded office and clinic space.
“We are incredibly excited about this partnership, which will only strengthen the great relationship between our two organizations. It offers increased capacity to support our clients and the community and opens the door to forge strategic collaboration across a broad range of areas including public health research” according to WECHU Chief Executive Officer Nicole Dupuis. Board of Health Chair and County of Essex Warden Gary McNamara also acknowledged the benefits of collaboration between the health unit and university administration in the effort to come together in service to the community, “The WECHU Board of Health unanimously supports the partnership between the WECHU and the University of Windsor. This collaboration will bring great opportunities for the health and wellbeing of our community.”
The co-location element of this partnership will enable the University to retrofit Residence Hall West, an older residence building built in 1967, that has not been in use in recent years due to change in student needs and its modernization needs.
Planning for all partnership aspects is now underway, with the proposed retrofit project to be reviewed by the University’s Board of Governors this fall. A targeted construction completion and co-location date is planned for early 2024.