Today's Top Ten
September 20, 2019
Canadian postsecondary institutions support Global Climate Strikes
The University of British Columbia, Concordia University, and Montréal’s Dawson College are among the postsecondary institutions supporting students’ decisions to walk out of classes as part of the Global Climate Strike Initiative. Beginning this Friday, walkouts will begin across the country to coincide with the UN’s Climate Action summit in New York next week. Institutional support for the strike varies, with institutions like Dawson and Concordia actively encouraging student participation by cancelling classes on strike days. "Climate change is one of the most significant challenges of our time, and an important priority for the entire Concordia community," said Concordia Interim President Graham Carr. CBC | CTV (National)
ON colleges partner with McDonald’s to offer educational opportunities for employees
Ontario colleges have announced a partnership with McDonald’s Restaurants of Canada to offer McDonald’s employees opportunities to complete Business programs at an accelerated rate. The colleges will “grant Prior Learning Assessment Recognition (PLAR) for first-year business credit” to “McDonald's Second Assistant Managers who have completed the Management Development Program Level 2 (MPD) through McDonald's,” explains a St Lawrence College release. The partnership enables those who have successfully completed McDonald’s programs to complete a two-year Business Diploma in a single year, or a three-year Advanced Business Diploma in two years. SLC (ON)
YorkU receives over $2M for dementia care
York University has announced a partnership with the Alzheimer Society of York Region that will be supported by a $2.26M donation from retired YorkU professor Allan Carswell. Combined with an additional $1M in matching funds from YorkU, the partnership will enable YorkU to establish the Helen Carswell Research Chair in Dementia Care. The donation will also help fund graduate research fellowships in dementia care. “By collaborating with partners in the community, we are able to combine our strengths and expertise, greatly increasing the impact of our work,” said YorkU President Rhonda Lenton. YorkU | CBC (ON)
UManitoba accepts recommendations of independent report outlining sexual violence solutions
The University of Manitoba has announced it will accept the 43 recommendations made by an independent report regarding how to better address and prevent sexual violence, discrimination, and harassment at the institution. “Banning intimate relationships between students and staff, removing time limits for victims to report sexual violence, and installing a sexual violence resource centre,” are among the solutions recommended in the UManitoba report, states the Winnipeg Free Press. "This is the hallmark of hopefully what is the start of a positive, new beginning when addressing sexual violence, discrimination and harassment on campus," said UManitoba student’s union VP Sarah Bonner-Proulx. CBC | Winnipeg Free Press (Subscription Required) (MB)
StFX welcomes Brian Mulroney to officially open $52M institute in his name
St Francis Xavier University welcomed former prime minister Brian Mulroney as part of a ceremony that marked the official opening of the $52M public policy institute bearing his name. The Brian Mulroney Institute of Government is housed in a four-story, 93,000 square foot glass-walled building called Mulroney Hall. Mulroney donated $1M to the original fundraising campaign. “We are extremely grateful to Prime Minister Mulroney and his family for making this vision a reality,” says StFX Interim President Kevin Wamsley. “The Brian Mulroney Institute of Government and Mulroney Hall provide new opportunities for the StFX community, a platform from which we can deliver our academic mission in new and exciting ways.” Times Colonist | StFX (NS)
ON law students, paralegals still allowed to act for individuals in criminal court
The Law Society of Ontario has agreed to allow law students and paralegals to continue representing people for criminal offences that currently carry maximum penalties of six months in jail despite increases to maximum penalties taking effect on September 19th. The Federal Government’s Bill C-75 would see the maximum penalties for criminal cases heard in provincial court increased to two years less one day, effectively barring law students and paralegals from working in criminal court. The decision to allow law students and paralegals to continue working on such cases addresses “a potential access to justice problem” by allowing law students and paralegals to continue representing “individuals who can’t afford lawyers, but who also don’t qualify for legal aid,” reports The Star. The Star (ON)
Focus on education and training, not “mass technological unemployment”: Simpson
There is no evidence to suggest that Canadians should be worried about middle-skill jobs disappearing due to automation or technological changes, argues Wayne Simpson. The author’s research suggests that, “although there has been a steady decline in low-skill manual and service occupations,” middle-skill jobs have remained steady, and “high-skill professional, technical and managerial occupations” have increased. “Rather than obsessing about mass technological unemployment, of which there’s scant evidence so far, we’d better make sure that our education and training programs [...] are up to the task of preparing Canadians for the more sophisticated job requirements of the 21st century,” concludes Simpson. The Conversation (National)
On the benefits of speaking with a higher ed recruiter: Kim
“At a certain point in your career, you will likely to be contacted by a recruiter about a job opportunity, at an institution not your own,” writes Joshua Kim, before offering three reasons why one should return the recruiter’s call. Even if you are not currently looking for a job, the author notes, the conversation can be used to develop a relationship with the recruiter. Second, because recruiters often know “a great deal about the higher education ecosystem,” they are often “some of the best people to know as you are thinking about your own academic path.” Finally, the author encourages readers to remember that they are not acting “disloyally” to their institution by speaking to a recruiter. Inside Higher Ed (International)
Student housing rental company data leak prompts investigation
University of Waterloo students say that the information leaked in a recent hack of the maintenance records for a popular student rental company shows that students are being taken advantage of, reports CBC. The data appears to show tenants requesting help in dealing with “mold, vermin, carbon monoxide and fire alarm issues, and faulty heating systems,” writes CBC. UWaterloo students suggest that the student housing problem goes beyond the allegedly neglectful actions of one company. “A lot of international students that are coming into the region for the first time and don't have a really good handle on renting procedures or ways that they can be scammed or misled," said UWaterloo student Colin Chu. Waterloo Region Record | CBC (ON)
George Brown receives gift from local donor to develop finance programs, training
George Brown College has received a gift from Gerald Connor of Cumberland Partners Ltd to support the finance programming at the college’s Centre of Business. The gift, which was backed by Cumberland, will support research into the development of new finance/investment programs, the implementation of programs arising out of the research, and any requisite training for Business Centre faculty. “This gift is meant to provide both the means and impetus for students to receive the training necessary for them to excel in tomorrow’s financial sector and gain streamlined access to the investment industry,” said Connor. “Their development and success is paramount, for when they succeed, the financial industry and, by extension, Toronto, benefit.” George Brown (ON)
