Today's Top Ten
January 27, 2020
Tyndale becomes Tyndale University
Tyndale University College & Seminary has announced that it is officially changing its name to Tyndale University. “The Ministry of Colleges & Universities (MCU) decision is an affirmation of the quality of programs that we offer and our capacity to continue to develop new programs that meet or exceed the Ministry’s standards," said Tyndale President Gary Nelson. According to a statement by the university, the name change will help clarify understanding of the kind of postsecondary institution Tyndale is, as well as the quality of education offered. Tyndale (ON)
LaSalle to offer work-integrated learning option for hotel management students
LaSalle College has announced that students in their Hotel Management Techniques program will soon be able to engage in a Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) - Remunerated stream. Beginning in September, students who choose the new option will have 50% of their learning time allocated to paid professional immersion. "Thanks to this option," writes a LaSalle statement, students "will have the chance to benefit from practical training starting from the first year of their DEC training and they will be able to gain the skills taught more rapidly, all while earning a competitive salary.” LaSalle (QC)
URegina, SIIT, SaskPoly sign protocol to collaborate on responses to violence, conflict
The University of Regina, the Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies, and Saskatchewan Polytechnic have signed the Regina Human Service Partnership Community Violence Threat Risk Assessment & Support protocol. The protocol enables community organizations to collaborate on planning, identifying risks, and sharing information and resources regarding traumatic violence and conflict. “By bringing together police, educational leaders, social workers, mental health experts, and others, worrisome behaviors in schools, workplaces, or organizations can be identified and resolved,” said North American Center for Threat Assessment and Trauma Response Executive Director J Kevin Cameron. URegina (SK)
AB's performance-based funding metrics met with mixed reviews
In the wake of the Government of Alberta's announcement of its performance-based funding metrics, higher ed professionals around the province are expressing mixed reactions. While some, such as Grand Prairie Regional College President Robert Murray, "welcome the opportunity to work with the government" on the new funding system, others have expressed concerns about its efficacy and long-term outcomes. Max Fawcett, for example, argues that the move to performance-based funding will not help AB students, pointing to the "thousands of unemployed geologists and petroleum engineers" that were encouraged to pursue studies in specialized fields based on labour market predictions. University of Regina Professor Marc Spooner echoes this concern, adding that performance-based funding leads to a narrowing of scholarship. Maclean's | Calgary Herald | My Grand Prarie Now (AB)
Durham delivers college courses through W2B education program
Durham College has announced that it is the first college in Canada to deliver courses through the Walls to Bridges (W2B) education program. The program sees an equal number of incarcerated and non-incarcerated students learning together as peers. Participating students are enrolled in one of two of Durham’s post-graduate certificate programs. “The Walls to Bridges classroom offers a unique transformational learning experience that encourages diverse learners to build bridges with one another, recognizing that there are many ways of ‘knowing,’ including from each other and our experiences,” said Durham Professor Dale Burt. “Together we are able to break down barriers as we examine – and unlearn – assumptions and ‘othering.’” Durham (ON)
Soros announces creation of $1B global higher ed network
George Soros has announced the creation of a $1B global network that aims to transform higher ed. The Open Society University Network, a grant-making group founded by Soros, plans to integrate teaching and research worldwide through initiatives like network courses and joint degree programs. The network will focus on neglected populations, including refugees, incarcerated people, Roma and other displaced groups. A release by OSUN explains the network "will integrate learning and knowledge creation across geographic and demographic boundaries, promote civic engagement to advance open societies and expand access of underserved communities to higher education.” Inside Higher Ed | Chronicle of Higher Education (subscription required) (International)
Western launches program to expand experiential learning opportunities
Western University has launched a program to expand the school's experiential learning course offerings. Four Experiential Learning Innovation Scholars will be awarded funding to design and shape courses that broaden the Western's repertoire of community collaborations, industry partnerships, and case-based learning. The range of new offerings could include case studies, exchanges, co-ops, a studio or performance-based course, and field experience. “Experiential learning allows learners to increase and apply disciplinary knowledge, develop transferable skills, clarify interests and values, strengthen employability and collaborate meaningfully with communities,” says Western Director of the Centre of Teaching and Learning Nanda Dimitrov. Western (ON)
MUN extends winter semester amidst closures due to snowstorm
In response to the weather-induced state of emergency, Memorial University has announced changes to the end dates for the winter 2020 semester. "Given that seven teaching days have been lost due to storms since January began, and the possibility of more snow days over the winter," explains a MUN statement, “extraordinary measures are required to preserve the academic integrity of the semester for students.” MUN has indicated that they will reduce the student study break, as well as moving back the dates of the end of the winter semester, the winter exam period, and the official release of grades. “We recognize these changes may pose issues for students and we will work to minimize those impacts for successful completion of the winter semester,” said MUN Provost and VP (Academic) Noreen Golfman. MUN | The Telegram (NL)
Fanshawe, Northern Commerce deliver course on Shopify web development
Fanshawe College is partnering with Northern Commerce to deliver a course on Shopify web development. Available for free to second-year Interactive Media Design and Production and Interactive Media Specialist students, the course will teach the fundamentals of building eCommerce websites using Shopify's all-in-one platform. “Our goal is to ensure Fanshawe is at the academic forefront of the rapid evolution of tech platforms and the skills required to use them,” says Northern Commerce VP of Technology Gilberto Murcia. “We're helping these students build not just generalized web development skills, but the career-specific software skills that employers like us are looking for.” Fanshawe (ON)
Senate member calls for vote of non-confidence in UNBC President
University of Northern British Columbia Professor Peter Jackson has presented a notice of motion to the institution's senate that calls for a non-confidence vote in UNBC President Daniel Weeks. Jackson is a senate member representing UNBC's College of Science and Management. A spokesperson for UNBC said the university will not speak to the issue before the next senate meeting, but an emailed statement explained that "notice will not go to the senate steering committee to consider for inclusion on the next formal senate meeting, which is scheduled for Feb. 26." Prince George Citizen | CKPG Today (BC)
