Top Ten

Schulich, Haskayne, Ivey and Sauder in Top 25 "Beyond Grey Pinstripes"

The Beyond Grey Pinstripes biennial ranking is "an alternative ranking of business schools that spotlights innovative full-time MBA programs in the integration of issues concerning social and environmental stewardship into the curriculum." This year's global rankings of MBA programs included York University in 3rd place, uCalgary in 16th, the University of Western Ontario in 21st, and the University of British Columbia in 23rd. Dalhousie and McGill Universities were also included in the top 50.

Acadia University Faculty Association on strike

Professors, instructors and librarians at Acadia University in Nova Scotia went on strike yesterday after negotiations broke down on Sunday night.  Classes are canceled but the gym, cafeteria and library remain open.  No further talks are currently scheduled.

Queen's homecoming mellows a bit in 2007

Media and community eyes were watching Queen's University during its homecoming celebrations this past weekend, and have provided mixed reviews of the somewhat infamous event.  Both the CBC and The Globe & Mail applaud Homecoming 2007 as a success, with only 54 arrests.  Most of the charges were liquor/intoxication related.  Last year there were 58 arrests.  In 2005, a car was overturned and set on fire, and dozens were arrested.  Aberdeen Street's annual homecoming party was smaller in size than in previous years, and only 20 (out of 6,500) ended up in local hospital, reporting nothing more serious than intoxication or minor injuries.

Memorial's website riffs on Rick's rants

The on-campus entries in this year's "Rant Like Rick" competition are now online for your vote at the Memorial University of Newfoundland -- but this year, MUN also decided to film 48 rants by 5 students to liven up their "Become" microsite for prospective students. Stephen rants about finances, Nicole about course options, Josh about city life, Anna about the campus, and Katie about the student experience. The segments are professionally filmed, give a good sense of campus, and a sense of MUN's quirky irreverence.

uManitoba avoids faculty strike with overnight reconciliation

Faculty at the University of Manitoba were expected to join staff on the picket line this week, but will instead be in class due to a tentative agreement reached late Sunday night.  The Faculty Association voted almost 76% in favour of strike action just a week ago.  Staff remain on strike, but it is hoped the settlement with faculty will help in negotiations.

CMSF and Manitoba launch program to broaden PSE participation

Inspired by recent research indicating that 46% of Manitoban youth do not pursue PSE, the Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation and the Manitoba government have launched the "Future to Discover" program.  The project will involve more than 1,000 high school students in the province and tackle career indecision, lack of interest in higher education, and financial barriers.  30% of the project's participants come from a background with no family history of PSE. 

Evangelical universities multiplying in Canada

Since 1972, the number of faith-based universities in Canada has quadrupled from 3 to 12 schools spread across the country.  Many started as Bible colleges, then transitioned to be more relevant in the larger secular market.  The growth of Evangelical Universities is attributed to increasing secularism in Canada: "Christian students feel marginalized if they want to bring up a Christian point of view."  Canada's public universities tend to have a "prevailing politically correct viewpoint" that can alienate students with different views.

SSHRC awards $13 million to Canadian researchers

The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council has awarded a total of $13 million across 13 projects through the Community-University Research Alliances program.  Recipients include researchers and projects at Université Laval, uOttawa, McMaster, Collège universitaire de Saint-Boniface, Concordia University, uManitoba, UBC, Ryerson, Memorial and Université du Québec à Rimouski.

UofT Varsity Blues break record for longest losing streak

We don't typically cover athletics stories, but this one seems special. The University of Toronto Varsity Blues football team has claimed the honour of Canada's longest losing streak, after losing their 48th straight Canadian Interuniversity Sport game, to the University of Western Ontario 44-1 this past weekend in London, Ontario.  The Varsity Blues haven't won a game since 2001, although in their 120-year history they have won Grey Cups, Vanier Cups and Yates Cup titles.  The York Lions previously held the futility streak record, from 1988-1995.