January 27, 2008
The University of Prince Edward Island will host the 2009 Canada Games track and field competitions, and in preparation is building a new facility with a 400-metre synthetic track, natural grass infield, grandstand with seating for 1400, and a timing tower. The natural grass infield will be able to host soccer, rugby, and football with the "wow" factor "that a bowl design provides." "It will be a great boost to our hosting capacity and overall recruitment success." Including the new stadium and other new facilities, UPEI will have invested almost $30 million in new sports facilities since 2004.
The University of Toronto will be adding a new cutting-edge geophysical imaging lab that claims to be globally unique. The Rock Fracture Dynamics Laboratory will be the only lab in the world where rock samples can be tested under "true earth-like stress and temperature." 64 quad-core 64-bit processors work together to display images in almost real-time. The facility promises to boost partnerships and promote collaborations with top international researchers in the field.
The University of Windsor has decided to build its new engineering building on its main campus as "a clear affirmation of pride in the campus." The $110-million facility will be called the Centre for Engineering Innovation, and will combine industrial development, research and teaching. The facility is based on the interrelation of teaching, faculty research and industrial development. Keeping the building on campus will ensure that engineering students benefit from the valuable on-campus experience, and are able to interact with other disciplines.
The Council of Ontario Universities has released the results of the first-ever Canadian graduate and professional student survey. 40,000 master's and doctoral students received the survey and 42% responded. 76% of respondents would definitely or probably recommend their university to someone considering their program. 71% said they would definitely or probably select the same university again. 96% gave high intellectual quality rankings to their faculty. Student office space, career services and professional skills development received "poor" ratings from more than 10% of respondents.
The York University Black Students' Alliance invited the media to campus last Friday for an anti-racism rally, in response to the racist graffiti found on their office doors last week. A "crush" of media took them up on their offer. University president, Mamdouh Shoukri, was denied a chance to publicly reply to the demands made by the Alliance at the rally. York has dealt with several campus safety concerns this year, also while trying to boost its profile as a research institution. York has announced that a third party campus safety audit will be commissioned.
Earlier this month it was announced that Concordia and Queen's Universities had tied in the École des Mines de Paris rankings. This international educational ranking is based on the number of an institution's graduates that now hold CEO positions in one of the Global Fortune 500 companies. École des Mines de Paris has recalculated its rankings after receiving supplemental data, and Concordia University now sits proudly alone in the number 1 position among Canadian universities.
A member of the University of Alberta board of governors is being called out by E-BUTT, an anti-tobacco student group, for not supporting their campaign to ban tobacco-funded research money at uAlberta. The board member refused to accept an information pamphlet in October, explaining that "I think dirty money is money." The brief exchange was videotaped and recently posted on YouTube.
Students at the University of Saskatchewan will receive a $25 strike credit to use at campus stores and coffee shops, as a "goodwill gesture" after a strike last fall. The VP Student and Enrolment Services states, "the University is doing this not because it has to, but because it wants to." All students enrolled in a credit program in last fall's term will receive the credit. The credit will expire on April 30, 2008.
The virtual replica of Mohawk College's iWing building varies just a little from its real-world version, so that its Second Life visitors can more easily fly around inside the building. The iWing building is Mohawk's electronic library. The new SL version of the building is part of an effort to attract international students, who will be able to tour the striking building from their overseas homes. The creation and purchase of "Mohawk Island" cost about $1,200, with a monthly $200 server fee.
In no particular order, McGill, Concordia, Saint Mary's and Memorial Universities were the Canadian schools that received CASE District I Communication Awards this month. Saint Mary's University received a gold and a silver. Memorial received two bronzes. Concordia received a bronze as well as an honourable mention, and McGill received an honourable mention.
rtraction