March 3, 2008
Last Thursday the infrastructure launch was held for
ACEnet, the new $26-million Atlantic Computational Excellence network. A supercomputer housed at UNB Fredericton, and infrastructure housed at MUN, SMU and SFX, will allow researchers to process information at 200 times the speed of a typical desktop computer. Dalhousie, Mount Allison, UPEI, Cape Breton U, and Acadia University researchers will also have access to the network. UNB News ReleaseThe Ontario College of Art & Design has recently acquired a 70,000 sq ft building at 205 Richmond Street West, known historically as the "New Textile Building." Last week, the province announced $1.8 million to fund expansion at OCAD, including renovations to the new building and the creation of a new
information commons and work space called the "Learning Zone." OCAD News Release | Ontario News ReleaseWith 18 months to go before completion of the first phase of its new Queen's Centre, the $124-million project is already $41 million over budget. Construction costs have risen 2% per month since the project began in 2006, due to circumstances beyond the University's control.
The total cost of the massive sports and recreation centre was budgeted at $230 million, and the university is now "scaling back costs on the rest of the project" to come back in line with the overall budget. Queen's Journal
The McGill Aerospace Materials and Alloy Development Centre opened on Friday at the National Research Council Industrial Materials Institute in Boucherville. The $8 million project is a collaboration between the NRC and McGill University. The centre will develop a new generation of materials, treatments and processes to meet the extreme requirements of the aerospace industry.
Laboratory Product NewsAnti-semitic graffiti was discovered last Wednesday in a library study booth at York University, and is currently being investigated by the Toronto Police Service. York issued a Joint Statement on Community Values early in February, saying "We must always be vigilant to opposite intolerance in all of its various forms." York has also taken the unusual step of establishing a Director of Human Rights position.
York News Release |
Human Rights job postingThe University of Saskatchewan campus will be home to a new $23-million mental health facility. Construction will begin on the 64-bed facility in less than a month, and the facility will likely accept patients in 2010.
$3 million was donated by Les and Irene Dube, after whom the facility will be named. The Star PhoenixCUPE 1334, which represents workers at the University of Guelph, set up an information picket last week to explain their situation to students and faculty. The union will be in a legal strike position as of March 8, just 2 days before thousands of prospective students will swarm onto campus for Campus Preview Days and the College Royal Open House. In the event of a strike, there would be no snow removal or garbage cleanup.
570 News Sault College, based in Sault Ste Marie Ontario, had a small campus in nearby Elliot Lake for 23 years, prior to closing it in 1999 because of cuts in government funding. Now, 9 years later, Sault College is establishing a small presence in Elliot Lake again, to offer
a 12-week construction trade worker program to as many as 18 students, starting March 10. The Sault Star
Congratulations to the many winners in CASE District VIII's 2008 Communication awards. NAIT, Trinity Western U, uManitoba and Athabasca U all took Golds. TWU took Gold for financial aid brochures as well as its viewbook (which also won a Silver for writing). Athabasca earned a Gold for its viewbook. uManitoba earned its Gold (and a Silver) for writing a news release. The "It's My Future" campaign, by uManitoba, took a Silver for its website and a Bronze overall. UBC's "
you.ubc.ca" portal received a Silver. NAIT's rebrand took a Silver as well. uCalgary won 3 Silvers (and 4 Bronzes) -- one for its "
uNow" web widget. Kwantlen UC won Silver for its
YouTube Speaker's Corner. uSask took a Silver, and uLethbridge and Lethbridge College each earned a Bronze.
CASE VIII Communication Awards
The February issue of
Academic Matters, the quarterly magazine published by the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations, is now available online, featuring a new design and articles by authors across Canada. Particularly relevant to those focused on student engagement is a brief article by uCalgary Education professor Ann Sherman called "Creating the Engaged Student." She suggests that professors convey enthusiasm about their subject, give students opportunities to shape the course, and provide opportunities for service learning. Might be good reading for faculty to think about their own role in student engagement!
Academic Matters
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