August 21, 2008
While the McGill University Health Centre celebrated Wednesday's announcement of a $100-million grant for a research centre, the University of Montreal's teaching hospital was left out in the cold, leaving one McGill official concerned that politics may lead to further construction delays for the MUHC superhospital. The official says uMontreal will need to find funding elsewhere for its own hospital project, as it is unimaginable that one hospital will be built in advance of the other. Both projects are private-public ventures requiring government-sanctioned vetting. Montreal Gazette
On September 9, Lakeland College, based in Lloydminster Alberta, will officially open its $13-million Bill Kondro Wing. Named after the former city mayor, the wing features 6 classroom and lecture halls, 2 computer labs, a student study lounge, and a multi-media production room. The facility also includes 2 "hospital style" nursing labs and 2 science labs featuring some of the most modern lab equipment used in other Alberta institutions. Lakeland has documented its expansion through a series of photographs, available on its website. Lakeland College Feature | The Construction Zone On Wednesday, the University of Manitoba welcomed 110 new medical students, the largest-ever class in the university's history. This is the third year in a row uManitoba has accepted over 100 medical students. Since taking office in 1999, the provincial NDP government has added 40 new seats to the program. In April, Manitoba announced a $4-million initiative to recruit and retain doctors in the province. CBC | CTV Enrolment is skyrocketing at Confederation College's Rainy River District Campus in Fort Frances Ontario. 52 first-year students are currently confirmed, nearly double the typical average of 30. So far 80 students in total are expected to roam the campus' halls this fall, but the number may rise to 100. The enrolment growth is being attributed to new programming, including the Electronic Technician and Entrepreneurship programs. Confederation's paramedic course and Social Service Worker program continue to be big draws. Fort Frances Times Students unions at Emily Carr University of Art and Design, and Vancouver Community and Douglas Colleges are calling for a standardized U-Pass program, arguing TransLink's revenue-neutral policy concerning U-Pass negotiations is discriminatory. UBC and SFU students pay $23.75 and $26.10, respectively, for discounted passes, while Emily Carr and VCC were offered U-Pass packages costing between $40 and $50. A TransLink spokesperson says the revenue-neutral policy is essential to meeting transit needs in Metro Vancouver. The student unions will bring up the issue of a equitable U-Pass program at municipal elections this November. The Straight That's what Rob Fleming, the BC opposition critic for advance education, believes, citing the recently passed University Amendment Act, which gives a university's board of governors -- rather than alumni -- the final say in chancellor selection, as well as limits student representation. He is also concerned the government is blurring the lines between college and university through the university designation it awarded 5 institutions earlier this year, and such changes don't deal with basic PSE issues. The Straight According to new regulations under the Federal Lobbying Act, Canadian universities must register their lobbying activities, reporting any communications with designated public office holders once a month. Under the new rules, a university is registered under its most senior officer -- the president -- who then must register any personnel within the institution who lobby, such as faculty and staff responsible for securing grant funding. Universities continue to fall under the in-house lobbyist category. Federal Lobbying Act | Y-File Canada is leading the way in campus connectivity, according to PC World Canada. The publication calls the University of British Columbia's $30-million wired and wireless networking environment a "great recruitment tool." Among the most connected campuses are Saint Mary's University for its Data Cave, and Concordia University, which is the first school in Canada to implement the 802.11 n wireless network. The University of Toronto and Ryerson University are also noted for their innovative wireless infrastructures. PC World Canada While more American colleges are adopting "green" initiatives, teaching and learning about sustainability is on the decline, according to a new report from the US-based National Wildlife Federation. The study found 65% of colleges surveyed have or plan to develop sustainability commitments in 2008, compared to 43% in 2001. However, the number of colleges offering majors and minors in environmental and sustainability has dropped from two-thirds to half, and fewer students are taking related courses. NWF's vice-president attributes the decline to the fact that sustainability does not fare well with sharply divided disciplines. NWF News Release | The Chronicle of Higher Education (subscription required) If you think social media has rung the death knell of e-mail, you are getting way ahead of yourself. According to a chart created by ShareThis, 35% of ShareThis users use e-mail to share interesting online articles or posts. "Other" avenues came in at 19%, followed by Facebook at 10%. E-mail is used in the same way as 6 major social media sites combined. Hard Knox Life
