August 22, 2008
300 McMaster University health researchers will soon be located under one roof after receiving $35 million from the Canada Foundation for Innovation for a new research facility. Expected to open next spring, the David Braley Cardiac, Vascular & Stroke Research Institute will be located at the Hamilton General Hospital. The funding is part of the CFI's $554-million investment in 8 hospital-based infrastructure projects, including the McGill University Health Centre. McMaster Daily News | CFI News Release | CBC Memorial University is also a recipient of the CFI's Research Hospital Fund, garnering $11.2 million for a new facility designated for human genetics research. The Newfoundland and Labrador Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Human Genetics will be built near MUN's Health Sciences Centre. MUN News | CBC
Last Thursday, the Canadian Association of University Teachers presented University of Sudbury professors, who have been on strike since last Monday, with a $1-million cheque from the association's Defence Fund. Support for uSudbury faculty has been pouring in from a number of universities, including Acadia, whose faculty association donated $1,500 for the cause. Acadia president Erin Patterson empathizes with the striking professors, as the Nova Scotia university has had 2 back-to-back strikes. "You are fighting for the rights of us all." Northern Life With new immigration classes introduced by the federal and Newfoundland and Labrador governments, along with laxer rules for foreign student visas, Canada is gaining ground in the global competition to attract and retain international students. The nation's initiatives are getting noticed in the US, where some observe that their neighbour up north is being more strategic. In 2006, there were approximately 83,000 full- and part-time foreign students enrolled in Canada. Inside Higher Ed
Ottawa-based Dominican University College has put its former garden up for sale to help cover the cost of its building maintenance. Area residents are urging the city to purchase the green space, and are willing to raise funds for the acquisition. An Ottawa city councillor, whose ward contains the property, said it's unlikely the city can afford the $2.2 million asking price; however, since the ward has the least amount of green space in the city, that factor may persuade council to buy the plot. CBC Several Windsor institutions are looking to fill their on-campus housing. Residences at St. Clair College and the University of Windsor are currently sitting at 80% and 85% capacity, respectively. uWindsor-affiliated Canterbury College is offering free laundry cards to attract students to its residences. A string of "For Rent" signs around uWindsor indicates a stiff competition for student tenants and their dollars. With a high vacancy rate, stagnant enrolment at uWindsor, and a large number of students living at home, the city's student housing supply exceeds demand. Windsor Star BC-based North Island College is working with Australia's Southern Cross University to develop a diploma of sport management in surfing studies. Based on SCU's own course, the NIC program, once approved, will feature classroom, in-water and internship components. Students will take courses in business, technology, and culture -- all specific to surfing. A proponent of the program says it will boost the credibility of Canadian surfing. The program may see its first 20 students in September 2009. Canadian Press
University of Prince Edward Island undergraduate students have received a record number of grants this year from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council. 26 students have garnered funding, up from 15 the previous year. A uPEI professor says many qualified students took advantage of additional funding left unused by other Canadian schools. The professor attributes the growth in students' own research to small class sizes and increased interaction with instructors. CBC Several American colleges are testing out online social networks to notify students of emergencies. The University of Maryland at College Park has set up a Facebook group where alerts are posted, while UCLA is developing a similar page on MySpace. With e-mail and text-messaging systems, communication is one-sided, thus social networks give students a chance to add reports. While some worry using social media as an alert system would fuel hoax reports, others say that through this technology, vigilant students can dispel false claims. The Chronicle of Higher Education (subscription required) A host of US colleges are joining Texas-based Abilene Christian University in doling out iPhones and iPod Touch to either all or a selected few incoming freshmen this fall. While college officials and experts tout the potential learning benefits of mobile technology in the classroom, some professors worry they would have to compete with the complimentary Apple gadgets for students' attention. New York Times
