Top Ten
September 2, 2008
Ontario College strike averted at eleventh hour
Late Sunday, a potential strike of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU), representing about 6,500 support staff workers at all 24 Ontario colleges, was averted when a tentative agreement was reached. The current collective agreement expired August 31st, and support staff were prepared for a possible strike over the weekend. Details of the tentative agreement were not released, but last week workers were offered increases of 3% in each of the next 3 years. The London Free Press | The Whig | The Welland Tribune | Globe & Mail$200 million for social sciences and humanities research
Last Thursday, the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council announced a $202.2-million investment in scholarships, fellowships and grants for graduate students and university-based researchers. 2,405 graduate students will receive $98 million over 3 years in scholarships and fellowships. $77 million will support 904 researchers through SSHRC's Standard Research Grants program. Over the next 7 years, $28 million will be allocated to management, business and finance research. A list of recipients appears on SSHRC's website. SSHRC News Release$11 million expansion for Humber College
Humber College will be expanding its North Campus in Toronto, with the help of $7 million in provincial funding announced last week. Humber will be purchasing and renovating a building to house the new Humber Applied Skills Training Centre, which will educate approximately 1,400 new students in skilled construction trades, which are currently in high demand. The total cost for the project is estimated at $11 million, and it is expected to be complete by Fall 2009. Humber College | Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities | The Globe and Mail$155 million for maintenance at Alberta schools
Last Friday, the Alberta government announced it will spend $155 million on maintenance of the province's public post-secondary institutions. $82.5 million of the investment will be distributed over 2 years for 26 maintenance and renewal projects at 12 schools, while the remainder will be allocated to all 21 institutions this fiscal year for annual maintenance and renewal needs. Alberta News Release | CBCBoost in out-of-province, international enrolment at UBC
Enrolment of students coming from outside BC and Canada is on the rise at the University of British Columbia. This fall, UBC's Vancouver campus will welcome 50% more students from Ontario, 36% more from Alberta, and 48% more from other provinces. Enrolment of first-year international students at the Vancouver and Okanagan campuses is up 19% and 27%, respectively, from last year. The growth of out-of-province students is offsetting the decline of BC students coming through Grade 12. UBC News ReleaseTuition increased for foreign students at Concordia
On Friday, Concordia University's board of governors approved a 10% tuition increase for foreign students, despite numerous protests in recent weeks. The decision was temporarily delayed last week after the student union accused the university of bypassing procedure in a closed session. The decision will raise fees for foreign students by as much as $1,000. Full-time foreign students currently pay around $10,000 per year for tuition at Concordia, compared with $1,668 for Quebec residents. The Montreal GazetteuVic attracts more direct-from-high-school students
The University of Victoria is experiencing a growth in the number of students enrolling directly from high school, with 21% more of these students registering compared to this time last year. The boost in direct-from-high school students is being attributed to an increase in scholarship opportunities and more courses being offered at the Gordon Head campus. Overall enrolment at uVic is expected to hold steady at over 19,000. Victoria Times-ColonistUBC graduate student union recalls satirical handbook
The University of British Columbia's Graduate Student Society has decided not to distribute copies of the graduate student handbook after deeming its contents to be inappropriate. The handbook includes barbs about construction on campus, calling UBC a hot spot for "crane tourism." The handbook also denounces funding inequities between arts and science faculties, and residential developments on university lands. Graduate students will be given international-student handbooks instead. Globe and Mail | Vancouver ProvinceBC campuses will be monitored for mumps
Academica's Top Ten has reported on mumps outbreaks on campuses across the country in the past year. Students returning to school this fall have a "slightly increased risk" of contracting mumps due to vaccination trends, close quarters in residence, and the prevalance of "spit-sharing activities." BC health authorities will be vigilant for signs of an outbreak, and are prepared to respond. There was a mumps outbreak this past February in the Chilliwack region, while the coastal region has had no major outbreak within the past 10 years. Outbreaks are often driven by people who have not been vaccinated. Vancouver SunuOttawa withdraws non-academic code of conduct
The University of Ottawa has withdrawn its proposed non-academic code of conduct, which drew criticism from students, who argued it dismissed their rights. An informal committee comprising student representatives and senior administration will continue to discuss issues such as the rights and responsibilities of the university community. Student representatives are so far advocating for a new student bill of rights and an ombudsperson. Ottawa CitizenBackbone Magazine PICKs Canada's Web 2.0 pioneers
Last week, Backbone magazine unveiled their PICK 20 winners, a listing of the top 20 Web 2.0 players in Canada. The companies are leading the way in web integration and revolutionizing e-communications. The winners were organized into 4 categories: Problem solving, Innovation, Collaboration, and Knowledge sharing and management. Winners include kids' social network ClubPenguin.com, crowdsourcing community CambrianHouse.com, uWaterloo spin-off company OpenText.com, and crowdsourced media outlet NowPublic.com. Backbone MagazineCollege president loses job over racy photo
Robert A Paxton, president of the Iowa Community College, resigned this week after an eyebrow-raising picture of him appeared in The Des Moines Register. The photo appears to show him pouring a keg of beer into the mouth of a bikini-clad young woman on his boat. (He says the spigot was not functional.) Two years ago, Amy Gutmann, president of the University of Pennsylvania, came under fire for being photographed at a Hallowe'en party beside a student dressed as a suicide bomber. Presidents must always be on guard in public -- and in private as well -- as one ill-timed photo can ruin an entire career. The Chronicle of Higher Education (subscription required)
