December 2, 2008
As a result of Ontario's university funding freeze due to the province's
$500-million deficit, UoGuelph needs to find an additional $10 million in operating savings over the next 2 fiscal years. The university hoped it would eliminate its $16-million deficit by 2012 on the assumption of increased provincial funding. Like the
University of Waterloo, UoGuelph has introduced a hiring freeze, and will also postpone capital projects not in progress. In October, the university offered
buyouts to non-academic staff in order to cut its budget.
UoGuelph News Release |
Guelph MercuryOn Monday, Fanshawe College began an awareness campaign for its student code of conduct, which was revised over the summer. The updates to the policy concerns off-campus conduct that affect a member of the Fanshawe community's learning and working environment, as well as health and safety. Conduct considered inappropriate that takes place on- or off-campus, at school events, on sports teams, in student groups, and when acting as a representative of Fanshawe may result in an imposed sanction. The college has also created the position of Code of Conduct Administrator.
Fanshawe News |
Student Code of ConductThe University of Calgary announced yesterday it will offer a new undergraduate degree in neuroscience starting in January, thereby joining the Universities of Alberta and Lethbridge in offering such a program. Students in the program will have the opportunity to take a neuroscience field course, participate in a teleconference course in partnership with uAlberta and uLethbridge, and work alongside leading neuroscientists in hands-on research. The program will accommodate up to 100 students, with 25 graduating every year. UToday | Calgary Sun
Postscript: Dec 4, 2008
Yesterday we repeated the Calgary Sun's claim that the University of Calgary's new undergraduate degree in neuroscience is "the first of its kind in Alberta." Eagle-eyed Top Ten subscribers pointed out that this is not the case. The Universities of Alberta and Lethbridge also offer such programs. uAlberta Centre for Neuroscience | uLethbridge Bachelor of Science (Neuroscience)
Former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney has cancelled his appearance at the University of Alberta for its
Prime Ministers Conversation Series due to unspecified scheduling conflicts. Mulroney had been the first to sign on and praised uAlberta for launching the series. Instead, a video interview with Mulroney will air at a wrap-up event on December 17th. Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who was planned to close out the series, has dropped out as well. uAlberta is looking to have Harper appear early in 2009.
Edmonton JournalUniversité de Montréal rector Luc Vinet writes in Monday's
Montreal Gazette that Canada has not fully taken advantage of the opportunities its universities present in building national prestige. Vinet points to Canada's "respectable" contribution to the world's scientific knowledge in the last year, and to the strong collaborations between national and international researchers and institutions. If Canada wants to compete in the global economy, Vinet suggests it join the European Research Area, which is designed to remove national barriers between researchers and their home institutions. Investing in "knowledge diplomacy" would ensure access to the best ideas around the world.
Montreal Gazette |
European Research AreaOverall enrolment at Nunavut Arctic College has gone down 5% in the last 5 years, while the college's Iqaluit campus has seen its enrolment decline by 1/3 in the same period. The drop in enrolment is being attributed to a slowdown in third-party demand and course funding, a strong labour market, and student housing shortage at 3 campuses. The lack of students may force the closure of the college's Human Services program in Cambridge Bay. The college hopes enrolment will rise again when a trades training centre opens in Rankin Inlet.
CBCOn Monday, the Indigenous Physicians Association of Canada and the Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada launched 4 key documents outlining initiatives to boost the number of Aboriginal medical graduates in Canada. The documents cover curriculum, admissions and support programs, mature Aboriginal student recruitment, and pre-admissions support for Aboriginal students wanting to enter medicine. Canada needs 2,000 Aboriginal doctors, while currently there are only 200.
McMaster Daily News |
IPAC publicationsA new global poll conducted by TNS Canadian Facts found that Canadians spend 29% of their leisure time online, no matter how much spare time they actually have. China topped the poll at 44%, followed by South Korea and Japan at 40% and 38%, respectively. The most popular online activities include using search engines, banking, reading news, and researching products. Checking the weather forecast is more prevalent in Canada than in any of the other surveyed countries. Nearly 2/3 of Canadians watch video clips online, beating the global average of 51%. Just 3% reported surfing the Net on a mobile device.
TNS-CF News Release |
Globe and Mail |
Read the full reportAccording to a new survey from the LA-based Josephson Institute, 30% of US high school students admitted to stealing from a store in the last year, while 64% reported cheating on a test. 38% said they have cheated 2 or more times. 36% reported using the Internet to plagiarize a school assignment. Despite these responses, 93% said they were satisfied with their personal ethics and character, while 77% stated they were better than most people when it comes to doing what is right.
Associated Press |
The Ethics of American Youth -- 2008 SummaryFacebook is the most popular website among American college students, according to Anderson Analytics' 2009 GenX2Z College Study. Rounding out the top 5 are Google, Yahoo!, MySpace, and YouTube.
Time beat out
Cosmopolitan for favourite magazine. Video-sharing and blogging have become more popular activities for students. Nike and Apple remain the top 2 brands, followed by American Eagle, Sony, and Gap.
Anderson Analytics News Release |
Tom H C Anderson |
Advertising Age
