March 20, 2009
Last Wednesday, Jon Hauck, a third-year history student at Carleton University, died after collapsing inside the school's student-union building, an apparent victim of heart failure. The 20-year-old had a diagnosed heart "fluctuation." In a statement, Carleton president Roseann Runte expressed condolences to the young man's family. His father is a manager at Carleton's computing and communications services, and his sister works in the university registrar's office.
Ottawa CitizenThe federal government announced last Thursday $35 million in funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council for 7 science and technology projects at the University of New Brunswick. Each strategic research network will receive $5 million over 5 years. Minister of State for Science and Technology Gary Goodyear says the grants will increase research and training in areas beneficial to Canadian society, such as the economy, the environment, biotechnology, and sustainable energy.
NSERC News Release |
Saint John Telegraph-JournalLast Thursday, hundreds of Université du Québec à Montréal professors, support staff, and students held a rally and march in downtown Montreal demanding faculty wage hikes of 11% over 3 years to be more in line with salaries offered at other Quebec universities. UQAM professors have been without a contract for nearly 2 years. The university is also being asked to hire 300 more professors. In recent weeks, professors have been staging a series of
one-day strikes, and held a 5-day strike last week, which led to class cancellations last Wednesday and Thursday.
CAUT News |
Montreal Gazette |
UQAM cancels classes |
CBCIn order to avoid cutting jobs, programs, and services, Brandon University and the Universities of Manitoba and Winnipeg say they need at least a 10% increase in operating grants. The schools are not sure what to expect in Wednesday's provincial budget announcement, except for the tuition freeze to be
lifted. Manitoba's declining K-12 enrolment is on the minds of university officials. Brandon U is budgeting for a 3% enrolment drop, while uManitoba is expecting 1.5% to 2% fewer students. uWinnipeg is looking to make up scholarship losses from the economic downturn's effect on interest earned by, and gifts to, endowment funds.
Winnipeg Free PressIf the Alberta government implements university operating grant increases of 3% up to the 2012-13 fiscal year, the University of Lethbridge would have to look at cutting $10 million over 3 years. In April, various departments will be asked to review their budgets to see what can be reduced. The school may also leave unfilled positions vacant, reduce part-time and sessional budgets, or reallocate funds from equipment replacement reserves. uLethbridge's priorities for the upcoming year includes student recruitment and retention, resolving workload issues, and ensuring financial stability.
Lethbridge HeraldThe Centre for Canadian Studies at Simon Fraser University will have no budget for teaching or operating beyond the end of spring term this year, according to a statement from the centre's director. As a result, the centre will close as it cannot offer courses or otherwise operate. The closure will mean that no new majors or minors in Canadian Studies will be admitted. The centre's office will close April 1.
Globe and Mail |
SFU Centre for Canadian Studies
McMaster University is suspending admission to its BA in gerontology, as the program is under review in light of economic challenges. The director of the university's Centre for Gerontological Studies says it is difficult to understand a decision that goes against the momentum McMaster has created in the growing field. A group of students is petitioning the university to reverse its decision.
Hamilton Spectator |
Save MAC Gerontology! Facebook groupThe Trent Swim Club would like to see Trent University redo its plans for an
$18-million expansion of its athletics complex to include a larger pool. The club's vice-president says doubling the size of the 25-metre pool is necessary to attract national swim competitions and increase membership. The renovation plans go out for tender in the coming weeks, but if the plans were put on hold, the vice-president says, the university could take advantage of the federal government's $2-billion PSE infrastructure fund.
Peterborough ExaminerTo help get institutions thinking about how they might adapt their teaching styles to the new ways students absorb and process information, 2 researchers from the University of Manitoba's Learning Technologies Centre have developed an online guide called the Handbook of Emerging Technologies for Learning. The researchers outfitted the handbook with a Wiki function that allows readers to make contributions.
The Chronicle of Higher Education (subscription required) |
Handbook of Emerging Technologies for Learning
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