Top Ten

CAUT demands science minister's resignation over conference intervention

The Canadian Association of University Teachers is calling for federal Science and Technology Minister Gary Goodyear's resignation after he asked the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council to reconsider its decision to fund a conference on the future of Israel and Palestine that is taking place later this month at York University. CAUT executive director James Turk says the "direct political interference" by Goodyear is "unacceptable and sets a very dangerous precedent." In a statement last month, York president Mamdouh Shoukri acknowledged complaints about the conference being part of events celebrating the university's 50th anniversary, but to exclude the conference based on its subject matter would violate academic freedom. CAUT News Release | York News Release | Globe and Mail

Flu fears impact international student enrolment in Alberta

Some post-secondary institutions in Alberta are reporting drops in foreign student enrolment in summer programs due to fears and complications surrounding the H1N1 virus. Approximately 60 students from Mexico and China have cancelled plans to attend Mount Royal College in June and July because of the flu virus, while a group of 25 Japanese high school students will not be heading to the University of Lethbridge. The global economic downturn may also be contributing to the enrolment drop. The provincial government does not expect fall programs to be affected. CanWest News Service

Man injured in on-campus brawl at uVic requires surgery

A 22-year-old mant is awaiting facial-reconstruction surgery after he was kicked in the face during a fight outside a University of Victoria residence early Sunday morning. Police found the victim unconscious and lying in a pool of blood. A 25-year-old uVic student from Quebec has been charged with assault causing bodily harm. Victoria Times-Colonist

Northern colleges push for Arctic university

Yukon College, Nunavut Arctic College, and Aurora College have agreed this week to set up the legal foundation for a university in the Arctic, and are now seeking a financial commitment from Ottawa. Yukon College's president says the university would be anchored by the existing colleges and their programs. Last month, Governor General Michaëlle Jean publicly endorsed the idea of a university in Canada's North. CBC

Lakehead breaks ground for Orillia campus

Lakehead University will break ground today for its $45-million permanent campus in Orillia. The construction project includes the first 3 facilities on the new campus at the city's western limits. By September 2010, the campus will boast an 80,000-square-foot academic building accommodating up to 1,200 students, in addition to the original campus in downtown Orillia, which houses up to 500 students. The campus will be the first in North America to be built to the LEED Platinum standard. Lakehead News Release

Mount Royal opens crime research lab

On Tuesday, Mount Royal College officially launched its Criminal Justice Research Lab, designed to analyze and safeguard sensitive research data. Faculty and students in Mount Royal's justice studies department will use the lab to conduct research on a variety of crime and justice issues, such as identity theft and in-custody deaths. The lab may be used to help local policing agencies. The facility is the only independent crime lab in Alberta. Calgary Herald | CBC

Durham College closes daycare centre

Last month, Durham College made the decision to close its daycare centre as part of its budget process. The centre has been running mounting deficits in the past 5 years, with this year's expected shortfall sitting at $280,000, excluding rent. A mother whose 2 children were accepted into the daycare nearly 2 weeks after Durham decided to close the centre says the college should have given staff notice that the closure was being considered. Earlier this year, St. Clair College shut down its daycare centre in order to cut costs. Durham Region News

Algonquin College becomes member of Polytechnics Canada

Last week, Algonquin College was granted membership in Polytechnics Canada at the organization's annual general meeting. The addition of Algonquin brings the membership total to 8. The other institutions represented by Polytechnics Canada are BCIT, SAIT, Humber, George Brown, Sheridan, Conestoga, and Seneca. Polytechnics Canada News Release

Giving to education in US drops nearly 6%

According to the latest Giving USA report, donations to American education organizations fell by 5.5% in 2008. These organizations received nearly $41 billion last year, or 13% of the $307.65-billion donated in total. The decrease in overall giving was much less than some had expected, as the economy did not start becoming really "scary" until the fourth quarter. The Giving USA Foundation predicts declines in 2009 due to continuing economic problems. Statistics Canada reported this week that the donor rate for Canadian education and research organizations dropped 6% between 2004 and 2007. Giving USA Foundation News Release | The Chronicle of Higher Education (subscription required)