June 29, 2009
The University of Waterloo has raised over $515 million through "Campaign Waterloo," nearly double the original goal of $260 million. The investments have gone to new facilities, satellite campuses, research capacity, and scholarships. Significant contributions have come from RIM founder Mike Lazaridis and his wife Ophelia, who have donated $101 million to uWaterloo's Institute for Quantum Computing and Quantum-Nano Centre. The campaign will continue under the title "Pursuing Global Excellence: Seizing Opportunities for Canada" to support the university's 6 faculties and 4 colleges. The Universities of Toronto and Alberta are so far the only other universities in Canada to have exceeded half a billion dollars in fundraising campaigns. uWaterloo News Release | Waterloo Region Record
According to a new
study examining the aftermath of the Dawson College shooting in 2006, 40% of students and staff who participated in the survey struggled with mental-health problems. 2% of respondents were diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder in the 18 months following the incident, while 7% reported symptoms of PTSD or depression. Just a third of those who suffered mental-health problems after the shooting sought treatment. Some respondents reported reluctance to seek help due to stigma attached to mental illness.
Montreal Gazette |
CBC |
CTV At a trial tentatively scheduled for November 26, 3 St. Francis Xavier University men's basketball players will be tried together on assault charges stemming from an
incident in February in which one man was sent to hospital. One of the players has also been charged with threatening to use a knife while committing an assault. Another student will enter a plea on July 13, when the trial date will be confirmed.
Canadian PressFormer federal NDP leader Alexa McDonough has been appointed the interim president of Mount Saint Vincent University. McDonough served as leader of the NDP in Nova Scotia for 14 years before taking leadership of the federal NDP in 1995. McDonough, who became the first woman to lead a recognized political party in Canada, stepped down as leader in 2003, and left office in 2008. Effective August 28, McDonough will serve as MSVU's president until August 2010.
MSVU News Release |
Halifax Chronicle-Herald |
CBC95% of Southern Alberta Institute of Technology graduates from 2008 are employed, according to a new survey. 83% of those working are employed in fields directly related to their training. At 98%, graduates of SAIT's construction and transportation schools have the highest employment rate among the Class of 2008.
SAIT News Release |
Read the full reportYesterday Collège Boréal held a sod-turning ceremony to launch the construction of its second residence at the main campus in Sudbury. The $6-million residence will accommodate up to 70 students, and is expected to open in September 2010.
Boréal News Release Last Wednesday, Thompson Rivers University's Williams Lake campus held a groundbreaking ceremony for its Gathering Place. The facility will include study and meeting areas for students, as well as space for ceremonies and displays honouring First Nations history and culture. The Gathering Place will also house the university's Elders in Residence program, designed to provide counselling and support to Aboriginal students. The facility is scheduled to open early next year.
Williams Lake TribuneThe University of Saskatchewan's computer science department has developed an iPhone application specifically for students. Called iUSASK, the application offers a range of options, such as checking marks and reading campus news. The application will be available for free download in August once Apple approves it for its app store. This fall, uSask will offer an iPhone programming class for registered students and the public. Students will learn how to build application buttons that may be used with the iUSASK application in the future.
Saskatoon Star-Phoenix |
iPhoneUAt the US-based National Association of College and University Attorneys' annual conference in Toronto last week, much discussion covered the economic downturn's impact on employment issues. One session focused on how institutions should review their tenure policies before they experience a major crisis. Another session noted that colleges run the risk of legal trouble if they violate their own policies. Lawyers working on behalf of schools are warned not to cite economic circumstances excessively when seeking concessions from unions, or else they could jeopardize their credibility in future negotiations.
Inside Higher EdUnder a proposal being drafted by the US Department of Education, community colleges and high schools would receive federal funds to create free online courses. The program would support the development of 20 to 25 "high-quality," government-owned courses annually, with initial preference going towards "career oriented" courses. Last Friday, the Education Department released a report finding that on average, students who took all or part of their instruction online performed better than their peers taking the same course through face-to-face instruction.
Inside Higher Ed |
The Evidence on Online Education |
Read the full report
