Top Ten

August 26, 2009

Cambrian president responds to ombudsman's report

Cambrian College president Sylvia Barnard says the school is "disappointed with the tone and with the conclusions" outlined in a report by Ontario's ombudsman, who investigated the college's unaccredited health information management program. The college does not agree with the ombudsman's statement that it misleads its students or misrepresented the program. Barnard says 84% of students who graduated from the program in 2007 and 2008 "obtained good jobs in their chosen field." She says the college followed appropriate processes and received approval for the program and its curriculum from the credential validation service and from the province. Cambrian News Release | Sudbury Star

OPSEU says colleges "should be ashamed" for delaying unionizing vote count

A spokesperson for the Ontario Public Service Employees Union says the province's colleges "should be ashamed of themselves" for delaying the count of votes by part-time and sessional instructors looking for union representation. Both sides disagree on who was eligible to sign or vote. The spokesperson argues the provincial government is partly to blame for the situation, and notes that OPSEU intends to put more pressure on the province to end the stalemate. Sault This Week

Enrolment boom at Orillia institutions

The Orillia campuses of Lakehead University and Georgian College are expecting significant increases in enrolment for the 2009-10 academic year. Lakehead expects to meet a target of 700 students, up from the 441 it had last year. In anticipation of the additional students, the school has acquired 2 new sites in Orillia for office space and 5 classrooms while its permanent campus is under construction. As of August 5, Georgian College has seen an 8% jump in applications. The college also reports an 8.5% increase over fall 2008 in the number of students who have already paid their fees. Orillia Packet & Times

Ottawa invests in Sault College aviation hangar

The federal government announced Tuesday over $1.2 million from the Community Adjustment Fund for Sault College to complete the construction of an aviation hangar/repair facility and learning space. Aviation is a flagship program for the college, which is one of only 3 in Ontario that offers such a program. Sault College News Release

Carleton, Loyalist join Project Hero

Carleton University and Loyalist College are the latest institutions to join Project Hero, a scholarship program for children of fallen Canadian Forces personnel. Loyalist is the first college to take part in the program. Carleton will provide financial assistance for tuition fees for 8 academic terms, while Loyalist will offer assistance for up to 6. Both schools will provide financial assistance for on-campus residence fees for the first 2 semesters. Carleton News Release | Loyalist News Release

Postscript: Sept 1, 2009
Algonquin College announced last Wednesday that it has joined Project Hero, a scholarship program for children of Canadian Forces personnel killed in the line of duty. Students taking part in the program at the college will be eligible for a maximum of 8 semesters' tuition. Algonquin is the second college following Loyalist to join Project Hero. Algonquin College News Release | Ottawa Citizen

Postscript: Oct 29, 2009
Nipissing University is the latest post-secondary institution to participate in Project Hero, a scholarship program for children of Canadian Forces personnel killed in the line of duty. Nipissing will provide recipients tuition for 8 terms of study, as well as on-campus residence fees for the first 2 semesters. Nipissing News Release

Postscript: Nov 12, 2009
The Association of Canadian Community Colleges reports that 15 colleges and institutes have committed to Project Hero, a scholarship program for children of Canadian Forces personnel killed in the line of duty. The participating institutions include Algonquin, Assiniboine, Confederation, Georgian, MacEwan, Humber, Lakeland, Loyalist, Justice Institute of BC, Mohawk, Niagara, NSCC, Portage, SIAST, and Seneca. Algonquin College was the first to award a scholarship under Project Hero. The recipient's father died in a suicide attack in November 2006. McMaster is the latest university to take part in the initiative. ACCC News Release | Canadian Press

Postscript: Jan 15, 2010
Mount Royal University is the latest institution to participate in Project Hero, a scholarship program for children of Canadian Forces personnel who have died in an active military mission since 2002. Mount Royal is among 38 post-secondary schools to join the program since its launch last summer. Mount Royal News Release | Calgary Herald

Postscript: Feb 2, 2010
Okanagan College, Capilano University, and Meritus University are the latest institutions to participate in Project Hero, a scholarship program for children of Canadian Forces personnel killed while serving in active military duty. Over 40 post-secondary schools in Canada have joined the program. Okaganan College News Release | Capilano News Release | Meritus U News Release

Postscript: Feb 5, 2010
Holland College announced Wednesday it is participating in Project Hero, a scholarship program for children of Canadian Forces personnel killed in the line of duty. Beginning this fall, the college will waive tuition for all one-year certificate and 2-year diploma programs for eligible students. Schools that recently joined the program include Okanagan College, Meritus University, and Capilano University. Holland College News Release

Postscript: Feb 26, 2010
Kwantlen Polytechnic University, Fleming College, Royal Roads University, and Queen's University recently announced their participation in Project Hero, a scholarship program for children of fallen Canadian Forces personnel. The 4 post-secondary institutions join over 40 schools across the country taking part in the program. Kwantlen News Release | Fleming News Release | RRU News Release | Queen's News Release

Postscript: Mar 5, 2010
Lambton College announced Wednesday it has joined Project Hero, a scholarship program for children of Canadian Forces personnel killed in the line of duty. According to the program's website, 48 post-secondary institutions across Canada are now offering the scholarship. Lambton News | Project Hero website

Postscript: Mar 17, 2010
The Universities of Victoria and Regina are the latest post-secondary institutions to take part in Project Hero, a scholarship program for children of fallen Canadian Forces personnel. About 50 schools are participating in the program. UVic Media Tip | uRegina News Release

Postscript: Mar 26, 2010
Canadian post-secondary institutions to have recently joined Project Hero, a scholarship program for children of Canadian Forces personnel killed in the line of duty, include UWO, Douglas College, Lakehead, Langara College, CNA, and UOIT. A group of professors at the University of Regina oppose the school's participation in Project Hero, arguing the program glorifies military action. Western News | New Westminster News Leader | Lakehead News Release | Langara College News Release | CNA News Release | Northumberland Today

Postscript: May 12, 2010
St. Lawrence College is the latest post-secondary institution to participate in Project Hero, a free scholarship program for children of fallen Canadian Forces personnel. At SLC, the program will begin this September, covering the cost of 6 semesters of tuition for a full-time program. SLC News | Cornwall Standard-Freeholder

Postscript: June 25, 2010
The University of New Brunswick, Durham College, and Olds College are the latest institutions to participate in Project Hero, a free scholarship program designed for children of fallen Canadian Forces personnel. Over 45 Canadian colleges and universities are offering the scholarship. UNB News Release | Durham College News Release | Olds College News Release

uToronto top Canadian university in Webometrics ranking

The University of Toronto is the highest-ranking Canadian institution in Cybermetrics Labs' biannual Webometrics Ranking of World Universities, which measures universities' performance and impact through their Web presence. uToronto placed 28th overall. The other Canadian universities to make the top 100 are UBC (41), SFU (57), uAlberta (73), uCalgary (78), and uMontréal (93). The Massachusetts Institute of Technology continues to hold the top spot worldwide. Webometrics Ranking of World Universities

The unintended consequences of Vanier Scholarships

In a column in latest issue of University Affairs, Université du Québec à Montréal professor Yves Gingras writes that the Vanier Scholarship program the federal government introduced last year is "generous but ill-conceived." The scholarship, awarded to doctoral students, is worth $50,000 a year, while postdocs live on $38,000 to $40,000 a year, depending which granting council is providing funding. Gingras argues the Vanier Scholarships may give its recipients the illusion they are better or smarter because they receive more funding. He suggests the program be reserved for international students only to compensate for the cost of moving to Canada and higher tuition fees. University Affairs

Mohawk College creates website for Fennell campus renewal project

Mohawk College has launched a new website with which visitors can track the development of the $30-million to $40-million renewal of the college's Fennell campus in Hamilton Ontario. The site will feature online surveys, discussion boards, and dates and times for future consultations and presentations planned for students and staff. A groundbreaking ceremony for the project will take place Monday. Mohawk Matters | Fennell Renewal website

Applicants face more competition than ever, study finds

A new study from the US finds it is more difficult for applicants to 4-year colleges and universities to be admitted, at least at some schools, these days than it was in earlier generations. The researchers express some doubt that methods students use to increase their chances of being accepted, such as AP courses and test-prep classes, benefit students' learning. Data used in the study suggest lots of students' time is going into non-education activities, and approaches such as test-prep services are more readily available to the wealthy than to other applicants. Inside Higher Ed | The Chronicle of Higher Education (subscription required)

Exeter mistakenly sends rejected applicants acceptance letters

A clerical mistake at the University of Exeter in England led 190 rejected applicants to believe they were accepted into the institution. Last Thursday, the applicants received congratulatory letters from Exeter, but later learned they had actually been rejected. The university has offered places to the affected students for next year. In another error, Exeter sent a letter to 188 students to say they had a place at the main campus, when in fact they should have been offered spots at the Cornwall campus nearly 100 miles away. The university contacted the students to say the letter was wrong, but later offered them a seat at the main campus. The Guardian

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