October 7, 2009
In a vote this week, sessional lecturers, sessional instructional assistants, writing instructors, and music instructors at the University of Toronto have voted 70% in favour of a strike mandate. A spokesperson for the union representing these employees says "our members have the worst job security at the U of T, and in fact across the Canadian university sector." The union is seeking extended employment commitments for sessionals who have been promoted for excellent teaching and long service, support for research and scholarly activity, and wage increases.
CUPE 3902 News Release |
Mississauga News According to the latest College Sustainability Report Card, the majority of the 17 Canadian universities listed in the report have either improved their standing or remained steady compared to last year's grading. The highest grade among Canadian institutions this year is a "B+," shared by uAlberta, UBC, uCalgary, McGill, and York. Dal, UNB, and uToronto each received a "B." Carleton showed the most improvement, moving up to a "B-" from
last year's "D-." 6 Canadian schools were given a C-level grade. uWaterloo came in last with a "D+."
College Sustainability Report Card |
Daily Gleaner |
CanWest News ServiceDalhousie University reports an overall rise in enrolment of just over 4%. Full-time first-year enrolment at the institution is up 2.2%, graduate enrolment has risen by 2.4%, and the number of transfer students has increased 7.7%. There are 1,219 international students this year at Dal, up nearly 18% from last year. The largest communities come from Eastern Asia, the Middle East, Bermuda and the Caribbean, and North America.
Dal News |
Halifax Chronicle-HeraldAccording to new survey from the Maritime Provinces Higher Education Commission of the 2009-10 tution and ancillary fees at Maritime universities, fees increased 4% over last year in Prince Edward Island, but they remain the lowest in the region at $4,710. Tuition fees remain the highest in Nova Scotia with an average of $5,863, while in New Brunswick, where there is a tution freeze, fees remain at an average of $5,423. Total undegraduate tuition fees, including ancillary fees, grew by 1.1% in NB, and 0.2% in NS.
Read the surveyOn Monday, York University helds its inaugural Inclusion Day, an event designed to find ways of protecting and promoting free and open exchange of ideas. At the event York unveiled a series of posters as part of a social justice campaign to remind students, for example, that "nothing kills ideas like an explosive argument" and "a war of words is still a war." The university has also launched an online tutorial for new students about York's policies of respect, which could become a mandatory part of Orientation for new students in the future.
York News Release |
Toronto Star |
Inclusion DayThe City of Windsor and St. Clair College are currently negotiating the purchase of the former Salvation Army building downtown to house the college's journalism school. St. Clair's president says the key component of the proposed Centre for Media Studies would be a "newsplex" where students would write stories and learn to present them in different formats, including TV and radio. The college hopes to double its current journalism enrolment and create programming for up to 200 students, including post-graduate offerings in media and public relations. Last month, St. Clair received
$5 million in federal funding for an expanded journalism program.
Windsor StarCarleton University has developed a Sustainable Energy Research Centre, which will focus on innovative ways to reduce energy consumption, research and examine emerging renewable energy sources while exploring strategies for using tradition, non-renewable sources effectively and responsibly. The centre combines expertise from the Faculty of Engineering and Design and the School of Public Policy and Administration while reaching out to other faculties at the university.
Carleton News ReleaseMemorial University has signed a memorandum of understanding with the American Bureau of Shipping to create a new research and development centre at the university. The ABS Harsh Environment Technology Centre will support the development of technologies for ships and offshore structures operating in harsh environments, especially in the Arctic.
MUN News ReleaseThe University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management was chosen as one of the world's 30 best schools for educating the design thinkers and innovators of the future in a recent online feature by
BusinessWeek. The magazine notes that Rotman MBA students can take elective courses in design and innovation offered through DesignWorks, the school's academic and commercial learning lab for design-based innovation and education.
uToronto News |
World's Best Design Schools
rtraction