Top Ten
November 27, 2009
UBC student union files UN complaint over PSE access
The University of British Columbia's Alma Mater Society has lodged a complaint with the United Nations over the federal and BC governments' failure to meet international obligations to provide accessible higher education. The AMS contends that by failing to properly control tuition fees and not providing adequate financial support to students, the government is violating its commitment under Article 13 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, which states "higher education shall be made accessible to all, on the basis of capacity, by every appropriate means, and in particular by the progressive introduction of free education." Not all AMS councillors were consulted on the complaint, according to Maclean's OnCampus. An emergency council meeting was held Saturday to retract the complaint, and to ask for the resignations of the AMS's president and VP of external affairs. UBC AMS News Release | Vancouver Sun | Georgia Straight | Maclean's OnCampus | The Ubyssey (student newspaper)uToronto students, faculty criticize administration's response to blackface incident
The University of Toronto Students' Union, the Black Students' Association, and several uToronto faculty members are lambasting the university for failing to use its normal communicative channels to stand in support of students who faced intimidation after organizing a town hall meeting on blackface, which was arranged after a group of students wore brown makeup to a Halloween party organized by student societies at 3 of uToronto's colleges. Instead of issuing a public statement to address the issues of harassment raised in a meeting with student leaders and concerned faculty, administration sent letters to those who met with officials, asking them to distribute the statements themselves to the wider university community. The UTSU argues the lack of action by senior administration suggests that "black students are not equally valued members of the university community." In response, uToronto's vice-president of human resources and equity and vice-provost of students state their offices will continue to work with student groups and interested faculty members on efforts to enhance and understand the impact of racism, and disseminate information about such initiatives widely at the appropriate time. UTSU News Release | Statement from uToronto$20 million for research transfer activities at 9 institutions
On Friday, the federal government announced $20.1 million in funding from the College and Community Innovation Program for projects at Fanshawe, Algonquin College, Red River College, Seneca, SAIT, Cégep de l'Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Cégep de Rimouski, Cégep de Saint-Jérôme, and Cégep de Trois-Rivières. Launched in 2007, the CCI Program support colleges and CEGEPs to foster research transfer activities in their communities through partnerships with local companies, particularly small- and medium-sized enterprises. NSERC News Release"Significant and difficult choices" to be made at Queen's
Delivering his first financial update as principal of Queen's University last Thursday, Daniel Woolf stated there are "significant and difficult choices" to be made at the university. The school's board of trustees has told administrators to reduce the annual deficit to zero by the end of the 2012 fiscal year. Cost-cutting measures include a salary freeze among senior administration and senior staff, and Queen's is reviewing its property holdings to see what real estate could be sold. Woolf reported that the faculty association executive had declined his proposal that faculty accept a reduction in a previously negotiated salary increase. Queen's Financial Update | Kingston Whig-StandardHolland College launches "Learning. For Life" capital campaign
On Friday, Holland College kicked off its multimillion-dollar "Learning. For Life" capital campaign, the most ambitious fundraising effort in the college's 40-year history. The campaign has a priority focus in 4 critical areas: students; facilities; programs; and innovation. Over 75% of the campaign's original private-sector goal of $4 million has already been realized. Holland College News Release
