April 6, 2010
As outlined in its 2010-11 budget, announced yesterday, the Nova Scotia government will contribute $33 million to support infrastructure projects at universities and the Nova Scotia Community College. Provincial funding is leveraging $56 million from the federal government and $41 million from other sources under the Knowledge Infrastructure Program for a total of $130 million. The budget reiterates commitments announced in last month's
throne speech to create 250 new seats at NSCC, and introduce tax rebates for college and university graduates.
NS Budget OverviewThe Ontario government announced yesterday nearly $18.7 million for Ottawa-area colleges and universities to further enhance the high-quality education they provide to a rising number of students. To help support enrolment and student programs this year, the University of Ottawa will receive $11.8 million, Algonquin College $3.9 million, Carleton University $2 million, La Cité collégiale $939,000, and Dominican University College $50,000. The institutions are receiving additional funding this year as part of the province's 5-year
Open Ontario plan.
Ontario News ReleaseDue to recent budget cuts, the University of Alberta's medical school will accept fewer new students next September, says the faculty's dean. Describing the financial situation as "extremely difficult," the dean asked students to write to Alberta's advanced education minister in support of a proposed $3,400 annual tuition increase. The dean says a provincial decision on the tuition increase is expected today.
Edmonton JournalA 6% reduction in operating grants for post-secondary institutions in Alberta, as outlined in the province's
2010 budget, has resulted in a $2-million decrease in the Grande Prairie Regional College's annual operating grant. To address the reduction, the college has asked its departments to identify cost reductions. Implications of the reduction include a possible capping of classes and programs and restructuring of trades program delivery. There may also be some impact on timetabling. Some strategies for the coming year include close management of overtime and position vacancies. GPRC will continue with capital projects as planned.
GPRC News ReleaseYesterday the University of Manitoba's business school unveiled a proposal to raise tuition for its MBA program by 78.5% over 3 years, and by 54.1% over 2 years for its undergraduate degree. The increases work out to a total of $15,000 more for MBA students, and $2,500 more for undergraduates. The proposed tuition hikes would still leave the I. M. Asper School of Business with below-average fees for comparable Canadian schools. The tuition increases would allow the business school to expand its programs, hire more faculty, and offer more courses. The school is the first of up to a reported 8 schools within uManitoba to go public with consultations about
proposed tuition increases.
Winnipeg Free Press The
Daily Gleaner reports that during a conversation with the University of New Brunswick's student government, the province's PSE minister made a promise to freeze ancillary fees along with maintaining a
university tuition freeze. The president of the New Brunswick Student Alliance says this policy addresses the concern that ancillary fees rise significantly during periods of tuition freezes. On the issue of
proposed student fee increases in UNB's science faculty, the university's student union had argued that raising ancillary fees during a tuition freeze is "unethical."
Daily Gleaner Quebec's education minister has called on the Université de Montréal and the union representing
striking lecturers to resume negotiations to settle their dispute in a manner that does not cost students their winter term. The minister spoke with uMontréal administrators and the union's president Monday night and Tuesday morning, urging them to make another attempt at reaching an agreement. uMontréal students rallied outside the minister's office at noon yesterday to demand that the province step in after the lecturers rejected the university's "final" contract offer Monday night.
Quebec News Release (in French) |
uMontréal News (in French) |
Montreal Gazette |
CBCSaskatchewan's advanced education ministry reported Monday that a computer system error resulted in a delay to student loan payments that were scheduled to be made on April 1. This affected over 8,000 students expected to receive their loan disbursements last Thursday, and due to the long weekend the students had to wait until yesterday to get their loans. The ministry has notified all major financial institutions of the technical error, and the student financial assistance branch will reimburse students for any late payment charges that landlords or banks may impose as a result of the error.
Saskatchewan News Release |
Regina Leader-Post According to survey results released yesterday, higher education is the leading life aspiration, or one of the top aspirations, among urban Aboriginal people. Those surveyed cited getting a good job or career, financial and quality of life benefits, and personal development as reasons for choosing a post-secondary education. Half of urban Aboriginal people surveyed who had been to college or university reported that their education represented an increased sense of empowerment. Financial issues are by far the most common barrier that urban Aboriginal people say they have to overcome in order to complete their degree.
Environics Institute News Release |
Globe and Mail |
Read the reportYesterday Red Deer College launched a new recruitment campaign highlighting the difference an education can make to your resume in a short period of time. The multi-media campaign is anchored by an interactive online game called "RDC Resumator," which allows prospective students to generate a sample resume that shows them the skills they can acquire by studying at the college. Participants are entered to win a $5,000 tuition voucher to RDC if they enrol within the next 2 years. The "Get a Better Resume" campaign runs in central Alberta until May 16.
RDC News Release |
RDC Resumator
rtraction