Top Ten
April 7, 2010
COTR student wins court case after company forged course-entry documents
A woman duped by a now-defunct company on contract with the College of the Rockies to recruit and help train nursing students has been awarded $25,000 in small claims court after a 2-year battle with COTR. The college has also settled out of court with 2 other students who claimed they were cheated by the company, PTI Online, between 2002 and 2007. COTR ended its relationship with the company after learning it had falsified documents for students seeking entry into the school's access to practical nursing program. The student who won the court case says she is disappointed COTR was not proactive in compensating students as soon as it discovered the fraud, and upset that the BC government refused to help, which resulted in the court battle. Vancouver SunAboriginal students at Queen's raise concerns over university's native services
At a meeting Tuesday of Queen's University's Aboriginal Council, representatives from the university's Native Student Association brought up concerns about what they see as "inappropriate systemic treatment of Aboriginal people and affairs" at the university. The students' concerns revolve around the activities of the institution's Four Directions Aboriginal Student Centre, which has been without a director for nearly 2 years. During that period, the students say staff at the centre has dropped from 6 to 2, and the involvement of administratrors with no ties to Aboriginal culture or communities has resulted in a "chilling effect" on the centre. The student association is calling for greater financial transperancy, suggesting that funds for Aboriginal programs are ending up in the university's general accounts. Queen's Native Student Association | Queen's News Centre | Globe and Mail | Kingston Whig-StandardPolice investigate anti-Semitic graffiti at Carleton
The Ottawa police hate crimes unit is investigating anti-Semitic graffiti discovered in a campus washroom at Carleton University early last month. Police do not have any suspects in the incident and say this type of crime is difficult to solve unless there is a witness. The investigation comes on the heels of another incident in which a pair of Carleton students -- one a well-known supporter of Israel and the other an Israeli engineering student -- claim a group of 10 men yelled at them in English and Arabic that they were Zionists and later chased them. The students claim they recognized some of the men. Ottawa CitizenuRegina prof accused of plagiarizing student's work
A University of Regina engineering professor has been accused of plagiarizing a former student's work and trying to publish it in an academic journal. When the graduate submitted a paper for publication to the journal in the summer of 2008, he was informed his submission resembled another paper received 6 months earlier, which listed the student's academic supervisor and 3 other people as authors. The former student has filed a complaint with uRegina, and says the school is keeping findings of its investigation confidential. A uRegina spokeswoman says that, in general, once a complaint regarding academic misconduct is brought to the appropriate office, the complainant's involvement ceases. CBC | Regina Leader-PostuAlberta, uCalgary cannot trim med school enrolments without province's permission
Alberta's advanced education minister says the Universities of Alberta and Calgary will not be allowed to reduce the number of new medical students they accept without his permission. Both institutions have warned of trimming medical student spaces for next year due to budget cuts. The minister says it is premature to discuss enrolment cuts as post-secondary institutions have not yet received letters informing them of their grant funding for this year. Edmonton Journal | Calgary Herald$10 million for enrolment support at UoGuelph
The Ontario government announced yesterday $9.8 million in additional one-time funding for the University of Guelph to help address challenges presented by increased enrolment. The funding is part of $155-million investment to top up provincial post-secondary schools as they continue to deal with financial pressures of student growth. This year, UoGuelph received some 22,010 applications, representing a 4.6% increase. UoGuelph Campus BulletinuWaterloo adds donor's name to entrepreneurship centre for $3-million gift
The University of Waterloo's Centre for Business, Entrepreneurship and Technology will now be the Conrad Centre for Business, Entrepreneurship and Technology in honour of a $3-million gift from local philanthropist Manfred Conrad, founder of The Cora Group and developer of 3 buildings in the University of Waterloo Research and Technology Park. In addition to a previous $2-million gift from the Conrad family, the new donation will allow the centre to expand its entrepreneurial academic, research, and outreach activities in Canada and around the world. uWaterloo News Release | Waterloo Region RecordRyerson opens Digital Media Zone
Yesterday Ryerson University officially opened its Digital Media Zone (DMZ), which provides students with the opportunity to develop their digitally-based ideas into consumer products with help from mentors and industry. The facility is a fully wired, multidisciplinary environment with 24-hour-access for participating students. The ultimate goal of the DMZ is to venture beyond research and development to marketable applications with students running their own businesses. Ryerson NewsuWindsor launches co-curricular transcript
University of Windsor students will be able to produce an official document outlining their campus activities with the launch of a co-curricular transcript, a new project of the university's Education Development Centre. The co-curricular transcript will list volunteer positions with Students Orienting Students, elected positions in student government and residence councils, and employment in uWindsor offices. Other campuses offering co-curricular transcripts include the University of Calgary, Seneca College, Acadia University, and Bishop's University. uWindsor Daily News
Postscript: Apr 9, 2010
Top Ten subscribers have informed us of other post-secondary institutions with similar programs. Wilfrid Laurier University offers a co-curricular record, and Nipissing University has a record of student development. WLU Co-Curricular Record | Nipissing Record of Student Development
