Top Ten
May 19, 2011
Ryerson associate dean sues university over harassment claim
James Norrie, a tenured associate professor on contract as associate dean of Ryerson University's Ted Rogers School of Management, is suing the institution after being put on paid leave over vague allegations of harassment and conflict of interest. Norrie says he has been told to stay off campus and is seeking a court injunction so that he can attend graduation ceremonies next month. In his statement of claim, Norrie says he was never given information about the allegations of harassment, simply that the university was "removing (him) immediately from the workplace" in March. According to court documents, only after repeated inquiries did Ryerson disclose that it had heard accusations from people. Norrie is asking for $575,000-plus in the case, in which he also claims defamation. ParentCentral.ca
uWindsor, St. Clair discuss joint campus
The presidents of St. Clair College and the University of Windsor say the institutions are moving closer to a possible joint campus in downtown Windsor, or at least some shared facilities. uWindsor president Alan Wildeman would like to see about 1,000 university students studying downtown, mingling and possibly sharing resources with their college peers. Besides St. Clair's MediaPlex and its Centre for the Arts, the college wants an even greater city-core presence, says St. Clair president John Strasser. Whatever ends up developing, Strasser feels optimistic that uWindsor will grow along with the college. Windsor Star
UNB honouree makes $2-million donation to institution
During the University of New Brunswick's 182nd convocation Wednesday, honorary degree recipient Graham Farquharson surprised the UNB community with a $2-million gift to the institution. The donation will be split into 4 parts -- the geology department, faculty of science, faculty of nursing, and the university as a whole will each receive $500,000. Daily Gleaner
Lakehead strikes law faculty task force
Lakehead University announced Wednesday the creation of the Chancellor's Task Force for the institution's proposed faculty of law. The task force will focus its efforts on advocating for funding support from the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities to establish the law faculty. Other responsibilities are assessing the proposed next steps, including reviewing the proposed timelines, assisting in developing a strategic plan for fundraising, and enhancing community outreach. Lakehead News
Brock uses Chinese social networks to recruit students
Since September, Brock University has had a presence on Chinese social media websites to reach out to potential students, with student representatives from the institution's International Market Development office fielding questions from individuals on the sites. The main sites are Renren, a Chinese version of Facebook, and QQ, a chat program similar to MSN Messenger. This year, 25 accepted students heard about Brock through QQ, and 12 heard about the university through Renren. Brock is moving forward with a presence on social networks such as Orkut, which is popular in India and South America. Brock News
Study finds millennial women have lower workforce expectations than men
According to a new study by Carleton University, Dalhousie University, and University of Guelph researchers, women have lower career expectations than men, anticipating smaller paycheques and longer waits for promotions. When comparing career expectations of Canadian female and male university students, researchers found that women expected to earn 14% less than men initially, earn 18% less than men after 5 years, and wait 12% longer for a promotion. The study's authors were surprised by the results considering the students are part of the "millennial" generation characterized as more egalitarian. Overall the researchers found the male students' expectations are way too high, which may indicate that women are just more realistic about their salary expectations. Carleton News Release | UoGuelph News Release
Parents place high value on savings for PSE, reports StatsCan
Despite the challenges of competing priorities when it comes to savings, parents in all income groups place a high value on saving for their child's higher education, according to a new Statistics Canada study. Even among the lowest household group, more parents were putting aside money strictly for their child's PSE than were preparing financially for retirement only. About 45% of parents without a high school diploma had savings for their child's PSE, compared to 63% of parents whose highest level of education was a high school diploma, and 78% among those with a university undergraduate degree. The proportion of parents who had saved for their child's higher education was strongly related to average full-time undergraduate tuition fees, the study reports. Statistics Canada
Students, parents unimpressed with Quebec curriculum reform, study finds
According to a preliminary evaluation of Quebec's curriculum reform at the high school level, students exposed to the reform feel less well adapted to high school, high-risk students are less engaged in school work, and boys have lower self-esteem. Parents of students in the reform were more likely to report that their child had failed a class in secondary school and taken a summer course. The report found that parents assessed the quality of their children's education in a less favourable light, were less satisfied with their relationship with the school, and held a less positive view of report cards. One area that appears to have improved under the reform is mother-tongue instruction, which was seen as more useful than it was by students not in the reform. Montreal Gazette
TDSB to lift ban on mobile devices in classrooms
At a meeting Wednesday, Toronto District School Board trustees voted in favour of lifting a 4-year-ban on the use of cellphones and other personal electronic devices in classrooms. The TDSB states it recognizes the technology's value as a tool to enhance student learning and support curriculum delivery. School board policies and procedures will be amended to allow individual teachers to determine the use of mobile devices during classroom teaching and learning. Students' use of the devices outside the classroom will be permitted as long as it does not distract from student learning or school activities. The new rules will take effect this September. TDSB website | CBC | Globe and Mail
uFlorida developing no-fall-semester option
The University of Florida plans to enrol 2,000 students in a spring and summer cohort. The students will be full-fledged undergraduates who will be allowed to live and take classes on campus only during those terms for the entire time they are at the institution. Applicants will be able to apply for both regular fall admission and the spring-summer option. Applicants will only be offered spring-summer admission if they have expressed interest in it. While uFlorida officials plan to eventually accommodate 2,000 students with the new schedule, they hope to enrol between 500 and 1,000 in the first year, depending on the mix of first-year and transfer students. uFlorida plans to enrol the first spring-summer students in January 2013. The Chronicle of Higher Education (subscription required)
