Top Ten
May 20, 2011
Dal, NSAC discuss merger
Nova Scotia's agriculture minister announced Friday the province will begin formal discussions on a merger between Dalhousie University and Nova Scotia Agricultural College. Dal is already linked with NSAC as it grants degrees for NSAC and has NSAC representatives on its senate. The minister says a stronger partnership between the schools "will ensure that NSAC can compete with similar institutions in larger centres, and excel on the national and international stage." Details of the negotiation process will be determined between Dal and NSAC and the Nova Scotia government. It is expected to take about 12 months to complete. NS News Release | Chronicle Herald
New Catholic college to open in Peterborough
Trent University and the Catholic Diocese of Peterborough have signed a memorandum of understanding providing learners in the region with more options for PSE pathways. The Diocese is working on the establishment of Sacred Heart College, a liberal-arts university college in the Catholic tradition. Trent and the Diocese agree in the MOU to work together toward potential partnership opportunities, which may include transfer credit recognition, program-based articulation agreements, and degree completion pathways. The college is expected to open its doors in September. Trent News | Peterborough Examiner
Confederation College opens campus in Wawa
Thursday marked the official opening of Confederation College's campus in Wawa, Ontario. The campus is one of 8 regional sites throughout the Confederation College network. The Wawa campus will offer a variety of one-year certificate and 2-year diploma programs in the fall, including accounting, human resources, hospitality management, pre-health sciences, and protective services. Confederation College News Release
uManitoba prof's campaign jeopardized PhD student's career, hearing told
A University of Manitoba math professor's campaign to expose the name and medical condition of a doctoral student at the centre of a PhD controversy has jeopardized the student's career and the value of his degree, said uManitoba's science dean at a labour hearing Thursday. Gábor Lukács has grieved his 3-month suspension from uManitoba for allegedly revealing the student's name and personal health information. The professor is challenging the granting of a PhD to the student despite him failing a crucial mandatory exam, after claiming he suffered from extreme anxiety disorder. In a separate legal matter, a judge's ruling is awaited on whether Lukács has the legal right to sue uManitoba in an effort to have the doctorate rescinded. Winnipeg Free Press
uWaterloo engineering dean lifts suspension on student race car team
Last week the University of Waterloo's engineering dean lifted the suspension on students on the Formula SAE team, who were punished after a female student on the team used the institution's Student Design Centre for a photo-shoot without permission, contrary to university policy. With the suspension lifted, the team may go back to working on the race car they were building at the university. The suspension was originally supposed to have continued until June 1. A uWaterloo official says the punishment was lifted early because of the "positive attitude about what happened and in moving forward." Waterloo Region Record
Ontario teacher ed confirmations down
New statistics from the Ontario Universities' Application Centre show that as of May 4, there are 7,286 confirmed acceptances for teacher education at Ontario universities, down 6% from the 7,753 confirmations recorded in May 2010. An increase in confirmations was the highest at Queen's University, where the rate rose by 10.6%. Teacher Education Confirmation Statistics -- May 2011
UNB student union criticizes adoption of $150 fee for athletics centre
The University of New Brunswick Student Union (UNBSU) argues that the institution's board of governors has manipulated the province's guidelines of capping tuition fee increases by including a mandatory $150 ancillary fee toward the Richard J. Currie Center. UNBSU's vice-president external says not all students should have to pay the fee if they are not going to use the athletics facility. UNB president Eddy Campbell says having all the students helping to pay for the centre is a common practice at other institutions. Although the student union concedes it cannot do anything about the fee now that it has been approved, it says the fee will likely to continue to be a source of friction between students and the administration. UNBSU News Release | CBC
uCalgary releases draft summary of strategic plan
The University of Calgary has published a draft document summarizing its latest strategic initiative and is seeking thoughts and reaction to the draft from the community. According to the document, uCalgary will commit to 3 foundational goals that will drive the university strategically forward: sharpen focus on research and scholarship; enrich the student experience with and through research; and fully integrate the university with the community. A final draft will be circulated to various leadership committees and groups before review at the general faculties council and board of governors by next month. Draft Strategic Statement and Summary
Olds College joins Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference
Olds College's men's and women's basketball teams are now part of the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference and will start competing in it for the 2012-13 season. The college's cross country team, new to Broncos athletics this coming season, will also be ACAC members. Olds College's health and wellness director says joining the conference brings new advantages to students and opens the door for future possible development of athletics-related academic programs. The Broncos athletics program is now in its fourth season since being revived after a hiatus through much of the 1980s and much of the 1990s. Olds College News
STMU names winners in YouTube contest
Last week St. Mary's University College announced the winners in its first-ever YouTube contest, which invited students to produce a video explaining what they love about the Calgary-based institution. The first-place winner received $1,000 for his 90-second submission depicting the life of a STMU student from the perspective of Zeus, the institution's mascot. A stop-motion animation video and an overview of various historical texts took the $500 second-place prize and $250 third-place prize, respectively. 5 honorary mentions of $150 each were awarded to fourth- through eighth-place entries. The videos can be viewed on STMU's YouTube channel. STMU News Release | Watch the videos
