Top Ten
July 9, 2011
Bow Valley College buys WCB building
Calgary’s Bow Valley College is now the proud owner of a 3-storey, 20,579-square-foot building adjacent to the college. The building, formerly home to the Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB), was purchased as part of an ongoing plan to accommodate the needs of a rapidly-growing student body. Bow Valley plans to vacate its current premises in Marlborough Professional Building. Bow Valley has already begun construction of its South Campus building, with completion expected in January 2013. This expansion will allow partnerships to be created with other institutions co-locating with Bow Valley, including Athabasca University, University of Lethbridge and Olds Calgary Campus. The exact use of the WCB building will be determined this fall. Calgary Herald
Ryerson partners with Italian cinema school
Ryerson University has partnered with Italian film school Fondazione Centro Sperimentale di Cinematographia in Rome. FCSC, Italy’s leading film school, and Ryerson will collaborate on a variety of opportunities including study abroad programs, supervision of visiting research students, project-based activities, joint short-term student programs and events such as conferences, seminars and symposia. It is expected that this partnership will promote the internationalization of both institutions, breaking down cultural barriers and opening up opportunities for creative collaborations. Ryerson News
Carleton creates Centre for Women in Politics and Public Leadership
A Centre for Women in Politics and Public Leadership has been established at Carleton University in an attempt to provide more creative leadership in the world of public policy and politics. The expectation is that the centre will advance research and host events to enhance the role and influence of women in politics and public policy across Canada. A session entitled “Women and Leadership in Politics and Business” was held at the centre, with a panel made up of top female industry professionals; it examined how women can and have used their talents and skills to become leaders in politics and business. EMC Ottawa South
St. Clair College hopes to buy Chatham theatre
Although both the University of Windsor and St. Clair College have been approached to take over the Capitol Theatre in downtown Windsor, neither is interested. Instead, St. Clair College president John Strasser expects to conclude negotiations in August to purchase the Capitol Theatre in downtown Chatham. The theatre has seen $22 million in renovations to its interior and currently seats 1,247. It is expected that the Capitol Theatre will help expand St. Clair’s music performance program. Although the deal is still in its preliminary stages, St. Clair hopes that classes will start this fall. Windsor Star
Saint-Boniface raises $18 million in Vision campaign
Collège universitaire de Saint-Boniface (to become uStBoniface this September) has officially opened the Pavillon Marcel-A.-Desautels, a $13-million state-of-the-art teaching facility that will greatly enhance CUSB’s health sciences programs, offering students and staff a modern learning environment that will prepare tomorrow’s health care professionals. With five classrooms, three teaching laboratories, a simulation centre, two video conference rooms and 27 offices, the new facility will offer bilingual health care education in an attempt to address a shortage of bilingual professionals in the industry. CUSB’s “Vision” campaign was launched in 2009 to raise funds for the new facility, scholarships and bursaries, and campus enhancements. To date it has raised close to $18 million, exceeding its goal by 20%. CUSB News (French only)
Mohawk College opens “The Square” centre for student services
Mohawk College’s new centre for student services at the Fennell Campus, “The Square,” has officially opened its doors. The building will offer services and supports for financial aid, registration, recruitment, admissions, counseling, New Canadian and International advising, campus employment and accessible learning services. The Square consolidates services that were previously offered at 17 locations across the Fennell Campus, and will serve 7,000 full-time students at the Fennel Campus and Mohawk’s 42,000 continuing education registrants. The 17,000 square foot student services centre is part of the largest campus renewal project in Mohawk’s history. Mohawk Matters
uVic law student alleges eBook discrimination
A visually-impaired University of Victoria law student, Miles Motture, has filed a complaint against the university and 6 textbook publishers with the BC Human Rights Tribunal, alleging discriminatory delays to obtain electronic copies of textbooks. Currently, students must purchase a hardcopy textbook and submit their booklist to the university, and then wait for up to 8 weeks for the publisher to provide the university with an alternate-format book on CD. Motture says eBooks are a rising trend, and obviously not an insurmountable technical challenge. Victoria Times-Colonist
Myths and challenges for Ontario PSE participation
A new HEQCO report concludes that the lack of ongoing longitudinal data will make it difficult to track progress in improving PSE access and participation for under-represented groups, including Aboriginal and first-generation learners. “An Overview of PSE Accessibility in Ontario” summarizes key findings to date, dispelling myths that immigrant or Francophone students are under-represented, and that income is a key determinant of PSE participation. The report observes that policy initiatives need to ensure better information on the ROI of PSE, more assistance with the range of PSE choice, and more help navigating application and registration processes – all well before high school. Exec Summary | Read the report (PDF)
Your website, not social media, is most critical
A Toronto survey of the retail shopping habits of 1,520 consumers concludes that many brands’ investments in social media to drive loyalty and sales is misplaced. Across 33 product categories, Canadian consumers are more likely to visit retailer websites (77%) than to access social media (27%) to gather information. Facebook and Twitter are not a crucial marketing element, say the report authors, but a robust website most certainly is: “if you don’t have a good end point… it sort of puts the cart before the horse.” Social media may “nudge” online purchases, but doesn’t drive them. A recent Forrester Research study found that less than 2% of online orders during the 2010 holiday season resulted from shoppers arriving from social networks. Marketing Magazine
12 social media trends from Cannes
“The Social Practice” offers some intriguing observations drawn from the 2011 Cannes Advertising Festival: 86% of US mobile web users watch TV with their devices in hand, a third of adults are considering buying a tablet in the next 2-3 years, and “augmented” TV may be a new trend. Twitter is recreating shared, live experiences of early network TV. Old Spice Guy reached 1.4 billion impressions. Crowdsourced digital publishing can engage consumers, such as Footlocker’s “Sneakerpedia.” The next social wave will be “social business” like car sharing – projected to involve 5.5 million Europeans by 2016. There are 10,000 “pay with a tweet” buttons on the web, allowing viewers to download free books etc. in exchange for spreading the word. Slideshare
