Top Ten
June 13, 2012
Bill 78 challenged in court
Quebec student groups have been in court this week to challenge Bill 78, the emergency law that limits protests amid the tuition fee dispute. Student groups have filed a legal motion to temporarily suspend Bill 78 until July, when the court is expected to hear the associations' second legal challenge seeking to deem the law invalid. Lawyers representing student groups are challenging specific clauses they believe are in violation of freedom of expression and freedom of association. One lawyer argued in Quebec Superior Court Tuesday that Bill 78 endangers the student groups' survival by cutting off funding. Montreal Gazette | CBC | Canadian Press
Protesters oppose Ethiopian politician's visit to uSask
Human rights groups say the University of Saskatchewan should not be hosting Shiferaw Shigute, an Ethiopian politician implicated in corruption scandals and the forcible removal of tens of thousands of peasant farmers from their homes. A group of 30 protesters stood outside uSask's administration building Tuesday with placards and flags demanding the removal of Shigute. The politician arrived in Saskatoon on Sunday and has been in private meetings with uSask officials. He is part of a delegation that is discussing a longtime education and agriculture partnership between Ethiopia and Saskatchewan. uSask's special adviser on international initiatives says he is not familiar with the allegations against Shigute, as the delegation arrived just a few days ago. He says uSask takes such concerns seriously and the matter is being researched. Saskatoon Star-Phoenix
Camosun proposes $30-million training centre
Camosun College is looking to build a $30-million trades training centre totalling more than 200,000 square feet on its Interurban campus. The proposal would remodel 125,000 square feet of existing trades space and see an additional 80,000 square feet constructed on the site of the adjacent Tillicum Lodge, once used for seniors, on college land. The centre does not yet have funding, but Camosun is hoping for backing by the BC government. A business case analysis will be completed and sent to the province by the end of June. Victoria Times-Colonist
Ontario undergrad confirmations up for June
New data from the Ontario Universities' Application Centre show that as of June 5, 89,228 secondary and non-secondary students have accepted admissions offers, the highest figure recorded for June since 2003. The confirmation rate among high school students rose by 2.7% to 70,453, and among non-secondary students the rate increased by 6.5% to 18,775. OUAC Undergraduate Confirmation Statistics -- June 2012
COU launches new interactive database of university info
Yesterday the Council of Ontario Universities unveiled a new interactive database of Ontario university information. Called the Common University Data Ontario (CUDO), the system allows users to compare information on class size, degrees, enrolment, graduation rates, graduate employment rates, library collections, research funding, retention rates, student experience, transfers, tuition fees, and university revenue. COU News Release | CUDO
7 Canadian institutions pick up CASE Circle of Excellence awards
The Council for Advancement and Support of Education has announced the 2012 winners of its Circle of Excellence awards. Memorial University won grand gold in Fundraising Publications, gold in Institutional Relations Publications, and bronze in Photography. The University of Manitoba earned 2 gold awards and one silver in Advertising. McGill University picked up silver in PSAs and Commercial Spots and bronze in Best Use of Social Media. The University of Waterloo won gold in Student Recruitment Publications, the University of Calgary received silver in Excellence in Design, and in Special Events Wilfrid Laurier University and Algonquin College picked up silver and bronze, respectively. CASE News Release | 2012 Circle of Excellence Award Winners
2 Canadians among 2012 class of "20 Under 20" Thiel Fellows
Yesterday the Thiel Foundation announced the second set of young entrepreneurs to be awarded "20 Under 20" Thiel Fellowships. Co-created by PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel, the program pays recipients $100,000 over 2 years to skip PSE and focus on their work, their research, and their self-education. 2 Canadians are among this year's cohort of Thiel Fellows. 18-year-old Yoonseo Kang of Mississauga is working with the Open Source Ecology project in Missouri, which encourages everyday people to build their own machines. 19-year-old Christopher Olah of Toronto will use his fellowship to concentrate on the use of 3D printers to produce educational aids, rudimentary scientific equipment, and other tools. Thiel Foundation News Release | Toronto Star
JIBC opens new facility at Canada Education Park
The Justice Institute of British Columbia celebrated Tuesday the official opening of its new facility at the Canada Education Park in Chilliwack. The facility will allow JIBC to expand the range of programs available in the Fraser Valley, as well as enhance the delivery of its health science programs with the addition of a paramedic simulation lab. BC News Release
University-led R&D key to economic growth in Atlantic Canada
University-led research and development has been a key to economic growth across Atlantic Canada, states a new policy paper from the Association of Atlantic Universities. The AAU supports the federal government's decision to maintain core funding for research chairs, and believes Ottawa should continue to support basic research in addition to directing funds to business-related R&D. AAU member institutions will continue to work with federal, provincial, and private-sector partners on the most effective ways to assist emerging sectors in Atlantic Canada. The association will also advocate on behalf of federal policies that are tailored to the specific needs of the region. AAU Policy Paper
SAIT unveils new website
SAIT Polytechnic launched a new website Tuesday, creating a more visual and interactive experience for its online visitors. SAIT's homepage features a collection of human interest stories -- The People, The Places and The Possibilities. Other highlights of the redesigned site include brand new sections for future and current students, a real-time continuing education course catalogue with full search capabilities, an online customer service chat function, social media share buttons, and rich media with image galleries and videos. SAIT News Release | SAIT website
