Top Ten
June 26, 2012
Sprott-Shaw appeals student-loan restriction by BC government
Sprott-Shaw Community College is appealing a BC government decision that prohibits students at its Nanaimo and Victoria campuses from obtaining loans next year. Sprott-Shaw was one of 8 private career colleges to receive letters last week from the province advising that students will not be eligible for loans during the 2012-13 school year because of high default rates. The institutions have 30 days to appeal. Sprott-Shaw says the decision is unfair because it will penalize over 200 students who depend on StudentAid BC funding to cover their education at the 2 campuses. Vancouver Sun
BC launches student-loan repayment assistance plan
BC Premier Christy Clark announced Monday her government's new Repayment Assistance Plan for individuals with student loans. Coming into effect on July 1, the plan will operate in 2 stages: the first stage offers payment assistance for the interest portion of the student loan, while the second stage offers payment assistance for the principal portion of the loan. The program is expected to help approximately 20,000 low-income students in BC. BC News Release
2 UVic unions serve strike notice
2 CUPE locals representing staff at the University of Victoria served 72-hour strike notice Monday. CUPE 917 and 951 include 1,500 members who have not had a contract since March 31, 2010. Areas of dispute include wages, additional hours worked by part-time employees, emergency medical leave, job evaluations, job security, and cost-of-living adjustments. CUPE 951 Bulletin | Victoria Times-Colonist
NSERC distributes $28 million under CREATE Program
Through the Collaborative Research and Training Experience (CREATE) Program administered by NSERC, 17 projects will receive $28 million over 6 years to help science and engineering graduates add job skills to their academic accomplishments. In its first 2 years (2009-11), the CREATE Program supported 40 teams of researchers and 1,513 students and postdoctoral fellows. NSERC News Release
Report highlights Ontario colleges' contribution to innovation
A new report from Colleges Ontario showcases many ways Ontario colleges are bolstering the province's creativity and competitiveness. The examples included in the report illustrate how Ontario colleges are strengthening the economy, transforming communities, enhancing student success, reducing costs, and finding new efficiencies. Report
Apprenticeship training registrations reach highest level in 2010
Statistics Canada reports that total registrations in apprenticeship training programs across the country reached their highest level in 2010 at 430,452, up by 5.2% from 2009. This followed a 4.7% increase the year before. Training programs received 92,568 new registrations in 2010, up by 9.1% from 2009. This followed a 13.9% drop from 2008 to 2009, during the recent recession. Statistics Canada
uSask unveils mentoring technology for nursing education in northern Saskatchewan
The University of Saskatchewan's College of Nursing has introduced an innovative platform that will allow nursing students to "learn where they live" in northern Saskatchewan. By using remote presence technology, nursing students residing in northern communities will have access to faculty and mentors. "The goal of launching remote presence technology is to address the critical shortage of healthcare workers in rural and remote communities," says the college's dean. "The pursuit of post-secondary education should not be disadvantaged by geography." uSask News Release
York U business school earns EQUIS accreditation
York University's Schulich School of Business has received 5-year accreditation from the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD) under its European Quality Improvement System (EQUIS). The quality review of university-level management and business administration programs involves a self-assessment by the school, a visit from an international review team, and a jury evaluation of the findings. Schulich is one of 10 Canadian business schools accredited by EFMD, which has recognized 139 schools in 38 nations. EFMD Blog | Globe and Mail (scroll down to article)
Algoma U to join OUA in 2013
Algoma University's varsity athletics program has been accepted by Ontario University Athletics and teams will begin competition in the 2013-14 academic year. "Varsity athletics is a key element of student life and a critical link between any university and its home community," says Algoma U president Richard Myers. "Our student athletes will be thrilled to bring the highest level of provincial sport to the people of Sault Ste. Marie and to the members of the Algoma community." Algoma U News Release
McMaster launches MBA ring
The 2012 graduating class of MBA students at McMaster University gathered with faculty and alumni recently to celebrate the inaugural presentation of the new DeGroote MBA rings. Similar to the iron ring engineers wear, the DeGroote MBA ring is designed to be a reminder of commitment to principles of ethics and integrity upon graduation. Students of the DeGroote MBA Association introduced the ring as a new tradition this year. The association's director of external relations describes the new tradition as an effort to infuse the MBA program with a greater sense of character and history. McMaster Daily News
