Top Ten
June 2, 2015
Holland College raises tuition 3% for full-time programs
Holland College in Prince Edward Island announced on Friday that it will increase tuition for full-time programs and courses by 3%, effective this September. Holland has several tuition levels; with the increase, tuition for most programs will range from $3,810 to $6,075. For most students at the college, this will mean paying an additional $110–$175 in tuition each per year. Holland College follows the University of Prince Edward Island in increasing tuition; the latter institution also announced an increase of approximately 3% last week. Holland News Release | CBC
Tuition at UNBC goes up 2%
The board of governors at the University of Northern British Columbia has approved the institution's operating budget for 2015–16. The budget introduces a series of measures to address "some expected financial pressures," including declining tuition revenue, reduced government grants, and increasing compensation costs. These measures include a temporary decrease to the utilities budget, a temporary increase to the revenue line linked to investment income, and a tuition increase of 2%. The budget framework also forecasts a deficit for $3.7 M for 2016–17; UNBC President Daniel Weeks said that the administration "will need to develop some new strategies to address this issue." UNBC News Release | Prince George Citizen
Queen’s releases comprehensive sexual assault report
The Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Working Group at Queen’s University has released a report providing detailed recommendations to address sexual assault, as well as a draft sexual misconduct policy. The report contains 11 strategic objectives, ranging from improving institutional accountability to providing support and advocacy services. “The university takes sexual assault extremely seriously, and I am pleased that the working group has been able to expedite its report,” says Queen’s Principal Daniel Woolf. As the draft sexual misconduct policy goes through the university’s governance approval process, the policy subcommittee will continue to work on the sexual misconduct procedures, with the goal of having them approved and in place by the end of 2015. A team will be established to exercise oversight of, and set priorities and timelines for, the implementation of the report’s recommendations. Queen’s News Release | Full Report
MSVU celebrates opening of McCain Centre
Mount Saint Vincent University on Friday celebrated the opening of the Margaret Norrie McCain Centre for Teaching, Learning and Research. The new facility is reportedly the first building on a Canadian university campus dedicated to the accomplishments of women. "I'm excited by the inspiration that will come from these halls—for our students, staff, and community—as we honour the many roles of women," said MSVU President Ramona Lumpkin. The McCain Centre doubles the number of spaces for exclusive use by students at MSVU and provides ways for students to collaborate using personal mobile technologies. The building was made possible by a $2.5 M giftfrom McCain, the largest gift ever received by MSVU. MSVU News Release
HEC launches new school for executive leadership
HEC Montréal has launched the new École des dirigeants, described as a "one-stop centre for new executive education programs." The new school represents a collaboration between HEC, its partner universities, and more than twenty other public- and private-sector organizations including the Conference Board of Canada, the Niagara Institute, the European Center for Executive Development (CEDEP), and the Fonds de solidarité FTQ. “Executive development is an essential tool at a time when innovation in economic models, organizations, and team skills is an absolute must,” said Alain Gosselin, Director of the new school. “This one-stop centre will give executives and managers access to top-notch training programs that will help them meet economic challenges.” HEC News Release
NAIT receives funding for micro- and nano-coating facility
The Northern Alberta Institute of Technology has received $1.5 M from Western Economic Diversification Canada to support the creation of a new centre that will allow businesses to test, develop, and commercialize micro- and nano-coated objects. The new facility will operate within NAIT's existing Nanotechnology Centre for Applied Research, Industry Training and Services. With the funding, NAIT will purchase specialized handling and blasting equipment, a spray booth, cutting machines, and compressors; NAIT will also upgrade the existing ventilation system and power supply. The project has also received support from MesoCoat Technology Canada. Canada News Release | Edmonton Journal
Douglas's business programs awarded accreditation
Degree and diploma programs offered by Douglas College's Faculty of Commerce and Business Administration have been recognized by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs. This initial accreditation comes after a two-year review process, which considered criteria including institutional leadership, quality of academic programs, faculty credentials, and community relationships. "This accreditation is an affirmation of the quality and relevance of our business programs. Faculty and staff should take full credit in knowing that we now join a very prestigious group of postsecondary institutions which meet the high standards of ACBSP accreditation," said George Stroppa, Dean of the faculty. Douglas News Release
BCCAT report profiles transfer students
The British Columbia Council on Admissions & Transfer has released a new report on undergraduate students who transferred to one of the six member universities of the Research Universities’ Council of BC (RUCBC) between 2008/09 and 2012/13. According to the report, transfer students made up approximately one-third of the student population at RUCBC institutions over this period. Transfer students tended to be older than direct-entry students, and took slightly smaller course loads during their first 12 months at their new institutions than their direct-entry counterparts. Initially, transfer students' performance was comparable with direct-entry students; however, transfer students' graduation GPA tended to be higher than direct-entry students' GPAs for all receiving institutions. BCCAT News Release | Full Report
TRC Chair says universities must do more to enhance understanding of Aboriginal people
At this year's Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences in Ottawa, Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Chair Justice Murray Sinclair told Canada's universities that they have a critical role to play in moving toward reconciliation. Sinclair said many Canadians "constantly demonstrate a total lack of understanding ... about who Aboriginal people are ... and what non-Aboriginal society has contributed and done to Aboriginal people that has caused the situation to be what it is." He said that the TRC is concerned that PSE institutions are graduating students who lack an understanding of what Aboriginal people have to contribute. Following Sinclair's speech, the Canadian Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences (CFHSS) announced the adoption of the Touchstones of Hope Principles and Processes, 5 core principles that will guide its work on reconciliation. Globe and Mail | CFHSS News Release
Study finds leaders more likely to hold degrees in social sciences
A majority of leaders hold degrees in the social sciences or the humanities, according to a new survey conducted by the British Council. The survey reports results from 1,709 leaders in 30 countries, defined as people in a “position of influence within their organization.” Fully 44% of respondents had training in the social sciences, with a further 11% in the humanities. The survey results also show that younger leaders, defined as those under 45, are more likely to have social science and humanities degrees. Inside Higher Ed | Full Report
