Top Ten
October 23, 2017
College students express growing interest in study abroad
Study abroad is becoming a growing priority for the Canadian college experience, writes Paul Attfield. The author highlights the efforts of Langara College, Lethbridge College, and Durham College to increase the number of students they have studying abroad. 2010 figures from the Canadian Bureau for International Education show that only 1.1% of full-time Canadian college students have a credit or not-for-credit educational experience abroad annually, although 82% of Canadian colleges and institutes offer such experiences. The three highlighted colleges all say that they have seen increasing interest from students to pursue study abroad in recent years, and that they are making moves to better support these students in doing so. Globe and Mail
Dal student faces discipline for Facebook post “targeting white people”
A student at Dalhousie University is facing disciplinary action for a Facebook post she wrote regarding Canada 150 celebrations. Simona Chiose reports that Masuma Khan, a vice-president of the Dalhousie Student Union, wrote a post on June 30, 2017 after facing criticism for a motion to have the student union not participate in Canada 150 celebrations. Her response used expletives and invoked the concept of white fragility in criticizing the Nova Scotia Young Progressive Conservatives, who made the initial criticism. After conducting an investigation, Dal vice-provost of student affairs, Arig al Shaibah, concluded that Khan violated the school's code of student conduct. Khan is defending herself with the help of Halifax law firm Nijhawan McMillan Barristers, which has taken on the case pro bono. Globe and Mail
Toronto students rally to support college faculty
College students rallied in Downtown Toronto last week to support striking professors, instructors and teaching assistants. Students reportedly gathered at the corner of Bay and Bloor streets at noon before marching to the Ontario Ministry of Education office and Queens Park. “When you're part-time staff and have 300 students, you can't comment on everybody's thesis paper, you can't comment on everyone's assignment,” said Fauvelle. “So we're not growing as students.” More than 60,000 Ontario college students have also signed an online petition demanding their money back because of the strike. In total, roughly 500,000 students at 24 colleges have been affected. Students also reportedly demonstrated at York University. CBC (1) | CBC (2)
RDC to build new residence for 2019
Red Deer College has announced that it will build an innovative new residence building by early 2019. The new residence will reportedly contain 145 studio suites and will house athletes who are in central Alberta for the 2019 Canada Winter Games from February 15 to March 3, 2019. After the Games, RDC students who have short-term educational needs, including Apprenticeship students, will have the opportunity to move in for the remainder of the academic year. “The new Residence is part of the College’s Land Use Master Plan, and it is an important component for the future growth and development of Red Deer College,” says RDC Board Chair Morris Flewwelling. “This building has been carefully designed to meet the needs of our learners, which is always at the forefront of our strategic planning.” RDC
Helping the tech sector, defending democracy are not the core goal of liberal arts: Moore
Many of the current defenses of the liberal arts argue that these disciplines will bring much-needed creativity to the tech industry or defend democracy against fascism, writes Andrew Moore, director of the Great Books program at St Thomas University. Moore adds that “these arguments – while effective in certain situations – might do a disservice to the liberal arts.” The purpose of the liberal arts is not to sustain the economic and political status quo, Moore argues, but to train students to ask fundamental questions about why we should pursue certain economic and political goals to begin with. “By reading novels and political treatises, works of history and theology, we can avoid sleepwalking through life,” Moore concludes. “We can learn not just how to do things, but also why we should (or should not) do them.” Times Higher Education
Colleges seek more holistic approach to career services
Helping students transition from PSE into a career begins “at the core of who people are,” says Nova Scotia Community College President Don Bureaux. In a Globe and Mail article reflecting on how colleges prepare students for the workforce, Bureaux describes how colleges are taking a more holistic approach to personal and career development. The article highlights recent efforts by NSCC, Fanshawe College, and St Lawrence College to integrate career services more seamlessly into the student experience. Globe and Mail
Lethbridge College receives Indigenous name at Indigenous Celebration Day
Lethbridge College recently held an Indigenous Celebration Day, during which the college was granted the Blackfoot name “Ohkotoki’aahkkoiyiiniimaan” by Kainai Elder Peter Weasel Moccasin, which means Stone Pipe. “We have so much knowledge, talent, expertise and leadership among our local Indigenous population and this is our chance to really celebrate that,” says Shanda Webber, Lethbridge College’s manager of Recruitment and Indigenous Services. “Indigenous Celebration Day is about celebrating our pride, history and knowledge of all First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples, as well as creating a welcoming, inclusive learning environment for all.” The celebration day included a traditional feast of Buffalo stew and bannock, as well as powwow drumming and dancing, hoop dancing, Métis fiddling and jigging, and a hand drum contest. NationTalk | Lethbridge Herald | Lethbridge College
UQTR renames Molson-Boulet phonetics laboratory in recognition of donors
L’Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières has unveiled the newly renamed Molson-Boulet phonetics laboratory in recognition of the Fondation Molson and Jean Boulet, a partner at Lavery Avocats, and their philanthropic commitment to the Fondation de l’UQTR. Donations of $250K from Fondation Molson and $20K from Jean Boulet allowed the university to restore and improve the phonetics lab through the purchase of specialized equipment, the development of educational activities, and the creation of a scholarship program. UQTR Rector Daniel McMahon stressed the importance of the contributions and praised the donors for facilitating students’ language learning and providing teachers with an environment that is better suited to their needs. UQTR
Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf receives $1.6M for infrastructure upgrades
The Government of Canada is investing $1.6M in Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf on Montreal Island to replace some 550 wood-framed windows in the college’s main pavilion. A federal release reports that the pavilion houses science and information technology labs as well as classrooms and libraries. The original windows were reportedly installed in 1928 and can no longer be deemed efficient. “The replacement of windows from 1928 will improve the college’s environmental sustainability while preserving its heritage. The project will help improve energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions while providing a high-quality environment for professors and students,” said Jean-de-Brébeuf Directeur Général Michel April. Canada
CNC, Mexican university sign MOU to encourage internationalization
The College of New Caledonia and the Universidad Politecnica de Santa Rosa, located in central Mexico, have signed an MOU that commits to help improve student internationalization. The MOU will see the institutions discuss options such as semester-long exchanges and potential transfers between the institutions. “One of the things that we as an institutions are working towards are more international experiences for our students as part of internationalizing the institution” CNC President Henry Reiser told CKPG News. CNC is currently hosting 20 students from the Universidad who received special mobility scholarships from the Mexican government. CKPG News
