Top Ten
December 1, 2017
UBC to recognize all Indigenous languages as undergraduate admissions requirements
The senate at UBC’s main campus has approved a motion that recognizes all Indigenous languages as prerequisites for undergraduate admissions at the school. The new policy states that direct-entry undergraduate admission requirements will accept any Canadian Indigenous languages taught at a Grade Twelve or postsecondary level, even if the language is not listed on the UBC Calendar’s website. “We want to send a very clear message that we want to support students learning those languages … particularly for people whom that language is a part of their culture,” said UBC’s Director of Undergraduate Admissions Andrew Arida. The policy will take effect in 2018. The new policy will apply to the school's Vancouver and Okanagan campuses.
NB has highest proportion of young college graduates in Canada: Census 2016
New Brunswick has the highest proportion of young college graduates in the country, but the lowest percentage of those with a university degree, according to recently released Statistics Canada data. StatCan Analyst and Economist Carlos Rodriguez notes, however, that one type of education is not necessarily replacing the other. “It's just more people are going for higher education in general,” he said. Rodriguez further added that the 2016 census data shows increases in both categories over 2006 and a decrease in the number of people without any postsecondary credential.
WLU professors issue petition calling for safety measures to support trans community members
Professors at Wilfrid Laurier University have created a petition calling on the school to protect members of the campus community who have been threatened or harassed because of their gender expression. The petition states that students and faculty are being subjected to threats of violence, harassment, and intimidation, and calls on the university to issue a statement condemning these actions and declaring that they will not be tolerated on campus. “Faculty and staff are scared to come to work right now,” said Greg Bird, a professor of sociology, cultural analysis and social theory at WLU who is listed as the petition’s creator. “Some professors are receiving threats, extensive rants on their work phones and work emails, and much more.” The petition also asks that the university put safety measures in place to protect those subjected to harassment and discrimination.
UTSC receives $1.7M gift towards sports management programs, international students
The University of Toronto Scarborough will now offer its students innovative programming in sports management while boosting support for international business students, thanks to a gift of $1.7M from alumnus and entrepreneur Tenniel Chu. The gift will establish the Tenniel Chu Chair in Sports Management while supporting programming and an annual lecture series in sports management. “Tenniel Chu is an outstanding business leader and a distinguished alumnus of the University of Toronto,” said U of T President Meric Gertler. “Through his generous and forward-thinking gift to UTSC’s Department of Management, he is helping to propel us to a new level of impact in the growing field of sports management.”
Canadian gender pay gap much smaller in nursing, engineering
The wage gap between women and men in Canada could shrink if more university-enrolled women pursued science and engineering degrees, according to data from the 2016 Canadian Census. Simona Chiose of the Globe and Mail reports that according to the Census, the nursing and engineering fields saw the smallest gender pay gaps and the highest salaries. In these professions, women between the ages of 25 and 34 earned more than 96% of men's wages. Median engineering salaries for all university graduates were above $77K, while nursing followed closely at just more than $75K. The article goes on to report other trends in earnings data by program of study found in the 2016 Census.
CNA, Habitat for Humanity NL renew partnership to build affordable housing
The College of the North Atlantic and Habitat for Humanity NL have signed an MOU that will renew their existing agreement for another two years. Through the partnership, CNA students from programs such as Architectural Engineering Technology and Business Management have had the opportunity to participate in select projects and collaborations. “This MOU is a win-win as our students receive hands-on training in their fields of study,” said CNA President Bill Radford. “This complements what they learn in the classrooms, and they can apply this knowledge in the community. In the meantime, Habitat for Humanity, as a not-for-profit organization, ensures that those in need have a safe and decent place to live.”
UWindsor signs five-year, $6M joint laboratory agreement with Chinese university
The University of Windsor and China’s Southwest University have signed an agreement to establish the International Joint Laboratory on Watershed and Lake Management. The partnership reportedly builds on 10 years of history between the institutions. An Ontario release notes that the new five-year agreement will create up to 50 high-value jobs in Ontario and is valued at $6M. The deal was part of more than $60M in new business agreements signed between Ontario and Chinese interests in Chongqing.
Half of female ULaval students report experiencing sexual violence
Almost half of Laval University female students who responded to a study say that they have experienced sexual violence in a university setting. La Presse reports that the study examined sexual violence at six Quebec universities and found that 47% of female students at ULaval reported experiencing some form of sexual violence, ranging from offensive looks (25%) to attempting to have sex without consent (5%). Only 14% of those who said they were victims of sexual violence indicated that they had reported the violence.
UWaterloo signs agreements with Hong Kong institutions
The University of Waterloo has signed three agreements with two universities in Hong Kong. Two agreements have been signed with the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, while the third agreement was signed with Hong Kong’s Lingnan University, where the institutions have agreed to start an undergraduate exchange program. “Hong Kong has long been an important global partner for the University of Waterloo and these agreements further cement our relationship with this very important region of the world,” said UWaterloo President Feridun Hamdullahpur. “These partnerships will continue to ensure our students and our institution maintain a global perspective so we can continue to solve some of the world’s greatest challenges.”
Dal student union offers emergency hijab kits
The Dalhousie Student Union has reportedly begun to offer emergency hijab kits in response to the mounting harassment and violence against Muslim women on campus. “I’ve heard many Muslim women talking about their hijab being yanked, spat on, or even pulled right off,” said Dal student executive Masuma Khan. “Sometimes you don’t even notice it, like you’re in class and someone will spit on you from behind and you don’t realize it until you’re fixing your hijab. It’s the most demeaning behaviour.” Dal Spokesperson Janet Bryson noted that the institution permitted the emergency kits to be made and offered, but does not expect that they will need to be used. “The university has not had a case where someone has had their headdress targeted,” said Bryson. “Our expectation is that they won’t have to be used.”
