Top Ten
February 13, 2018
UNB opens LGBTQIA2S+ space on Fredericton Campus
The University of New Brunswick has opened The 203 Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity at its Fredericton campus. The area is run by an advisory board comprised of students, faculty, and staff, and provides LGBTQIA2S+ members of the UNB community with a welcoming place to socialize. “We are very excited to be opening The 203 to the public today,” said UNB Fredericton Director of Counselling Services Rice Fuller. “The centre is a significant step towards our campus being a more welcoming and supportive environment for LGBTQIA2s+ students.” NationTalk | UNB
McGill launches new Masters of Management in Analytics program
McGill University’s Desautels Faculty of Management has announced that it will launch a new Masters of Management in Analytics this summer. The one-year program is described as an intensive pre-experience program that covers the fundamentals of data and decision analytics, team management and leadership, and opportunities for interdisciplinary study. “Organizations across sectors are seeing the real benefits of harnessing their data to sharpen and expedite decision-making,” said McGill Desautels Associate Dean of Masters Programs Steve Fortin. “There are many important insights that can be gleaned through data analytics and there is a growing demand for graduates who are able to make sense of this information.” McGill
UofT, Ryerson, OCADU, YorkU work together to better understand Toronto student housing issues
Researchers at the University of Toronto, Ryerson University, OCAD University and York University have been working together since last August to better understand how housing in Toronto affects the lives of students. StudentDwellTO is a joint research project established by the four universities’ presidents that works to identify causes and propose possible solutions to the housing-related challenges faced by students. A UofT release reports that researchers have already reviewed 150 academic articles to get an idea of best practices from around the world. One of the early findings of the work reveals how building design and the length of commutes significantly impact student experiences. UofT
Holland offers combined plumbing, pipefitting program
Holland College has announced a new one-year certificate program that will provide students with skills to start working as a plumber or steamfitter/pipefitter. They will learn how to install and service hot and cold-water distribution piping, plumbing fixtures and appliances, waste and vent piping, and more; as well as skills specific to steamfitting/pipefitting. Throughout the program, students will earn a total credit of 900 hours of apprenticeship time and will be eligible to write the apprenticeship level one exam for both trades. Graduates will be prepared to work in either trade depending on their preference. Holland
BMO donates $500K to SFU Beedie to support Indigenous business education
Simon Fraser University’s Beedie School of Business has received $500K from the BMO Financial Group to support Indigenous business education. The gift will go towards research and educational materials at the school, as well as the creation of a $10K award for a student of the Executive MBA in Indigenous Business and Leadership program. “We are deeply grateful to BMO and John Ellis for their generous support over many years,” said SFU Beedie Dean Ali Dastmalchian. “This gift will enable us to make significant progress towards our goal of developing a world-leading offering in Indigenous business education.” SFU
UWaterloo launches lab to help entrepreneurs tackle worthy problems
The University of Waterloo has launched its new Problem Lab, which will help entrepreneurs create valuable startups by teaching them how to identify real-world problems that need technological solutions. The Problem Lab will see students form teams to identify a problem and make a pitch to a panel of judges. The best pitches will receive funding to research the problem, the size of the marketplace, and the potential for new technologies that might solve the problem. The initiative has already benefitted from a $300K investment from Research in Motion founders Mike Lazaridis and Doug Fregin. “We often see what I would describe as a waste of talent, which is very talented people applying themselves to a problem that is not worthy of that talent, nor a problem robust enough to get good, rapid traction in the marketplace,” said the lab’s director, Larry Smith. Waterloo Region Record | UWaterloo
2018 3M National Teaching fellows announced
The 3M National Teaching fellows for 2018 have been announced. Maclean’s reports that this year’s fellows have been chosen not only for their outstanding work in the classroom, but for their public work with municipalities, First Nations communities, and other groups. “These 3M National Teaching fellows are great teachers and inspirational leaders, but they also demonstrate critical hope—the belief that higher education can change the world combined with the courage to persist in that belief,” says program coordinator Shannon Murray. This year also saw Marc Richard of the Faculty of Animation Arts & Design at Sheridan College become the first National Teaching fellow to come from the college sector. Maclean’s
Medical students call for improved response to Indigenous mental health, suicide crisis
Medical students from across Canada met with 70 Members of Parliament, Senators, and policy advisors yesterday to urge the government to strengthen its response to the Indigenous mental health and suicide crisis. In a release published prior to the meeting, the Canadian Federation of Medical Students argues that “despite a clear need for urgent investment in mental health and suicide prevention, Indigenous peoples in Canada continue to experience some of the largest health and socioeconomic disparities in the developed world.” The release also lays out three key recommendations for addressing the ongoing crisis associated with Indigenous mental health and suicide. CFMS
Georgian cancels proposed diploma in homeopathy
Georgian College has announced that it is cancelling a proposed advanced diploma program in homeopathy. “In light of the recent response from our local community and beyond and in consideration of our students, Georgian College has made the decision to cancel the homeopathy program,” the college said in a statement on Friday. Students already enrolled are being offered the chance to withdraw or transfer to another program. CBC reports that the program faced criticism from doctors and scientists from across the country while it was being developed. CBC | Montreal Gazette
JIBC launches part-time, pre-employment firefighting program
The Fire & Safety Division at the Justice Institute of British Columbia has announced the introduction of a part-time offering of its Fire Fighting Technologies Certificate. A JIBC release states that the offering was developed to meet the needs of prospective students looking to obtain their NFPA 1001 firefighting certification and academic credentials while balancing their work and family commitments. “Among the strengths of the FFTC program is the extensive hands-on, live-fire training our students receive at JIBC’s world-class training facility in Maple Ridge,” said Peter Grootendorst, Director of the Fire & Safety Division at JIBC. “Students are taught by experienced firefighters from leading fire departments in the Lower Mainland who serve as mentors as our students complete their training.” JIBC
