Top Ten
April 27, 2018
McGill receives $15M gift for interdisciplinary health research
McGill Unviersity has reportedly received a donation of $15M from the Doggone-Foundation toward an interdisciplinary research project on infectious diseases and immune system threats. McGill’s Faculty of Medicine and the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre will each receive $7.5M for the project. “This exciting initiative will help assure that the right platforms and tools are in place so that our experts may continue to collaborate on solutions to some of the world’s most pressing health issues,” said Martine Alfonso, MUHC Interim President. McGill
NOSM, UManitoba collaborate on medical education and delivery
The Northern Ontario School of Medicine and the University of Manitoba’s Max Rady College of Medicine have signed a collaboration agreement focused on developing medical education programs and improving health care in rural areas. The agreement will see the institutions develop high-quality health care programs that are socially accountable and responsive to patients in under-served, rural areas. “The Northern Ontario School of Medicine was established with an explicit social accountability mandate; as such, we strive to cultivate relationships with organizations to facilitate common goals,” said NOSM Dean Roger Strasser. The collaboration will also foster professional relationships for medical residents that will ultimately improve referral patterns to MB.NOSM
ON should look outside GTA for new university campuses: McGrath
In light of the recent announcement of the two new campuses that will be built in Brampton and Milton, John Michael McGrath asks “why are we building new universities in the Greater Toronto Area at all?” McGrath notes that the government has pointed to the fast growth of the population in the GTA and increasing concentrations of new Canadians to justify the introduction of a new campus. However, McGrath goes on to discuss the benefits that a new campus in a different part of the province could have. “The thing is, with or without a university campus, Milton and Brampton will do just fine,” writes McGrath. “But there are plenty of places in this province, [...] which could desperately use the kind of long-term economic commitment that even a modest university would represent.” TVO
NS sees labour market demand for ECEs during universal pre-primary education roll-out
As the province rolls out universal pre-primary education for four-year-olds, child care operators in Nova Scotia say that the biggest issue they are facing is access to enough trained early childhood educators. “Despite the reported numbers of ECEs available to practice in the province, the regulated early learning and care sector has experienced and continues to experience significant challenges in recruiting and retaining staff, impacting quality across programs,” said Pam Streeter, of the Private Licensed Administrators Association. Education Department officials say that 110 ECEs have been hired to meet initial requirements and that an additional 700 will be needed by 2020. Global News
Essay raises questions of the place of ‘eroticism’ in academic mentorship
A recent essay published in the Boston Review on the ‘erotics of mentorship’ has drawn a significant amount of attention and raised controversy from mentors and mentees across the continent. Colleen Flaherty describes how the essay examines the history of “mentor-mentee relationships that were not only intellectual, but also erotic, romantic or physical,” as well as the impact of mentoring relationships that ‘cross the line’ into sexual harassment or assault. “But the authors aren’t trying to promote erotic mentorship, per se: their essay deals in the what, not so much the why or how,” writes Flaherty, adding that it ends “with a plea to reframe current campus discussions about faculty-student relationships.” Flaherty goes on to review the mixed responses to the essay. Inside Higher Ed | Boston Review
Camosun to re-evaluate appeals process
After three nursing students successfully appealed a failing grade, Camosun College is reviewing its appeals process, reports the Victoria Times Colonist. John Boraas, VP of Education at Camosun, stated that the appeal involved “human-rights issues,” adding that the BC Human Rights Tribunal advised Camosun that it would rule in favour of the nurses if the college refused the appeal. Although some faculty members are reportedly unhappy with the decision, Boraas acknowledged that a program such as nursing needs to strike a balance between student safety and rigorous training. Camosun reportedly allowed the students to advance to the next course on the condition that they attend a mandatory three-hour tutorial each week on top of their standard course load. Victoria Times Colonist (1) | Victoria Times Colonist (2)
Social media ‘fair game’ in admissions process
Recent studies conducted with admissions officers and prospective students in the US found that the majority of both groups felt that applicants’ social media profiles were “fair game” for universities when deciding who to admit to their institution. The survey found that 68% of surveyed US admissions officers felt that they could visit sites such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter when deciding who to offer acceptances. Similarly, 70% of surveyed high school students felt that social media was “fair game” for admissions officers, rather than an “invasion of privacy." Times Higher Education
Lakehead leadership pledges change after allegations of systemic racism
After Indigenous leaders from Northern Ontario publicly backed Angelique EagleWoman’s decision to resign as Dean of the Bora Laskin Faculty of Law at Lakehead University, CBC reports that administrators have pledged to curb systemic discrimination and racism. Council members from several First Nations forwarded a list of recommendations for systemic reform, while Lakehead stated that it will consult with Indigenous and non-Indigenous stakeholders. “There may well be many recommendations that we will land on together,” Lakehead interim President Moira McPherson told CBC. “But it would be very wrong of us to move forward with commitment to particular ones without that consultation.” CBC
Turpin, Notley, weigh in on Suzuki controversy
Alberta Premier Rachel Notley and University of Alberta President David Turpin have weighed in on the furor surrounding the university’s decision to confer anhonorary degree upon David Suzuki. In an op-ed for the Edmonton Journal, Turpin acknowledges those who argue that the conferral amounts to an attack on the energy industry, but counters that all universities must uphold freedom of inquiry, academic integrity, and independence above all other principles. Notley told the Canadian Press that she, likewise, defends UAlberta’s right to academic freedom, but that the decision also struck her as “tone deaf.” The controversy escalated after a Calgary law firm cancelled the remainder of a $100K donation to the university. Edmonton Journal | ipolitics.ca | Edmonton Star
UBCO partnership investigates physical activity of children with disabilities
The University of British Columbia Okanagan has partnered with Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities on research that aims to provide evidence-based protocols and policies to improve physical activity opportunities for Canadians with disabilities. The Canada-wide project has received nearly $500K in funding over the next five years from the charity. “Our preliminary findings from the Canadian Disability Participation Project indicate that children and youth with physical disabilities are not meeting the Canadian guidelines,” says UBC Professor Kathleen Martin Ginis. “Our new project is expanding the pilot study to include a much larger population of children and youth and to examine both the types of activities they participate in and for how long.” Researchers from the University of Toronto and York University will also be collaborating on the project. UBCO
