Top Ten
June 12, 2018
NL, USask, FNMI groups partner to send Indigenous students to law school
The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, the University of Saskatchewan, and Indigenous governments and organizations are partnering to help send Indigenous students to law school. USask will reserve two seats in the law program for NL Indigenous students from NL, and the provincial government will allocate and fund two articling positions for those students upon graduation. “Members of Indigenous groups are currently underrepresented in legal professions,” said Andrew Parsons Minister of Justice and Public Safety and Attorney General. “We aim to change that here in this province by breaking down social and economic barriers some members of Indigenous groups face in pursuing legal education.” Nation Talk
University-prison partnership offers inmates a “humanizing” experience
In a feature article for University Affairs, Bruno Vompean profiles several participants in the Walls to Bridges Program, which offers university courses to inmates at several Canadian correction facilities. According to Vompean, Wilfrid Laurier University launched the program in 2011, which has since incorporated several institutional partners throughout Ontario and Manitoba. While the program has enjoyed success, Michael Bryant, Executive Director of the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, states that the Canadian government could do more to facilitate rehabilitation and education for inmates. University Affairs
St Clair to launch e-sports program
St Clair College plans to introduce a program for competitive online gaming, CBC reports. The program, which will incorporate business, sports management marketing, branding, and sports content, is designed to “give students all the background knowledge they need to understand all the different key elements in the e-sports industry,” said Shaun Byrne, e-sports Director for Saints Gaming. The program will focus on entrepreneurship in a bid to foster leaders in the newly emergent industry of competitive gaming. According to CBC, St. Clair expects to receive ministry approval in time to launch the program in early 2019. CBC
Arbitrator awards Galloway $167K in damages
CBC reports that Steven Galloway, the former head of the University of British Columbia Creative Writing program who was fired after he admitted to an affair with a student, has received $167K in damages from the university. According to CBC, arbitrator John B Hall concluded that a number of communications from UBC contravened Galloway’s privacy rights. During the arbitration, CBC states that the Faculty Association withdrew its claim on behalf of Galloway, for reinstatement, which meant that the arbitrator would not have to deal with the issue of whether or not the university had cause for dismissal. CBC
Recruiter expresses concern about international enrolments
Mel Broitman, the owner of an international student recruiting company, has told CBC that Canadian universities need to better handle the recent influx of international students. According to Canada’s Ministry of Education, international students will make up 22% of Ontario’s entire student body by 2022. Broitman notes that the increase will lead to larger class sizes that can compromise the quality of education. According to RM Kennedy, Chair of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union, the influx reflects funding shortfalls. “The key is that we are having a gap between the increased enrolment and the number of services that are put in place to support those students so they can be successful in the environment,” said Kennedy. CBC
Conestoga installs 200-panel solar field at Cambridge campus
Conestoga College is installing a 200-panel solar field at its Cambridge campus, reports the Waterloo Region Record. “We're installing a 500-kilowatt solar field and a 250-ton geothermal unit,” said Tim Schill, Conestoga's Facilities Management Director. According to the Record, the solar panels will reduce Conestoga’s reliance on its boiler system in the winter, thereby cutting its carbon emissions by 390 tons per year. A provincial grant has helped fund the $2.5M project, and the Record adds that Conestoga plans to install a similar field of solar panels at its Doon campus, pending federal funding. Waterloo Region Record
YorkU accuses union of bullying as record-breaking strike enters week 14
Administrators at York University are accusing union members of threatening administration officials at the school as a strike at the university enters its 14th week. Maclean’s reports that YorkU Vice President Academic and Provost Lisa Phillips recently published a letter accusing members of CUPE local 3903, which represents the school’s contract faculty, of “an escalating pattern of personal harassment” that includes union members protesting at President Rhonda Lenton’s home. CUPE 3903 Spokesperson Julien Arend has responded that any such actions are not official union activities and were not undertaken by the union as a group. Arend added that the administration has employed bullying tactics of its own, such as an alleged threat to discipline union members who have taken actions the school considers to be unlawful. Maclean’s
ACC, CBU partner to offer MBA program in Community Economic Development
Assiniboine Community College and Cape Breton University’s Shannon School of Business are partnering to offer a Master in Business Administration program in Community Economic Development starting January 2019 in Brandon, Manitoba. ACC Explains that CBU's MBA in Community Economic Development program blends curriculum found in traditional MBA programs with an emphasis on economic development, leadership, change management, and governance. ACC
Lethbridge College receives over $800K from local home builders through unique project
An innovative campaign that brought together local home builders, tradespeople, and suppliers to support students at Lethbridge College has raised more than $800K over the past five years. A college release states that the College Home project, a partnership between the Canadian Home Builders’ Association—Lethbridge Region and Lethbridge College, saw CHBA builders work with suppliers and tradespeople to build homes that were showcased and sold. “This project was the first of its kind in Canada and the final goal was incredibly ambitious,” says college President Paula Burns. “To see the successes accumulate over five years was inspiring and we are thankful for the support of the CHBA and its members.” Lethbridge College
Camosun students partner with community to cook healthy meals, eliminate food waste
Volunteers from Camosun College and the community in Victoria, British Columbia are working together to provide fresh and healthy meals with an aim to reducing food waste. Undertaken in collaboration with The Mustard Seed and Food Share Network, the project sees volunteers and students cooking community meals using food that might otherwise be lost to waste. “Our work with The Mustard Seed has been growing from strength to strength,” says Camosun Culinary Arts Chair Steve Walker-Duncan. “It's an effective way of giving back to community and it's something that makes you feel good.” Camosun
