Top Ten
July 11, 2018
Durham announces gaming arena as first phase of eSports plan
Durham College has announced an eSports gaming arena, which the college states is the first of a four-phase eSports plan. According to a Durham release, the college plans to introduce an eSports club, varsity program, and an eSports curriculum. “More opportunities will become available once the broader program is launched, including attracting top gaming talent to the DC and providing experiential learning opportunities for students to participate in the planning, promotion, execution and broadcast of eSports events,” stated Marianne Marando, Durham’s Executive Dean for the School of Business, IT & Management. Durham states that construction of the arena will begin this summer. Durham
Increasing confidentiality in presidential searches leads to higher costs
Some university boards are beginning to take extreme steps to protect the identity of finalists in presidential searches, writes Judith Wilde. The author describes the actions taken by US institutions to protect confidentiality, including the use of police officers, lifelong confidentiality agreements, and the use of SUVs with tinted windows. Wilde then examines the financial cost that the schools incur when conducting “secret searches” with these measures, and adds that “there is no evidence [... ] that such searches yield a stronger pool of candidates or result in the appointment of more successful presidents.” Inside Higher Ed
VIU Cowichan introduces education assistant program to meet local school needs
Vancouver Island University has introduced the Education Assistant and Community Support Certificate Program to its Cowichan Campus. VIU explains that the program trains students to work with children and adults with cognitive, emotional, or physical challenges. “Our role is to serve the needs of the community and so we figured out a way to put the program together after the [Cowichan School District] came to us,” said Keith Chicquen, VIU Cowichan’s Instructional Director. VIU adds that the program's first cohort will graduate in August, following a three-week practicum with the School District. VIU
Students, cancer researchers connect through undergraduate course at UWindsor
The University of Windsor has announced a new course that will give students first-hand experience with cancer research, CBC reports. Lisa Porter, a UWindsor professor and cancer research, told CBC that the Windsor region boasts a vast array of cancer research initiatives. "We have clinicians at the different hospitals, there's researchers that do sort of psychosocial research, and engineers, and people working in human kinetics ... and then of course there's those of us in science," said Porter. She added that the course will provide students and researchers a forum for brainstorming strategies to better explain and market cancer research. CBC
NIC offers expanded programming at Dogwood Campus
North Island College has announced that it will expand its programming to offer Business and University Transfer courses at its Dogwood campus. “To have program and course expansion happening in tandem with NIC’s $17.6M Campbell River campus renovation and expansion project is revitalizing,” said NIC President John Bowman. NIC states that the expansion reflects NIC’s Integrated Multi-Year Program and Campbell River Campus Plan. To accommodate the expansion and support student success, NIC adds that it will increase its advising services, counselling, front desk, library, administration, food services, and homestay/peerstay programs. NIC
KPU, City of Delta approve license agreement to use Paterson Park
The Council of the City of Delta in British Columbia has approved a license agreement with Kwantlen Polytechnic University that will allow the municipality to use the KPU-owned Paterson Park property. The two-year deal includes an annual license fee of $1, according to the Delta Optimist. KPU has reportedly confirmed that it will be putting the land up for sale to divest itself of the property. However, the Delta Optimist explains that the property is not an easy sell, due to barriers such as the current land zoning and a provision in the purchase agreement with the Delta Agricultural Society that a postsecondary institute would be built on the land. Delta Optimist
Mohawk program supports school-to-work transition
Indigenous graduates are benefiting from an employment placement initiative offered through Tewatohnhi'saktha, an economic development commission in the Kanien'kehá:ka community of Kahnawake. The program, launched in 2016, provides recent graduates with a six-month placement with an employer of their choice, Ka'nhehsí:io Deer writes, with wages subsidized by the program. “I think it's quite unique because I don't think that there are many student placement programs where the organization is subsidizing the placement of students, especially graduates,” stated Kara Paul, the program’s Career Programming Co-ordinator. CBC
Addressing sexual harassment between faculty members
While recent media coverage has shed light on sexual harassment against undergraduate and graduate students, sexual harassment amongst faculty members remains relatively unaddressed, writes Wanda Hurren. The author encourages a culture of not keeping secrets as the first step to address sexual harassment within faculty ranks, and goes on to describe several systemic factors through which secrecy works: power, coercion, consent, and the hierarchical dimension of the university’s structure. Hurren states that having the power to “name” and “talk back” at sexual harassment through a professional culture free of secrecy can dismantle the systemic factors that perpetuate it. University Affairs
Few institutions strategize about use, costs of ResNet: ACUHO-I survey
“Although institutional leaders view the campus residential network ("ResNet") as a differentiator and asset, fewer are plugging ResNet into their planning,” writes Dian Schaffhauser. Schaffhauser examines the results of a recent survey of over 300 higher education institutions conducted by the Association of College and University Housing Officers-International (ACUHO-I). The study found that as demand and usage of wi-fi on campus increases, more schools are outsourcing or considering outsourcing their ResNet operations. The study also identified an issue with the falling percentage of institutions engaged in strategic planning and collaborating around ResNet, as well as funding and infrastructure concerns expressed by leaders. Campus Technology | ACUHO-I
Students ask NB why law, medical students are ineligible for tuition relief
CBC has learned that the New Brunswick government does not provide tuition relief for medical or law students from low-income families. Emily Blue, Executive Director of the New Brunswick Student Alliance, said that the group representing students across the province has called on the government to support low-income students in professional programs, but that the government has not responded. In a statement, Roger Melanson, NB’s Minister of Post-Secondary Education, Training, and Labour, did not explain why law and medical students are not eligible for assistance. CBC
