Top Ten
July 19, 2018
USask plans $4.7M renovation project for Prince Albert campus
The University of Saskatchewan expects to spend a total of $13.5M on the former Forestry Centre building in Prince Albert for academic use, reports the Saskatoon StarPhoenix. USask Vice-Provost Patti McDougall told the StarPhoenix that the university intends to use the space to first accommodate its 325 students in Prince Albert before looking at the building's unused capacity. The instiution will spend $4.7M on renovations for the building. The campus provides USask with the opportunity to develop a strategy for Northern Saskatchewan, with an emphasis on Indigenous communities, McDougall added. The StarPhoenix states that the campus will house the Nursing, Medicine, Arts and Science, Kinesiology, Agriculture and Bioresources, and Pharmacy and Nutrition programs. Saskatoon StarPhoenix
Durham signs MOU with Molecular Science Corporation for cannabis research
Durham College announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Molecular Science Corporation. The partnership will facilitate opportunities for student experiential learning placements and collaboration on research initiatives related to the medical and recreational cannabis industry. “We see significant opportunity in terms of capacity building, talent recruitment, internships and integrated service offerings that will benefit both organizations,” stated Molecular COO Ian Morton. Molecular will also act as an advisor for equipment acquisitions and provide guest speakers to address students, the release states. Durham
RRC secures funding for Innovation Centre
Red River College will begin construction on its $95M Innovation Centre after receiving assurances from the federal government that the project's funding is secure, reports the Winnipeg Free Press. In March, RRC placed the project on hold, announcing that it could not meet the government's November 2018 completion deadline. According to the Free Press, the college has secured the cash from a different federal program after months of negotiation. The Innovation Centre has received vocal support from the local business community, whose leaders told the Free Press that it will be a key pillar for local start-ups in Winnipeg's growing tech sector. RRC stated that it hopes to complete the project by 2020. Winnipeg Free Press
Canadian Parks initiative to connect scholars, leaders, communities
The Canadian Parks Council, Mount Royal University, Royal Roads University, and York University have announced that they will be partnering on the new Canadian Parks Collective for Innovation and Leadership. An MRU release states that the initiative will facilitate innovations in conservation and environmental stewardship by connecting scholars and community leaders. “The CPCIL will play an important role in supporting the success of our national and provincial parks, which are critical to our country’s environmental and social health," said Connie Van der Byl, Academic Director of MRU's Institute for Environmental Stability. The release states that undergraduate students will also have the opportunity to engage with park leaders. Nation Talk (MRU)
Shortage of PSWs inspires partnership between Sault, Algoma Manor
A shortage of healthcare workers in Northern Ontario has led Sault College to partner with Algoma Manor, based in Thessalon, Ontario to offer the college’s Personal Support Worker (PSW) program directly in the community. The partnership was developed by Sault through its Continuing Education and Employment Solutions departments. “The need for more PSWs in the area was identified by Algoma Manor and Employment Solutions Blind River,” said Sault Program Manager of Continuing Education Lori Crosson. “Once these needs were identified, we worked together on offering the program to assist employers and our students. We are focused on providing access to education for all and this was one way we could help to accomplish this goal.” Soo Today | Sault Online
ULethbridge, Sherbrooke initiative receives $1.65M in federal funding
The federal government has awarded the University of Lethbridge and l'Université de Sherbrooke $1.65M in support of a new research and teaching initiative. According to Lethbridge News Now, the initiative will facilitate entrepreneurial research and an internship program that encourages private sector participation. "Compounded by the labour shortage projected by the Government of Canada in this key economic sector, we propose to establish an industry-driven Bioengineering and Innovation Training Network with emphasis on innovative RNA-based technologies,” said Hans-Joachim Wieden, Alberta Innovates Strategic Chair in RNA Bioengineering. Lethbridge News Now
Report finds that English departments who adapt continue to thrive
Although the overall number of English majors has declined between 1991 and 2012, departments who review and revise their programs continue to thrive, writes Colleen Flaherty. Citing a new report by the Association of English Departments, Flaherty finds that successful departments experiment with different tracks within the major—such as creative writing, literature, education, composition and rhetoric, and writing studies—to stay relevant. At the same time, they succinctly emphasize how skills such as critical analysis and composition make students more marketable to potential employers. The article also notes that English departments have yet to meaningfully engage with emergent digital technologies. Inside Higher Ed
UBC responds to Galloway op-ed
After Steven Galloway’s recent op-ed about the sexual assault allegations that derailed his career, the University of British Columbia released a statement defending its decision to fire him, the Vancouver Sun reports. According to the statement, recent media accounts about the case have “cast aspersions on the actions and motives of UBC faculty members, students and administrators.” In June, an arbitrator awarded Galloway $167K after determining that “certain communications” by the university violated Galloway’s privacy rights and damaged his reputation. Philip Steenkamp, UBC’s VP of External Relations, reiterated that UBC was right to fire Galloway and that issues of sexual misconduct were only part of the review. Vancouver Sun(1) | Vancouver Sun(2) | UBC
Just over half of graduating students have learning-related work experience: survey
A little more than half of undergraduate students in their final year of study at a Canadian postsecondary institution have had some form of learning-related work experience, according to the most recent Canadian University Survey Consortium. The survey also found that four-fifths of students were satisfied with the quality of their education, and more than two-thirds expected to enroll in further education within the next five years. However, of the 60% of students who were employed in their final year of study in 2018 – working about 18 hours per week – 42% said that their work “has at least somewhat of a negative impact on their academic performance.” University Affairs
MUN Dean of Medicine committed to bringing change in wake of report
Memorial University Dean of Medicine Margaret Steele tells CBC that she is committed to taking action to create a safe and respectful work environment after a recent report found issues of sexual harassment and bullying within the faculty. “I think the important thing is we want to have a culture that is free of intimidation of harassment and sexual harassment,” said Steele, adding that she is taking the report’s 39 recommendations very seriously. 57 people, including staff, physicians, and students were interviewed for the investigation, which was conducted by former school of nursing director Sandra Lefort and ordered by Steele last November. CBC
