Top Ten
October 19, 2018
VIU, McGill create cross-Canada partnership focused on Indigenous Studies
Vancouver Island University and McGill University have partnered on a unique collaboration to create new learning and research opportunities in Indigenous Studies. The five-year collaboration period will see a working group from both universities and Indigenous communities explore a number of ideas and initiatives. In particular, they’ll examine the universities’ responsibility in listening to community direction, creating exchange opportunities, developing innovative programs in Indigenous studies and other disciplines, and more. “By working together, we can build bridges and learn from our different experiences,” said McGill Provost Christopher Manfredi. “McGill shares VIU’s commitment to Indigenous success and to the support and promotion of Indigenous scholarship and pedagogies; I look forward to seeing this important collaboration develop.” VIU | McGill
Holland College offers leadership training for non-profits
Holland College will unroll a leadership training program for non-profit organizations, thanks to a grant from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. According to a release from Holland College, the three-month program will consist of an experiential retreat in which participants complete a series of course modules and interact with guest speakers, 30 hours of online training, and a one-and-a-half day in-class training session. “Not-for-profit organizations make immense contributions to our communities. Through the Leadership Engagement Training program, these volunteer-driven groups will benefit from learning and strengthening skills to best use their available human resources,” said Sean Casey, Member of Parliament for Charlottetown on behalf of Minister of Innovation, Science, and Economic Minister Navdeep Bains. Holland College
Improving your résumé for an alt-ac position
Rather than converting an academic CV into a résumé, Jennifer Polk and L Maren Wood advise PhDs embarking on the nonfaculty job search to write their résumé from scratch to appeal to hiring managers. Polk and Wood explain the different functions, strengths, and failures of CVs and résumés; noting that the details that a CV obscures must be made explicit in a résumé. “Do consider the work you did in academe relevant experience,” they suggest, “but don’t use the language of higher education to talk about what you did as an academic.” Polk and Wood go on to provide a number of tips for improving one’s résumé for alt-academic careers. Inside Higher Ed
Shawinigan announces new program for chemical process technicians
Collège Shawinigan has partnered with Nemaska Lithium to offer a new attestation d’études collégiales (AEC) program in the operation and control of chemical processes. Shawinigan states that it was approached by Nemaska Lithium last spring to discuss the development of a program that could meet local industry needs for trained chemical process operation and control technicians. Shawinigan directeur général Éric Milette explained that aligning the college’s educational offerings to the needs of the region was a goal of the college’s strategic plan, and that partnerships allowed the College to actively contribute to a better match between training and employment. Shawinigan
YorkU launches Indigenous Studies program
York University has launched a new Indigenous Studies program. A YorkU release states that the program, which is offered through the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies, will include Indigenous ceremonies and experiential knowledge courses that will enable students to study an Indigenous language or work with traditional knowledge keepers to learn about land-based knowledge and cultural practices. “York is known as a progressive and engaged University committed to the social, economic, cultural and environmental well-being of the communities we serve, “said YorkU President and Vice-Chancellor Rhonda Lenton. YorkU adds that the program is part of the reconciliation process and calls to action from the TRC. YorkU
What Nobody Told Me About Dual Enrollment
Dual-enrolment and early college high school arrangements present a unique set of challenges, not all of which are explicitly apparent at the outset, writes Matt Reed. The author then outlines some of the unexpected hurdles he has encountered along the way while involved in these arrangmenets. In addition to pedagogical issues and the importance of extra tutoring, teachers and administrators of dual-enrolment programs also need to be mindful of book purchasing cycles and the logistics of placing dual-enrolment students evenly across sections. Reed explains that he learned of these challenges on the job, and advises readers to expect other unanticipated issues. Inside Higher Ed
BC funds adult literacy programs across province
The Government of British Columbia has announced $2.4M in funding for adult literacy programs across the province. “Supporting adult literacy programs that are delivered in the community gives people the confidence and skills to thrive,” said Melanie Mark, BC Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Training. The funding will go towards community programs that provide one-on-one tutoring, small group training, and other related learning opportunities. $342K is being provided to community adult literacy program partners through the College of New Caledonia, $299K will be provided through Coast Mountain College, $243K will be provided through Thompson Rivers University, $126K will be provided through Northern Lights College, and $67K will be provided through Okanagan College. BC(Okanagan) | BC(CNC) | Energetic City (NLC) | BC (CMC) | BC (TRU)
Gérald-Godin launches municipal patrol program
CÉGEP Gérald-Godin has announced a new municipal patrol training program. The eight-month program will lead to an attestation d’études collégiales (AEC) for students and will provide training to future municipal public safety officers. The program has been certified by the ministère de la Sécurité publique and the ministère de l’Éducation et de l’enseignement supérieur. Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue Municipal Patrol supervisor Alain Dupuis provided input on the program in order “to improve training so that it is better applied to the reality of the job.” Montreal Gazette
ULethbridge dedicates campus space to founding member
The University of Lethbridge has dedicated one of its campus spaces to the late Wilma G Winter, one of the university’s founding members. The newly christened Wilma G Winter Hall encompasses the offices, classrooms, and laboratory spaces of the Department of Kinesiology. "She was a very quiet leader, a great colleague to me and just one of those real unsung women changemakers on campus,” said retired professor Dayna Daniels. A ULethbridge releases states that Winter served numerous leadership roles on campus, including as ULethbridge's first female Athletic Director, Chief Marshal of Convocation, and with the Board of Governors. ULethbridge
MSVU student launches national ribbon campaign to raise awareness about sexual assault
Shelby Miller, a student at Mount Saint Vincent University, has launched a teal ribbon campaign to raise awareness of sexual assault. CBC reports that Miller was inspired to take action after she learned about St. Francis Xavier University’s recent handling of a case of sexual assault. It’s an issue we hear about on university campuses every year,” said Miller. “People should know about what is happening.” Last week, Miller set up a Facebook page titled “I’m With Her” to promote the teal ribbon event, and the Canadian Press reported that nearly 2,000 students had pledged to support the campaign by the time of publication. CBC
