Top Ten
October 23, 2018
Confederation celebrates grand opening of TEC Hub
Confederation College has formally opened its new Technology, Education, and Collaboration Hub. The new facility will host research, incubation, and technology transfer services; support new programming and pathways; create opportunities for collaboration; and foster innovation and entrepreneurship. “The facility significantly expands our capacity to support our students and programming, in turn supporting the workforce needs of the region,” said Confederation President Kathleen Lynch. “With this facility, we are well positioned to improve our current programs, explore new partnerships and develop new opportunities to contribute to the advancement of the manufacturing, technology and resource sectors in northwestern Ontario.” Confederation
WesternU celebrates record-breaking $805M “Extraordinary” campaign
Western University has completed the most successful fundraising campaign in the school’s history, raising $805M over a decade of work. The school credits the success of its campaign to the “generosity and the collective energy of more than 49,000 alumni and friends, faculty, staff, students, volunteers and corporate partners who supported the goal of strengthening Western’s role on the global stage.” The stated goals of the campaign were to increase support for students, attract the world’s top talent to help build on nationally and internationally recognized research strengths, increase international opportunities for students, and build world-class facilities. “We started this Campaign with a goal of $750 million and, through dedication and hard work, we’ve managed to accomplish something truly remarkable. This is a proud day for me, and for Western,” said Campaign Chair Geoff Beattie. WesternU
UCalgary partners with Aga Khan University
The University of Calgary has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Aga Khan University. According to a UCalgary release, the MOU will facilitate international cooperation for human development, global health, social justice, and pluralism. “This agreement builds on a long-standing, mutually beneficial partnership and lays the path forward to continued leadership and impact for many years to come,” said UCalgary President Elizabeth Cannon. “Both of our universities are committed to higher education and research that benefits the world, and we want to serve our communities as leaders, innovators and key contributors.” The partnership between the two institutions supports education and research collaborations, student internships, and faculty exchanges, UCalgary adds. UCalgary
UNBC celebrates end of first comprehensive fundraising campaign
The University of Northern British Columbia has surpassed its $15M goal for its first comprehensive fundraising campaign and raised a grand total of $21.4M. The campaign, which was launched in 2014, aims to support a number of institutional priorities and projects. “We are incredibly grateful and truly honoured by the generosity and outpouring of support shown by our donors, founders, community partners, alumni, faculty and staff,” said UNBC President Daniel Weeks. “Their commitment to UNBC has made a huge impact that will transform lives and communities in the North and around the world for years to come.” UNBC | Prince George Citizen
Lakeland receives Verified Beef Production Plus certification
Lakeland College has become the first postsecondary institution in Alberta to receive Verified Beef Production Plus certification. A Lakeland release states that the certification reflects “the highest standards for food safety, animal care, and environmental stewardship” at the same time as it increases the college’s access to markets for beef sold off of Lakeland’s Student-Managed-Farm. “Lakeland is very progressive and could be an example for future producers. We can help influence students going through the program so they can become familiar with it,” said Alberta VBP+ Provincial Coordinator Melissa Downing. Lakeland
RRC raises security after instructor attacked
Red River College is reportedly increasing its security near its Exchange District campus after an instructor was attacked and viciously beaten. The instructor was on his way to catch a bus after teaching his evening class, and police stated that investigators don’t know what motivated the attack and that the assailant did not speak during the incident. “This is an extremely upsetting incident,” said RRC President Paul Vogt. “We are grateful our instructor is recovering in hospital. We will continue to focus on his well-being and offer all the support we can to our instructor and his family.” The Winnipeg Free Press highlights some of the new security measures implemented at the college and notes that more could be taken after the completion of an in-depth review of the incident. Winnipeg Free Press
A reflection on advising students
“At the surface, it might seem like the three-legged academic stool—teaching, scholarship and service—does not include dealing with students’ feelings. But teaching does have a place for it,” writes Sriram Khé. As a faculty advisor, the author continues, that means knowing how to exercise empathy before students in distress. Khé goes on to share his realization that when students feel compelled to share their feelings during office hours, they are not necessarily seeking solutions to their problems, but simply want to feel heard. Khé concludes by emphasizing that he is not a counsellor, but recognizes that faculty advisors must strike a fine balance between engaged listening and professional boundaries. Inside Higher Ed
Concordia to make digital learning environments more accessible
Concordia University has received $550K from Entente Canada-Québec, a provincial funding envelope, in support of an initiative to make the university’s digital learning environments more accessible. A Concordia release states that the initiative seeks to build a provincial knowledge-exchange network; benchmark existing accessibility levels of its digital learning environments; promote accessible design tools in learning management systems; and produce online faculty training programs in Quebec. The accessibility initiative is part of the university’s overall digital strategy, which consists of a shared vision and roadmap to be drafted in consultation with key stakeholders, Concordia adds. Concordia
ULaval investigating reports of GHB
“At the surface, it might seem like the three-legged academic stool—teaching, scholarship and service—does not include dealing with students’ feelings. But teaching does have a place for it,” writes Sriram Khé. As a faculty advisor, the author continues, that means knowing how to exercise empathy before students in distress. Khé goes on to share his realization that when students feel compelled to share their feelings during office hours, they are not necessarily seeking solutions to their problems, but simply want to feel heard. Khé concludes by emphasizing that he is not a counsellor, but recognizes that faculty advisors must strike a fine balance between engaged listening and professional boundaries. Inside Higher Ed
ULaval investigating reports of druggings
Université Laval is investigating at least nine reports of medical students possibly being given the date rape drug GHB, reports CBC. "We want to get to the bottom of this," said ULaval Spokesperson Andrée-Anne Stewart. "We want to gather evidence, facts, witness accounts, so it's important that students who have information share it with us." CBC states that one student, who was hospitalized after a party, had no memory of what had happened during the night. City police told CBC they have not received any reports about GHB at the university. CBC
Boréal, SPCA sign 10-year animal wellness partnership
Collège Boréal and the Ontario SPCA have signed a 10-year animal wellness partnership. The partnership will see the continuation of a previous agreement that provided students with “an opportunity for hands-on animal wellness learning” and a home base for the Ontario SPCA Sudbury & District Animal Centre. The Ontario SPCA has also announced the creation of a bursary for a Francophone Indigenous student to pursue the college’s veterinary technician program in Sudbury. “The last five years have proven that sharing complementary resources to offer excellent college-level training in veterinary care is a success,” said Boréal President Daniel Giroux. CBC
