Top Ten
June 14, 2019
UManitoba launches bold new logo and brand
After extensive research and community consultation, the University of Manitoba has announced its new logo, which features a bison walking uphill, a flame, and a blue prairie sky. UManitoba President David Barnard praised the new logo, stating that “in particular, I am pleased that the new logo has been informed by Indigenous perspectives, true to this university’s vision statement.” UManitoba Students Union President and UM Brand Advisory Council Co-Chair Jakob Sanderson added that the logo “shows that we don’t worry about being like any other institution. We know who we are, we know where we’re going, and we want to lead the way.” UManitoba (MB) | UManitoba
Douglas engineering students get pathway into UBC degree program
Douglas College and the University of British Columbia have partnered to provide engineering students a pathway into a university degree program. Douglas students who complete the two-year Diploma in Engineering and Fabrication Technologies will have a guaranteed transfer pathway into the second year of UBC’s bachelor degree program, provided they meet a required GPA. “The University of British Columbia offers one of the most modern and competitive engineering programs in the country,” said Brian Chapell, Douglas Dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology. “By entering into this transfer agreement, Douglas students will have more options available to help them achieve their academic and career goals.” Douglas (BC)
Winnipeg-based Build from Within teachers program receives $1M donation, to expand across Canada
The Teach for Tomorrow: Build from Within – Ozhitoon Onji Peenjiiee program—stemming from a partnership between University of Winnipeg, Indspire, and the Winnipeg School Division—has received $1M to expand across the country. The program allows Indigenous high school students to take part in college-level courses and graduate with both a high school diploma and an educational assistant diploma. "I’m thrilled to share the Pathy Family Foundation has committed $1 million to Indspire to support Teaching for Tomorrow – that will take us towards growing the program across the country,” said Indspire President Roberta Jamieson. “Honestly, our communities need many more of our own people at the front of the classroom.” APTN News (MB) | UWinnipeg
Indigenous astronomy course uncovers sky stories at Western
Western University is introducing a course that synthesizes the principles of Western astronomy with Indigenous sky stories. Astronomy professor Robert Cockcroft said that he got the idea after developing an Indigenous sky lore presentation at McMaster University. Course co-developer and Oneida Nation of the Thames member Sasha Doxtator described the initiative as ground-breaking. “We live our lives by the moon, even when we do our planting,” said Doxtator, adding that the course will help uncover Indigenous stories that the Indian Act tried to erase. "There are a lot of stories I never heard as a child, even learning my own language, because my grandparents weren’t allowed to share that. Those stories are there; we just need to unbury them.” Western (ON)
CCNB suspends Grand Falls paramedic program because of low enrolment
A paramedic program offered through the Grand Falls campus of Collège communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick has been suspended for one year because of low enrolment. According to CBC, the program can accommodate 20 students with a minimum enrolment of 10, but only six students applied for the fall. New Brunswick’s Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour Minister Trevor Holder said that he will work with CCNB to determine what went wrong. "Maybe it's just lack of promotion of the program. If that's it, that could be a simple fix going forward," he told CBC. The six Grand Falls students will be offered seats at CCNB’s Campbellton campus, where the course is taught yearly. CBC (NB)
Esquimalt Nation, Royal Roads sign MOU for land use
Royal Roads University and Esquimalt Nation have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to outline how the partners will work together during the Department of National Defence land disposition process. A Royal Roads release explains that the university is on the traditional lands of the Esquimalt Nation and the Songhees Nations, which are presently owned by Canada and managed by the DND. After DND determined that the land was surplus to its needs in 2016, it entered into talks with the two nations about its future use. “We will continue to work with Esquimalt Nation to gather and share information regarding the important history and ecology of these lands,” said Royal Roads President and Vice-Chancellor Philip Steenkamp. Royal Roads (BC)
Emergency climate measures start with higher ed: Harper
An adequate response to our global climate emergency rests on three fundamental processes, writes Peter Harper: improving efficiency and reducing emissions across all sectors, switching energy supply from fossil fuels to zero-carbon sources, and maximizing negative-carbon processes. Harper adds that although corporate and state institutions resist these processes because they put capital assets at risk, universities remain relatively autonomous entities through which such initiatives can be engaged. New research councils, interdisciplinary streams, and pedagogical approaches would, in turn, catalyze larger structural changes. Times Higher Education (subscription required) (International)
AU, CFL expand official partnership
Athabasca University and the Canadian Football League have announced that they are expanding their partnership, with AU becoming the Official Education Partner of the CFL. The two partners will work together to move “Beyond the Game” to create interactive, fun activities for players and fans that encourage them to achieve their educational goals. “As a fully digital university, we’ve never had an official football team… until now,” stated AU President Neil Fassina. “Becoming the official education partner of the CFL enables us to align with an organization that is committed to expanding opportunities beyond the game for players and fans in Canada and around the world.” AU (AB) | CFL
Bennett: Proposals to prepare provosts for presidency
While succession from provost to president appears to be something of a given, the drastically different requirements of the two roles can pose continuity problems, writes Nathan Bennett. The fundamental disconnect between them, he adds, is that presidents can be roughly defined as “strategic,” outward looking “visionaries” while provosts tend to execute and implement an institution’s internal operations. To better prepare provosts for a presidency, the author suggests that provosts should have more opportunities to be the “public face of the university,” lead some interactions with the public, and present independently formulated initiatives to stakeholders. Inside Higher Ed (International)
MRU, York partner to offer new training in cyber security
Mount Royal University’s Faculty of Continuing Education and York University’s School of Continuing Studies have teamed up to offer two new programs in cyber security. Students will be able to take part in a Certificate in Cyber Security Fundamentals and a Certificate in Advanced Cyber Security. Those who wish to specialize will be able to continue on to an advanced certificate that will prepare them to earn their Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) designation. “We’re proud to be at the forefront of this exciting programming in partnership with York,” said MRU Continuing Education Dean Brad Mahon. “These certificates really fit with Calgary’s push to position itself as a technology hub.” MRU (AB)
