Top Ten
September 30, 2019
McGill launches $2B campaign to raise funds for student supports, training, research
McGill University has announced a $2B fundraising campaign, “Made by McGill: the Campaign for Our Third Century,” to increase resources for financial aid and scholarships. The funds raised during the campaign will be allocated to four areas: student supports, creating hands-on learning opportunities, research, and increasing innovation across faculties. “It is through the collective efforts of this entire community of supporters that we will celebrate McGill’s achievements as a world-class University and set it up for even greater successes in its third century,” said McGill VP (University Advancement) Marc Weinstein. McGill | LaPresse (QC)
Four ways ON university towns are addressing unsanctioned street parties
Several ON university towns have united in a coordinated effort to address unsanctioned street parties associated with homecoming events. The Town and Gown Association of Ontario (TGAO) provides four best practices for limiting the destruction, damage, and injuries caused by street parties: remind students of the financial cost of ticketing; coordinate homecomings on the same weekend; create post-party cleanup groups; and avoid heavy-handed measures to disperse crowds or parties. Quoting TGAO President Alexander Wray, CBC explains that, “what officials hope to do isn't stop the street parties from happening, but rather create a safer environment for students, their neighbours and first responders.” CBC (ON)
CapU, Western researchers receive $2M to improve pedagogical skills in ECE
Capilano University and Western University researchers have received $2M from the BC Ministry of Children and Family Development for the Early Childhood Pedagogy Network (ECPN). The funds will be used to create and launch the position of pedagogist, an education theory and curriculum specialist. Early phases of the project will see 30 pedagogists hired to encourage early childhood educators to work with the BC Early Learning Framework. “The ECPN is a significant step toward a unified early learning and childcare system where all B.C. children can flourish,” says CapU Chair of the School of Education and Childhood Studies Kathleen Kummen. CapU (BC, ON)
NLC, UCalgary partner to increase remote students’ access to BEd program
Northern Lakes Colleges and the University of Calgary have announced a partnership, which will allow NLC University Studies students to apply credits towards the fulfilment of a Bachelor of Education degree at UCalgary. Beginning in 2020, the partnership will enable students living in rural or remote areas to complete the majority of their program requirements in their community. “Providing our students with local access to opportunities, such as the Bachelor of Education degree, is at the foundation of our core values, that include accessibility, community, and collaboration,” stated NLC President Ann Everatt. NLC (AB)
Maple League announces funding opportunities in research, field studies, course design
The Maple League of Universities has announced the launch of four new funding opportunities to promote collaborative research, teaching, and travel amongst its four members: Acadia University, Bishop’s University, Mount Allison University, and St Francis Xavier University. Faculty, staff, and students from the four institutions are eligible to apply for funds in four different categories: online learning/ideas-based course, institutes and international field studies, research, and innovative pedagogies. “The Maple League leads the conversation on quality undergraduate education in Canada,” said Executive Director of the Maple League Jessica Riddell, “and these exciting new funds will allow our communities to generate innovative projects and increased opportunities for collaboration.” Maple League of Universities (Atlantic)
MUN partners with DND, offers academic consideration for reservist training
Memorial University’s Grenfell Campus has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Department of National Defense (DND) to enable the academic consideration of military training, experiences, and certifications for university credit. “Memorial University has a fundamental connection to the military. Our university is a living memorial to those we lost in the world wars,” said Grenfell VP Jeff Keshen. “This MOU will strengthen our connection to the military, and will provide a special opportunity to help members earn a university degree.” MUN (NL)
Brock to offer criminology program that goes beyond “crime and punishment”
Brock University’s Department of Sociology has announced a new Honours BA in Critical Criminology program, which will be launched in the fall of 2020. A statement by Brock says that the degree will enable students interested in criminology to “look beyond crime and punishment” and explore other issues like surveillance, criminalization, and interpersonal and structural violence. “This new program advances both the Faculty’s and the University’s strategic priorities of providing students with programming that responds to societal needs, offers multiple opportunities for experiential learning and emphasizes community-embedded research,” said Social Sciences Dean Ingrid Makus. Brock (ON)
Okanagan, UBCO partner with Foresight Cleantech to open doors to industry opportunities
Okanagan College and the University of British Columbia Okanagan have partnered with the non-profit Foresight Cleantech Accelerator Centre in a bid to create jobs and intellectual property, grow the clean technological efforts, and open doors to the cleantech industry for students and faculty. The new partnership will allow Foresight to provide its acceleration services to industry partners, as well as offering testing, research, and development services at Okanagan and UBCO. “Our students are getting exposed to real-world challenges and opportunities directly applicable to where they live, work and learn, which they can then choose to apply here or anywhere in the world,” says Okanagan VP Education Andrew Hay. Okanagan (BC)
On the complex and challenging work of reconciliation for Canadian Universities: Opinion
The work of reconciliation is more “complex and challenging than many of us anticipated,” writes University of Victoria President Jamie Cassels and Algoma University President Asima Vezina. The authors present three general considerations for reconciliation at Canadian universities: confront the issues that will arise concerning our decision-making, governance arrangements, research and teaching methods, and dominant epistemologies; acknowledge, but do not be deterred by, the difficult work of reconciliation; and recognize that the same reconciliation measures cannot be applied uniformly across postsecondary institutions in Canada. “We must approach the task with ambition, pragmatism and humility. At the same time, we should not overreach, overpromise or create expectations upon which we cannot deliver,” conclude Cassels and Vezina. University Canada (National)
Faculty raise concerns about UAlberta announcement of departmental merger
The University of Alberta has announced plan to merge the East Asian Studies department with the department of Modern Languages and Cultural Studies by July 1, 2020. Faculty from the East Asian studies have expressed surprise, disappointment, and fears regarding the reduction or elimination of East Asian Studies courses, and more than 360 people have signed a letter asking the faculty of arts to reconsider. UAlberta Arts Dean Lesley Cormack responded that a “larger department could reduce administrative work for faculty members, give students opportunities to collaborate and help protect both small departments from potential provincial budget cuts." CBC (AB)
