September 2, 2021
The Government of Ontario has announced that it is making COVID-19 vaccines mandatory for all postsecondary institutions starting September 7. Each institution “must establish, implement, and ensure compliance with a COVID-19 vaccination policy (for) its employees, staff, contractors, volunteers, and students.” Every person physically attending campus at a postsecondary institution must be vaccinated, with some exemptions, and institutions must follow monthly reporting protocols. Institutions can choose to require those who are not fully vaccinated or do not wish to disclose their vaccination status to attend an education session on vaccination and to be tested on a weekly basis. The
Sudbury Star reports that Indigenous institutes are currently not affected by the guidelines.
The Sudbury Star (ON)
In a new article from
University Affairs, Tayo Bero discusses the changes that postsecondary institutions in Canada have implemented in response to anti-Black racism and additional measures taken this year to address anti-Black racism. This year, Dalhousie University has established the Sankofa scholarship, UBC’s broader Taskforce on Anti-racism and inclusive excellence began its work, Concordia’s Black Perspectives Office has grown to have four members, and Ryerson is exploring strategies to hire more Black faculty. “This is an everybody issue,” said Angelique Willkie, co-chair of Concordia’s President’s Task Force on Anti-Black Racism, who emphasized the importance of community involvement in the initiatives.
University Affairs (Editorial)
The University of Winnipeg has reversed the decision to discipline a student who attended an anti-mask protest while on a work placement in April 2021. UWinnipeg reportedly put the Faculty of Education student under review and suspended her with no notice of a hearing and with insufficient reasons given.
Winnipeg Free Press said that her practicum school’s principal, vice-principal, and a teacher contacted the faculty supporting the student and asking for the suspension to be reversed. The decision was reversed after the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms requested that the student be reinstated. “Expelling a student for exercising her constitutional freedoms of expression and assembly is an egregious violation of the [Charter of Rights and Freedoms],” said Lawyer Allison Pejovic.
Winnipeg Free Press (Paywall) |
CBC (MB)
The University of Ottawa’s Telfer School of Management has partnered with Keypath Education Canada to launch the Executive Master of Health Administration (EMHA) program. The program can be completed through a hybrid of online learning and a one-week residency, allowing health-care professionals to keep working within their own communities as they complete the program. “As the health care system continues to grow, Canadians need quality education to provide leaders with the tools and knowledge to address increasingly complex issues affecting the sector,” said Stéphane Brutus, Dean of the Telfer School of Management at UOttawa. “The Telfer EMHA underscores our dedication to supporting the health and well-being of Canadian communities.” The program is reportedly the first of its kind in Canada.
Newswire (ON)
Different stakeholder groups in postsecondary education often have difficulties agreeing on the definition of a research university, writes Jody Greene, and would benefit from bringing together their perspectives. Greene explains that stakeholders carry different beliefs about an institution’s purpose, priorities and responsibilities. Greene encourages coordination and cooperation between stakeholder groups to help facilitate collaboration. “[T]he first best step in addressing our collective challenges would be to sit down and talk with each other,” writes Greene.
Inside Higher Ed (Editorial)
Assiniboine Community College has received a $500K gift from Mazergroup Ltd for the development of the Prairie Innovation Centre for Sustainable Agriculture on ACC’s North Hill campus. The new facility will expand ACC’s agriculture-related programming from 300 seats to over 800, enable students to access more unique work-integrated learning opportunities, and support applied research projects and industry innovation. “Our college has a critical role in ensuring there are people trained and ready to step into careers in the growing agriculture sector,” said ACC President Mark Frison. “The Prairie Innovation Centre will answer the call, arming agriculture in Manitoba with a skilled labour force.”
ACC |
Brandon Sun (MB)
Anderson College of Health, Business and Technology has announced that it is launching a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (DMS) program. Students in the two-year program will learn from senior instructors and have access to a state-of-the-art scan lab. The program includes two 16-week practicums, and graduates will have the knowledge and skills needed to meet Sonography Canada’s examination requirements. “For the last several years, the healthcare sector has seen persistent growth across North America and diagnostic medical sonographers are in high demand; as the sonography field continues to evolve and technology continues to improve, medical specialties will rely on it more and more,” said John Lai, Program Chair.
Nation Talk (ON)
Dalhousie University, the University of St Michael’s College, and the St Albert Public Library are introducing new courses. Dal’s School of Planning has launched a course that will teach students about housing policy and strategic planning. The course will cover a variety of topics, including planning, theoretical models, and the role of housing in household growth and development. St Mike’s is launching Christianity, Truth and Reconciliation, a course that will cover the legacy of residential schools in Canada and teach students about how European Christianity participated in cultural genocide. The St Albert Public Library has adapted the University of Alberta’s Indigenous Canada MOOC into “the Indigenous Canada Learning Circle”, which will introduce community members to Indigenous history and contemporary issues.
Dal |
St Mike’s |
St Albert Today (National)
Students in the Human Kinetics program at the University of British Columbia’s Okanagan campus are frustrated after their program was moved online due to COVID-19 case rates, reports
Global News. Students expressed concerns about having to suddenly switch to taking their class online, and
Global News reports that some students have already signed leases and paid for parking passes so they could attend school. “Parents and students are struggling as now they have to pay [for housing] and they don’t know when, or if, the classes are going to be back on,” said Renee Jardine, whose son was to return to in-person learning at UBCO. UBCO explained that some course components have moved online to “ensure an effective, inclusive learning environment.”
Global News |
UBCO (BC)
The City of Kingston has reportedly implemented its University District safety initiative to limit street parties as Queen’s University students move back to the city. The initiative allows law enforcement officials to lay nuisance, party, and noise bylaw infractions for large gatherings in the downtown core until September 19. Police and bylaw officers in Kingston were called to deal “with multiple noise complaints and large gatherings blocking roadways” over the weekend. Officers issued several fines and tickets for parties within the University District as well as four administrative monetary penalties.
Global News (1) |
Global News (2) (ON)
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