November 24, 2021
As the University of Manitoba faculty strike continues, Mediator Arne Peltz has recommended binding arbitration in order to allow courses to resume. The university accepted the recommendation, citing the work stoppage’s impact on the entire community. The University of Manitoba Faculty Association (UMFA) is reportedly developing a counter-proposal with a set of conditions it wants finalized before arbitration. The
Winnipeg Free Press reports that UMFA is also seeking nearly $30M in damages from the Government of Manitoba following court rulings that it interfered in contact negotiations in 2016.
Winnipeg Free Press (1) |
Winnipeg Free Press (2) |
CBC (MB)
Thompson Rivers University has received an anonymous $1.4M donation to support the expansion of a peer-mentoring program for early childhood educators. The program is led by TRU Associate Professor Laura Doan and is conducted in partnership with the Early Childhood Educators of BC (ECEBC). It aims to increase retention of staff by providing support to new and experienced educators. The three-year project will expand the current ECE mentorship program to almost 500 ECEs and 35 peer-mentoring communities-of-practice groups. “This shows me what can work when you give ECEs the opportunity to come together to support each other,” Doan said. “With this funding, we aim to firmly embed peer mentoring within the early childhood education culture in B.C., as well as within [ECEBC].”
TRU (1) |
TRU (2) |
Kamloops This Week |
Kelowna Now (BC)
Nova Scotia Community College and Nova Scotia Power (NSP) have partnered on two pilot programs focused on smart chargers and bidirectional charging for electric vehicles. The two parties will work together on the development of infrastructure and technology testing, which will also bring educational opportunities to students at NSCC’s Middleton campus. “[T]he students there are learning about things like energy efficiency, renewable energy, energy storage, smart grid kind of ideas, and this is one of them,” said NSCC applied energy research scientist Wayne Groszko. “[They’re] actually participating directly.”
Saltwire (NS)
Several postsecondary institutions in British Columbia have come together to ensure that University of British Columbia graduates can enjoy their scheduled in-person graduation ceremonies with gowns and mortarboards. The damage sustained to transportation lines in the province during the recent floods and landslides resulted in substantial delays to UBC’s graduation regalia. As a result, the University of Victoria announced that it would lend UBC 600 black gowns for use during the ceremonies. 2,500 mortarboards have been collected for students from institutions including Capilano University, the British Columbia Institute of Technology, Emily Carr University of Art & Design, Douglas College, and Langara College. “Across all of our institutions, we all know how important the graduation experience is for students,” said Liz King, director of ceremonies and events at UBC. “Wearing academic regalia makes the experience memorable for so many of them.”
UBC |
UVic (BC)
Niagara College has announced that it has renamed its student commons in honour of the Rankin family’s generosity. The Rankin Family Student Commons recognizes the Rankin family’s $540K lead donation to the Dan Patterson Legacy Campaign as well as the Rankin family’s ongoing financial support. “Niagara College has enjoyed a close friendship with the Rankin family and Rankin Construction for many years, built on our shared desire to support students and ensure that they succeed in their educational goals,” said Niagara President Sean Kennedy. “It’s very fitting that our student commons, a space central to student life and the heart of our Daniel J Patterson Campus, will bear the family’s name.”
Niagara |
InSauga (ON)
Leadership searches during times of crisis must be designed intentionally so that they will be successful, writes David D Perlmutter. Perlmutter writes that the search must be adapted to current realities in order to find the best administrators for a position. The job description should be clarified and updated and the search committee advised about the necessary skills for the role. Given that logistical details change in times of crisis, the author recommends being prepared to problem-solve on the fly and ensure that the search committee focuses on the “selling” of the position, not just the “buying.” “[T]he best and the brightest need to be lured, not just informed and vetted,” writes Perlmutter.
The Chronicle of Higher Ed (Editorial)
The Centre de transfert technologique en écologie industrielle (CTTÉI), which is affiliated with Cégep de Sorel-Tracy, has celebrated the inauguration of a new clean technology laboratory that it says is the first of its kind in Canada. The laboratory will support research addressing industrial waste, climate change, and the transition to a more circular economy. CTTÉI directeur general Claude Maheaux-Picard noted that the organization had received support from partners such as the Université d’Aix-Marseille to help develop its expertise. The laboratory was created and furnished with a $2.5M investment from the Canadian Foundation for Innovation, the Government of Quebec, and Desjardins.
Les 2 Rives (QC)
Humber College has received a $750K investment from BMO Financial Group to support entrepreneurs at the college. The donation will support the BMO Launch Me Competition, during which students develop and pitch business ideas and receive resources to start their own businesses. It will also expand the competition through the addition of three new streams focused on women, entrepreneurs and future business leaders, and new graduates. “This … aligns with Humber’s goals to help remove systemic barriers that women, racialized groups and students with disabilities have historically experienced in advancing their business ideas and careers,” said Humber Faculty of Business Senior Dean Alvina Cassiani. Humber will be naming its Centre for Entrepreneurship event space the BMO Innovation Commons in recognition of the investment.
Toronto.com |
Humber (ON)
McGill University and video game company Ubisoft have partnered to create a curriculum-guide website and a game that allows users to take an immersive trip through the Anglo-Saxon period and Viking age. The recently released
DiscoveryTour: Viking Age –the third entry in a series – was developed with support from McGill Education associate professor Adam Dube, whose research revolves around educational games. Dube and his graduate students also created a free online guide that provides ideas and suggestions for teachers who want to use games in the classroom. “These types of experiences give us a sense of immersion in the world,” said Dube. “There tends to be less play-based learning, as we move up in the grades. We get all serious and we abandon useful tools to some extent in the name of preparing people for that really hard work.”
CTV News (QC)
The University of the Fraser Valley, Abbotsford Community Foundation, and the Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce have joined forces to establish the Abbotsford Disaster Relief Fund (ADRF). The fund will provide grants to both local agencies working in disaster relief and business that have been affected by the recent floods in the region. “UFV and this fundraising coalition are committed to doing our part to help those who are suffering as a result of the flooding,” said UFV vice-president, external Craig Toews. “We all know someone who has been affected. This includes some of our students, staff, and faculty. We are collaborating with our community partners and combining resources and fundraising expertise.”
The Chilliwack Progress |
CTV News (BC)
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