January 17, 2022
Capilano University has announced that it is creating a new Centre for Childhood Studies on its North Vancouver campus. The centre will more than double CapilanoU’s existing childcare spaces, and will feature new studio space, study and research labs, classrooms, and faculty offices. It will also provide an enhanced environment for students in the institution’s early childhood educators program and increase the number of available practicum placements. The centre is funded by $9.46M from the Government of British Columbia, a $5M campaign launched by CapilanoU, and other gifts from individuals and organizations. “The COVID-19 pandemic increased societal awareness and value for quality childcare, and Capilano University is well-placed to meet the growing needs of childhood educators and local families,” said CapilanoU President Paul Dangerfield.
CapilanoU |
BC (BC)
The Government of Quebec education minister Jean-François Roberge has indicated that it is not necessary to extend Bill 101 to the cégep system. Instead, Roberge asserted that the priority would be on improving French mastery at the elementary and secondary school levels. The decision was criticized in editorials penned by
Journal de Montréal journalist Rejean Parent and
Journal de Québec journalist Mathieu Bock-Côté, who argued that the imposition of Bill 101 on the cégep system would have been a critical step in preserving the French language in the province. Université de Montréal Assistant Professor Olivier Jacques also wrote an article for
Le Devoir about the CAQ party more generally, stating that the application of the Bill would have a positive impact on French acquisition, albeit at the cost of voters who want choice in their postsecondary education.
Journal de Montréal |
Journal de Montréal (Parent) |
Le Devoir (Jacques) |
Journal de Québec (Bock-Côté) (QC)
OCAD University has announced that it will be offering an Experimental Animation program in September 2022. Students in the Experimental Animation program will focus on animation as an artistic practice, and will be encouraged to explore whatever form of animation they are most passionate about. They will develop their technical and conceptual skills, studio skills, and critical thinking abilities. “Experimental animation is a powerful contemporary medium,” said Assistant Professor Veronika Szkudlarek. “It’s a pastiche of playful possibilities - from painting and drawing to movement and sound, to innovative technology and cross-disciplinary collaboration.”
OCADU (ON)
Students who have made major errors in class and are looking to release their frustration through a review on RateMyProfessors should ensure their review is high quality, writes Susan Muaddi Darraj in a satirical piece for
Inside Higher Ed. Darraj provides a rubric with points for writing a review, which encourages students to have a clear purpose stated in all caps, conceal their identity in case they need to retake the class, and add irrelevant details such as a professor’s clothing style. Finally, Darraj says that students could suggest that the professor should retire: “That’ll really burn them up.”
Inside Higher Ed (Editorial)
The Rebels athletic program at Red River College Polytechnic has been permanently shut down, reports CBC. The institution’s teams were paused in June 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and RRC Polytechnic has confirmed that they will not be returning to play. RRC Polytechnic’s director of student support services Laureen Janzen says that finances did not have a role in the closure of the athletics program, and CBC reports that the institution has opted to instead offer a more holistic approach to wellness through a new campus well-being unit, which will provide virtual fitness classes and consultations for students. Assistant coach and former player Ryan Poirier has expressed disappointment in the decision and its impact on student athletes.
CBC (MB)
The Government of Ontario has announced an investment of over $240M to support the research and innovation activities at five research institutes. The institutes receiving funding are the Field’s Institute, the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Clinical Trails Ontario, Compute Ontario, and Ontario Genomics. “This investment will ensure that these five leading research institutes have access to state-of-the-art technology, talent and equipment and can continue their ground-breaking work propelling Ontario to a leadership position in advanced science, technology and innovation,” said Jill Dunlop, ON Minister of Colleges and Universities.
ON (ON)
The University of Alberta has received funding for two Indigenous initiatives. $12M will be provided by the BHP Foundation over five years for the Supporting Indigenous Language Revitalization (SILR) project. This project will support Indigenous and community-led language revitalization initiatives for future generations and will support Indigenous sovereignty over language preservation and revitalization. UAlberta academics are also part of the Ărramăt Project, which has received $24M in federal funding and will examine the relationship between loss of biodiversity and Indigenous health decline that has received $24M in federal funding. 12 UAlberta academics are involved in the project, which aims to halt biodiversity decline and improve Indigenous wellbeing around the world.
UAlberta |
Edmonton Journal (AB)
Three institutions have launched new micro-credentials. Humber College has launched the RapidSkills, Advanced Manufacturing Micro-credentials, which are designed for people who are unemployed, underemployed, or in need of credentials to recognize their skills. The micro-credentials are stackable and provide both theoretical and hands-on training to prepare students for jobs in areas with a labour market need. Athabasca University’s PowerED has partnered with McGill University to offer a Digital Wellness 101: Optimizing Your Time and Energy micro-course. The course will focus on teaching participants about digital wellness and how to incorporate balance into their relationships with technology.
AU |
Humber (National)
The University of New Brunswick’s College of Extended Learning (CEL) and Mariner have partnered to provide organizations with change management training. The partners will offer virtual instruction in courses such as Accelerating Change through Leadership and Fundamentals of Change Management, which are intended to help those who participate in or lead change initiatives. “It is an opportunity for CEL to expand its online offerings in a topic that is in demand while utilizing Mariner’s team of experienced change management practitioners who are actively working in the field,” says CEL executive director Ian Allen.
UNB (NB)
Postsecondary institutions are continuing to make changes to their schedules to ensure the safety of their students as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. The Cégep régional de Lanaudière has announced that all learning will be postponed until February 7th and that virtual learning will not be offered during this time. Bow Valley College will be extending its online learning until February 13th for the health and safety of the community.
Global News reports that the University of Alberta, University of Calgary, and University of Lethbridge, and MacEwan University will be delaying the return to in-person learning until late February. NAIT and SAIT will delay in-person lecture and theory classes until late February, while on-campus labs will continue with enhanced safety measures. Georgian College has extended its virtual learning until the end of Study Week in early March.
CTV News (BVC) |
Bradford Today (Georgian) |
Journal de Montréal (Lanaudière) |
Global News (National)
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