Canadian schools urged to provide water-safety training to foreign students: The Lifesaving Society of BC says institutions involved with
international students need to ensure water-safety education is part of
their orientation. The call comes after a 23-year-old student from
Korea on a summer study tour at Okanagan College nearly drowned last
Friday. Earlier this month, a 17-year-old Chinese student going to
school in North Vancouver drowned, while an 18-year-old Acadia
University student from Kenya drowned in May. A spokesperson for
Okanagan College says new water safety guidelines for international
students will be introduced as a result of the accident. CBC | The Chronicle of Higher Education (free access) | Add/Read Comments
Proposed closure of uToronto's Centre for Comparative Literature "academic vandalism": The proposed closure of the University of Toronto's Centre for Comparative Literature
has sparked an international campaign in protest, with scholars from
all over Canada, the US, and Europe writing letters pleading with
uToronto to reconsider folding the centre into a proposed new School of
Languages and Literature. The vice-president of the American
Comparative Literature Association writes that "as the premiere
institution in Canada, and as the leader among Commonwealth
universities, Toronto cannot afford to send the message that the Centre
for Comparative Literature is slated for disestablishment." A dean at
the University of Central Lancashire writes that the centre is "well
regarded" in Britain and calls the decision to close it "academic
vandalism." Maclean's OnCampus | Add/Read Comments
Kwantlen student union may sue over new credit card policy:
Kwantlen Polytechnic University's student union is considering legal
action against the institution after Kwantlen announced it would no longer accept credit cards for tuition payments from domestic students.
Some students say the payment restriction puts them in a bind, and, in
some cases, unable to continue their studies at Kwantlen. The student
union's director of academic affairs is planning to meet with Kwantlen
administration to get the problem sorted out. He has taken the issue to
a lawyer, who told him the new payment rules violate the Charter of
Rights and Freedoms and the BC Human Rights Code because international
students will still be allowed to pay their tuition by credit card. The
student union executive says he would rather negotiate than litigate,
but would take the matter to court if the issue is not resolved. Surrey Leader | Add/Read Comments
UoGuelph research park prepares for expansion:
Earthmovers have moved onto a large tract of land owned by the
University of Guelph, grading it in preparation for the development of
a new section of UoGuelph's research park. The university's director of
real estate says the south section of the park is full and there is
interest from several enterprises to lease sections of the new lands.
Proposed tenants are in line with the agribusiness, bio-tech, and
manufacturing theme that has been established at the research park. Guelph Mercury | Add/Read Comments
uWindsor to open advancement office in Toronto: A law firm with
offices in both Windsor and Toronto has donated space at the Toronto
location to the University of Windsor to set up an advancement office.
A partner at the law firm, also a member of uWindsor's board of
governors, co-ordinated the donation of the space. With several
uWindsor law alumni at the firm, "we thought this would be an excellent
way to give back to the University of Windsor community," the board
member says. The project also drew a $180,000 contribution over 3 years
from the alumni association to support alumni engagement in Toronto and
in other key cities and regions across Canada. The association's
president says the Toronto office will enhance efforts in student
recruitment and fundraising. uWindsor Daily News | Windsor Star | Add/Read Comments
uMoncton to study feasibility of football program: Université de
Moncton president Yvon Fontaine has stuck a committee that will
complete a feasibility study into the institution starting a football
program. Major issues the committee will analyze include the financial
resources required to operate a potential football team and the
recruitment of prospective players. The committee expects to decide
sometime this fall or by the end of the year whether it will proceed
with starting a football program. uMoncton's executive director of
university relations says the addition of the team would raise the
university's profile, and "would be something for the alumni to be
proud of and support." Times & Transcript | Add/Read Comments
Colleges not doing enough to curb student drinking, US study finds: American colleges are not doing enough to limit student access to alcohol, according to a new study from the University of Minnesota. The study's author says a survey of 351 college administrators revealed there was "very little action" on recommendations from a 2002 report from the US National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism's college drinking task force. According to the survey, over 22% of college administrators were unaware of the recommendations. Administrators need to do more work with communities to develop policies to reduce excess drinking among students, such as monitoring illegal sales of alcohol, according to the study's author. USA Today | Add/Read Comments
Barnes & Noble to offer free e-textbook application:
In August, bookseller Barnes & Noble will launch NOOKstudy, a free
software application dubbed the "ultimate study tool," allowing
students to manage all of their digital content -- e-textbooks, class
materials, and notes -- on whatever computing device they prefer to
use. The app also performs downloads of textbooks and academic and
trade titles offered by Barnes & Noble's website. NOOKstudy lets
students view multiple books and sources at once, offers access to
complementary content such as toolsets and reference materials, and
allows users to highlight and take notes that are searchable and
customizable. Barnes & Noble News Release | Campus Technology | NOOKstudy | Add/Read Comments
Trend in US biz schools incorporating social media into curriculum:
A number of American business schools are adding courses on social
media to their MBA curricula, heeding the corporate call for
social-network-savvy employees. With business schools having seen a
drop in graduate placement rates in recent years, social media courses
are one way of preparing students for careers in a promising field,
says a professor at Boston College's management school, where "Social
Media & Web 2.0 for Managers" will be offered this fall. One expert
tells BusinessWeek that companies want to hire MBA graduates
with social media skills because tapping into online networks can be an
effective way to learn brand sentiment, identify new opportunities, and
improve customer service. BusinessWeek | Add/Read Comments
New Facebook application allows users to pose questions to community:
On Wednesday, Facebook introduced a beta product that lets users pose
questions to the social network's community. With this new application,
called "Facebook Questions," users can get a broader set of answers and
learn valuable information from people knowledgeable on a range of
topics, says Facebook's blog. Users can ask a question to the community
by clicking the "Ask Question" button at the top of the homepage.
Questions can be tagged with a specific topic in order to show them to
the most relevant people. All questions and answers posted using the
application are public and visible to everyone on the Internet, the
blog states. Users wanting to ask a question to friends or specific
members of their network can still pose it as a status update. Facebook blog | Add/Read Comments
Academica Group's offices will be closed Monday, August 2 for the Civic Holiday. The Top Ten will return to your inbox on Tuesday, August 3.
Academica Group
is Canada's leading source of market intelligence and full cycle
marketing services for higher education. Our website describes our
pioneering market research, branding, recruitment and web technology
services for colleges and universities, and our ongoing policy research
for national and provincial government and education agencies.
Academica's Top Ten is
a daily digest of top news and opinion affecting post-secondary
education in Canada, published as a free service to our clients and
friends. This digest was edited by Katherine Fletcher and Ken Steele at
Academica Group, based on publicly-available information. Neither the
editors nor Academica Group assume liability for comments or
information posted by others. Please send your comments, news releases,
or submissions to today@academica.ca or call toll-free in North America, 1.866.922.8636 ext. 205.
 PEI needs post-secondary arts school, says study: A new study from the PEI Council of the Arts observes that Prince Edward Island needs a post-secondary arts school in order to renew an aging population of artists. Like many industries on PEI, the arts suffer from young talent moving away to work elsewhere. Support for a new centre is demonstrated in the study, but getting support from the provincial government is proving to be difficult. The arts study was sponsored by PEI's former culture minister, who now has a different portfolio following a cabinet shuffle earlier this year. The Arts council chair says nothing has come from meeting with the new culture minister. Government officials say the study is being taken into consideration. CBC | Add/Read Comments
McGill med school drops MCAT from admission requirements: Canadian students who studied at a Canadian university before applying to McGill University's medical school will no longer have to write the Medical College Admission Test. In making the decision, McGill is aligning itself with francophone and bilingual universities in Quebec and elsewhere in the country that do not require the MCAT because the test has no French equivalent. The move is part of efforts at McGill to increase diversity in medical classes. Starting in fall 2011, the med school will reserve 3 spots for those who have a bachelor degree and who have interrupted their academic studies for 3 years or more. Montreal Gazette | Add/Read Comments
Teaching Space Complex priority capital project for Queen's:
In light of current deficiencies in teaching and learning space at
Queen's University, the institution's top priority is a Teaching Space
Complex, one of several key capital projects outlined in proposals sent
to the Ontario government's Major Capital Support Program for academic
buildings. The proposed complex, Queen's says, would provide the size
and flexibility required for best practices and innovative techniques.
Other proposed projects include a new Engineering Building, renovation
of existing space that would be re-purposed following the construction
of the complex and the Engineering Building, and a new building that
would serve increased enrolment in the high-demand Life Sciences
program and as a central facility for animal care. Queen's News Centre | Add/Read Comments
Camosun evacuated over gas leak: A gas leak in the dental building at Camosun College's Lansdowne campus forced the evacuation of the entire campus around 9 a.m. yesterday. Contractors working on an expansion in the building hit a gas line and the hissing from the leak could be heard by employees. Students and staff were evacuated following the arrival of Oak Bay and Saanich fire crews. Terasen Gas personnel arrived on campus and the leak was repaired. By 10:30 am, students and staff were allowed to return to their buildings. Victoria Times-Colonist | Oak Bay News | Add/Read Comments
UWO aiming to "rise above clutter" with new communications strategy: As the University of Western Ontario seeks to develop a new communications strategy, the institution is sending a short online survey to a random sample of over 30,000 current students, faculty, staff, and alumni worldwide to get their perspective on what UWO is all about. "In a very crowded communications environment, with thousands of institutions sending out messages about themselves," says UWO's vice-president external, "Western must rise above the clutter and tell its story in a manner that is better than any of our peer institutions." The VP says faculty and alumni tell him regularly that UWO needs to raise its profile and be much more clear about what is being done at the university. Participation in the survey is important, he says, with the responses vital to UWO's future direction and subsequent success. Western News | Add/Read Comments
UVic vs. UVic: In a video lip-synch to
Train's "Hey, Soul Sister," a group of students hold up "UVIC" signs
during their stints on camera. If you think these students are from the
University of Victoria, think again: the "lip dub" was produced by
students from Spain's Universitat de Vic. Celebrity blogger Perez
Hilton was among those who mistook the source of the production: "Way
to go, UVIC! There are some talented people up in Canada," he wrote.
Among the comments informing Perez of his error, one person suggested
the Canadian UVic should "get their act together" and make an even
better video. As it happens, a fifth-year student at the BC institution
is organizing a video shoot for late September. A Facebook group
promoting the project states that "since we at the real UVIC are much
cooler than those students, we though we may as well 'one up them'...so
to speak." University officials will look at the project once they
receive more details. Victoria Times-Colonist | "UVIC Lipdub - Be Part of a Viral Video" Facebook group | Add/Read Comments
Labour shortage anticipated for Canada's clean-power sector:
A skilled worker shortage could stall Canada's push to develop clean
energy sources, delaying construction schedules, reports Reuters.
Industry players, analysts, and educators see a widening gap between
the demand and supply of trained staff for the thousands of green-power
projects expected to begin operations between 2011 and 2013. Ontario is
most vulnerable, with some 50,000 clean-energy jobs expected to be
created in the province in the next 3 years. Worsening the problem is
that scores of Canadian power workers will retire soon, while a slew of
specialized college programs will take several years to produce green
graduates. According to Canada's Electricity Sector Council, nearly
three-quarters of the industry's workers are over 40 years old, and
during the next decade, 40% of all workers plan to retire. Moreover,
30% of the companies that produce electricity have no plan to manage
the impending exodus. Reuters | Add/Read Comments
Relationships, education top priorities for Canadian students: Today's secondary and post-secondary students will be more content with owning a home, having a decent job, and being part of a loving family and network of friends, instead of leading, innovating, or starting their own businesses, according to a new survey. Respondents to the Canada 2020 survey, conducted by Studentawards Inc., believe their top priorities will remain unchanged between today and the year 2020, with getting more education, leading a healthy lifestyle, and living in a safe and secure environment topping both lists. The students' lowest set of priorities include having money and material things, travelling, trying as many new things as possible, and taking care of the environment. The survey revealed that high school and PSE students are risk averse and have a seeming love-hate relationship with media and technology. Studentawards Inc. News Release | Add/Read Comments
Texas A&M cuts back on toilet paper: Trying to cut $60 million US campus-wide, Texas A&M University hopes to save $82,000 US by ceasing to stock toilet paper in its student residences. The university plans to launch the toilet paper elimination in August 2011, giving it enough time to inform students and ensure that campus stores are stocking it. While the bathroom essential will no longer be provided in dorm hall washrooms shared by 4 people, Texas A&M will continue to supply toilet paper in larger bathrooms, administrative office areas, and public areas. In addition to the toilet paper cutbacks, the overall budget reduction will cost Texas A&M about 500 faculty and staff, new theatre furniture, stable student worker wages, an art exhibition, and paper and toner, among other things. Inside Higher Ed | Add/Read Comments
Students trust Google too much, US study finds:
According to a new study from Illinois-based Northwestern University,
college students give Google so much credibility that many students
only click on websites that turn up at the top of Google searches to
complete assigned tasks. If students do not use Google, researchers
found that they trust other brand-name search engines or websites to
lead them to information. The study's senior author says many students
believe that because Google placed a site at the top of the search, it
has to be credible, which she says is potentially tricky as Google does
not rank a site by its credibility. The researcher suggests educators
show specific websites in class and discuss why a source is or isn't
credible. Northwestern U News | Maclean's OnCampus | Add/Read Comments
Academica Group
is Canada's leading source of market intelligence and full cycle
marketing services for higher education. Our website describes our
pioneering market research, branding, recruitment and web technology
services for colleges and universities, and our ongoing policy research
for national and provincial government and education agencies.
Academica's Top Ten is
a daily digest of top news and opinion affecting post-secondary
education in Canada, published as a free service to our clients and
friends. This digest was edited by Katherine Fletcher and Ken Steele at
Academica Group, based on publicly-available information. Neither the
editors nor Academica Group assume liability for comments or
information posted by others. Please send your comments, news releases,
or submissions to today@academica.ca or call toll-free in North America, 1.866.922.8636 ext. 205.
 Malfunction at Fleming results in lost grades:
Hundreds of students' grades have been lost following a backup system
failure at Fleming College, leaving staff and faculty scrambling to
find hard-copy marks so students can finish the summer term
uninterrupted. Fleming has been experiencing power outages due to
construction on campus, and at some point the learning management
system, which houses grades and course material, went offline. After
the system came back online, staff discovered its backup mechanism had
failed and data had been lost. Fleming's chief information officer
admits there will be some students whose grades cannot be recovered. IT
staff hope to conclude their investigation of the incident within a
week. Peterborough Examiner | Add/Read Comments
Milton campus still uncertain, says WLU president: In a midsummer update, Wilfrid Laurier University president Max Blouw states it remains uncertain whether a Milton campus
will be part of WLU's future, but ongoing discussions include the
Ontario government, the Town of Milton, and the Region of
Halton. These remarks follow a description of a 5-year enrolment
projection, which estimates 2,027 students by 2015 for the proposed
Milton campus. WLU is projecting an increase of 819 foreign students by
2015 for a total enrolment of 12,962 undergraduates at the Waterloo
campus, while the Brantford campus is expected to grow from 2,000
students to 4,500 over this period. WLU has also submitted to the
Ontario government a 10-year capital plan, which includes the
construction of the first phase of a campus in Milton on the 150-acre
parcel of land the Town of Milton will donate to WLU if the campus goes
forward. WLU Campus Update | Add/Read Comments
Capilano agrees to land swap for Oceanfront development project:
After years of hoping for educational institutions on Oceanfront lands,
the Squamish Oceanfront Development Corporation (SODC) has signed a
letter of intent with Capilano University that would bring the
university into the middle of Squamish's peninsula project. Capilano
and the SODC have agreed to exchange 4.9-acre parcels of land on
opposite ends of the Cattermole Slough to facilitate the SODC's
hoped-for Oceanfront learning centre. In exchange for the SODC lands,
which are in the centre of the Oceanfront lands, the corporation would
receive Capilano's downtown lands at the end of Second Avenue. SODC News Release | Squamish Chief | Add/Read Comments
CCL report examines gender differences in pursuit of science-related careers:
A new report commissioned for the Canadian Council on Learning
demonstrates that gender differences in the choice of science-related
pathways are still evident, even when controlling for achievement and
engagement factors. Drawing data from the 2004 School Achievement
Indicators Program (SAIP), the analysis found that women, especially
those who performed below criterion in the SAIP science test, had
post-secondary plans that did not involve science. Meanwhile, male
lower achievers were more likely to have no PSE or career plans. Among
the higher achievers, men were more likely to intend academic careers
in hard sciences, engineering, and technology, while women preferred
other scientific fields such as health and science education. The
report observes gender differences in how students position themselves
affectively with respect to school and science learning. Female
students score better on science academic factors and are even more
persistent in dealing with difficulties in science courses. However,
even if female students do better in science courses, SAIP science
performance is slightly below the level of their male peers. Read the report | Add/Read Comments
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Challenge your board of governors or senior administrative teams with a
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detailed information, visit our wesbite, or e-mail Ken.
Adjuncts prosper at VCC: In its special report "Great Colleges to Work For," The Chronicle of Higher Education
includes a feature on Vancouver Community College, which the article
states is often held up as an example of how to treat adjuncts. At VCC,
instructors who are hired by the term but work at least half time for
19 out of 24 months obtain "regular" status -- a form of job security
providing a level of protection largely unheard of for faculty who are
not tenured or on the tenure track. Experts on adjunct issues say that
perhaps the most important feature of VCC's system is that it allows
instructors who were initially hired term-by-term to be promoted into
jobs with more-secure status. The president of the college's faculty
association says part-time employees feel like an integral part of the
VCC community. "If you want to work at VCC, it can be a career when
you're hired for the first time." The Chronicle of Higher Education (free access) | Add/Read Comments
University overcrowding in Ontario requires immediate solution: Ontario's push for a 2-year wage freeze at universities
won't help the bottom line as long as the province continues to "shove"
tens of thousands of students into an already "bloated" system, argues
an Ottawa Citizen editorial published yesterday. The editorial
suggests inflated enrolment has resulted in student housing shortages,
a diluted quality of education, and a fall in public spending per
student, leading to higher tuition fees. What students get in return
for their financial sacrifice is a "degree that is worth less than it
was before bloated universities created 'credential creep.'" There is
little indication that adding tens of thousands of BA degrees a year
will make for a better workforce, the editorial states. With Ontario
and other jurisdictions facing shortages in the skilled trades, Canada
could always use more workers and entrepreneurs in these and other
areas. "Education, training and development are good things," the
editorial says, "but they don't necessarily have to be delivered
through the vehicle of an expensive BA program." Ottawa Citizen | Add/Read Comments
Class size cap frustrates uManitoba nursing students:
Some fourth-year nursing students at the University of Manitoba are
fuming about their studies being put on hold after their faculty
introduced a new cap on class sizes. The nursing faculty's dean say the
cap is meant to benefit fourth-year students, but such students told
the Winnipeg Free Press they were unable to enrol in key
courses because they were full. The students sought help from the
registrar's office, but "the best thing they could do is put us on the
waiting list, but really, nobody's going to drop out." The dean says
students were told in early spring that class size changes were coming,
but some students say they did not realize the announcement was
definite. The faculty decided to try capping student numbers based in
part on previous problems with unpredictable enrolment figures and
class sizes getting too large. Winnipeg Free Press | Add/Read Comments
SFU to build observatory, science outreach centre:
Simon Fraser University has approved the construction of a $4-million
observatory and science outreach centre on Burnaby Mountain. With $2
million in the observatory's coffers from a private donor, the
university needs just another $2 million to construct a facility SFU
says will rival Vancouver's H. R. MacMillan Planetarium in terms of
scientific community outreach. SFU says that unlike other university
observatories in Canada, its will give equal weight to both
undergraduate teaching and community outreach. SFU News Release | Vancouver Province | Add/Read Comments
StFX, Kwantlen to remove credit cards from tuition payment options: St. Francis Xavier University and Kwantlen Polytechnic University will join a number of Canadian institutions that have stopped accepting credit card payments for tuition.
By eliminating costs associated with credit card transactions, StFX,
whose new measures come into effect September 30, can reinvest the
savings back into supporting high-quality education. Effective August
3, Kwantlen will no longer accept credit card payments for domestic
registration and tuition fees. The $250,000 Kwantlen expects to save
will be put towards additional scholarships and bursaries for students
this year. The University of Saskatchewan recently announced it will no longer take Visa for tuition payments, and will accept MasterCard online only. StFX News | Kwantlen News | Add/Read Comments
US colleges increasing marketing spending, survey finds:
According to a new US survey, median spending on marketing at midsized
post-secondary institutions -- those with 2,000 to 5,999 students --
had increased by over 100% between 2001 and 2010. Similar increases
were seen at smaller colleges and larger research institutions. The
survey found that colleges have also increased the amount of their
marketing budgets directed to interactive and social media in recent
years. 71% of schools that allocated 6% or more of their marketing
budgets to research and planning stated that their marketing efforts
had a positive impact on the quality of their applicants, while 52% of
those who spent less on such activities reported a similar effect. The Chronicle of Higher Education (free access) | Read the report | Add/Read Comments
Academica Group
is Canada's leading source of market intelligence and full cycle
marketing services for higher education. Our website describes our
pioneering market research, branding, recruitment and web technology
services for colleges and universities, and our ongoing policy research
for national and provincial government and education agencies.
Academica's Top Ten is
a daily digest of top news and opinion affecting post-secondary
education in Canada, published as a free service to our clients and
friends. This digest was edited by Katherine Fletcher and Ken Steele at
Academica Group, based on publicly-available information. Neither the
editors nor Academica Group assume liability for comments or
information posted by others. Please send your comments, news releases,
or submissions to today@academica.ca or call toll-free in North America, 1.866.922.8636 ext. 205.
 Ottawa pledges over $32 million for college research and equipment fund:
Science and Technology Minister Gary Goodyear announced yesterday that
the federal government is investing $32.5 million with the Canada
Foundation for Innovation to support a new college fund, which will
ensure that colleges have the latest research equipment and facilities
to take innovation research from the laboratory to the marketplace.
Recognizing that colleges and polytechnics support private sector
innovation in a different manner than universities, the CFI will launch
one or more competitions by December 2010. Industry Canada News Release | ACCC News Release | Polytechnics Canada News Release | Add/Read Comments
Saskatchewan shuts down private vocational school:
Saskatchewan's advanced education ministry has shut down a private
career college in Estevan, affecting 18 students. The ministry
cancelled the certificate of registration for the Academy of Learning
in Estevan last Wednesday because of the school's failure to comply
with legislative requirements governing private vocational schools. The
ministry has notified the affected students, and will assist them to
either continue their post-secondary education or receive tuition
refunds. Saskatchewan News Release | CBC | Add/Read Comments
Fire breaks out at Dal's Life Sciences Centre:
Firefighters were called to Dalhousie University's Life Sciences Centre
Saturday night after witnesses reported flames and dark smoke coming
from the top of the facility. The fire damage was isolated to the top
floor, but the sprinkler system and a broken water main damaged the
rest of the centre and a passage linking to other buildings, also
resulting in the closure of the Chase, Chemistry, and Macdonald
buildings. Most areas were reopened yesterday morning. Classes and
events in affected facilities have been rescheduled or relocated. The
cause of the blaze is under investigation. Dal News | Halifax Chronicle-Herald | CBC | Add/Read Comments
NB universities expect to reap benefits from track and field competition:
Université de Moncton president Yvon Fontaine says the publicity the
institution has received from last week's IAAF World Junior
Championships should result in increased enrolment of international
students. He hopes that the 2010 Moncton Stadium, built at uMoncton's
campus, will turn into a "centre of excellence in athletics" and draw
young athletes from across Canada and the world to study at the
university. The stadium is featured prominently in upcoming television
ads for uMoncton and in recruitment brochures. Mount Allison University
hosted the second athletes' village for the competition. While Mount
Allison president Robert Campbell says the athletes themselves are not
likely to come to the university because it is not a track and field
powerhouse, they will spread the word about the institution. "They'll
say we stayed at Mount A and it was the chillest place in the world.
The positive story for us is the brand affiliation and the word of
mouth." New Brunswick Business Journal | CBC | Add/Read Comments
What PSE lessons America can learn from Canada: The installation of University of Waterloo president David Johnson as the next governor general
reflects a Canadian push on higher education, write University of
British Columbia president Stephen Toope and sociologist Neil Gross in
a column published by Inside Higher Ed. That's quite different
from what's happening in the US, they state, where PSE spending is a
partisan issue and university budgets are being decimated. Despite some
inevitable belt-tightening, Canadian policy makers recognize that a
strong PSE system is key to long-term economic competitiveness and a
successful society. One distinction about the Canadian approach is the
notion of fairness and equity -- ensuring that qualified students can
afford PSE is not just the right thing to do, it also makes good
economic and social sense, the pair write. If the US does not act soon
to shore up its PSE sector, Toope and Gross state, its loss will
quickly become Canada's -- and other nations' -- gain. Inside Higher Ed | Add/Read Comments
McGill med school calling for "non-traditional" applicants: McGill University's faculty of medicine has launched a "non-traditional pathways" program designed as a means of increasing the diversity of medical classes and to address the shortage of general practitioners. For the program's first year, which begins in the fall of 2011, up to 3 seats in the Quebec University category have been reserved for candidates who hold a bachelor degree and who have interrupted their academic studies for 3 or more years. McGill's medical school is open to adjusting the number of seats of the coming years as the program evolves. McGill News Release | Add/Read Comments
Groundbreaking for NIC First Nations Gathering Place:
North Island College held a groundbreaking ceremony at its Campbell
River campus Friday for the new First Nations Gathering Place. A
significant part of the vision identified for the Gathering Place was
that the structure would have a story from its very beginning in
planning stages and the importance for its hosts to know the story well
and remember to tell it often. The Gathering Place has received
financial support through the BC government's Gathering Place Capital
Fund, whose goal is to support Aboriginal students in starting,
staying, and succeeding in PSE by providing appropriate spaces for
ceremony and celebration. NIC News Release | Add/Read Comments
VIU wins SCUP Award for Institutional Innovation and Integration:
The Society for College and University Planning has honoured Vancouver
Island University with the 2010 Award for Institutional Innovation and
Integration for the university's Nanaimo Campus Master Plan.
The award recognizes and honours the achievement of post-secondary
institutions or teams of individuals whose work demonstrates
"innovative thinking, planning, and implementation in an integrated
fashion." VIU president Ralph Nilson says the master plan "will aid the
institution in crafting a superior learning and teaching environment
for students, faculty, staff, and the community." VIU News | 2010 SCUP Institutional Innovation and Integration Award | Add/Read Comments
uSask removes Visa from tuition payment options:
Effective September 1, the University of Saskatchewan will no longer
accept Visa cards for tuition payments as part of changes to payment
options available to students. uSask will continue to accept
MasterCard, as it, unlike Visa, allows universities to charge an
administration fee. The university will charge a 1% administration fee
to all tuition payments made with MasterCard, which will be accepted
online only. In 2009-10, uSask paid about $900,000 to accept credit
cards for tuition payment. The university's vice-president of finance
and administration says the new administrative fee will cover about
half of that expense moving forward, allowing uSask to direct those
savings into projects designed to enhance the student experience. uSask News Release | Saskatoon Star-Phoenix | Add/Read Comments
"Nixty" allows users to take, create free courses:
This month marked the launch of a new website that allows any user to
take and create courses for free. The new learning platform, called
"Nixty," started up with more than 200 course offerings culled from
open-source content already available online. Like a course-management
system, Nixty comes with a grade book, testing, and discussion boards.
Through the site, students can ask other users questions, and
instructions can collaborate to improve their teaching material.
Nixty's current features are just the beginning of what its developers
have planned. In the next month, the company plans to roll out a
payment system for courses. Nixty's chief executive hopes to establish
partnerships with several online institutions. The Chronicle of Higher Education (free access) | Nixty | Add/Read Comments
Correction: In a recent statement, the
Canadian Federation of Students erroneously reported that the federal
government plans to withdraw funding for the Program for International
Student Assessment. In fact, the assessment has secured multi-year
funding, and will continue to be funded until at least 2012. We have
corrected the item on our website. CFS News Release
Academica Group
is Canada's leading source of market intelligence and full cycle
marketing services for higher education. Our website describes our
pioneering market research, branding, recruitment and web technology
services for colleges and universities, and our ongoing policy research
for national and provincial government and education agencies.
Academica's Top Ten is
a daily digest of top news and opinion affecting post-secondary
education in Canada, published as a free service to our clients and
friends. This digest was edited by Katherine Fletcher and Ken Steele at
Academica Group, based on publicly-available information. Neither the
editors nor Academica Group assume liability for comments or
information posted by others. Please send your comments, news releases,
or submissions to today@academica.ca or call toll-free in North America, 1.866.922.8636 ext. 205.
uToronto students, faculty protest proposed merger of language departments:
1,300 University of Toronto students and faculty have signed a petition
protesting plans by school administration to amalgamate the East
Indian, German, Italian, Slavic, and Spanish/Portuguese departments
into one "School of Languages and Literature," as outlined in the arts and science faculty's academic plan.
Students in the East Asian Studies program say the move would damage uToronto's
reputation, downgrade the undergraduate experience, and hurt enrolment.
Over 5,000 faculty, students, and alumni have signed another petition
asking uToronto president David Naylor to reject a recommendation to
fold the Centre for Comparative Literature into the proposed School of Languages and Literature and redefine it as a collaborative program. CAUT News | Add/Read Comments
$6 million for Fredericton-based Centre of Excellence in Advanced Learning and Technology: The
federal and New Brunswick governments announced Friday an investment of
over $6.2 million for the creation of a new Centre of Excellence in
Advanced Learning and Technology, to be located at the Fredericton
Knowledge Park. NB's finance minister says the centre will bring
together leading-edge e-learning firms, online universities, the
University of New Brunswick, and the National Research Council
Institute for Information Technology to help the province's research
and development sector grow even more. ACOA News Release | Telegraph-Journal | Add/Read Comments
Langley campus a priority for Kwantlen president:
When David Atkinson took over presidency of Kwantlen Polytechnic
University 2 years ago, it was evident to him that "the Langley campus
was certainly not operating up to its potential." He says one of the
key problems was that for years, the courses offered at the campus
would change frequently and some would be cancelled shortly before the
academic year began, hurting enrolment in Langley. Since Atkinson's
arrival, various administrative departments have been transferred to
the Langley campus, where the $6-million School of Horticulture was
recently completed. Over the long term, Atkinson's focus is on
expanding program offerings and increasing enrolment at the campus. Langley Times | Add/Read Comments
Ryerson releases sketches of Maple Leaf Gardens renovation: With 8 months left in Ryerson University's $60-million renovation of the upper portion of Maple Leaf Gardens,
new sketches of the project reveal an effort to keep the spirit of the
former hockey shrine in a new, scaled-down rink. Sharing the facility
with its new owner, Loblaw Cos. Ltd., Ryerson is planning a student
athletic centre for the building's new second storey, with the rink on
the floor above. The new arena will be more intimate with 2,500 seats,
all in the original Gardens shades of gold of blue, which also happen
to be the university's colours. Globe and Mail | Add/Read Comments
Ontario opens applications for $45-million Northern Training Partnership Fund:
On Friday, the Ontario government launched the first round of
applications for the Northern Training Partnership Fund, a 3-year,
$45-million initiative announced in the province's 2010 budget.
The program is designed to provide Aboriginal people in the North and
nothern Ontarians with better access to skills training opportunities,
leading to jobs in resource-related sectors, such as energy, mining,
and forestry. Eligible projects will require a collaboration between
industry and Aboriginal or northern communites or organizations. Ontario News Release | Add/Read Comments
NL mistakenly sends out high school transcripts with wrong grades:
The Newfoundland and Labrador government is citing a "processing error"
as the reason behind 6,500 students receiving their high school
transcripts reflecting 2008-09 marks rather than those for the 2009-10
school year. Memorial University says secondary students planning to
attend the university in the fall are not affected by the error, as
NL's education department had not yet sent MUN the feed containing the
high school grades. The correct marks will be mailed to students this
week. The province's NDP leader says the mistake is unacceptable for
the affected students, and a better explanation for the incident is
needed. NL Public Advisory | MUN News | CBC | Add/Read Comments
BC education system failing to meet own targets:
A year-end report from BC's education ministry shows the province's
education system is failing to meet some of its own targets for student
performance and satisfaction. The report found that during the 2009-10
fiscal year, just 45% of students who responded to an annual
satisfaction survey felt they were properly prepared for PSE or a
career. That number is down 7 percentage points from the year before,
and below the ministry's target of 54%. BC's education minister says
the results are troubling. "I am not satisfied. I'm disappointed and I
know we can do better." Postmedia News | Add/Read Comments
Extending institutional brand through online education:
That online education knows no geographical bounds might mean an
opportunity for smaller American universities with less national cachet
to grow their brand and enrol students from across the country, even
the world. However, it might also mean they need to fight for their
lives as they face encroachment from for-profits such as the University
of Phoenix and Kaplan University. What regionally focused institutions
have working for them is that students like online learning, but also
like having a physical campus nearby. A 2008 study
by the Sloan Consortium observed that 85% of online students were
taking courses through institutions located within 50 miles of their
homes. In order to succeed online in the long term, experts say,
schools need to stake their value on something beyond the merely being
online. Regionally focused colleges could also demonstrate their value
through "hybrid education" -- online learning that has some
face-to-face component. Inside Higher Education | Add/Read Comments
How social media benefits teaching: At
the Emerging Technologies for Online Learning Symposium last week in
San Jose, the presenter of a session on Facebook said one benefit of
the social network is that, unlike course-management systems, students
already know how to use it, and encouraged professors to use Facebook
to sent out announcements for their courses and to develop assignments
where students post responses using the site. Among the more unusual
suggestions during the conference were asking students to do
role-playing exercises on Facebook or Twitter, using YouTube's tracking
feature to see how many students tune into video-captured lectures, and
sending students one-minute video reminders about assignments using a
free service called Eyejot. The Chronicle of Higher Education (free access) | Add/Read Comments
Last week's most-clicked stories:
- "Study like a scholar, scholar"
- Canada global leader in degree attainment among young adults
- Jim Black on "Creating a Retention Culture" (white paper -- fifth week in a row)
- What attracts applicants to university Computer Science programs? (UCAS white paper)
- 9 Canadian universities win CASE Circle of Excellence Awards
Academica Group
is Canada's leading source of market intelligence and full cycle
marketing services for higher education. Our website describes our
pioneering market research, branding, recruitment and web technology
services for colleges and universities, and our ongoing policy research
for national and provincial government and education agencies.
Academica's Top Ten is
a daily digest of top news and opinion affecting post-secondary
education in Canada, published as a free service to our clients and
friends. This digest was edited by Katherine Fletcher and Ken Steele at
Academica Group, based on publicly-available information. Neither the
editors nor Academica Group assume liability for comments or
information posted by others. Please send your comments, news releases,
or submissions to today@academica.ca or call toll-free in North America, 1.866.922.8636 ext. 205.
 Ontario urges universities to agree to wage freeze: The Ontario government is calling on provincial universities to keep collective bargaining pay hikes frozen at 0% for 2 years. With the province battling a $19.7-billion deficit, Ontario's university sector now worries the government will not provide it with enough to fund enrolment growth needs. In its 2010-11 budget, Ontario committed to opening 20,000 new spaces at post-secondary institutions. Campus labour groups are mulling their options, and campus leaders, too, are trying to sort out the implications of the government's request. Canadian Association of University Teachers executive director James Turk says province-wide bargaining would make it difficult for Ontario universities to attract and retain faculty. Globe and Mail | Toronto Star | Add/Read Comments
CFS criticizes withdrawal of funding for youth, student surveys: The federal government recently announced its intention to cancel funding for the Youth in Transition Survey, National Longitudinal Survey on Children and Youth, the National Apprenticeship Survey, and the Program for International Student Assessment, a move the Canadian Federation of Students argues will make it all but impossible to make informed education policy. "The government's misguided assault on student-focused research will leave policy makers shooting in the dark," says CFS's national chairperson. Without the information provided by these surveys, the CFS states, policy makers will not be able to determine what is working or identify necessary changes to make students in Canada internationally competitive. CFS News Release | Add/Read Comments
Canada global leader in degree attainment among young adults: According to a new report from the College Board, Canada is now the world leader in higher education among young adults, with 55.8% of 25- to 34-year-olds holding a post-secondary degree as of 2007, the year of the latest international ranking. The US has dropped from first to 12th place in the share of young adults with an associate degree or higher. When older adults are added to the equation, the Russian Federation leads with 54% of 25- to 64-year-olds with a post-secondary degree in 2007, followed by Canada with 48.3%. The US places sixth with 40.3%. Washington Post | Read the report | Add/Read Comments
New location for uWaterloo Stratford site: Plans to build the University of Waterloo's Stratford campus on a parcel of land in the northeast corner of the St. Patrick Street parking lot have changed. At a meeting last week, Stratford city council declared another piece of land, known as Block 2, surplus to sell to uWaterloo for $1. Block 2 is west of the land originally proposed for the development, overlapping about 18 metres. The new location will see uWaterloo constructing on land boarded by St. Patrick and Cooper streets. City officials say the new location is better for servicing, building orientation, future expansion, and site planning. Stratford Gazette | Add/Read Comments
Ryerson considers acquiring crumbling hotel: Ryerson University might be willing to purchase the deteriorating Empress Hotel from its current owners, who are now battling with the City of Toronto over whether they can demolish the 122-year-old landmark. Ryerson's director of public affairs says "we are always interested in exploring opportunities to buy land in our precinct," and "if the price were right, we might well be interested in it." Such a purchase would need the approval of the university's board of directors, and the current owners would have to be interested in selling. Toronto Sun | Add/Read Comments
Rise in applications drives entry requirements up slightly at UVic: It's a bit tougher this year for prospective first-year students to qualify for admission to the University of Victoria, reports a local radio station. Applications are up over last year, which means the cut-off will be higher, perhaps requiring a 75% average for students coming directly out of high school, up from the low 70s last year. Undergraduate applications to the university are up about 2.5%, while graduate applications have risen by 7%. UVic's law school has seen a whopping 30% increase in applications. CFAX 1070 | Add/Read Comments
MUN grad studies school wins award for admissions practices:
The Canadian Association for Graduate Studies and the Educational
Testing Service has honoured Memorial University's School of Graduate
Studies for its contribution in graduation admissions practices. The
school won the inaugural CAGS/ETS Award for Excellence and Innovation
in Graduate Admission for its submission “Lean, Green and Mean:
Memorial University’s Cost-Effective and Environmentally Responsible
Approach to Graduate Student Recruitment.” By keeping the browsing,
potential student applicant in mind, the grad studies school was able
to determine what it takes to draw a roaming candidate into the
school's microsite and
what it takes to keep them there. The school's dean says a
collaborative and focused approach to recruiting grad students was the
driving force behind the recognition. MUN News | Add/Read Comments
How grantmakers can promote college success:
In a new brief, Grantmakers for Education, a US-based membership
organization for philanthropies that support improved education
outcomes for students from early childhood through PSE, states that
education philanthropy must now shift its sights from college access to
success by providing support to ensure post-secondary students
graduate. The brief cites several barriers that need addressing in
order to drive a dramatic increase in PSE success. These include
inadequate academic preparation at the K-12 level, a general lack of
emphasis on completion, and arcane financial aid policies and
procedures. Areas of action on the part of grantmakers, as outlined in
the brief, include supporting efforts to align K-12 coursework will
skills and subject knowledge needed for PSE success, investing in
financial education models that reach students early, and supporting
the expansion of new models for student services. Read the brief | Add/Read Comments
"Study like a scholar, scholar":
Brigham Young University's Harold B. Lee Library recently produced a
promotion video parodying the popular "Smell like a man, man" Old Spice
commercial. (The Globe and Mail's Simon Houpt wrote that Old
Spice's 2-day campaign of personalized short videos "felt like a
watershed moment in the history of social media). The library's
student-driven Multimedia Production Unit shot the video in one day in
June, and posted the final product online on July 15. Since then, the
video has garnered over 1.4 million views on YouTube. The "man your
grades could be like" tells scholars they could have grades like his by
studying like him -- at the library. "Did you know that 8 out of 5
dentists say that studying in the library is 6 bajillion times more
effective than studying in your shower?" The "New Spice" blog features
a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the video, production stills,
and links to media coverage. Brigham Young U News Release | New Spice (promo video blog) | Globe and Mail | Add/Read Comments
Facebook reaches half-billion users: On Wednesday, Facebook reported that it now has over 500 million users worldwide. In celebration of the milestone, the social networking site has created an application called "Facebook Stories" to document the impact Facebook has had on peoples' lives. According to CheckFacebook.com, the site has over 15.7 million users in Canada, nearly half of the country's population. The latest figures show that the top 3 nations for Facebook users are the US, the UK, and Indonesia. CBC | Facebook blog | Add/Read Comments
Academica Group
is Canada's leading source of market intelligence and full cycle
marketing services for higher education. Our website describes our
pioneering market research, branding, recruitment and web technology
services for colleges and universities, and our ongoing policy research
for national and provincial government and education agencies.
Academica's Top Ten is
a daily digest of top news and opinion affecting post-secondary
education in Canada, published as a free service to our clients and
friends. This digest was edited by Katherine Fletcher and Ken Steele at
Academica Group, based on publicly-available information. Neither the
editors nor Academica Group assume liability for comments or
information posted by others. Please send your comments, news releases,
or submissions to today@academica.ca or call toll-free in North America, 1.866.922.8636 ext. 205.
 Kwantlen president launches probe into farmland research funding:
Kwantlen Polytechnic University president David Atkinson has launched a
review of the institution's decision to accept $50,000 from a real
estate development firm at the same time Kwantlen was promoting the
farmland development project it was researching. The Vancouver Province reported
that Kwantlen researchers did not reveal to the Tsawwassen Area Plan
Committee during a meeting last December that they had been paid to
research the project, which they were supporting. In a release sent out
Tuesday, Atkinson stated he had initiated a review that will examine
the circumstances of the fee, as well as the expectations of its
memorandum of understanding with the developer. Results of the review
will be submitted to Kwantlen's board of governors and subsequently
made public. Vancouver Province | Add/Read Comments
UPEI gets publicity on "Live! with Regis and Kelly":
The University of Prince Edward Island reports that its website saw a
50% increase in hits on July 13 after receiving about 90 seconds of
dedicated airtime from Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa during a live
broadcast of "Live! with Regis and Kelly," which was on location on PEI
for 4 episodes last week. During the "host chat," Ripa hoisted her UPEI
mug and said the province had a great university, while Philbin joked
that the stuffed toy Pather mascot he received kept him "up all night."
The hosts mentioned the UPEI-based Atlantic Veterinary College's summer
vet camp, and Ripa said she was thinking of sending her kids to the
camp next year. The comments come as a result of small gift packages
and personalized letters to the hosts hand-delivered to their hotel.
Increased visits to UPEI's website, inquiries about the vet camp, and
e-mails congratulating UPEI on the positive exposure highlight the
boost in awareness the university received via inclusion on the
program. UPEI News Release | Add/Read Comments
ACAD appoints new president: The Alberta
College of Art + Design announced Tuesday the appointment of Dr. Daniel
Doz as the institution's new president and CEO, effective August 23.
Doz will come to ACAD from Ryerson University, where he has served as
dean of the communication and design faculty. During his tenure at
Ryerson, Doz was actively involved in major university capital
projects, such as the Ryerson Gallery and Research Centre, the Student Learning Centre, and the university's master plan.
Born in Montreal and raised in France, Doz has a doctorate from the
Université de Paris VIII, and is licensed as an architect by the French
government. ACAD News Release | Add/Read Comments
GPRC to partner with new hospital for health-care training:
On Tuesday, the Alberta government gave the green light for a
long-awaited second hospital for Grande Prairie, which will partner
with Grande Prairie Regional College to try to attract and keep health
professionals. GPRC president Don Gnatiuk says the announcement is a
big win for the college, in that "we now have health and education
together in one wonderful opportunity." Until about 7 months ago, GPRC
planned to build a health sciences building on its own, but with the
partnership proposal from the provincial government, GPRC didn't have
to think twice before accepting it. Gnatiuk says it's too early to tell
how many students may benefit from in-hospital training, but GPRC
already knows it will be a popular addition to the institution. Edmonton Journal | Add/Read Comments
Algoma U program introduces foreign students to
Canadian civil society: Algoma University has launched a pilot program
for international students to polish their English language skills
while learning about life in a small Canadian city. "Exploring Civil
Society in a Canadian Context" will feature 2 sessions in July and
August, with over 50 students from Brazil, China, Japan, Korea, and
Mexico participating. Known as Algoma U's "Summer Study," the program
includes a minimum 18 hours a week of direct ESL instruction with an
equivalent number of volunteer hours in the community. Participants
will produce a booklet to highlight their experiences and raise
questions on the attributes of a civil society. Algoma U has placed more
emphasis on international recruitment in recent years. The institution
has responded by adding staff and programming to assist foreign
students with the transition to studying in Canada, increasing
scholarship opportunities, and organizing international recruitment
visits. Algoma U News Release | Add/Read Comments
Construction of Northern College trades centre on target:
Northern College says its Centre of Excellence for Trades and
Technology is on target for completion in time for classes this
September. While there remains a $1-million shortfall in fundraising
required to equip the centre, projected construction costs of $17.3
million remain on target. The centre, based at the college's Timmins
campus, will feature a 12,000-square foot simulated industrial trades
shop, new lecture theatres, industrial science labs, student common
areas, and a state-of-the-art tele-presence studio. Through a
$4-million investment in next-generation videoconferencing equipment,
the centre will also begin delivering trades training to the college's
Moosonee campus. Northern College News Release | Add/Read Comments
Gap year becoming more popular in US:
The option of taking a gap year between high school and post-secondary
has gained popularity in the US in recent years as college admissions
have become fiercely competitive. While there is no data on how many
Americans take a gap year, some admissions dean say they are seeing a
rise this year following more publicity about the benefits of deferring
enrolment. Vermont-based Middlebury College, for example, just started
including a paragraph in its admission letter urging students to visit
a new website about the merits of a gap year. “By encouraging more
students to step off the treadmill and smell the roses, they can kind
of reacquaint themselves with what their education is all about.’’ Boston Globe | Add/Read Comments
Trend in US colleges preparing students for a dangerous world:
More US institutions are offering courses that teach students to deal
with a shrinking and increasingly dangerous world, with whole programs
in fields such as anti-terrorism and cybersecurity designed to prepare
students for careers battling the things that frighten us. In 1994,
there were 4 university-level emergency management programs in the US,
while today there are over 150 and another 30 currently in development
or approved. Among the factors contributing the growth of
security-related programs is that in the aftermath of 9/11, the
Homeland Security Act of 2002 created a dozen Centres of Excellence at
universities and research labs, which were asked to increase America's
understanding of various aspects of dangerous threats, such as
explosives and biological attacks. NPR | Add/Read Comments
More US institutions experimenting with iPads: A growing number of American post-secondary schools are ready to bestow iPads
on their students for academic purposes. Oklahoma State University, for
example, plans to hand out iPads this fall to an estimated 120 students
in 2 courses at the institution's communications and business schools.
At Duke University, master's students at the Duke Global Health
Institute will experiment with the iPad's usefulness in field research,
while students in the University of Maryland's Digital Cultures and
Creativity living-and-learning program will learn to develop their own
applications. The Chronicle of Higher Education (free access) | Add/Read Comments
Comics have power to promote prose literacy in young boys: In a new Lessons in Learning
article, the Canadian Council on Learning observes that comic books and
graphic novels may hold the key to promoting prose literacy in young
boys, who have traditionally lagged behind girls in reading. The CCL
cites research that suggests young boys may be less interested in
reading because their literary interests, such as comics and adventure
stories, are under-represented in their schools and classrooms.
Research also suggests that comics serve as an effective gateway to
reading prose-based works, and contribute to the development of visual
literacy. CCL News Release | Read the article | Add/Read Comments
Academica Group
is Canada's leading source of market intelligence and full cycle
marketing services for higher education. Our website describes our
pioneering market research, branding, recruitment and web technology
services for colleges and universities, and our ongoing policy research
for national and provincial government and education agencies.
Academica's Top Ten is
a daily digest of top news and opinion affecting post-secondary
education in Canada, published as a free service to our clients and
friends. This digest was edited by Katherine Fletcher and Ken Steele at
Academica Group, based on publicly-available information. Neither the
editors nor Academica Group assume liability for comments or
information posted by others. Please send your comments, news releases,
or submissions to today@academica.ca or call toll-free in North America, 1.866.922.8636 ext. 205.
 Class-action suit against Loyalist College may soon be settled: Loyalist College and over 70 1997 and 1998 nursing students suing the school for breach of contract for negligent misrepresentation are inching closer to reaching an amicable agreement, says the lawyer representing the 1998 students. The class-action suit contends that when the 1998 nursing class began at Loyalist, students were offered an option whereby they would receive a nursing degree from Queen's University after 4 years. The document claims that no such option was available. Loyalist has also brought action against Queen's, claiming that the university had a role in the deal falling apart. Belleville Intelligencer | Add/Read Comments
Farm owners sue UBC-O over private road: The owners of 4 farms west of the University of British Columbia's Okanagan campus are asking the Supreme Court of BC to block the school's use of a private dirt and gravel road that cuts across 10 farms and is considered by many to be the only safe cycling route onto campus. While UBC-O does not allow motorized access from the road, one farm owner says motorcycles, mopeds, and cars frequently park on her property while their drivers head up to campus. In December, residents put a gate at the end of the road to control access, and UBC-O got an injunction forcing the gate to remain open. UBC-O's deputy vice-chancellor says that while the institution does not encourage use of the road, it has the right to access it. Globe and Mail | Add/Read Comments
UVic pro-life group drops lawsuit against student union: Youth Protecting Youth, a pro-life group at the University of Victoria, has dropped a lawsuit against the university's student union after the latter reinstated the group's club status. As part of the settlement, the student union has granted the club funding for the semester, repaid all funds denied since September 2008, and revised its harassment policy to ensure the club can continue to operate. The settlement includes a provision that allows the group to immediately re-active its suit if it believes its freedom of expression is censored in the future. Victoria Times-Colonist | Georgia Straight | Saanich News | Canadian Press | Add/Read Comments
Former uCalgary bookstore clerk given conditional sentence for defrauding store: An Alberta Provincial Court judge has handed down a conditional sentence of 2 years less a day on a former University of Calgary bookstore accounts payable clerk for defrauding the store of $203,000 to support her video lottery terminal gambling addiction. The judge placed the woman on house arrest for the entire sentence, followed by 12 months' probation. He also ordered the former clerk to pay restitution for the full amount and perform 150 hours of community service. The woman's lawyer told the court his client went to uCalgary officials when she heard an audit was being done. Calgary Herald | Add/Read Comments
uWaterloo expansion plan moving forward: On Monday, Waterloo city council endorsed a subdivision plan that calls for the staged development of the University of Waterloo's north-west campus, which would see the campus double in size over 40 years. Council will spend $9 million to grade and service the 73-hectare site, as part of deal to locate a new public library branch and YMCA there. Vacant lands could be used for research, academic facilities, and housing for students or faculty. Waterloo Region Record | Add/Read Comments
COU proposes national ICT/digital media network: In its submission to the Digital Economy Consultation, the Council of Ontario Universities states that Ontario universities feel they are able to contribute to Canada's digital economy in 3 areas: talent and skill development; research and innovation, including digital content development; and university/industry collaboration. In order to support and strengthen their contribution, Ontario universities are proposing the formation of a new National ICT/Digital Media Network that would connect clusters of ICT and digital media experience across Canada. COU states the centre could be used to strengthen the outcomes in several areas identified for greater focus and investment, such as greater opportunities for student/young research involvement in the field of ICT and digital media. Read the submission | Add/Read Comments
9 Canadian universities win CASE Circle of Excellence Awards: 9 Canadian universities have picked up medals in the 2010 CASE Circle of Excellence Awards. MUN earned 2 grand golds and 3 golds, and York U garnered one grand gold, a gold, and 2 silvers. Brock won 2 silvers and a bronze, Dal earned a gold and a bronze, uToronto picked up 2 silvers, and McMaster received 2 bronzes. McGill, UBC, and uAlberta won a gold, silver, and bronze, respectively. Some of the winning work is available online, such as MUN's "This is the Start of Something Big" campaign and Brock's "Both Sides of the Brain" Facebook application. List of 2010 CASE COE winners | Add/Read Comments
US college fundraisers expect 4.3% increase in giving in 2009-10: According to CASE's Fundraising Index, US college fundraisers expect the amount of money raised in the fiscal year that just ended on most campuses to be 4.3% higher than the previous year. Fundraisers are also predicting a 5.7% increase in giving in 2010-11. Community college fundraisers are generally more optimistic about past-year results than their counterparts at 4-year colleges and universities. For the year ahead, community colleges and public 4-year institutions are the most optimistic. CASE News Release | The Chronicle of Higher Education (free access) | Add/Read Comments
College advancement units embrace social media: According to a new US survey, the vast majority of colleges' fundraising- and communications-related divisions are now using social media. Facebook is the top social media tool used by those surveyed, with 94% of respondents reporting that their units have pages there. Most units are using multiple forms of social media, with Twitter used by 67% of those surveyed, LinkedIn by 61%, and YouTube by 59%. Alumni are the target audience of the greatest number of institutions surveyed (96%), followed by "friends and supporters" (77%), and donors (66%). According to the survey, many colleges are planning to expand social media or to formalize organization of it. Inside Higher Ed | Add/Read Comments
Campus technology an important factor in college decision-making: In a US survey released Monday, 63% of current college students say technology on campus was important in their college selection criteria, while 93% of high schools students agree. 85% of college students surveyed say technology is important in their ability to study for their chosen field. College students' must-have campus technologies include wireless networks (77%), off-campus network connections (57%), and course management systems (47%). 64% of college students report using social media to connect with classmates to study or work on assignments, and 76% of high school students say they use social media as an education tool. Read the report | Add/Read Comments
Academica Group
is Canada's leading source of market intelligence and full cycle
marketing services for higher education. Our website describes our
pioneering market research, branding, recruitment and web technology
services for colleges and universities, and our ongoing policy research
for national and provincial government and education agencies.
Academica's Top Ten is
a daily digest of top news and opinion affecting post-secondary
education in Canada, published as a free service to our clients and
friends. This digest was edited by Katherine Fletcher and Ken Steele at
Academica Group, based on publicly-available information. Neither the
editors nor Academica Group assume liability for comments or
information posted by others. Please send your comments, news releases,
or submissions to today@academica.ca or call toll-free in North America, 1.866.922.8636 ext. 205.
 UBC application to dismiss human rights complaint rejected: The BC Human Rights Tribunal has denied the University of British Columbia's application to dismiss a complaint of discrimination on the basis of mental disability against the university. A chartered accountant employed by UBC claims he became ill after a sharp rise in work load and job stress. After seeking medical help, the complainant states, he went on sick leave and was diagnosed with major depression. His employment was terminated in February 2009, a decision that was later reversed. The complainant alleges UBC discriminated against him, in part, by failing to compensate him for overtime, initially terminating his employment during the sick leave, and failing to address his developing illness. The accountant remains off work on long-term disability. UBC disputes the complainant's allegations. Georgia Straight | Add/Read Comments
NB pledges $10 million for PSE in Miramichi: The New Brunswick government announced Friday a $9-million investment in a new multi-purpose wing at New Brunswick Community College's Miramichi campus that will accommodate various trades programs. The province is also committing $1 million over 4 years through an agreement with St. Thomas University to cover ongoing expenses as the institution strengthens its presence in Miramichi. STU will target its programming to adult and Aboriginal learners, as well as to local students who can benefit from the first-year Study at Home program. NB News Release | STU News Release | Add/Read Comments
uCalgary discloses new president's salary: Promising more transparency under the leadership of Elizabeth Cannon,
the University of Calgary's board of governors has posted the new
president's contract online. On July 1, Cannon succeeded Harvey
Weingarten, whose contract -- including a $4.75-million pension that
was not finalized for 7 years -- was subject to a scathing reprimand
from the former Alberta auditor general. Cannon's contract was signed
March 23 and later posted on uCalgary's wesbite, in a sign the
institution is taking measures to avoid the fiasco surrounding the
management of Weingartern's financials. According to her contract,
Cannon will receive a base salary of $430,000 this year, and is
eligible for up to $86,000 in performance bonuses. Calgary Herald | Read the contract | Add/Read Comments
College infrastructure fund among ACCC's recommendations for digital economy strategy: In its submission to the Digital Economy Consultation, the Association of Canadian Community Colleges recommends the federal government create a college infrastructure and equipment fund adequate to secure the supply of advanced skills needed to support the digital economy. ACCC also recommends that Ottawa increase research and development funding by 5%, enhance copyright legislation to facilitate the reproduction of materials for colleges, and allot resources to ensure that digital learning is accessible to disadvantaged groups. Inside ACCC | Read the submission | Add/Read Comments
What attracts students to university Computer Science programs? "Attracting Students to Computer Science," the seventh publication in Academica Group's series of UCAS White Papers, looks at national results from the 2009 UCAS study and concludes that Computer Science applicants are focused careerists, lured by co-op placements, relevant industry nearby, and strong career outcomes. These applicants follow their friends, and give less thought to campus amenities or student life in general. The white paper includes a graph of 50 key decision factors, and the weight given to them by CompSci applicants compared to all university applicants. UCAS White Paper #7 (PDF)
UVic to remove on-campus army huts for athletics facility: The University of Victoria is scrapping 2 army huts left over from World War II to clear the way for a new athletics facility. One hut was taken down yesterday, while another is slated for removal in the fall. The huts were part of the Gordon Head Military Camp, which housed an armoury, living quarters, and several other buildings when it opened in 1940. Another 9 huts remain at UVic's Gordon Head campus, and are mostly used for storage. A UVic spokeswoman says these huts will likely be demolished once they are no longer needed. Victoria Times-Colonist | Add/Read Comments
Ottawa invests in bridge training programs at Manitoba PSE institutions: On Friday, the federal government announced it will provide Manitoba's advanced education department with over $1.2 million for its project titled Partnerships for Labour Market-Driven Bridge Programs in Manitoba's Post-Secondary Institutions. Under the program, several provincial departments and agencies work with college and universities to pilot bridge-to-work programs to help internationally trained newcomers gain access to the education, training, and work experience they need to prepare for licensing exams and to find work related to their previous education and training. HRSDC News Release | Add/Read Comments
Why young alumni might not give: A new survey of 700 alumni in the US finds that younger alumni are more likely than older generations to cite a number of barriers to donating to their alma maters. Among the top reasons young alumni said they were disinclined to donate were perceptions that the institution does not need the money and that it hadn't done enough to connect with them outside of asking for money. 80% of young alumni surveyed felt they have paid enough already in tuition to consider giving, or giving more, to their alma maters. To better engage young alumni, experts suggest reaching out to them through social media or by adjusting fundraising messages. On the matter of cost, some colleges are trying to show that the tuition students paid was much less than the actual cost of an education. The Chronicle of Higher Education (subscription required) | Add/Read Comments
How to approach international fundraising: At CASE's Summit for Advancement Leaders, which wraps up today, one session focused on international fundraising, where the general theme was that such activity needs to be organized, and cannot be left to the individual connections of various campus divisions. Panellists said it was important for those with international fundraising experience to be involved in working with prospective donors that do not fit neatly in an international-domestic dichotomy, such as foreign companies with major American operations. Good guidance is needed on ethics issues, with philanthropic traditions varying widely from nation to nation. For example, donors may not receive the same tax deductions associated with big gifts in the US and may expect something tangible in return. Inside Higher Ed | Add/Read Comments
BP offers contracts to Gulf researchers for legal defence: The Press-Register reports that BP tried to hire the entire marine sciences department at the University of South Alabama to help with its defence against spill litigation. The university turned down the contract, as it would have barred the scientists from publishing their research, sharing it with other scientists, or speaking about data they collect for at least the next 3 years. Scientists from other institutions around the Gulf Coast -- Louisiana State University, University of Southern Mississippi, and Texas A&M -- have reportedly accepted contracts, according to academic officials. Some scientists told the paper that colleagues who signed on with BP have since been informed by US officials that they will lose government funding for ongoing research efforts not related to the spill. Press-Register | Add/Read Comments
Twitter users in US highly active online, survey finds: New consumer insights data reveals that American adults who use Twitter are more active online than the average Internet user. The survey found that Twitter users are 506% more likely than other Internet users to write a blog, 451% more likely to upload video, and 314% more likely to post a comment or review. The survey also shows Twitter users to be more socially and politically active -- 141% more likely to be an active member of an activist group, and 103% more likely to have attended a protest or rally in the past year. Twitter users are also 142% more likely to be involved in environmental groups or causes. BizReport | Add/Read Comments
Academica Group
is Canada's leading source of market intelligence and full cycle
marketing services for higher education. Our website describes our
pioneering market research, branding, recruitment and web technology
services for colleges and universities, and our ongoing policy research
for national and provincial government and education agencies.
Academica's Top Ten is
a daily digest of top news and opinion affecting post-secondary
education in Canada, published as a free service to our clients and
friends. This digest was edited by Katherine Fletcher and Ken Steele at
Academica Group, based on publicly-available information. Neither the
editors nor Academica Group assume liability for comments or
information posted by others. Please send your comments, news releases,
or submissions to today@academica.ca or call toll-free in North America, 1.866.922.8636 ext. 205.
 Good morning! I'm on vacation this week, but Academica's Top Ten will continue in my absence thanks to the diligence and talent of Katherine Fletcher, our Associate News Editor, who makes this publication what it is. Thanks for reading!
Group of MUN pensioners file class-action suit against university: Pre-1993 pensioners have filed a class-action suit against Memorial University, claiming their former employer should be paying 100% of their group insurance premiums. The pensioners claim the university reneged on a promise to pay the full cost of their premiums for the rest of their lives. MUN maintains it had a right to reduce its contribution towards the cost of the premiums, a change necessitated after trust fund monies that had been used to fund premium payments had been exhausted. MUN states full payment of insurance premiums has never been a negotiated benefit with university employees. MUN has appealed the court's decision to allow the case to proceed as a class-action suit, citing a lack of "common issues" between the claimants as the primary ground of appeal. MUN News | Add/Read Comments
Kwantlen research on farmlands seen as conflict: A member of a Delta council committee says it was "unprofessional" of Kwantlen Polytechnic University to not disclose that at the same time Kwantlen agriculture specialists were publicly praising a controversial plan to develop the 218-hectare agricultural lands known as Southlands, the institution was also being paid $50,000 to "research" the plan by the real estate development firm that wants to develop the farm lands. Kwantlen's executive director of research says "it is not normal for us to disclose our financial agreements," and claims the researchers were "not lobbying," although they emphasized the plan's benefits. If council approves the rezoning of the lands from agricultural to residential, Kwantlen stands to benefit from an endowment fund and a research centre for urban agriculture on the Southlands site under its deal with the developer. Vancouver Province | Add/Read Comments
NSAC prof claims wrongful dismissal: Fired Nova Scotia Agricultural College assistant professor Alex Martynenko is fighting his termination, which he says was unjust. On May 31, minutes before his 3-year probationary period was to end, Martynenko was informed of his dismissal, which followed the completion of a committee review into an allegation that he falsified data in 2 publications relating to the drying of ginseng and apples. Martynenko admits to using the same introduction, albeit with different information, and mistakenly adding a chart from a paper on ginseng in a submission dealing with apple drying. Martynenko has written letters to government officials trying to have the decision reviewed and overturned. He has met with Nova Scotia's deputy minister of agriculture, who signed the termination letter, and is expecting the deputy minister's decision by Tuesday. Truro Daily News | Add/Read Comments
UBC breaks ground for Pharmaceutical Sciences Building: The University of British Columbia held a groundbreaking ceremony Friday for its $133.3-million Pharmaceutical Sciences Building, a project in which the BC government is investing $86.4 million. The facility, to open in 2012, will allow UBC's professional pharmacy degree program to expand 47% in enrolment, and will provide space for 896 undergraduates, an increase of 288 students, by 2014. BC News Release | Backgrounder | Add/Read Comments
Ontario Universities Council on Quality Assurance launched: The Council of Ontario Universities announced Friday the creation of the Ontario Universities Council on Quality Assurance, a new arm's-length body tasked with ensuring rigorous quality assurance of university undergraduate and graduate programs. The council's first item of business will be to review and approve quality assurance processes at each Ontario university. The council will then be responsible for the review and approval of all new undergraduate and graduate programs, and for auditing each university on an 8-year cycle. COU News Release | Add/Read Comments
Declining enrolment "troublesome predicament" for NB universities: Statistics Canada figures show university enrolment in New Brunswick in 2008-09 dropped 2.8% from the year before, the third consecutive year of decline -- a trend the head of recruitment at Mount Allison University calls a "troublesome predicament" for institutions in NB and across Atlantic Canada. The province's PSE minister says the government's tax credits, rebates, and tuition freeze have made NB a more attractive place for students to study, but the shortage of young people is the biggest obstacle facing provincial universities. Université de Moncton's director of communications says the region's demographic reality means institutions need to temper their expectations. "I think everybody would love to grow, but the logical thing is to work on maintaining enrolment in order to make sure that we keep a certain level of services." Times & Transcript | Add/Read Comments
TRU first Canadian partner of low-cost online course provider: Thompson Rivers University's Open Learning Division is the first Canadian partner university of StraighterLine, a US-based provider of low-cost entry-level college courses online. With StraighterLine, students pay $39 US for each course, plus $99 US per month for the duration. Through the partnership with TRU, students who successfully complete StraighterLine courses can transfer the courses for full credit when they enrol in the university's Open Learning Division. Students can then use these transfer credits towards the completion of their degrees through Open Learning. StraighterLine News Release | Times Higher Education | Add/Read Comments
CBU nursing program receives national accreditation: The Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing has approved accreditation for Cape Breton University's Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. This was the university's first accreditation review as an independent nursing program. CBU's associate dean of nursing says the program was also granted approval from the College of Registered Nurses of Nova Scotia, which is required to keep the program in operation, but the accreditation speaks further to the excellence and value of the nursing program at the university. CBU News Release | Add/Read Comments
Niagara College self-promotes through student-produced commercials: Niagara College is promoting itself throughout Ontario and beyond using the work of its film students, who produced 4 commercials to air on network television. The ads are part of a learning component incorporated into the college's broadcasting program in 2008, when the school's marketing and communications department collaborated with the program to add the development and production of a Niagara College TV commercial to the curriculum for third-year film students. The 4 commercials will air in rotation over the next several months on CHCH TV, and can be viewed online. Niagara College News Release | Watch the videos | Add/Read Comments
UPEI names winners of "Win with UPEI" contest: The University of Prince Edward Island has announced the winners of its "Win with UPEI" contest, which handed out $10,000 -- originally slated to purchase advertising -- in bursaries and other prizes. The contest website asked visitors to vote on their favourite student project, which earned the education faculty the largest proportion of bursary dollars for the highest number of votes. The contest also invited UPEI community members to submit a story, photo, or video online for a chance to earn prizes. A student from China won $1,000 for "Best Entry" for her story about her first moments on campus. One UPEI employee won $1,000 for the "Most Referred Entry," while another employee's entry was selected in the $500 random draw. Other random draws took place for a stuffed toy version of Pride, the university's Panther mascot. UPEI News Release | Win with UPEI | Add/Read Comments
Last week's most-clicked stories:
- YouTube's "Leanback" offers TV-like viewing
-
Dual enrolment programs effective in helping students succeed in PSE, report finds
- What BC university and college presidents are making
- The challenges of senior hiring at Canadian universities
- Jim Black on "Creating a Retention Culture" (white paper -- fourth week in a row)
Academica Group
is Canada's leading source of market intelligence and full cycle
marketing services for higher education. Our website describes our
pioneering market research, branding, recruitment and web technology
services for colleges and universities, and our ongoing policy research
for national and provincial government and education agencies.
Academica's Top Ten is
a daily digest of top news and opinion affecting post-secondary
education in Canada, published as a free service to our clients and
friends. This digest was edited by Katherine Fletcher and Ken Steele at
Academica Group, based on publicly-available information. Neither the
editors nor Academica Group assume liability for comments or
information posted by others. Please send your comments, news releases,
or submissions to today@academica.ca or call toll-free in North America, 1.866.922.8636 ext. 205.
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