April 22, 2024

Statistics Canada has released new data on labour market outcomes for the 2020 graduating classes of Canada’s colleges and universities. The table outlines the average amount of debt owed upon graduation, with data initially displayed by credential type and province of study. On average, doctorate graduates had the highest debt ($38.2K nationally), followed by master’s ($33.3K), bachelor’s ($30.6K), and college ($16.7K) graduates. There was notable variation in average debt by province within each credential. CBC compared this data with previously-released StatCan data indicating that approximately one-third of graduates of the class of 2020 had paid off their loans three years later. CBC reports that in Nova Scotia, graduates tended to have one of the highest average amounts of debt at graduation and one of the lowest rates of having paid off their loans at the three-year mark.

From the east coast to the west coast, Canada’s postsecondary institutions are celebrating Earth Day with initiatives all week. Concordia University is hosting a panel discussion on careers in sustainability as well as a scavenger hunt that challenges participants to document local wildlife in the region. NOSM University is holding a virtual discussion about how to make financial investments that benefit the planet, while Red Deer Polytechnic is inviting the community onto its campus to learn more about the institution’s ongoing environmental initiatives. Both MacEwan University and the University of Victoria are showcasing some of their ongoing environmental research on their websites, covering topics including the management of microplastics and tracking climate change through genetic code.

The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) has announced the 2023 AAAS Fellows. The 502 scientists, engineers, and innovators who have received this lifetime honour include seven researchers who are affiliated with Canadian postsecondary schools. The 2023 Fellows include: Daolun Chen (Toronto Metropolitan University), Dolph Schluter (University of British Columbia), Ehab Abouheif (McGill University), Konrad Gajewski (University of Ottawa), Robyn Klein (Western University), Tamara Franz-Odendaal (Mount Saint Vincent University), and Sheena Josselyn (University of Toronto).

Thompson Rivers University, the University of British Columbia’s Okanagan campus, and the University of Northern British Columbia—which together comprise the Interior Universities Research Coalition (IURC)—have renewed their research collaboration for another five years. The IURC has attracted a wide variety of research opportunities based in the British Columbia interior, including funded projects on COVID-19, aging in rural communities, and wildlife stewardship. The coalition will build on its learnings to continue its work in community-based research, foster greater research capacity, and create more joint educational opportunities over the next five years.

Sault College and Sault President David Orazietti have launched a civil lawsuit against Conestoga College and Conestoga President John Tibbits. The lawsuit follows a heated exchange that occurred between the presidents earlier this year. According to Bay Today, Sault and Orazietti are claiming $200K in damages over allegations of “false, malicious and defamatory statements” made by Tibbits. The claim alleges that certain comments made by Tibbits damaged the reputation of both Sault and Orazietti. The claim was filed in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice; a statement of defence has reportedly not yet been filed.

In a recent article for EdTech, Omid Fotuhi (University of Pittsburgh) argues that consulting with and involving faculty in technology-related decision-making can help accelerate the successful adoption of educational technology. When faculty are part of these strategic purchasing decisions, Fotuhi explains that this can help to cultivate the level of buy-in that leads to the use of educational technology to personalize learning experiences and create more engaging courses. Fotuhi advises administrators to consider using four approaches to meaningfully gather faculty input on ed tech purchase decisions: dedicated faculty ed tech committees, focus groups, surveys, and faculty-led pilots.

The University of Waterloo has officially broken ground on a new Indigenous outdoor space that will be used for First Nations, Métis, and Inuit events, celebrations, and teachings, starting this Fall. Constructed out of Alaskan yellow cedar, the space will contain 33 posts to represent a forest; a roof with overlapping wing sections that will allow wind to flow through the structure; and yellow, red, and brown designs to represent the colours of a native trout species. “It’s meant to be a physical presence to say to our campus colleagues that there is Indigenous presence on campus, including histories tied to the area as well as contemporary Indigenous diversity and uses of the land,” said UWaterloo Associate VP of Indigenous Relations Jean Becker.

Last week, McGill University and the Association of Graduate Students Employed at McGill–which represents about 1,600 teaching assistants–reached a tentative agreement. The union voted 75% in favour of the agreement in principle. According to the Canadian Press, the new collective agreement will run until July 2027. It includes a wage increase of 15.5% over four years and features “guarantees of transparency in the allocation of teaching assistant budgets.” This agreement brings an end to the AGSEM strike, which began at the end of March.

The College of the North Atlantic is celebrating the accreditation of five of its engineering technology programs. With this recent round of accreditation from Technology Accreditation Canada (TAC), all 15 of CNA’s engineering technology programs will have successfully received TAC accreditation. “Accreditation ensures that programs offered by CNA meet or exceed predefined standards of quality in terms of curriculum, faculty qualifications, student support services, facilities, and resources,” explained CNA School of Engineering Dean Sonny Hegde. “This assures all stakeholders (students, employers, our community) that the education provided is of high quality and relevance.”

Trent University has signed a ten-year agreement with Broadview Press, which takes effect in June 2024. This partnership will give students real-world publishing experience at Broadview through co-op placements and internships. It will also explore joint editorial initiatives between Trent faculty and Broadview staff and establish the annual Trent-Broadview Prize for outstanding work in the humanities or social sciences. “Academic publishing is a key way in which universities contribute to knowledge and teaching, and all that they make possible,” said Trent President Dr Leo Groarke. “This collaboration, with one of Canada’s most successful independent academic publishers, will promote these aims by creating valuable experiential learning opportunities for students who seek to pursue a career in publishing.”