April 29, 2024

Camosun College has launched an initiative to decolonize English placement assessments for Indigenous students. A committee based out of the college has begun work on a standardized tool that will place Indigenous students in the appropriate level of postsecondary English while reflecting Indigenous worldviews and cultures. “When I looked at assessments from previous Indigenous students, such as an essay that received a low score but had profound wisdom, reflection and insights, I realized that we were using the wrong tool,” said Camosun English Placement Counsellor Maureen Niwa. Camosun says that the committee developing the assessment tool has grown into a national Indigenizing English Placement Assessment (IEPA) Steering Committee, which involves eight Canadian institutions and is welcoming new members.

US institutions have drawn the attention of the international media and community for their response to on-campus student protests focused on the Gaza war. BBC and the Associated Press highlighted the arrests made at protests and encampments at institutions such as Emerson College, Emory University, New York University, the University of Southern California, the University of Texas in Austin, and Yale University. Amnesty International responded by urging US universities to “safeguard and facilitate all students’ right to peacefully and safely protest or counter-protest on their campuses.” Radio Canada reports that university students and student groups in Montréal are closely following the protests in the USA, with many noting that these protests share a purpose and set of demands with those held in Canada.

The University of Prince Edward Island launched two fundraising campaigns last week: A $15M fundraising campaign for the library and a $10M fund- and friend-raising campaign for the Faculty of Medicine. UPEI aims to raise $15M to renovate the Robertson Library. The revitalization will create a variety of spaces that will meet student needs, including an expanded special collections space, new group workspaces, and a café-style area. UPEI University Librarian Donald Moses said that the library revitalization will accommodate the changing nature of student work. “We’re providing a space and resources for them to accomplish those new tasks,” said Moses. UPEI also launched a $10M campaign to support the construction of UPEI’s $91M Faculty of Medicine building.

A Jewish student has filed a lawsuit against Toronto Metropolitan University, alleging that the institution’s failure to apply its policies and address “ongoing and pervasive antisemitism” have led to a “poisoned antisemitic learning and working environment.” The lawsuit includes a variety of allegations against the institution, reports The Star, which include the administration’s failure to act, the conduct of faculty members, and student conduct on- and off-campus. TMU has declined to comment on the matter while it is before courts but has encouraged community members who have been affected by discrimination and harassment to reach out so that the institution can investigate and provide access to supports. The Star notes that the lawsuit comes in the context of other similar suits against universities and growing reports of hate crimes in Toronto.

In a recent article for University Affairs, author Elizabeth Wells highlights how she uses the gap between the end of classes and graduation to plan for the Fall semester. Wells writes that many academics are too tired to turn to research during this time of year, but could likely spare the energy to tackle the “mindless” tasks associated with planning for the Fall semester. By setting aside time each day to determine class dates, identify class materials that the library can reserve ahead of time, and add new lessons, Wells says that she was able to “say to myself ‘I’m ready for fall’ […] six months in advance.”

The National Association of Career Colleges has partnered with insurance brokerage HUB International to bring comprehensive solutions to the association’s members. The partnership will alleviate administrative burdens experienced by NACC members by offering a “one-stop-shop” for their insurance and risk management needs, including commercial insurance, employee benefits, and student health plans. “By integrating HUB’s tailored insurance and risk management solutions, our colleges can focus more on their core mission of delivering high-quality career education programs,” said NACC CEO Michael Sangster.

The HEC Montréal Foundation and iA Financial Group have struck a partnership to support sustainable finance research at HEC. The financial group has pledged $1M over ten years to support the newly-renamed iA Financial Group Chair in Sustainable Finance and to strengthen research on the effect of environmental, social, and governance factors on investment performance and investor decision-making processes. “By making such a generous commitment today to support research into sustainable finance, our long-standing partner is giving us the means to develop innovative solutions to meet the challenges facing society today,” said HEC Montréal Foundation President Michel Patry.

Brock University and the University of Niagara Falls Canada have each announced global partnerships. Brock and the University College of the Cayman Islands have agreed to collaborate on a variety of initiatives that will support their mutual growth and development, with a primary focus on benefits for Caribbean students. The two partners will bring together scholars from Canada and the Caribbean, give Caribbean students access to education and research opportunities, and provide Canadian scholars with new opportunities in the Caribbean. UNFC has partnered with Shih Chien University in Taiwan to explore academic pathways and joint educational ventures for bachelor’s and master’s level programs.

Carlton Trail College and BHP have partnered on the development of an immersive training program for Saskatchewan’s mining industry. The training program will align with pathways to other Carlton Trails programs. “By focusing on training for trades that are needed now and into the future, this partnership offers an exciting opportunity to enhance our impact, work more cooperatively with industry and contribute to a stronger Saskatchewan,” said Carlton Trail President Amy Yeager. In the future, the partners hope to establish a responsive, long-term industry training model that can help build an inclusive, skilled, and sustainable workforce.

A graduate teaching assistant strike at Western University is closer to ending after a tentative deal was reached with Local 610 of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC 610). The Western Gazette and CTV News report that while the strike will continue until the deal is ratified, Western and PSAC 610 have agreed to recommend the tentative agreement to PSAC 610 members and Western’s Board of Governors. The four main priorities included no clawbacks to non-TA funding, extended eligibility periods for graduate TAs, graduate TA compensation increases, and a housing subsidy.