April 3, 2024

The Cégep de Saint-Félicien recently approved a general agreement that supports the expansion of Canadian postsecondary opportunities into Morocco. Under this agreement, the cégep will offer at least two of its diplômes d’études collégiales programs at the newly established Victoria International School Bouskoura beginning this Fall. This agreement will also facilitate the exchange of students and instructors between Morocco and Canada. According to Le Nouvelliste, Collège Alma, the Cégep de Chicoutimi, and the Université du Québec à Chicoutimi will also explore opportunities to offer programs at the Victoria International School Bouskoura.

The Alberta Court of Appeal has ruled against the University of Alberta’s St Stephen’s College in the college’s recent court case against an expelled student. St Stephen’s College reportedly expelled the student from its psychotherapy and spirituality master’s program after the student was recorded giving “unconventional advice about antidepressants” that included “graphic self disclosure.” The court asserted that the college did not fulfill its responsibility to ensure procedural fairness in academic disciplinary proceedings, as the student was not given adequate opportunity to view the recording. The court declined to order the college to reconsider the expulsion, as the student did not wish to return, but instead encouraged the college to offer an apology. The court indicated that a later hearing would determine what St Stephen’s owes the student in legal costs.

In an opinion article for The Conversation, Arig al Shailbah (University of British Columbia) calls attention to the ways in which Canadian postsecondary has addressed issues of equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI). While many models of EDI planning are well intentioned, the author asserts that they are often reactionary and short-sighted, and thus unable to enact more lasting, systemic and structural change. Al Shailbah argues that dedicated senior equity leader roles with specialized knowledge and expertise can meaningfully drive proactive mission-driven EDI planning. However, these leaders require the appropriate resources and empowerment from the broader postsecondary leadership and existing organizational structures in order to achieve success.

Tyndale University will launch nine new undergraduate degree programs in the Arts and Sciences in Fall 2024. The four new Media Arts bachelor of arts programs will offer students the opportunity to focus on Production, Fine Arts, Business, or Media Ministry. Three Bachelor of Science 2+2 Partnership degree programs will be launched in partnership with with Redeemer University: Biology (Honours), Health Sciences Pre-Medicine & Chemistry Minor, and Health Science Professional with a Minor in Psychology. Tyndale has also launched two new minors: a Minor (BA) in Sociology and a Minor (BA) in Media Arts. “These programs will prepare students with employment-ready skills while integrating their faith into their learning for a unique, holistic educational experience,” said Tyndale Provost Dr Beth Green.

The University of Saskatchewan’s College of Education has announced changes to its Bachelor of Education (BEd) program to create new opportunities for students who want to teach practical and applied arts subjects. Among the changes, the college plans to reopen its technical vocational stream in the 2025-26 academic year, allowing students with journeyperson certificates to enrol with advanced standing and to complete the program in three years. Graduates will be eligible for a Professional A teaching certificate. USask also plans to add a new practical and applied arts as a second teaching area option to its Secondary program route, while exploring the possibility of offering this as a first teaching area in the future. The university will also begin accepting applications to its Certificate in Secondary Technical Vocational Education program again in 2026-27.

Students at two university campuses are developing their skills by building tiny homes for members of their local communities. At Vancouver Island University’s Cowichan Trades Centre, students are working on a tiny home for a customer in Saanich. VIU Instructor Andrew MacLeod explained that the project offers more hands-on experience than a typical job site and added that he hopes that this project is the first of many. At Yukon University, students in the House Maintainer Program recently sent their latest accomplishment—a one-bedroom tiny home—to its permanent location in the Takhini River subdivision. “We’re meeting the needs of Yukon’s labour force and we’re doing what we can to address the housing crisis,” said YukonU President Dr Lesley Brown.

Bishop’s University has launched a new pilot project that seeks to prevent sexual violence and help students get home from campus safely. Developed through Bishop’s Student Representative Council, the “Safe Drive” service offers students a safe and reliable ride service from campus to effectively anywhere in Lennoxville (excluding highways) during the evenings. The program will be fully deployed in September and is expected to create six to ten student jobs.

In an article for the Australian research journal Curriculum Perspectives, Ricky John White (Southern Cross University) explores what education in a post-growth society could look like. White writes that society and the global economy will need to adapt to a post-growth model to avoid ecological destruction. In this situation, educational policy and practice would need to adjust accordingly to prepare students for a post-growth society. White outlines seven efforts that could be used to train students for a post-growth world, which include teaching them how to connect with and regenerate the places they live in, embracing land-based education, and teaching students how to think critically about historical narratives and the future.

The National Association of Career Colleges (NACC) has partnered with ParaMed’s Placement Pass to provide member colleges with pre-placement verification and clearance for their students. NACC member colleges will be able to integrate the Placement Pass portal, which confirms student qualifications in a fast and secure manner, into their existing systems to streamline the pre-placement process. “This partnership with ParaMed’s Placement Pass is a game-changer for regulated career colleges across Canada, ensuring their students are not just academically prepared but also fully compliant and ready for their work placement, without the need for colleges to put themselves at risk by handling private medical documents,” said NACC CEO Michael Sangster.

The Collège Communautaire de Nouveau-Brunswick has signed two new collective agreements with the Syndicat des employé(e)s des secteurs public et privé du Nouveau-Brunswick (SNB). The first agreement pertains to 125 staff members belonging to the Soutien administratif group and takes effect from April 2019 to May 2024. The second agreement pertains to 44 members of the Éducation – Consultation et Élaboration group and takes effect from August 2017 to May 2024. Both were officially signed at the end of March. CCNB VP aux Services administratifs Jaimie Laplante thanked both negotiating teams for their patience and congratulated them on a positive outcome for all.