August 26, 2025

Over the weekend, several campuses celebrated the arrival of students for move-in day. Directors responsible for housing told the press that their campus housing has largely filled up for this year. Shane Royal (University of Calgary) and Valerie Bruce (Toronto Metropolitan University) noted that there is a marked decrease in demand for on-campus housing this year. Stefanie Allen (University of British Columbia Okanagan) saw a similar trend with off-campus housing support. “We haven’t had a lot of urgent, desperate reach outs from students,” commented Allen, who told iNFOnews that she typically receives calls in the summer from students who cannot find housing. “Usually […] the panic starts in July.”

The Government of the Northwest Territories has announced its plans to fill the gap left by the closure of Aurora College’s 19 community learning centres. The territory will partner with a northern employment training group that will provide a four-week pre-employment program and a two-week work placement component in select communities. It is also engaged in consultations with affected communities to determine how to best use the facilities going forward. The government is planning to reopen the Yellowknife Literacy Outreach Centre, pending the engagement of a new operator, and potentially expand the literacy programming to Fort Smith and Inuvik.

LaSalle College cancelled its first day of classes on Monday as it continues to negotiate the $30M penalty from the Government of Québec. In a letter to students, the college stated that it is challenging the “abusive” penalty and indicated that QC is refusing to provide its subsidy for QC students. QC Higher Education Minister Pascale Déry accused the college of holding students “hostage”—which LaSalle President Claude Marchand denounced as an inappropriate and inaccurate characterization—and urged the college to continue discussions. Classes are expected to resume as scheduled today.

Shingwauk Kinoomaage Gamig has received 10-year approval from the Indigenous Advanced Education Skills Council (IAESC). With this approval, SKG will be able to submit new program proposals directly to IAESC for stand-alone accreditation. This approval is a step towards the institution’s full accreditation. “This achievement reflects the vision of Chief Shingwaukoonse to establish a Teaching Lodge where Anishinaabe people could learn in ways that honour their identity, culture, and knowledge systems,” said SKG President/Chief Academic Officer Mary Wabano-McKay.

Cape Breton University and Nova Scotia Health have partnered to launch the WellNS health survey, designed to collect information on mental health and substance use in the province. The survey was developed by stakeholders at both institutions, as well as through collaboration with community organizations and experts. “Our main objective was to develop a clear, data-driven overview of mental health and wellness across all age groups in Nova Scotia,” said CBU Assistant Professor Samantha Hodder. The survey results will be used to support policymaking in the province.

Postsecondary education must adapt to the needs of learners in different life stages, writes Amrit Ahluwalia (Western University). Ahluwalia argues that institutions must go beyond expanding access to actively fostering belonging, which is a more future-focused approach that supports and engages learners throughout their lifetime. The author argues that orientation—often geared towards teenagers—should be rethought to recognize adult learners’ priorities, limited time, and goals. Ahluwalia also emphasizes the importance of building community for adult learners by creating spaces where learners feel seen, leveraging employers and alumni early in the learning journey, and ensuring an inclusive space for learners in non-credit courses. “By prioritizing relevance, community and authentic engagement, institutions can transform orientation from a one-time event into the foundation of a lifelong relationship,” concludes Ahluwalia.

Collège Montmorency has launched a new visual identity and slogan. Featuring a stylized “M” monogram, the logo is divided into three segments intended to represent the major stages of each student’s journey: a warm welcome, a flexible path, and a drive toward the future. The renewal uses a new palette with a green that echoes the college’s history, as well as a blue intended to evoke confidence and professionalism. The college says that its new slogan, “avance à ta façon,” encourages students to find their own path at the college and embodies their commitment to diversity, inclusion, and individual success.

In a recent article for the Toronto Star, Kristin Rushowy examines recent data from Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC) about undergraduate confirmations at Ontario universities for Fall 2025. Rushowy writes that OUAC’s numbers show that more than 84,000 ON secondary school students have confirmed their attendance at university this fall, which marks an increase over June 2024 (79,217). The number of other students confirmed to attend postsecondary, however, has declined from 29,514 in 2024 to 26,941 in 2025. Due to the loss of international students and the difference in domestic and international tuition, Rushowy estimates that ON universities will take in significantly less revenue from tuition this year.

Following Wednesday’s lockout and Thursday’s vote to reject the university’s contract offer, the Dalhousie Faculty Association began strike action on Friday. Students have expressed concern that the disruption will not be resolved in time for the Fall term, which is set to begin in less than two weeks. Dalhousie Student Union President Maren Mealey told CBC that students feel caught in the middle of the dispute, which has already affected the summer exam schedule and presentations of theses and dissertations for graduate students. “We want both parties to come back, to sit back down, to engage in negotiations again and work through a deal that really represents the best interests of everyone,” said Mealey.

Thompson Rivers University and the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) have announced the launch of the Academic Readiness Program for athletes in the BCHL. The initiative provides players with access to TRU’s flexible online courses while also providing guidance and resources to athletes to prepare them for NCAA and U Sports-level hockey. Speaking on the Academic Readiness Program, TRU VP Academic Shannon Wagner explained that the collaboration will give “BCHL athletes greater access to flexible, high-quality online courses that can be pursued alongside their hockey commitments, helping them build a strong foundation for success both on and off the ice.”