August 28, 2023

The leaders of Quebec universities have openly rejected the suggestion that a cap on international study permits could be implemented to ease the housing shortage. Université de Montréal Rector Daniel Jutras said that the housing crisis is a result of structural issues rather than international students. Jutras further pointed to the benefits of having international students in Canada. McGill University Professor Víctor Muñiz-Fraticelli said that the impacts of international students may be greater on smaller communities rather than in larger communities.

College of the North Atlantic, Fanshawe College, Georgian College, and Southern Alberta Institute of Technology are participating in the Canada-Vietnam International College (CVIC) founding partners group. The project aims to create a vocational college consortium”called the Canada-Vietnam International College”with the quality and qualifications of a Canadian education under the active support of investment policies of the Lao Cai provincial government. The consortium is expected to be built in Lao Cai City with a total investment of $45M USD. The four founding colleges have committed to work with the other partners to enable the development of the CVIC in Lao Cai and, potentially, other provinces in Vietnam.

Saint Mary’s University has launched the 2SLGBTQIA+ digital community hub, which will provide the SMU community with a centralized source of information, resources, and supports. The digital community hub will fill a gap by sharing news and events for and about SMU’s 2SLGBTQIA+ community, updates during Pride season, and information about services and courses that may be connected to the community. SMU will continue to develop and revise the hub based on community feedback going forward.

In a recent editorial for the , Matt Lundy discusses Canada’s housing crisis and postsecondary education’s construction of new dorms. While postsecondary institutions are not obligated to offer housing, the author notes that the sector has come under scrutiny for its impact on the broader housing situation. Lundy writes that postsecondary institutions are collectively adding around 18,000 new beds, which will increase dedicated student housing by 12%. However, economists from Desjardins Securities say that this increase will not be sufficient to meet student renter demand.

Western University community members are expressing concern after a 7-Eleven near Western was awarded a liquor license by the Ontario Licencing Appeals Tribunal. At hearings about the license earlier this year, community members highlighted the potential for increased violence, impaired driving, vandalism, and human trafficking in the area. They also noted that the intersection the 7-Eleven is located at has congested traffic. “It wasn’t a general objection to alcohol,” said David Heap, an associate professor at Western University. “It was about selling it at this specific location and the conclusion was very clear to us: If there was any location which should be denied a license, it should be this one.”

Nunavut Arctic College has transitioned to a new high-speed internet network at its Iqaluit, Arviat, Cambridge Bay, Clyde River, and Rankin Inlet campuses. “This is huge for our students that are in communities and for our campuses across the territory to connect us with one another and to allow for opportunities for students to learn online, but also to access online opportunities,” said Arctic College President Becky Mearns. The high-speed internet access will also allow the college to join the National Research and Education Network. The college hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the occasion.

In a recent editorial, Ashley Mowreader discusses how King’s University College Dean of Students Joe Henry connects with students through a regular drop-in connection opportunity. Every month, Henry sets up a booth on campus and invites students to stop by the booth to ask questions, give feedback, or get help connecting with resources. Henry also livestreams these sessions to expand his reach. This strategy has helped Henry connect with students in their own space and gather feedback that can be used to improve the student experience. Henry encourages administrators looking to do something similar to choose a consistent time and place to connect with students; work with campus partners; have varying, relevant topics; and create a brand to help students remember the name and event.

MacEwan University recently shared a primer for students on the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools in coursework. The article consists of a Q&A format and touches on issues such as what counts as AI, what the penalties are for using AI without permission, and where to go with further questions. “Academic misconduct can be committed by trying to gain an unfair advantage, or by using something that’s not permitted,” explained MacEwan Academic Integrity Officer Thelma John. “Improper AI use kind of falls between those two categories.” MacEwan also notes that its Academic Integrity policy is up for review in 2024, and John explains that the “cases we have this year will probably and rightfully influence that. We’ll also look at what happens with industry.”

A simulation manikin at Lakehead University that breathes, talks, and moves is giving nursing students a hands-on experience in handling Code Blue”a code typically used for medical emergencies such as cardiac arrest”scenarios. Jim the simulation manikin has LED screens for eyes that can be altered to mimic medical conditions, a fluctuating heartbeat and pulse, and the ability to offer comments when asked about his condition. “We can simulate just about anything that you would see on an adult patient in the clinical setting,” said Lakehead Nursing Simulation Lab Co-ordinator Caroline Sabotig. “We can populate the different pulses and we can do any sorts of assessments, injections, and all the skills that students would be expected to perform in the clinical setting.”

Suncrest College has launched a revamped National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) training program. The firefighting program — which was one of the former Parkland College’s flagship courses — was closed after the 2021 academic year, but relaunched after the Parkland-Cumberland College merger that created Suncrest. “We have a grand history here, but this was an opportunity for us to expand, to modernize some of our equipment and continue to attract students here locally, with the hope that they stay local,” said Suncrest President Alison Dubreuil. The program will focus on training and retaining local firefighting talent and supporting the agencies who depend on Suncrest to produce talent.