August 7, 2024

Several educators in the Nunavik region of Québec say that it is due time to open a cégep in the region to serve the local community. Journalist Mathieu Perreault for La Presse reports that every year, approximately one-third of high school graduates from the Kativik School Board in Nunavik leave the region to attend a cégep in the southern regions of Québec. Perreault points out that establishing a cégep in Nunavik would align with the recommendations of a report published last year by the Government of Québec’s Ministry of Education, which called for action to increase Inuit access to college studies. While building a cégep in the region would cost an estimated $200M–and another $200M if new residences are required–the community has long expressed its support for this educational infrastructure.

In a recent report for Statistics Canada, Marc Frenette and Tomasz Handler examined the variety of occupations that were attained by 25-to-34-year-old cégep and college graduates. Drawing on 2021 Census data, Frenette and Handler assessed the five most prevalent jobs that graduates held for each six-digit Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code. They found that some programs—such as clinical laboratory science—had graduates that were highly concentrated in five or fewer occupations. Others—such as civil engineering and the culinary arts—saw graduates employed across a much wider variety of jobs. Frenette and Handler noted the similarities between these findings and a previous study of bachelor’s degree graduates’ jobs. They conclude that these findings are valuable for helping high school students understand the jobs they can expect to attain upon graduation if they pursue a particular field of study.

The University of Windsor has temporarily rescinded layoff notices for staff at the University Players theatre company, according to the union representing the workers. The staff members were initially laid off in June as part of UWindsor’s ongoing efforts to address a $5.6M budget shortfall. However, citing its collective agreement, CUPE Local 1393 stated last week that budgetary alternatives must be considered before university layoffs are issued. Layoffs in the School of Dramatic Arts have reportedly been rescinded to allow for this process.

An article in Nature by Anne Gulland highlights the benefits of slow productivity; that is, working at a natural pace, completing fewer tasks, and focusing on quality. The article profiles the work of Cal Newport (Georgetown University), who collected examples of academics and knowledge workers throughout history who embraced slow productivity, including Maya Angelou, Richard Feynman, and Marie Curie. Newport urges academics to reject the “performative busyness of the modern workplace” and free themselves from the distraction of frequent virtual meetings and long email chains. In so doing, Newport argues, academics will have more time for tasks that require deeper thinking and reflection. Gulland also speaks to Maya Gosztyla (University of California San Diego), who points out that this approach may not always be conducive to researchers who conduct lab-based or other experimental work.

In a recent article for Global News, reporter Destiny Meilleur discusses the potential consequences that Saskatchewan’s ongoing rental housing shortage could have on postsecondary students. She writes that some experts are concerned that the province’s housing supply may run out in less than two months if no new homes are added to the market. This, in turn, will make it more difficult for students who cannot secure a spot in campus residences to find affordable and suitable housing. Meilleur also notes that both the University of Regina and University of Saskatchewan have experienced an uptick in applications for on-campus housing over the past year.

Brock University’s Professional and Continuing Studies (PCS) department has launched a new Professional Certificate in Business Administration program. The certificate includes four micro-credentials— Business Communications, Human Resource Management, Organizational Behaviour, and Supervisory Management Skills—along with two elective components. “This certification was designed to help working professionals who may not have a business background obtain the skills required to manage a business or team,” said Brock PCS Associate Director Barb Mercer.

Two recent articles published in Inside Higher Ed address the topic of teaching AI-related skills. Ray Schroeder calls for instructors to take on the “urgent responsibility” of teaching students how to use AI in their disciplines. Citing changing employer expectations and the international impact of AI, Schroeder asserts that students need to acquire “demonstrable skills as soon as possible this fall.” In response to Schroeder’s article, John Warner argues that several important questions must be addressed before implementing significant changes to the curriculum. These questions include how useful AI will be as a tool in the future and what teaching generative AI skills looks like in concrete terms. Warner concludes by advocating instead for training students to have an adaptation mindset, which will serve them beyond the use of generative AI.

Holland College has unveiled a free online program to help incoming students transition into the postsecondary environment. The Pre-Arrival program, developed by Tailwind, provides students with the information and materials they need to prepare for college, such as information about available student health and wellness resources. “We encourage incoming students to review the program with their families and their supporters so that everyone is aware of the demands of post-secondary studies and the supports we have in place,” said Holland College Registrar and Executive Director of Student Support Lornie Hughes.

University of Niagara Falls Canada and Greystone College Canada have established a new pathway to enhance academic opportunities for the college’s graduates. Under the agreement, Greystone students can transfer their credits into UNFC’s degree programs and continue their education uninterrupted. “We are pleased to announce this new partnership with Greystone College Canada,” said UNFC Provost and VP Academic David Gray. “Agreements like this offer exciting new educational opportunities for students.”

The Government of Saskatchewan has agreed to provide funding to ensure that 18-year-old Preston Ruzicka can live in an assisted living home while attending Saskatchewan Polytechnic in Moose Jaw this fall. Ruzicka, who has Duchenne muscular dystrophy and uses a wheelchair, requires assistance with tasks such as showering or cooking. CBC reports that the provincial government previously refused to cover the cost of the assisted living home in Moose Jaw that Ruzicka selected, offering him a place in Regina instead. “The [Ministry of Health] has decided to go ahead with the alternative specific client funding for Preston so that he can attend school,” said Preston’s mother, Geraldine Ruzicka. “We’re very excited and it’s been a long fight to get here.”