December 16, 2024

The College Employer Council (CEC) and OPSEU—which represents Ontario college faculty—recently agreed to extend their non-binding mediation and will reconvene in January. OPSEU has also requested a “no-board report” from the Government of Ontario Ministry of Labour, which would position Ontario faculty for a legal work stoppage in 2025. CEC CEO Graham Lloyd asserted in a statement that a strike would be “wholly unnecessary” and cause “uncertainty and disruption for students and faculty in a time of financial instability.”

Nine Alberta postsecondary institution libraries—members of the NEOS Library Consortium—will switch to a cloud-based system this spring as part of their move to OCLC’s Worldshare Management Services. The postsecondary institutions making this transition are Burman University, Concordia University of Edmonton, Keyano College, Northern Lakes College, Northwestern Polytechnic, Olds College of Agriculture and Technology, Red Deer Polytechnic, The King’s University, and Vanguard College. “Our students, faculty, and staff will benefit from a modern library catalogue that accurately displays our library holdings, provides seamless access to our collection, and allows for more sophisticated search options,” said RDP Dean of Students Kristine Plastow. “In addition, our members will benefit from a new and larger pool of Interlibrary Loan partners.”

In a recent University Affairs article, Capucine Coustere (Concordia University) and Lisa Brunner (University of British Columbia) examine how federal and provincial immigration policies in Québec have sparked confusion among the province’s international students. The authors highlight the contradictory nature of recent policy changes, which they contend seemingly cast international students as both the “solution” and the “problem.” They cite the Government of Canada’s cap on study permit applications and the Government of Québec’s recently tabled bill that proposes further limitations on international student numbers as key sources of uncertainty for current and prospective students. The authors warn that these policy shifts will have a human cost, as “by making the policy landscape complex to decipher [and] producing precariousness and feelings of betrayal and exclusion for those [students] who ‘played by the rules.’”

Humber Polytechnic has announced several developments on the front of credit transfer. The polytechnic will offer no-cost, seamless credit transfers and prior learning assessment and recognition starting in Fall 2025. As part of this shift, the polytechnic will also automatically recognize all courses and credits earned at one of 23 Ontario public colleges. “We are moving away from a ‘one size fits all’ model and focusing on designing educational pathways that are tailored to the individual needs of students helping them to transition efficiently into the workforce,” said Humber President Ann Marie Vaughan. The new system will be implemented in three phases to ensure a timely, student-centred credit transfer experience.

Cégep de Baie-Comeau has adopted Politique en écologisation, a new greening policy that underscores the institution’s commitment to advancing sustainability and transitioning toward a more environmentally friendly operating model. Recently approved by the cégep’s Board of Directors, the policy is anchored in four guiding principles: training and awareness, environmental protection and biodiversity preservation, economic efficiency, and responsible production and consumption. It also outlines the adoption of green technologies, the objectives that will be used to evaluate and reduce the institution’s environmental impact, and key details around communications and accountability to stakeholders. The cégep will develop a comprehensive action plan to implement the new policy in 2025.

CTV News reports that Conestoga College has enacted a “voluntary early retirement incentive program.” The program would provide eligible employees who opt to retire with a year’s salary. Conestoga union head Leopold Koff told Cambridge Today that approximately 160 staff and faculty are eligible for this round of offers. The Waterloo Record reports that Conestoga President John Tibbits recently reassured employees that the college is “in a solid shape” due to its financial reserves and positioning, and will not need to undertake the type of cuts seen at some other colleges.

The University of British Columbia’s Alex Fraser Research Forest (AFRF) has partnered with FPInnovations to launch the Community Bioenergy Systems Training Program. This program is designed to support remote and Indigenous communities in the transition from diesel to sustainable power by training participants to work in wood biomass power plants. Students will learn to operate the power plant, manage woody debris supply chains, and develop other wood-based bioenergy systems in a workshop format. “The [AFRF] has been building their own small-scale wood biomass Combined Heat and Power plant over the past year, and we are thrilled to have the opportunity to now share all that we have learned and continue to learn with others who can benefit from this system,” said AFRF Manager Stephanie Ewen. The program is expected to launch in 2025.

The University of Guelph will introduce a new Master of Cybersecurity Leadership and Cyberpreneurship in Fall 2025. Delivered jointly through the School of Computer Science and the Gordon S Lang School of Business and Economics, the program will prepare students for careers as cybersecurity managers, cybersecurity thought leaders, policymakers, and researchers. It will combine experiential and remote learning opportunities to ensure that the program is accessible for working professionals. “The future of cybersecurity demands leaders who can think critically, innovate strategically and inspire others,” said UoGuelph Lang School of Business Associate Dean (Research and Graduate Studies) Dr Sean Lyons. “Our graduates will work within organizations and develop new ventures that will shape the future of the industry.”

The Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières and the City of Drummondville are partnering on a new student housing development that will be built on the former site that belonged to the pères Montfortains. The partners intend to develop a student residence for UQTR’s Drummondville Campus, which UQTR recteur Christian Blanchette said is intended to accommodate up to 20% of the Drummondville campus student population. The partners also have a broader vision for the space that would see the addition of professional spaces and community food services. Drummondville has allocated $1.6M for the deconstruction of the Maison Marie-Reine-des-Coeurs building on the site, starting in 2025. In the coming weeks, UQTR will develop a financial plan for the construction of the new residence.

NorQuest College recently held a vigil for an international student, who was murdered while working as a security guard at an apartment building in central Edmonton. According to CTV News, Harshandeep Singh was studying business administration at NorQuest and had planned to join the Edmonton police force after graduation. At the vigil, supporters left flowers and candles and a Sikh priest offered prayers. “We are all in this together in our global community,” said NorQuest Cultural Adviser Lance Scout. “We are all interrelated. The energy of our brother will prevail within these halls of education.” CTV News reports that two individuals have been charged with first-degree murder.