December 18, 2024

A recent CBC article highlights the findings of a Canadian research project on homelessness among postsecondary students. Led by University of New Brunswick Professor Eric Weissman, the study identified financial precarity, pandemic-related job losses, and increased domestic violence as the top causes for student homelessness. It also highlighted recommendations for how postsecondary institutions could mitigate this issue, including by boosting the accessibility of housing services, lowering on-campus housing costs, and improving communication about available resources. “One of the things we heard time and again from students was just the lack of knowledge about information resources available,” said University of Alberta Assistant Dean of Student Health and Wellness Kevin Friese, who co-leads the project. The team plans to release its full findings early in the new year.

The University of Winnipeg Indigenous Identity Working Group has released the “What We Heard Report,” which discusses Indigenous identity fraud. The report outlines key findings and recommendations to guide UWinnipeg’s policy and procedures development, ensuring that opportunities intended for First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples go to the appropriate individuals. The recommendations include emphasizing transparency while protecting privacy and confidentiality, adopting a comprehensive and flexible approach, and creating inclusive, non-discriminatory policies and procedures with consequences for fraudulent claims. “We understand that claiming an Indigenous community is only part of the consideration–that community must claim you back,” said UWinnipeg Associate Vice-President, Indigenous Engagement and working group Co-Chair Dr Chantal Fiola.

Cégep de Sept-Îles has received more than $3.3M to launch and operate the Centre d’innovation du Cégep de Sept-Îles. The Government of Québec is contributing $2.3M, while the Government of Canada is investing $1.08M. The new centre will foster research and innovation in key sectors for the benefit of the Côte-Nord region, particularly in rail transport and maintenance, industrial maintenance, and intelligent energy. “Creating an innovation centre at the heart of a post-secondary campus means building an ecosystem where knowledge, applied research and entrepreneurship converge to accelerate innovation and train a new generation of leaders open to the world,” said Cégep de Sept-Îles Executive Director David Beaudin.

Cape Breton University has reportedly cancelled its condensed eight-month online bachelor of education program, which was set to begin in January. CBU Dean of Education Ellyn Lyle said that the program was approved by the Maritime Provinces Higher Education Commission (MPHEC), but its approval was delayed, making it logistically impossible to launch the program in January. Lyle noted that the university hopes to offer a 12-month program later in 2025. CBU President David Dingwall told CBC that MPHEC was “probably never in favour of this initiative,” adding that the commission had “accepted arguments from our detractors” that advised against launching the January cohort. Students speaking to CBC commented that the news had come as a shock, as some had already made life changes to accommodate the start of their education.

In an article for Inside Higher Ed, Jocelyn Frelier weighs in on the ongoing discussion of how “careerism” is changing the experience of postsecondary education. Frelier emphasizes the importance of supporting students—many of whom need to secure full-time work after graduation—and outlines how postsecondary institutions can take a student-centric approach to helping students pursue this goal. She explains that postsecondary professionals can teach students how to think about work as a lifelong vocation that may change over time; consider the underdiscussed elements of work such as task affinity and work-life balance; and understand the importance of setting and achieving personally meaningful goals.

The Manitoba Institute of Trades and Technology has launched two new programs for students in health care and cybersecurity. The two-year Medical Assistant and Patient Care diploma program trains students to work on health-care teams in setting such as hospitals, clinics, and long-term care facilities. The Cybersecurity Analyst advanced diploma program takes two and a half years to complete and prepares students to work as cybersecurity professionals who protect organizations from cyber threats. “At MITT we are in constant discussion with our industry partners to keep a pulse on the workforce needs within our province,” said MITT VP of Business Development and Community Initiatives Bev Stuart.

Okanagan College and members of Westbank First Nation recently held a naming ceremony for the new student housing building on the college’s Kelowna campus. Considering the design of the building, Syilx Okanagan Nation Elders Pamela and Grouse Barnes gave the building the name citxʷ ki snmymyaʔtn, which means home for school. They also gifted the name snullustn–meaning a place to gather–to the building’s common living area. “This building is more than a structure,” said Okanagan President Neil Fassina, “it’s a place where students will find a home away from home, where they will grow, learn, and contribute to the future of our communities.”

The University of Saskatchewan, Western University, and York University have each announced short-term programming opportunities for professionals. USask launched a micro-credential for health-care professionals on the topic of major depressive disorder in adults. Western is working with the City of London to offer city workers access to online training modules on antisemitism and Islamophobia. YorkU released the Adjudicating Indigenous Research Excellence module, which provides academics with information about how to adjudicate Indigenous research contributions.

Cégep André-Laurendeau and the Université du Québec à Montréal have announced a new pathway agreement to support arts, literature, and communications students. Under this agreement, qualifying André-Laurendeau students can have up to three Spanish language courses recognized by UQAM toward the achievement of a Spanish certificate. These students will also benefit from waived admission and application fees, which will streamline their transition to university studies while acknowledging their previously acquired skills and competencies. The pathway will begin in Fall 2025.

Thanks to a partnership between Humber Polytechnic and racing simulation technology company SimStaff, Humber students now have access to two Formula-standard racing simulators. Humber’s Faculty of Media, Creative Arts, and Design collaborated SimStaff to develop the simulators, which will be used for both academic and competitive pursuits. The partnership will also create work-integrated learning and mentorship opportunities for Humber students. “By blending hands-on experiences in sim[ulated] racing with opportunities in esports, game development, research and industry partnerships, we’re preparing our students to excel in a rapidly evolving global landscape,” said commented Humber Esports Senior Administrator Bernard Mafei.