January 15, 2024

With the Front commun strike concluded, several secondary teachers in Québec are concerned about the impact of missed school days on their high school students’ cégep admissions. Journal de Québec reports that QC has postponed the deadline for teachers to send second report card grades, which could see students miss the first round of cégep admissions. One unnamed teacher from the Montreal area said that the situation—including the loss of over 20 days of class before the holidays— has left students feeling forgotten and put them at a disadvantage. The office of the minister of higher education said that cégeps have been “made aware” of the situation so that they can take it into account in the admissions process.

Comments made at a recent Queen’s University faculty town hall and printed in a student paper have reportedly sparked questions and concerns about the university’s financial situation. Sofia Tosello of the student-run Queen’s Journal reports that, at a Faculty of Arts and Science town hall in December, Queen’s Provost Matthew Evans expressed concern for “the survival of this institution” if the budgetary issues are not addressed. CTV News reports that a letter sent to students by the university at the end of November also indicated that the “university is facing significant financial challenges.” Globe and Mail reports that town hall attendees were reportedly sceptical of the situation, and some pointed to a previous report by DBRS Morningstar that declared that the university is in a strong position to deal with budgetary pressures. The town hall was reportedly concluded by students storming the stage and calling for transparency.

The University of Winnipeg has gained access to a sample of a 4.5-billion-year-old asteroid that was retrieved during NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission, which was launched in 2016. The sample—which looks like black powder and has to be stored in a sealed, nitrogen-filled box to protect it from Earth’s atmosphere—was received from NASA after Canada supplied the mission with an instrument. “These asteroids can tell us something about how the Solar System formed 4.5 billion years ago, and there is also interest that some of these asteroids may have seeded life on Earth,” said UWinnipeg Professor Dr Ed Cloutis. UWinnipeg will have the sample for two weeks to conduct a non-destructive analysis, after which it will be circulated to other Canadian universities.

Nergica, a college centre for technology transfer (CCTT) that is affiliated with the Cégep de la Gaspésie et des Îles, has received over $3.5M from the Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED). $3M of the funds will be used to improve Nergica’s capacity for business innovation and to develop a structure for the wind power industrial cluster’s network. An additional $525K will support Nergica in developing, structuring, and supporting innovation in the photovoltaic solar energy industry.

The University of Regina’s Lifelong Learning Centre and the Seniors’ University Group (SUG) have signed a memorandum of understanding focused on lifelong learning opportunities for older adults. The five-year agreement will provide and expand learning opportunities through events, activities, and classes held on campus, with SUG overseeing the registration and course scheduling. “Our focus now is to learn more about what courses and activities seniors in Regina and area want so we will be conducting focus groups and a member survey,” said SUG President Neale Partington. “We also hope to offer positive hybrid learning experiences down the road to reach seniors who are not mobile.”

Columbia College’s board has reviewed and approved a recommendation to sign the Can’t Buy My Silence pledge. Through this pledge, the college promises to not use non-disclosure agreements in cases of bullying, harassment, abuse, or misconduct. Columbia says that it is the first institution in British Columbia to sign the pledge and that, by signing it, Columbia stands with the University of King’s College and Acadia University to end the use of NDAs to silence abuse victims. “[W]e will join many other institutions of higher education of good conscience around the world who want to ensure that victims can speak about what has happened to them to whoever would be appropriate, and that harmful behaviour is not hidden,” states Columbia.

The Otermans Institute in the United Kingdom has launched a course that is taught exclusively by AI. The “digital human” instructors allow for students to have a dynamic, two-way conversation with their instructors anytime, anywhere. Campus Technology reports that the institute created the “digital human” instructors in order to address teacher shortages, promote accessibility, and reduce the cost of education. Institute founders Dr Pauldy Otermans and Dev Aditya shared that the organization is currently trialling the AI with existing digital learning platforms and plans to expand the AI-powered teaching to 40 universities by September.

The University of New Brunswick has introduced the WorkAlone module to its UNBSafe app to improve safety for staff and faculty. Workers who are spending an extended period of time alone on campus can use the the module to check in and ensure their safety. The function lets users set check-in intervals, and if they do not respond to a push notification the app alerts Campus Security so they can check in on the individual. The module seamlessly integrates with other security initiatives, and UNB Campus Security crime prevention community liaison Des Dupuis said that it will be particularly useful for those who work alone in labs.

Dana S Dunn (Moravian University) and Jane S Halonen (University of West Florida) have created a list of “dos and don’ts” for visiting faculty members looking to make the most of their position. Dunn and Halonen encourage visiting faculty members to approach the role as though it were a tenure-track offer, prioritize their own research and teaching while also engaging with the broader department. However, the authors advise against becoming overly invested in the department or forgetting to complete their work and prepare to move on from what is an inherently temporary role. Dunn and Halonen conclude by noting that while there are many landmines to avoid, visiting positions can provide critical insights into the higher ed sector and offer unique future career opportunities.

Several postsecondary institutions have announced the launch of new short-term programming opportunities. The Canadian Colleges for a Resilient Recovery unveiled two microcredentials that were co-developed by Holland College, Lambton College, Mohawk College, Nova Scotia Community College, and the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology. These micro-credentials will prepare workers for a transition to hydrogen-powered industrial processes. The University of Manitoba recently launched a revised version of its online, asynchronous Graduate Teaching Program, which prepares graduate students to teach at the higher education level. Students earn digital badges as they complete modules and participate in a capstone project.