January 18, 2023

Université de Sherbrooke has ranked first in the international STARS program and is the first university in the world to score over 90 points. USherbrooke has announced that its platinum certification will be maintained until January 2026 after scoring 92.73 overall. USherbrooke received perfect scores in the reporting areas of coordination & planning, research, campus engagement, and water. “Sustainability is in our blood and is the beating heart of our management approach and culture,” said USherbrooke Rector Pierre Cossette. “Our institution and communities are very proud to have our commitment to SD recognized by an international organization with the highest STARS score ever awarded.”

The Government of Ontario has announced $4M in funding through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) to support 13 projects at institutes and businesses in the northern Ontario. The largest recipient is the l’Université de Hearst, which will receive over $1.2M to modernize and expand teaching space at its Hearst Campus. “The building we want to renovate was built in 1958,” said UHearst President Luc Bussières. “65 years later, our classrooms are too small, not numerous enough, and not well adapted in terms of technology. NOHFC’s funding contribution comes at the perfect time for us to modernize our Hearst Campus and continue our growth in and for Northern Ontario.”

Cégep de Baie-Comeau has officially unveiled its new visual identity, which includes a brand-new logo. Directrice générale Manon Couturier stated that the more assertive, dynamic logo is intended to reflect the evolution of the cégep and its goals for the future. The logo is part of the institution’s strategic plan, which will be launched next August, and reflects its intent to develop a campus for the young and old alike. Baie-Comeau states that the logo was last modernized in the early 2000s.

In a recent article for the EvoLLLution, Insiya Bream reflects on the new realities faced by college and university registrars and what this means for the future. Bream reflects on how student expectations and the challenges facing the registrar’s office have changed in recent years and discusses how registrars will need to adapt to serve and retain students moving forward. She writes that registrars will need to acknowledge the wide variety of learning that students may engage with outside of their college or university and consider how these activities can be reflected in institutional advising, recognized and validated in unofficial or official institutional records, and combined with their postsecondary program and demonstrated to employers. “Institutions that can adapt quickly and effectively will not only better serve students but will be well positioned to attract learners who are not sure if higher education is for them or whether higher education appreciates what they have to offer,” writes Bream.

Lethbridge College has launched an Indigenous Policing (Niitsitapi Inakiikawaiks) micro-credential program, which was developed in consultation with the Blood Tribe, Tsuut’ina Nation, and Lakeshore police. The program is comprised of six short, flexible micro-credentials that working professionals can use to upskill or reskill and learn about topics such as domestic violence/elder abuse, sexual abuse/human trafficking, impaired driving, Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA)/drug matters, writing, and tribal policing. “The Blood Tribe Police are driving this project, because we cannot address anything in our Indigenous communities without our Indigenous people leading these projects,” said Lethbridge Dean of the Centre for Justice and Human Services Trudi Mason, who noted that tribal police services are not always comprised of Indigenous people and that those working in Indigenous communities must be aware of different cultural aspects.

A labour arbitrator has upheld the decision of Sheridan College to fire an employee who leaked details about anti-racism training to Rebel News. HR Reporter reports that the worker sent images of slides from the EDI training to Rebel News after disagreeing with the content and shared information about the creation of a director of equity and inclusion. The employee reportedly asked to be identified as “former faculty” in the resulting published video, but the worker’s name appeared on a screenshot of a slide. Sheridan placed the employee on non-disciplinary leave while the incident was investigated, and later terminated the worker’s employment for “sabotage and gross misconduct.” The union reportedly argued that termination was excessive and that the investigation was flawed.

Two more postsecondary institutions have announced that they will be hosting the CWB Welding Foundation Women of Steel™: Forging Forward Program. The Manitoba Institute of Trades and Technology and Okanagan College have become host sites and will work together with the foundation to train students for in-demand jobs. The training is open to women and/or non-binary people, is tuition free, and follows a schedule that is intentionally designed to help students balance their work and personal lives. At MITT, training will take place at the Henlow Campus, while Okanagan will offer the training at its Penticton campus.

A student at the University of Toronto and his mother are suing the Toronto Police Services after the student was reportedly stopped by three officers on his way to class and subsequently handcuffed and tasered. CityNews reports that Hasani O’Gilvie, who is Black, was released after officers searched his bag and discovered identification, which proved they had the wrong person. O’Gilvie’s lawyer stated that O’Gilvie’s injuries still require on-going attention and that he was only recently able to return to U of T through online learning. The lawsuit seeks $2.4M in damages, as well as $250K under the Family Law Act. The lawsuit’s allegations have yet to be tested in court.

Assiniboine Community College recently celebrated the grand opening of its rural rotating Practical Nursing site in Morden, Manitoba. “Assiniboine’s ongoing expansion of its practical nursing program in both permanent and rural rotating sites will allow more students to become certified in this high-demand health-care occupation,” said MB Advanced Education, Skills and Immigration Minister Jon Reyes, who noted that rural student participation rates in postsecondary education would be improved by the opportunity to study closer to home. The site welcomed nursing students earlier this month. The college also plans to celebrate the grand opening of its Arborg site later this month.

While maintenance for older buildings can be a challenge, it is also an important factor in enrolment, writes Richard Michal for Inside Higher Ed. Michal writes that many institutions hope to make a positive first impression by showing off their newest buildings during tours and visits, but students also notice and care about the older buildings. The author references a recent US survey that showed that 65% of students factored campus facilities into their enrolment decisions, which demonstrates the importance of campus buildings and grounds. Michal notes that deferred maintenance is a common issue in the US, where many have older buildings with temperature and accessibility issues, and encourages institutions to take the necessary action to ensure the campus facilities make and maintain a positive impression for students.