January 6, 2025

In a recent article for the Edmonton Journal, University of Alberta President Bill Flanagan discusses the university’s move from an equity, diversity, and inclusion framework to one that prioritizes access, community, and belonging. Flanagan writes that the shift reflects the university’s commitment to emphasizing shared humanity: “access” references work to make education financially and socially accessible, “community” underscores collective well-being and shared purpose, and “belonging” reflects the goal of creating spaces where people feel valued. “Universities must be places of diversity where ideas are exchanged freely, where challenging conversations across differences are embraced, and where intellectual growth flourishes,” writes Flanagan.

The Ontario Public Service Employees Union—representing faculty from Ontario’s public college system—has entered a legal strike position and published a five-day labour action notice. Global News reports that the action notice would put faculty at ON colleges in a position to take part in strike action from January 9th onwards. OPSEU and the College Employer Council have been in negotiations since July 2024, according to CBC, with the faculty union voting in favour of a strike mandate in October. Leading up to the weekend, college faculty union local presidents such as OPSEU Local 655 (Cambrian College) President President Neil Shyminsky and OPSEU Local 110 (Fanshawe College) President Mark Feltham told CBC that they were hopeful that a strike could be avoided. Mediation between CEC and OPSEU is scheduled to continue this week.

St Francis Xavier University’s Brian Mulroney Institute of Government has received $10M in funding–as well as an additional $10M in matching funds–from the Government of Canada. This funding will enable the institute to strengthen its capacity and sustainability. “St Francis Xavier University and the Brian Mulroney Institute of Government at StFX are very pleased to receive this $10M contribution from Canadian Heritage to honour the achievements and support the legacy of the Right Honourable Brian Mulroney,” said StFX President Dr Andy Hakin. Established in 2018, the institute provides a forum to address today’s political challenges and train tomorrow’s public leaders.

York University President Rhonda Lenton has written an article for The Conversation asserting that university is a worthwhile endeavor for students and society. Lenton writes that university graduates are better able to expand their earning potential, are more likely to have stable employment during economic shifts, and are more likely to work jobs that offer wider ranges of benefits. Additionally, Lenton argues that as technology changes, higher education graduates will be better equipped with the transferable skills that allow them to benefit from these technologies. These graduates are also more likely to pursue continuing education to develop their skills as needed. The author calls for improved funding to ensure that students can access higher education. “Creating accessible educational opportunities for diverse learners to develop responsive skills is critical for a vibrant future workforce and for resilient communities,” concludes Lenton.

Thompson Rivers University has approved a guaranteed-tuition model for international students. Under the model, which will come into effect in the Fall, international students will pay the same tuition fee each year throughout the duration of their studies. It will use a pay-per-credit method, with tuition amounts adjusted annually. International tuition fees will be hiked by 15% in the Fall, except for three master’s programs and the English for academic purposes programs. TRU Students’ Union University Affairs Co-ordinator Sierra Rae raised concerns about how the additional costs may create barriers to education. TRU says that it is the first university in the province to approve this kind of model.

Former Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue professor René Wamkeue was recently arrested for allegedly extorting and defrauding international graduate students. La Presse reports that Wamkeue—who worked at UQAT between 2010 and 2017—was fired in 2018 after the university discovered irregularities in the support he provided to students. Commissaire à la lutte contre la corruption spokesperson Mathieu Galarneau explained that during Wamkeue’s UQAT employment, he allegedly used schemes to obtain scholarship funds intended for international master’s and doctoral students under his supervision. The Commissaire revealed to Radio-Canada that the estimated fraud amount is around $30K. Wamkeue was released on the condition that he appear in court in February, where he will face charges of fraud, extortion, and secret commissions.

The Lyle S Hallman Foundation is committing $3M to establish the Hallman Foundation Scholars Award program, which will provide financial aid to postsecondary students from the Waterloo region who demonstrate financial need. Starting in Fall 2025, the awards will be allocated to students registered at Conestoga College, the University of Waterloo, and Wilfrid Laurier University. These awards will provide students with financial support from registration to graduation. “This support will have an impact on our students as well as our community, ensuring learners gain access to the skills and knowledge needed for successful careers that will drive local prosperity,” said Conestoga President John Tibbits.

The University of British Columbia Okanagan is introducing a Master of Biotechnology program that will prepare students to work in the biotechnology industry. The 16-month program combines coursework, laboratory training, and internships; 70% of the program credits come from hands-on training. Students will receive training in a variety of areas, including microbial, plant, and animal cell culture; genomics and bioinformatics; and molecular cloning. “This is a program that truly has it all,” said UBCO Professor and Biology Department Head Dr Perry Howard. “This focus on agricultural technology and biomanufacturing will prepare graduates for a wide array of roles in the sector.” The program will begin in Fall 2025.

Prior to the 2024 holiday break, the University of Winnipeg Foundation took a creative approach to ensure it could complete its annual holiday card delivery. The Canada Post strike meant that the foundation’s cards could not be delivered to donors in time for the holidays. To ensure donors felt appreciated, UWinnipeg Foundation President Javier Schwersensky asked students, staff, and his own family members to help hand-deliver the cards to donors in Winnipeg. The foundation also partnered with the charity Good Foot Delivery to deliver cards in the Toronto area. Schwersensky noted that he included personal notes when he could and signed each card. “It’s a fun thing to do,” said Schwersensky.

The British Columbia Institute of Technology and McMaster University have both recently received financial boosts toward student spaces. BCIT unveiled the Scotiabank Lounge, which was developed thanks to a $500K donation from Scotiabank and will serve as a collaborative learning space for students. McMaster received $1.5M from Candu Energy to renovate its manufacturing hub into a proposed Integrated Cornerstone Design Projects Studio, which will provide a space for first-year engineering students to create and collaborate. “This gift is truly transformative,” said McMaster Dean of Engineering Heather Sheardown. “It allows us to create an environment that perfectly supports our innovative curriculum, challenging students to develop creative solutions for a brighter future.”