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Jan 09, 2023 • National, ON

A Federal Court judge has denied Chinese resident Yuekang Li permission to enter Canada to study at the University of Waterloo in a move that CBC and the Globe and Mail note changes the traditional definition of espionage. Li applied for a study permit in 2022 after being accepted into a PhD program at UWaterloo. A visa officer deemed Li inadmissible due to multiple concerns with his application, including his anticipated field of study and the way China has used students as “non-traditional collectors of information.” Upon review of the ruling, Federal Court Chief Justice Paul Crampton sided with the visa officer. Crampton said that Li’s proposal falls under the definition of “non-traditional” espionage, thereby broadening the traditional definition of espionage. Immigration and refugee lawyer Lorne Waldman said that the ruling has sweeping implications for international graduate students and “creates an extremely broad ground of inadmissibility.”

CBC, Globe and Mail (Acct Req)
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Jan 09, 2023 • National, ON

Nicholas Keung of the Toronto Star reports that visa officers are rejecting thousands of study permit applications for students accepted to postsecondary institutions across Canada. Keung reports that between January and April 2023, the immigration department approved 54.3% of study permit applications from students that were accepted to a postsecondary institution. In Ontario, some public colleges reportedly had a higher rejection rate than public universities, and rejection rates were higher for private institutions than for public. In an article for the Windsor Star St Clair College VP of International Relations Ron Seguin said that the numbers means that the government is “doing its job” to make sure students meet requirements. Seguin said that visa rates have been consistent for years and that the college takes them into consideration when accepting students.

Toronto Star, Windsor Star
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Jan 09, 2023 • PEI

The University of Prince Edward Island has joined the Academics Without Borders (AWB) Network, a consortium of Canadian universities and colleges that support AWB’s work with universities in disadvantaged countries. As a member, UPEI will receive access to more resources to support and coordinate its international work; the university’s faculty and staff will also have access to new volunteer opportunities. “The knowledge and experience that UPEI’s faculty and staff can offer as volunteers is invaluable to the colleges and universities we collaborate with in the developing world—it will make a real difference,” said AWB Executive Director Dr Nancy Gallini.

UPEI
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Jan 09, 2023 • NS

Dalhousie University has launched a Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) program. The program will train physician assistants so that they can work alongside physicians. Students will complete two years of training, during which they will learn to diagnose and treat patients and prescribe medications. “We know we need more healthcare providers, and physician assistants can help provide Nova Scotians faster access to care,” said NS Health Minister Michelle Thompson. “We are proud to be able to train physician assistants right here in Nova Scotia.”

Newswire
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Jan 09, 2023 • BC, National, NS, ON, QC

Governor General Mary Simon recently announced 78 new appointments to the Order of Canada, including several appointees from the postsecondary sector. Among the current postsecondary faculty and staff who received these prestigious honours included Elder Albert Marshall (Dalhousie University), Carol Anne Lee (University of British Columbia), Deborah McColl Money (UBC), John Hirdes (University of Waterloo), Joséphine Bacon (Université du Québec à Montreal), Morris Barer (UBC), Paul O’Byrne (McMaster University), Richard Kroeker (Dal), and Steven Lewis Point (UBC). Several postsecondary faculty and staff were also recently awarded the 2023 Order of Ontario, including Lee Errett (University of Toronto) and Gervan Fearon (George Brown College).

Governor General, Governor General (List), CBC, ON
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Jan 09, 2023 • AB

In a recent opinion piece for the Edmonton Journal, NorQuest College President Carolyn Campbell and Urban Development Institute – Edmonton Metro Region CEO Kalen Anderson discuss how NorQuest can support downtown Edmonton by having an accessible, community-focused campus. The authors write that NorQuest and MacEwan University attract thousands of people to the city’s downtown, which drives revitalization, and discuss how NorQuest’s Campus Master Plan will help realize the vision of a welcoming, vibrant downtown. The college plans to explore land options to meet its growth projections, intentionally helping to shape downtown by integrating the campus into the surrounding community, and collaborate with other city builders to work toward a shared vision.

Edmonton Journal (Acct. Req.)
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Jan 09, 2023 • International

In an article for the Chronicle of Higher Ed, Rebecca Schuman discusses how adjunct teachers are often given short and inconsistent notice about the courses they must deliver, with the assumption that they can easily step in last minute. The author underlines that this puts adjunct instructors in a difficult position, as teaching requires skill, time, and energy. This fact is more readily acknowledged for full-time faculty members, Schuman argues, and so leadership should recognize that “adjunct teaching is the exact same teaching that tenured faculty members do.” The author recommends providing adjuncts with a reasonable lead time, firm course offers, and an acknowledgement that teaching is “real work that cannot […] be offered at the 11th hour.”

Chronicle of Higher Ed (Acct. Req.)
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Jan 09, 2023 • SK

First Nations University is waiting to hear if its application for funding from the Infrastructure Canada’s Green and Inclusive Community Buildings program, submitted last February, has been successful. FNU President Jacqueline Ottmann explained that the university requested $25M for a new building that would address the need for space for community events and Elders. CBC reports that a similar funding request was turned down in 2021. “Once we do hear if it is a yes … we can begin construction very quickly,” said Ottmann. “I’m just hoping that we hear soon and that it’s a positive response.”

CBC
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Jan 09, 2023 • ON

The University of Niagara Falls Canada has postponed its soft launch until April due to renovation delays. UNFC was initially scheduled to welcome its first cohort of students this month. UNFC Board Director Cyndi McLeod explained to the Niagara Falls Review that the institution is currently devoting time and resources to ensuring the Hatch building is classroom ready. “That will be the initial campus and then our plan continues to be to build a full university campus,” said McLeod. She added that the first cohort of learners will include 50 to 60 students pursuing masters of management and masters of data analytics programming.

Niagara Falls Review
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Jan 09, 2023 • National

“Stop it. Be kind.” This was the directive of two anonymous graduate students in an open letter that calls for senior academics to be kinder during student conference presentation Q&A periods. The writers stated that they have increasingly witnessed situations at conferences where senior academics overwhelm student presenters by delegitimizing their work, criticizing their method, or asking “gotcha” questions. The authors theorize that this behaviour stemps from institutional generational trauma and call for senior academics to instead focus on posing more constructive questions that are aimed at helping students become better researchers and presenters, rather than attempting to catch them out. “We must do better for graduate students in conferences, so they have the desire and opportunities to become our future colleagues,” conclude the authors.

CJNSE, CJNSE (PDF)
Opinion