July 30, 2024

The University of British Columbia Okanagan has received $2M in funding from the provincial government for a battery research facility. The Battery Innovation Centre—reportedly the first of its kind in Western Canada—will be used to test and scale up next-generation battery technologies. “Effective energy storage is a critical element of a low-carbon energy future and the work of our research team has already improved Canada’s battery supply chain,” said UBCO Principal Lesley Cormack. “This investment will elevate that work even further by providing the necessary space to create and test battery prototypes on a larger scale.” The facility is expected to be ready for use in late 2026.

Dalhousie University has ordered the removal of the pro-Palestinian encampment on its campus. Trespass notices were reportedly issued to participants on Friday and Dal directed the protesters to remove all objects and personal belongings by Sunday evening. “We believe that constructive dialogue, protest and non-violent demonstration can continue without the presence of an encampment,” stated the university. A Dal spokesperson told CBC that “operations to remove objects and property from the encampment site” began Monday morning.

The University of Prince Edward Island has shared its implementation plans for the UPEI Action Plan: Creating a culture of trust, safety, and inclusion. The implementation document outlines how the university is taking steps to acknowledge and demonstrate accountability; strengthen UPEI’s governance and leadership structure; improve campus culture; and put in new policies and processes that focus on preventing and addressing discrimination, harm, and violence. The document includes the plans that were taken during Year 0 (2023-24), as well as the plans that will be coordinated in Year 1 (2024-25). This action plan responds to the UPEI Review, a third-party report released in 2021 that recommended the institution take steps to improve accountability and transparency.

Kwantlen Polytechnic University is launching a Bachelor of Traditional Chinese Medicine degree. Students in the program will train to become registered Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners and explore career opportunities in other fields of natural healing, including acupuncture and naturopathy. “Our government is excited to partner with KPU to offer the first degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine in Canada,” said Government of British Columbia Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills Lisa Beare. “By training more Traditional Chinese Medicine and acupuncture practitioners through a more extensive program, we’re meeting labour market demand and providing more holistic health care choices for people in [BC] while also ensuring the professionalization of practitioners.”

In an article for the evoLLLution, Angela Schmiede (Menlo College) underlines the importance of adopting student-centric approaches to the postsecondary educational experience, not just in name, but in practice. To deliver on student-centricity, Schmiede recommends offering holistic student supports that address the root causes–rather than the symptoms–of the barriers to success. The author further suggests that institutions should prioritize individualized and flexible learning and recognize the rich diversity that students bring to campus by developing policies and practices with an equity lens. Schmiede concludes that an “institutional commitment to understanding student needs, meeting students where they are and providing the appropriate resources for student success are all essential to fulfilling the vision of student-centricity in higher education.”

Both Northlands College and York University have recently taken action to improve the environmental sustainability of their campuses. Northlands announced its new eco-friendly cleaning practices, which will see the college exclusively using bio-degradable cleaning products that have minimal-to-no impact on the environment. The college also recently unveiled electric vehicle charging stations at its campuses in Buffalo Narrows, La Ronge, Air Ronge, and Creighton. YorkU has stopped running its fossil-fuelled co-generation units around the clock, instead implementing an efficiency-based operation schedule that both maintains service and minimizes strain on the provincial energy grid. This change is expected to account for 80% of YorkU’s 2030 emission reduction target.

McGill University said that it will gradually reopen its campus over the next month, with the goal of fully reopening in time for student orientation in August. McGill had closed its campus to the public a few weeks ago following the dismantlement of a pro-Palestinian encampment on the premises. McGill said that this phased reopening is intended to “reduce the risk of further illegal occupation or vandalism,” “provide the time and space needed to stabilize the campus,” offer the community the time and space needed to regroup, and “restore the physical state of our private property and its operations.”

Memorial University recently investigated a member of its Board of Regents after learning about a potential privacy breach. Memorial alumna Becky Winsor told CBC that an email she sent to the board as part of a campaign in support of pro-Palestinian protesters on campus was forwarded by the board chair to her father. Memorial’s Information Access and Privacy Office determined that there was “an unauthorized disclosure of an email sent by a third-party individual” to a member of the board. The Muse reports that the Students for Palestine group at Memorial has filed a complaint with the province in which the group expressed concern about possible “additional breaches.” Memorial says the matter is now under review “through the processes set out in the Board of Regents’ code of conduct.”

Keyano College and FRAP Wood Buffalo have announced the launch of the Language Support for Newcomers for Childcare, Level 1 (LSNC) program. The program is designed for newcomers and non-native English speakers who are interested in pursuing a career in childcare. Learners will develop their language skills in the program and, upon completion, receive a certificate of completion for their efforts. The program is funded by the Government of Alberta Settlement and Language Programs and is anticipated to launch in January 2025.

The University of Ottawa Heart Institute has partnered with TELUS to improve efficiency in emergency cardiac care. Together, the partners are deploying the newest iteration of the Sayhut app, a smartphone tool that improves the speed and accuracy of communication between first responders, emergency doctors, and cardiologists and enables real-time review and decision-making. “Our research demonstrates how implementation of the tool in select regions in Ontario has significantly improved the timing and accuracy of care, freeing up valuable time and hospital resources,” said UOttawa Heart Institute Assistant Professor Dr Hassan Mir. “Our team is optimistic about the potential of this digital innovation to streamline communication and patient referral pathways in communities across Canada and beyond.”