June 25, 2024

The University of Saskatchewan and Southeast College are partnering to deliver a Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at Southeast’s Weyburn campus. Starting in Fall 2025, students in the Weyburn area will be able to complete the full nursing degree at the Southeast Weyburn campus. The program will include classes and in-person labs, as well as clinical placements in local communities. “Students in Weyburn and surrounding area who may not have considered a nursing degree in the past will now have access to learn where they live, as a result of our two institutions working together,” said USask College of Nursing Dean Dr Solina Richter.

HEC Montréal and SAP have launched a learning platform named Business Builders. The platform acts as a virtual learning environment where students are presented with business scenarios where they can apply their skills in data visualization and decision-making. “All business school students, regardless of their specialization, benefit immensely from learning advanced visualization techniques,” said HEC Professor Pierre-Majorique Léger. “These skills enable them to manage and interpret vast amounts of data, derive meaningful business insights, and make informed decisions effectively.” HEC and SAP have made Business Builders free for academic institutions around the world to provide broader access to professional training.

The Senate of Canada has passed Bill C-59, which keeps public universities from using the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA) and the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (BIA). Sudbury MP Viviane Lapointe stated that the bill included a reference to the layoffs and program cuts that occurred during Laurentian University’s CCAA process. Laurentian University Faculty Association President Fabrice Colin called the change a “relief,” but lamented that so many suffered before “the government [realized] how inappropriate these corporate procedures are for public institutions.” OCUFA Executive Director Jenny Ahn said that the legislation will “protect university students, faculty and staff from corporate-style restructuring policies that prioritize creditors over the public interest.”

Shelly Gehrke (Emporia State University) shares a framework for creating a plan to address the recruitment challenge of summer melt: the loss of incoming students over the course of the summer. A successful melt plan, Gehrke writes, is one that involves the entire campus in the engagement process; draws on multiple communication tools such as monthly newsletters, social media communications, and mailed materials; and consistently and strategically provides important information like deadlines to incoming students. The plan should help cultivate excitement and a sense of belonging among incoming students with the ultimate goal of a lower summer melt rate. “With a declining number of students choosing higher education after high school, colleges and universities must be more strategic and engaged with new, incoming students to keep them from melting away,” concludes Gehrke.

The College of the Rockies has signed two agreements that reinforce its commitment to sustainability: the Sustainable Development Goal Accord (SDG Accord) and the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN). COTR President Paul Vogt said that the college is continuing to commit to prioritizing sustainable practices by signing the SDG Accord and the SDSN. “The mandate of our committee is to further sustainability efforts at the College,” said COTR Sustainability Committee Chair Dr Paul Tiege. “Having President Vogt sign these agreements supports this goal and supports overall student and employee engagement in the SDGs.”

The Globe and Mail reports that several Canadian faculty members feel that Canadian universities have fallen behind on energy storage systems education. University of Waterloo Professor Linda Nazar said that few options exist for students who want to study energy storage, but a “critical mass” of students need to be trained, particularly at the graduate level. Where programs do exist, University of Toronto Professor Ali Hooshyar explained that the curriculum does not always adequately reflect the latest shifts and demands of industry. Dalhousie University Researcher Jeff Dahn shared some of the challenges that institutions face when developing these types of programs, which he says are indicative of the financial challenges universities are facing.

George Justice (University of Tulsa) has penned an article about how provosts can more effectively work with different faculty groups. Justice begins by explaining how the provost’s role on a typical campus has narrowed and deepened over the years to focus more specifically on the academic success of faculty and students. In light of these shifts, the author outlines ways that provosts can cultivate productive and positive relationships with the professors, deans, and the faculty senate at their institution. Among these tips, Justice encourages provosts to strive for open communication with faculty senate leaders, get to know faculty members directly, and avoid getting overly involved in departmental matters that can be entrusted to deans.

Lakehead University’s Faculty of Business Administration and Northumbria University’s Newcastle Business School are launching an international dual degree program. Business students from either university will be able to earn two degrees in four years and develop their international connections through a year-long exchange in the third year. “The opportunity to study abroad is a transformational experience for such students and the dual degree partnership with Lakehead is a really exciting addition to the Study Abroad portfolio offered to them,” said Northumbria Assistant Professor Liz Cunningham.

Langara College has signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Musqueam First Nation. The MOA strengthens their relationship with eight shared intentions, which include the formation of an Elders Advisory Committee, which will guide Langara’s Indigenization and reconciliation work, and an Operational Working Group, which will deepen the relationship between the community and Langara. This is a special moment for Musqueam,” said Chief Wayne Sparrow (yəχʷyaχʷələq.) “There’s a lot of change that has to happen, and by working together, we can achieve a vision of our community where education is our priority.”

The University of Windsor’s recent decision to eliminate the production unit within the School of Dramatic Art and the University Players theatre group has been met with outcry from the community. Students, staff, and community members such as Stratford Festival artistic director Antoni Cimolino spoke to the media about the impact that the loss of the University Players will have on the community and on Canada’s broader arts scene. UWindsor student Allyson Johnston said that the timing is particularly upsetting for future students who have accepted admission into the program. CBC reports that a petition was started last week calling for the university to reinstate the University Players. A university spokesperson said that the program is not financially viable as salaries and costs outpace University Players’ revenue by over $1M annually.