March 19, 2024

Saskatchewan Polytechnic has received a $15M donation from Nutrien to support the construction of a new campus in Saskatoon. In recognition of this gift–which Sask Polytech says is the largest gift it has ever received from a corporate donor–the polytechnic has renamed one of its schools the Nutrien School of Mining, Manufacturing and Engineering Technologies. “Thank you to Nutrien for helping pave the way for state-of-the-art facilities, cutting-edge resources and an environment that inspires success in every learning journey,” said Sask Polytech President Dr Larry Rosia. The investment will also support further student training collaboration between Nutrien and Sask Polytech.

Mount Saint Vincent University recently celebrated the opening of Vincent’s Restaurant, a teaching restaurant where tourism and hospitality students will gain hands-on experience. The restaurant will be used as a learning space for two required courses in MSVU’s Bachelor of Tourism and Hospitality Management Program. In these courses, students will develop the skills they need to run a restaurant, including kitchen management, serving, and food safety. The restaurant is open to the public and its 2024 menu includes dishes like chicken korma, shahi paneer, shrimp linguini, and falafel.

Trent University and the University of Manitoba have shared some of the ways that they are using technology to remove barriers and promote accessible student learning. Trent has helped instructors to foster accessibility in the classroom with a dedicated fund through its Centre for Teaching and Learning. Over 20 instructors have drawn on the fund to make their courses more inclusive by implementing lectures designed to engage neurodivergent and hearing-impaired learners, high-contrast laboratory glassware, PPE for service animals, and more. At UManitoba, instructors are using virtual reality (VR) to help health students practice their skills. UManitoba Rady Faculty of Health Sciences Fean Dr Peter Nickerson expressed his excitement about the “RadyVerse,” which he said “will revolutionize the education of health practitioners through the use of virtual reality, artificial intelligence and augmented reality.” Nickerson explained that technologies like this allow students to develop their skills without risk to real patients.

Elizabeth Tenney (University of Utah), Jacqueline M Chen (UofUtah), and McKenzie Preston (University of Pennsylvania) have created a checklist to help early career researchers (ECRs) decide on which projects to pursue. ECRs are pulled in many directions at the beginning stages of their careers, the writers explain, and so they often struggle to determine which projects are worth their time, energy, and resources. To resolve this, the writers put forth a framework they call the ‘3 Ps’–people, passion, and publishable—and assert that ECRs should prioritize “projects that involve people you like, as well as those that you are passionate about and that have strong potential to provide good, publishable results.”

The University of Prince Edward Island plans to establish the Atlantic Zero-Emission Energy System Laboratory, which will produce clean and sustainable fuels and materials from biowaste. UPEI Assistant Professor Dr Yulin Hu will lead the development of the new laboratory, which will be housed in the university’s Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering building. “This will help PEI and the other Atlantic provinces reduce their dependence on fossil fuels, improve energy security and diversification, and reduce carbon dioxide emissions,” said Hu, “which will accelerate the transition towards a clean, low carbon footprint and sustainable economy.” This project is supported through funding from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, Innovation PEI, and the Canada Foundation for Innovation.

Huron University College will introduce a new undergraduate degree in animal ethics and sustainability leadership this Fall. The program is designed for students who are interested in tackling the climate crisis and issues of animal ethics. Students will be required to take courses in law, policy, business, philosophy, animal ethics, nature, and technology, and will have the opportunity to take elective courses. “The degree is designed to really allow students to customize [their program] based on their own particular goals,” said program co-ordinator Kendra Coulter. According to the university, this degree will be the first of its kind in the world.

Cape Breton University’s social work department has partnered with a community group called Town House to pair seniors with students who are looking for a place to live. Students in the program will pay for accommodations and also help their host with housework. CBU’s social work department will study the program’s impact on its participants, including how home sharing affects seniors’ feelings of isolation, depression and/or anxiety, and financial stability. The department will also assess how students feel about participating in the program, including their perspective on their responsibilities with the housework. CBU aims to match 12 seniors with 12 students and intends to start the program this spring.

Sources such as City News report that a man has been arrested in connection with acts of voyeurism at the University of Toronto. Between January and March 2024, police say they received reports of voyeurism from female students who noticed a cell phone pointed at them while they were changing or using the shower at the Wilson Hall Residence. According to CP24, the phone appeared to capture images of the victims before the suspect fled the washroom. An international student has been arrested in connection with the incidents and has been charged with one count of voyeurism and one count of mischief.

While progress has clearly been made to promote gender equality in higher ed, the experiences of many women in leadership positions reveal that it is “still too soon to take women’s path to academic leadership for granted,” write Efthalia Chatzigianni (University of the Peloponnese) and Bryony Whitmarsh (University of Southampton). The writers share reflections from women in senior leadership positions from around the world, demonstrating that many still experience professional and personal marginalization based on their gender. Chatzigianni and Whitmarsh argue that there is a clear opportunity to create support and mentorship networks in the future. They also highlight the commitment of many women in leadership to drive institutional change and transform policy to improve fairness for the next generation.

McGill University, Nova Scotia Community College, and the University of Winnipeg have each released updates on their ongoing labour negotiations. The Association of Graduate Students Employed by McGill have voted in favour of a strike mandate after negotiations reportedly failed with the university. More than 2,300 McGill teaching assistants are now preparing to strike and have warned students and professors of a “major disruption.” NSCC and the Atlantic Academic Union–which represents more than 1,000 staff members–have reached a tentative agreement, averting a strike that was expected to start yesterday. The agreement’s ratification vote is scheduled for later this week. UWinnipeg and the UWinnipeg Faculty Association have successfully ratified a new collective agreement, which will be in effect until March 2027.