March 24, 2023

The Government of Saskatchewan released its 2023-24 budget this week. A total of $764.8M is being invested in postsecondary education. Global News reports that operating and capital grants stay the same as last year as SK enters the third year of a four-year funding agreement with postsecondary institutions. $58.9M will be provided for postsecondary infrastructure and maintenance work, as well as an increased investment of $47.0M for student supports and $65M for the Graduate Retention Program. SK is also reportedly investing $38M to support the continued expansion of training seats in education and nursing programs. “We need the staffing to happen,” said health critic Vicki Mowat. “It’s a lot of training seats for post-secondary which are absolutely welcomed, but we are talking about things that are years down the road and very short on details.”

An international coalition of university leaders called the U7+ Alliance have called on the G7 countries to leverage the power of academia to advance global peace and security. “Education and knowledge creation are vital to building peaceful and sustainable democracies,” said University of Toronto President Meric Gertler, who is the chair of the U7+ Presidential Steering Committee. “To address the global challenges we face, we need collaboration and partnership among universities, governments, communities and industries to foster deeper understanding and greater trust among citizens.” The coalition called on G7 leaders to take actions such as supporting access to education, incorporating research into policy, and reducing barriers to student exchanges.

While professional, continuing, and online (PCO) unit programs are enticing to postsecondary institutions looking to bring in learners through new avenues, a recent report drawing on the response of 140 institutions has found that these programs face numerous challenges to being successful. Over 90% of institutions said that they had launched continuing education with the primary goal of revenue generation. However, despite high levels of support from senior leadership, continuing education departments were often not well integrated into the broader institution and frequently faced issues such as administrative burden, inadequate staffing, siloing, and poor access to enrolment data. The report was conducted by Modern Campus and involved partners such as the Canadian Association for University Continuing Education (CAUCE).

Beal University, a private institution based in Maine, has been given conditional approval by the Government of New Brunswick to offer a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. The 32-month program will include online training, followed by clinical training and a practicum placement at Sackville Memorial Hospital, which the university is currently renovating. “The community has been wonderful and there will be classes and labs set up [at the hospital], fully furnished with high-end simulation mannequins and all of the equipment that’s required in order to do clinical training,” said Beal University Canada President Holly McKnight. Beal University Canada will reportedly operate as a “standalone institution” headquartered in Sackville. It is reportedly not yet designated under NB’s Degree Granting Act, but the institutional assessment is underway.

Laurentian University’s School of Education has announced that its accreditation with the Ontario College of Teachers has been successfully renewed for seven years. The accreditation includes the school’s French-language programs, such as the Baccalauréat en éducation (en plusieurs parties, en ligne, à temps partiel), Baccalauréat en éducation (concurrent), and Baccalauréat en éducation (consécutif). “Graduates from Laurentian’s education programs are in high demand, and this is especially true of those enrolled in our French-language teacher education programs,” said Laurentian Interim Dean, Faculty of Education and Health Dr Patrice Milewski. “This accreditation will act as a catalyst for those considering a career in education.”

Seven universities have joined TRIUMF, which is Canada’s particle accelerator centre and includes 21 member institutions across Canada. TRIUMF reportedly hosts the largest accelerator of its type in the world. Researchers are currently collaborating on an experiment that examines whether neutrons violate a symmetry of nature. “TRIUMF’s key infrastructure is what makes this experiment possible,” said UWinnipeg Professor Dr Jeff Martin. “It’s a one-of-a-kind facility in the world where this experiment could be carried out.” The new full university members include McGill University, Saint Mary’s University, Université de Sherbrooke, the University of Northern British Columbia, the University of Waterloo, the University of Winnipeg, and Western University.

McGill University is reportedly being probed by the Office québécois de la langue française (OQLF) over a complaint about English-language communications at the university. The complainant stated that certain departments at McGill communicated to employees solely in English on several occasions, which would be a violation of Quebec’s French Language Charter. “The Office has contacted McGill University regarding the situation reported in the complaint received. The file is currently being processed,” stated McGill Spokesperson Chantal Bouchard. The university also reportedly circulated a message to its internal staff after hearing from OQLF, reminding them of the legislative obligations and launching a process to ensure materials such as the university’s website are in compliance with the charter.

As the transit strike in the eastern Fraser Valley continues, postsecondary students in the region say that their commutes to campus have become prohibitively expensive and difficult. Some students are paying to take Ubers and taxis to get to class, while others are carpooling, choosing to walk long distances, or attending from home. University of the Fraser Valley student Rofri Mpaka told CBC that his 40-minute ride to campus cost over $100, and several students shared that their classes seem emptier this week. “A couple of my instructors have given a couple online options to submit a quote about a reading or something like that instead of having an in-person option because it is difficult for a lot of kids to get to class,” said student Makenna Brar.

Three institutions recently announced new and expanded programming to meet industry needs in their regions. Cégep de Baie-Comeau has received approval from the Government of Quebec to permanently offer its techniques policières program. York University has launched two programs related to media production. These include a Production Accounting Micro-credential program that was developed in partnership with Cinespace Studios Toronto, and the Schulich ExecEd’s redesigned media certificate program for women. Further west, Medicine Hat College shared that it will be offering a new, fully subsidized Supportive Care Assistant micro-certificate. The program, designed by Colleges & Institutes Canada to build capacity in long-term care, will bring together flexible learning and paid work experience.

NOSM University has received a $500K gift from the Marcel and Frances Labelle Foundation, which will be matched by the FDC Foundation to create a $1M endowment for medical students. The funds will be used to support three undergraduate medical students from northeastern Ontario communities such as Hearst, Kapuskasing, Timmins, and Cochrane. “We are so grateful to the Marcel and Frances Labelle Foundation for their continued vision, generosity and support,” said NOSM U President Dr Sarita Verma. “Truly, they are investing in a healthier future for all Northern Ontarians.”