March 4, 2025

Laurentian University and IAMGOLD Corporation have partnered to create the IAMGOLD President’s Innovation Fund for Strategic Investment. This $2.5M fund will support academic and research projects aligned with Laurentian’s strategic priorities while advancing innovation in mineral resources and mining. “This fund empowers students, faculty, and staff to shape the future of mining and education,” said Laurentian President Dr Lynn Wells. “We are proud to play a key role in developing the leaders that will push mining forward.”

Dalhousie University’s Faculty of Engineering has received $1.05M from the Johnson Scholarship Foundation to increase access to engineering education for equity-deserving groups. This funding will bolster the faculty’s Inclusive Pathways to Engineering Careers Program, which provides scholarships and wraparound supports for Indigenous and African Nova Scotian and Black students at Dal. “This donation is more than just financial support—it is an investment in the future of our students and the strength of our community,” said Dal President Dr Kim Brooks. “It reaffirms our shared belief that education should be accessible to all.”

Postsecondary institutions across Canada are making extra efforts to support students who are observing Ramadan this year. Several institutions are offering special food options, such as early breakfast boxes at McGill University and Ramadan-inspired menu specials and Pick and Pack meals at Queen’s University. McGill and the University of Alberta mentioned that academic accommodations are available for students observing Ramadan. Several highlighted on-campus prayer spaces, including Cambrian College, Collège Boréal, McGill, and Laurentian University. Red River College Polytechnic shared guidance on how the community can support students observing Ramadan, emphasizing awareness of meeting times and the physical demands of activities.

The citizens committee Opération Nouveau Nom has proposed three potential new names for the Université de Moncton: Université d’Acadie, Université francophone Atlantique and Université Nouvelle-Acadie. While the university has not endorsed a name change and previously rejected a proposal to do so in 2023, the group plans to hold a public consultation about potential names this year. The group argues that the university name does not highlight the institution’s Francophone and Acadian heritage. UMoncton students voiced their opposition to a name change: In a February student union election, 89% of voters opposed changing the university’s name. Speaking to Radio-Canada, UMoncton engineering student Léonard Simard explained that students are generally prioritizing other issues, such as the cost of living and tuition.

The University of Manitoba Faculty Association may go on strike next week if an agreement with the university is not reached before then. The association has set a bargaining deadline for March 6, with the potential strike beginning on March 10. The association—which represents more than 1,300 professors, instructors, and librarians—has been in negotiations with UManitoba since August. According to CTV News, issues on the table include pay, working conditions, workload, and childcare. UManitoba said in a statement that it has put forth a “competitive proposal” and continues to bargain in good faith “with the intention of concluding a collective agreement without a labour disruption.”

York University recently launched its employment equity dashboard, which displays the last three years of employment equity data using employees’ voluntary self-identification information. Users of the dashboard can filter data by employee groups and equity groups, among other factors, to identify patterns and trends in representation, recruitment, and retention. “The employment equity dashboard lets us see not only who makes up York’s workforce but also where there may be gaps and barriers,” said YorkU VP Equity, People, and Culture Laina Bay-Cheng. “Such visibility is essential to improving employment practices from hiring to career advancement.” Looking forward, YorkU plans to use the dashboard to inform a full employment systems review, which will be conducted in the next 18 months.

Portage College and Keyano College have collaborated to expand access to Primary Care Paramedic (PCP) education to Northern Alberta. Together, the two institutions will support the growing demand for paramedics in local communities by increasing the capacity of Portage’s PCP program by 12 additional students. “This collaboration will provide our students with enhanced resources, the right training, and expanded opportunities,” said Keyano Interim Dean of Health and Human Services Alexis Teske. “Together, we are committed to delivering hands-on education and preparing our students to excel in their careers as primary care paramedics.”

In an article for University World News, Morten Brekke (University of Agder) underlines how flexible study programs contribute to the sustainability of postsecondary institutions. The author argues that offering flexible programs that focus on lifelong learning is a viable way to attract more students and respond to industry needs, especially at a time when postsecondary institutions are facing “unthinkable” challenges. Brekke asserts that there are several ongoing challenges to implementing flexible study programs, including the hierarchical way that institutions are currently organized, the cost of flexibility, and a lack of holistic, cross-campus collaboration. The author emphasizes the importance of overcoming these challenges, concluding that “higher education institutions need to rethink how we do things.”

Mount Allison University has unveiled the name for the Centre for Indigenous & Critical Canadian Studies, formerly known as the Centre for Canadian Studies. The centre was renamed through a strategic visioning process committed to anti-colonialism, supporting the Indigenous Studies program, and engagement with the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action. The centre also has unveiled its new logo, created by MtA alumna Emma Hassencahl-Perley (Tobique First Nation). This logo includes imagery of the Great Horned Owl, symbolizing knowledge and wisdom, as well as other symbols including Wabanaki double-curves, the maple leaf, and the Wampum belt.

Hastings County councillors are criticizing the Government of Ontario’s underfunding of postsecondary education and its impact on Loyalist College. Loyalist President Mark Kirkpatrick has been meeting with municipal councils to discuss the college’s program cuts and their expected regional effects. At these meetings, Kirkpatrick described how ON spending—44 cents on postsecondary education for every dollar spent by other provinces—and the federal cap on international students have led to these cuts, and called for advocacy. Several Hastings County councillors expressed their support for Loyalist and condemned governmental actions, and one council approved a motion to send a letter to ON. Councillors and community members voiced concerns about the impact of underfunding and program cuts on the workforce and economy of the region.