May 1, 2024

The Business + Higher Education Roundtable (BHER) has announced nine new work-integrated learning (WIL) partnerships involving postsecondary institutions and industry organizations from across Canada. The partnerships will create 5,000 flexible, accessible WIL opportunities for students from academic and personal backgrounds that are underrepresented in WIL. The postsecondary institutions that are involved in partnerships include Fanshawe College, Georgian College, Huron University College, Lambton College, McMaster University, Mohawk College, Red River College Polytechnic, the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, Wilfrid Laurier University, and the University of Toronto Scarborough.

As the University of British Columbia and McGill University address encampments on campus set up to protest against the war in Gaza, the University of Toronto and the University of Ottawa are warning against the creation of such encampments. At McGill, pro-Palestinian activists have refused to leave an encampment erected on campus. The university has requested police assistance to remove the protestors. An encampment has reportedly been set up by protestors that include students and other Vancouver residents at the University of British Columbia. According to the Vancouver Sun, protestors are calling on the university to divest and cut its ties with three Israeli universities. UBC spokesman Matthew Ramsey said that the university is monitoring and assessing the situation. The University of Toronto and the University of Ottawa have warned students that encampments on their campuses will not be tolerated.

The University of Windsor’s Campus Pride Centre has closed for the remainder of the school year after it was vandalized with homophobic slurs. According to UWindsor Students’ Alliance members, vulgar language was carved into the door in three consecutive incidents, which were reported to campus police. The pride centre coordinator closed the centre due to safety concerns and is working with special constable services and university administration to put security measures in place before the Pride Centre reopens in the Fall. “These acts of prejudice have highlighted the ongoing challenges faced by 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals and reaffirmed our commitment to fostering a safe, inclusive and supportive environment on campus,” stated the student alliance.

As universities like Rhodes University and the University of Zurich appear to be considering boycotting the World University Rankings, Richard Holmes has penned an article about what happens to schools that depart from the rankings. Holmes discusses the claims of a recent article by Times Higher Education data analysts, who found that institutions that drop out from the World University Rankings see a significant decline in their reputation ranking. Holmes suggests a few alternative explanations for this ranking dropping—including administration discouraging faculty from participating in academic surveys or the decision to withdraw being preceded by the start of a reputation drop.

Lambton College has launched the Centre for Community Health & Social Impact (CCHSI), a hub for collaborative research that brings partners from various sectors together to address health and social challenges. The centre works with community and industry partners on projects in areas such as community, social services, and health. “The evolution of Civic Lab into the Centre for Community Health & Social Impact signifies a pivotal moment in our commitment to community-driven research,” said Lambton President Rob Kardas. “As we expand our focus to encompass a broader range of community, health, and social issues, we are positioned to make an even greater impact on the well-being of our communities.”

A former security guard from Trinity Western University has been found guilty of manslaughter in relation to an incident in 2020. In 2020, students called security after a man who was not authorized to be in TWU student housing began rifling through students’ rooms at the residence. A security guard tackled the man and restrained him; the incident resulted in a death. British Columbia Supreme Court Justice Catherine Murray said that the security guard’s use of a headlock for prolonged restraint “was objectively dangerous in the circumstances.”

Trent University has announced that it will be launching a Bachelor of Arts in Human Rights & Global Justice in Fall 2024. The program will cover topics such as forced migration, genocide, violence against women and girls, Indigenous rights, and more through historical, cultural, and academic viewpoints. It will include hands-on learning internships, field studies, and a paid co-op stream. Students will be able to combine their Trent human rights degree with a law degree from Swansea University in Wales through the Trent/Swansea Dual Law Degree program.

The Thompson Rivers University Faculty Association has reportedly voted to take TRU to court over its handling of the decision to cut four visual arts programs, citing issues with the decision process. TRUFA President Tara Lyster told Castanet that TRUFA is concerned with process not following its typical order: “One of our biggest concerns is that the student enrolment was suspended and then the process was enacted, in what we could see.” TRU Provost and VP Academic Gillian Balfour agreed that the steps were followed out of order, but that the process was followed in a manner that stayed true to the “spirit of the policy.” TRUFA first indicated its plan to seek legal advice in January when the program cuts were announced; Castanet reports that if TRUFA’s application for a judicial review is successful, a BC Supreme Court judge will be asked to review the situation.

Confederation College and the Walkerton Clean Water Centre (WCWC) have partnered to bring WCWC’s “Operation of Conventional Treatment Processes” course to Confederation’s pilot water treatment plant. Students in the Environmental Technician program will be able to complete this training, which provides hands-on learning and practical application in environmental chemistry and pilot lab operations. The collaboration will make the course more accessible for students in Northern Ontario and will help prepare students to work in a diverse environmental field. “The collaboration with Walkerton Clean Water Centre will help to attract and train new operators for water treatment here at the College,” said Confederation Program Coordinator Sandra Stiles.

Dalhousie University has renamed and revamped its Bachelor of Landscape Architecture and Diploma in Landscape Horticulture. Dal stated that the Bachelor of Landscape Architecture’s name fits the professional norm and the curriculum for both programs has been updated to better position graduates for success. The degree program is now accredited by the Canadian Society of Landscape Architects, which gives graduates membership in the professional body. Diploma program graduates can achieve a red seal trade certification through continued training and job experience.