May 2, 2024

York University’s Glendon College recently approved a restructuring that will promote greater interdisciplinarity and better support research, teaching, and the student experience. Starting in September 2024, Glendon’s academic units will be structured into the following four departments: Glendon Department of Global Communication and Cultures; Glendon Department of Science; Glendon Department of Economics, Business and Mathematics; and Glendon Department of Global and Social Studies. “This new structure presents an opportunity to establish an environment that supports the kind of academic renewal that is needed among today’s universities, where new and innovative ideas are born at the intersection of disciplines,” said Glendon Principal Marco Fiola. Glendon will unveil further adjustments to its academic programming, administrative model, and recruitment efforts in the coming months.

At the recent Colleges and Institutes Canada conference, Bow Valley College reaffirmed its commitment to reconciliation and Indigenous learners by endorsing the CICan Indigenous Education Protocol. The protocol outlines seven guiding principles that reflect how colleges and institutes can demonstrate their support for Indigenous education. “In signing this protocol, we celebrate our accomplishments, renew our commitment, and use it as a guide to provide an outstanding experience for Indigenous students,” said BVC VP Learner Experience Lynn Connell.

A Québec Superior Court judge has rejected an injunction request that would have forced protesters involved with an encampment set up on McGill University’s campus to stay at least 100 metres away from the school’s buildings. Two McGill students filed the court injunction against the protesters on Tuesday, saying that the groups have “created an environment of hate on campus” that makes it uncomfortable to attend classes and exams. CBC reports that in the ruling, Justice Chantal Massé stated that the injunction was too broad and restrictive and that the plaintiffs had failed to show that protesters were causing irreparable harm. At the University of Ottawa, a group of students has launched a pro-Palestinian encampment calling for the university to disclose its investments and divest from organizations involved in Israeli defence and security operations.

Brescia University College students, staff, and faculty members have now officially joined Western University. To make this integration as smooth as possible, Western launched a new website that highlights services and opportunities available to students as they transition to Western. Over the course of the past month, Western also held welcome events, student fairs, and consultations to ensure the students, staff, and faculty feel connected to their new campus community. “I want to give a very warm and sincere welcome to the Brescia students, faculty and staff joining our community,” said Western President Alan Shepard. “We are committed to honouring the legacy and work of Brescia as we move forward, together, in this new chapter.”

Aurora College’s Board of Governors has appointed the college’s new Indigenous Knowledge Holders Council (IKHC). The IKHC is the third of three bodies making up Aurora’s new tri-cameral governance structure. It includes 13 residents of the Northwest Territories who are of Dene, Inuvialuit, and Métis ancestry who will help ensure that the spirit and intent of Indigeneity is embedded in the College’s strategic direction and decision-making processes. The IKHC’s duties include promoting policies and decisions that will support Indigenous student and staff success and developing and monitoring an implementation framework that will respect and honour the worldviews, traditions, cultures and histories of the Northwest Territories’ Indigenous Peoples.

Northwestern Polytechnic is launching two Educational Assistant (EA) certificates. Starting in the Fall semester, NWP will offer an EA certificate specializing in Literacy Supports; in the Winter 2025 term, NWP will offer an EA certificate for Inclusion Supports. Both certificates can be completed online over four months and include work-integrated learning placements. Once completed, the certificates can be applied towards NWP’s full-year Educational Assistant certificate. “Not only are we being responsive to traditional barriers to post-secondary education, we are also ensuring that the tools for a fulfilling and very much in-demand career are within reach,” said NWP School of Business Dean Dr Jodi Peebles.

Cégep de la Gaspésie et des Îles has launched a fundraising campaign to support the creation of a new nursing clinic-school, which will open on the Gaspé campus in Fall 2024. The clinic-school will provide a hub where students can learn from experts, put concepts into practice, and observe and provide care to the general public under the supervision of a teaching team. The cégep says that, when launched, this will be the first nursing clinic-school in the region.

The University of Alberta and the University of Calgary have each received funding from the Government of Alberta through Alberta Innovates and Emissions Reductions Alberta. This funding will advance projects that foster a hydrogen economy, reduce emissions, and create jobs in Alberta. UAlberta has received a total of $2.1M toward three separate projects covering topics such as hydrogen storage in Canadian salt formations, anion exchange membrane electrolysis, and sustainable hydrogen carriers. The University of Calgary has received a total of $1.2M toward two projects on the topics of hydrogen-powered gas burner technologies and safe hydrogen agile pipeline engineering.

The Université du Québec recently obtained the Certification Milieu de travail engagé, a certification offered by the Regroupement des maisons pour femmes victimes de violence conjugale. This certification denotes that the UQuébec head office is actively participating in social change to address the problem of domestic violence, contribute to the creation of a safe and caring work environment for staff members who are victims, and implement awareness and support measures for its staff. In a statement, UQuébec said that it is one of the first higher education establishments to receive this certification.

At Fleming College, the union local presidents have reportedly vowed to “hold the college accountable” in the wake of recent program suspensions. Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) Locals 351 (which represents faculty and councillors) and 352 (which represents support staff) told Global News that they were not consulted ahead of the announcement. “We cannot predict the impact to employees (but) we do know that our most precarious employees, our contract faculty, will be impacted the hardest,” wrote OPSEU Local 352 President Liz Mathewson and OPSEU Local 351 President Marcia Steeves in a statement. Kawartha Now reports that the student association at Fleming’s Frost Campus has also launched an online petition calling for the program suspensions to be reversed.