May 20, 2025

The Government of Ontario has released its 2025 Budget. For the postsecondary education file, ON is projecting a decreased expense from $13.3B in 2023-24 to $12.8B in 2027-28. The investments of note in the budget include $2B in capital grants for postsecondary institutions looking to modernize facilities; investments in training, such as $150M toward STEM seats, $55.8M toward teacher education, and $300M toward Primary Care Teaching Clinics; increased investments in the Ontario Research Fund; and $10M for scholarships for First Nations students. Colleges Ontario and the Council of Ontario Universities both welcomed the investments in key training areas, but called for improved operating grants and funding in other areas of need to ensure the resilience of the sector.

The Government of Manitoba has announced that it will be providing Assiniboine College with a combined $120M in capital funding and bridge financing to support the new Prairie Innovation Centre for Sustainable Agriculture. MB states that the centre will help the province to meet the labour demands of its agriculture industry, which is expected to grow substantially. The centre is expected to more-than-double the student capacity of the Russ Edwards School of Agriculture and Environment. “[The centre] is an important project that will help to improve value-added processing and export development capacity in the agriculture sector,” said Assiniboine President Mark Frison. “Today’s commitment allows us to go tender immediately.”

The Northern Alberta Institute of Technology has announced that it is pausing 18 programs as part of a comprehensive program review. The institute states that it is looking to strengthen its academic foundations and reinvest in high-demand and emerging areas, while also remaining financially and operationally sustainable. The paused programs are housed within six of the institute’s schools, with the greatest number coming from the School of Media and Information Technology. “This is not a decision that was made lightly, and we understand the ripple effect it will have,” said NAIT VP Academic Peter Leclaire. “This in no way reflects the talent, effort, or dedication of the people behind these programs.”

CICan has issued a statement outlining how the country’s colleges and institutes can help support the goals outlined by the Government of Canada. The organization points to several opportunities for action at the intersection of Canada’s challenges, the federal government’s priorities, and the opportunities for postsecondary education. These include introducing greater supports for non-traditional learners, building new models for opportunities like microcredentials and PLAR, and national coordination on credential and competency recognition. “Canadians are asking for change, reassurance, and confidence in public institutions following what has been called the most consequential election since the end of the Second World War – and our sector is front and centre in this national frame,” states CICan.

The University of British Columbia Sauder School of Business has launched the Spitz Centre for Indigenous Business Education. The Spitz Centre will focus on three objectives: creating a welcoming and entrepreneurial community, empowering Indigenous student success, and strengthening economic development in Indigenous communities. Its development was supported by a $5M from alumni Warren and Maureen Spitz, who expressed their hope that the centre will be a place where “Indigenous students feel empowered to succeed and where reconciliation is not just talked about, but practiced.”

While over 50 Canadian institutions have signed on to the Scarborough Charter on Anti-Black Racism and Black Inclusion in Canadian Higher Education, Caroline Samii-Esfahani of University Affairs reports that none of Québec’s French-language universities are among the signatories. Université de Montréal student Sarah Vuka Makani said that this inaction leaves Black students feeling overlooked. Representatives from institutions such as HEC Montréal, Université Laval, and Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue told University Affairs that they chose not to sign the Charter for a variety of reasons, such as budget constraints and overlap with existing agreements and policies.

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador has announced that it is making changes to its Student Aid program to better support postsecondary students in the province. These changes include increases to the weekly loan and grant limits, an increased per-course value for the Memorial University Tuition Relief Grant, and a change to the eligibility for the NL Debt Reduction Grant program. NL estimates that 5,000 students will be impacted by these improvements to the program. “Access to post-secondary education is foundational to support not only students, but also the workforce and future of our province,” stated NL Minister of Education Bernard Davis.

York University is offering a voluntary separation agreement to full-time faculty at or above normal retirement age as part of its efforts to address financial pressures. YorkU explained that it has implemented a new set of voluntary separation agreements: those who retire by the start of July 2025 will reportedly receive a lump sump payment equal to their full annual salary, while those who choose to retire by July 2026 will receive 85% of their full annual salary. “While we recognize there are significant initial costs to these incentives, they will provide important savings over the longer term,” said YorkU VP Finance and Administration Narin Kishinchandani. “For example, if 20% of eligible faculty accept a VSA[, …] we estimate the university could save up to $8.3M starting in 2027-28.”

A recent article by journalist Calvin Hennick outlines four key considerations for postsecondary institutions looking to launch AI-powered chatbots and platforms: building cross-functional teams, embedding privacy and data protection, investing in scalable IT infrastructure, and promoting AI literacy. Hennick interviewed leaders from Arizona State University; the University of California, Irvine; and the University of Michigan to understand how they implemented internal AI tools and platforms. “When people don’t have guidance on what’s safe, they’re often afraid to do anything,” said Elizabeth Reilley (Arizona State University). The article highlights initiatives such as UMichigan’s course-specific tutoring bots, UC Irvine’s user-built chatbot tools, and ASU’s faculty training sessions.

Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières is launching a 12-week cybersecurity training program this fall for frontline IT professionals. The FORCE-UQTR program offers low-cost, modular content that will be updated regularly to reflect evolving cybersecurity best practices. UQTR states that the program will prepare participants to identify and respond to the most common cyber threats. The initiative arrives amid heightened concerns about digital security and compliance obligations. The first cohort will begin in Fall 2025.