May 22, 2025

Georgian College and Université de Saint-Boniface have each launched new partnerships that will expand professional learning pathways. Georgian College and Registered Professional Accountant (RPA) Canada have signed an agreement granting graduates of its three-year Business Administration – Accounting and two-year Business – Accounting diplomas a streamlined route to the RPA designation. Eligible graduates may sit the Mandatory Professional Examination and complete two years of practical experience to earn the RPA credential. Meanwhile, USB and Assiniboine Credit Union have rolled out an 11-week, fully virtual conversational French course for credit union staff. This free program uses USB’s À Vous! curriculum to build oral proficiency and advance Manitoba’s bilingual-services objectives. USB is planning additional cohorts for the Fall.

Red Deer Polytechnic has signed an MOU with Shad Canada, an organization that provides summer enrichment STEAM programs for high school students. Through the partnership, high school students from various backgrounds will participate in activities such as guest speakers, STEAM workshops, and business and mentorship sessions. The program’s hands-on activities aim to foster real-world skills such as teamwork and creativity. “These unique experiences will help inspire the next generation of leaders to pursue careers in STEAM, contributing to the economic and social development of Alberta and Canada,” said RDP VP, Academic and Student Experience Lindsay Engel. RDP says it is the first polytechnic to sign an MOU with Shad Canada.

Concordia University’s John Molson School of Business has earned accreditation from the European Quality Improvement System (EQUIS). Administered by the European Foundation for Management Development, EQUIS benchmarks schools against international standards in areas such as governance and strategy, research, internationalization, and sustainability. EQUIS evaluators highlighted John Molson’s strengths in areas such as ethics, student support, and experiential learning. Concordia says the school is one of only eight in Canada to hold both EQUIS and Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) accreditation. Paired with its existing AACSB status, this achievement gives the school what Concordia calls “double crown” recognition. The EQUIS accreditation is valid for three years.

In a recent article for the evoLLLution, Luke Dowden (Alamo Colleges District) urges institutions to recognize “non-traditional” students as the norm and redesign programs, policies, and supports to meet their needs. He advocates for an approach to institutional design rooted in empathy, vulnerability, and learner-informed data—one that reflects students’ lived realities, such as caregiving or career shifts, rather than relying solely on demographics. Dowden highlights how institutions can use tools like persona development to better understand learners and integrate supports—such as paid internships and labour market-aligned microcredentials—that foster economic mobility. Passion-driven programs, he adds, do not need to disappear, but should be enriched with pathways to viable careers. “The modern learner isn’t a category—it’s a call to action,” writes Dowden.

Yukon University has refreshed and relaunched its Office Administration program. The program now includes three certificate options: a new Medical Office Assistant option, as well as updated Administrative Assistant and Financial Assistant offerings. The programs provide accessible training that is designed to respond to the needs of service providers, businesses, and Northern communities. “These certificate streams will empower students to step into vital roles in their communities, support local industries, and help shape a stronger, more resilient North,” said YukonU Chair of the School of Business and Leadership Dr Ninad Dhawle.

The University of Windsor and the municipality of Lakeshore have signed an MOU that will focus on solutions to challenges faced by the municipality, including its wastewater system and housing issues. The partnership includes initiatives such as community-based projects, student placements, and Centre for Cities initiatives. UWindsor and Lakeshore will also pool resources to access additional grants and loans. “We have a whole team of professional talented people at the University of Windsor to help us come up with solutions for our problems. So we’ve chosen to go that road,” said Lakeshore Mayor Tracey Bailey.

Postsecondary institutions need to rethink their relationship with data to drive meaningful change, argues Yolanda Watson Spiva (Complete College America) in an interview with the evoLLLution. Spiva discusses how data should be central to institutional decision-making—not siloed, punitive, or compliance-focused. She calls on leaders to disaggregate data, interpret it with nuance, and consider the conditions under which outcomes—such as those related to student demographics or resource levels—are achieved. Spiva further asserts that institutions should distinguish between metrics that show immediate progress and those that reflect long-term change. “When we combine strong data with evidence-based strategies, institutions can truly be transformational in advancing student success,” she concluded.

Representatives from Ontario’s postsecondary sector have responded to the recently released ON budget. Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations (OCUFA) President Nigmendra Narain said that the budget will not ward off an impending financial crisis. “Their own blue ribbon report suggested (an investment) closer to $3 billion,” said Narain. “So they are 50 per cent or half the amount off of what their own blue ribbon panel suggested was a minimum amount of investment that is needed.” Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance (OUSA) welcomed the $10M set aside for small, northern, and rural institutions. “[T]his funding is a good step towards more comprehensive supports for these schools,” read a statement from OUSA.

Global News reports that both Dalhousie University and Saint Mary’s University received bomb threats via spam email on Tuesday that prompted police investigations. CBC reports that Dalhousie did not evacuate its campus. However, SMU evacuated its campus, and nearby streets were temporarily closed while Halifax police conducted a search with K9 units. No explosives were found, and the area was reopened by mid-afternoon. Police have launched investigations of both incidents.

Prince Edward Island’s ADHD program—which has until recently been operated by the University of Prince Edward Island—has transitioned to Health PEI. The program will continue to physically be located in UPEI’s Regis and Joan Duffy Research Centre before moving to the new UPEI Faculty of Medicine and Interprofessional Education facility in 2025–26. “This milestone represents a significant advancement in the program’s journey, ensuring ongoing support and services for Islanders living with ADHD,” said UPEI Director of Distributed Medical Education and Family Medicine Marilyn Barrett.