May 24, 2024

Memorial University has received a report that will inform the development of an Indigenous verification protocol. The work reviewed current Indigenous verification practices at Memorial and other universities in Canada and included consultations with self-identifying Indigenous faculty, staff, students, and alumni as well as the province’s Indigenous nations, communities, and organizations. Memorial will consider the report before making commitments or comments on specific recommendations and will invite further feedback from community members as it develops an Indigenous verification policy. McGill University announced that it has a new policy to validate claims of Indigenous citizenship and membership for those who are applying for designated employment opportunities. The policy has been implemented after nearly two years of consultation and study.

Université du Québec à Montréal scholars, students, and research teams have received a total of $21.3M from the Fonds de recherche du Québec Société et culture (FRQSC) and the Fonds du recherche du Québec Nature et technologies (FRQNT). This funding will further research on a wide array of topics, including gender bias and social status; inclusive education for immigrant students; machine learning; and ecology and biogeography. $13.67M of this funding will go toward 28 UQÀM professors and research teams, while the remaining $7.66M will fund research and training scholarships supporting UQÀM graduate, doctoral, and postdoctoral students.

The Government of Nova Scotia has updated the Nova Scotia Student Assistance program formula to align with the federal Canada Student Financial Assistance program to better reflect the financial pressures students are facing. The living allowance now uses information from the 2022 Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation Rental Market Survey. The changes mean that some NS postsecondary students will receive increased funding from the province. “The enhanced living allowances for Nova Scotian students is a positive step in ensuring that students have access to financial support that accurately reflects the costs of housing during their studies,” said Students Nova Scotia Executive Director Georgia Saleski.

Vancouver Island University has launched the Centre for Trauma and Mental Health Research (CTMHR), a centre that focuses on developing approaches to prevent, detect, and treat trauma and related mental health issues. The centre includes researchers from fields including health sciences, chemistry, and kinesiology, who will focus on improving the quality of life of those affected by trauma and mental health issues. Undergraduate and graduate students will also be involved in the centre’s research through volunteer and paid positions. “This new research centre will enable VIU faculty pursuing cutting-edge research related to trauma and mental health to collaborate with one another and external partners to address pressing issues in society,” said VIU AVP of Research and Graduate Studies Dr Nicole Vaugeois.

The Government of Québec recently announced the establishment of Espace Aéro, its fourth innovation zone. Espace Aéro aims to enhance innovation in the aerospace field by focusing on decarbonization and aircraft automation and safety. The zone will be based at three core hubs located in Longueuil, Mirabel, and Montréal. Concordia University will lead the Montréal hub’s flagship project: the creation of the Collaborative Innovation Centre in Aerospace and Mobility (CCIAM), which will open in 2027. Other postsecondary institutions involved in Espace Aéro include Cégep de Saint-Jérôme, Cégep Édouard-Montpetit, École de technologie supérieure, and McGill University.

In a recent article for eCampus News, Vistasp M Karbhari (University of Texas at Arlington) discusses how postsecondary institutions should adopt frameworks to guide AI policy and practice to prepare students to enter a world that includes AI. Karbhari recommends that postsecondary institutions begin the process of creating these frameworks by considering ethics, responsibility, and equity. The author discusses how postsecondary institutions can build on this foundation to develop a higher-ed policy using the four pillars of governance, ethics and accountability, pedagogy, and operations.

After 12 days of action, protesters are taking down the pro-Palestinian encampment that was set up at Queen’s University earlier this month. The protesters shared that university administration has received their formal request for divestment, along with a petition that contains 600 signatures supporting the request. In a statement to Global News, Queen’s said that it is creating a “Review Committee for Responsible Investing” to assess the request. “Final approval rests with the Board of Trustees,” reads the statement. “There will be opportunities for all those who have an interest in this matter to participate in this process.” Queen’s added that no retaliatory measures will be taken against the protesters.

The College of the North Atlantic is expanding its Practical Nursing program to 216 seats across nine campuses. CNA will add eight seats for the Fall 2024 intake to the Bay St George, Burin, Carbonear, Clarenville, Corner Brook, Gander, Grand Falls-Windsor, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, and St Anthony campuses, respectively. “By expanding the Practical Nursing program and adding additional seats throughout the province, we will be able to offer even more students the opportunity to study and eventually work closer to their homes, in regions where nursing shortages have been identified,” said CNA Dean of Health Sciences Barbara Elliott.

Algonquin College has signed a partnership agreement with Porter Airlines to strengthen aviation education and training. Under this renewed commitment, the partners will focus on employment and talent management, hands-on training at Porter’s new Ottawa hangar, academic program development, and educational scholarships. This partnership also aims to support Algonquin’s Aircraft Maintenance Technician and Aviation Management programs in developing competency-based training programs for young women from minority groups or in rural settings. “Our collaboration with Porter Airlines is a cornerstone of our strategy to integrate industry-leading practices into our curriculum and provide our students with unmatched real-world experience,” said Algonquin President Claude Brulé.

The University of Saskatchewan’s College of Medicine has received $2M over five years from the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital Foundation. This funding will help advance provincial pediatric research and education and recruit doctors specializing in children’s medicine. “This significant partnership with the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital Foundation will support our shared commitment to providing exceptional pediatric healthcare in Saskatchewan,” said USask President Peter Stoicheff. “In addition to supporting the work of new Provincial Department Head in Pediatrics, Dr Terry Klassen, this funding will enhance pediatric education programs for USask medical students and help us lead critical research that will positively impact families in Saskatchewan and beyond.”