May 27, 2025

Canadian students at Harvard University are confused and shocked by the current feud between Harvard and US President Donald Trump over international student enrolment, reports the Canadian Press. The US court system has temporarily blocked a move from the Trump administration that would have prevented Harvard from enrolling international students. Harvard reportedly enrols nearly 7,000 international students at its main campus; the Toronto Star says that over 500 Harvard students are from Canada. “In a lot of group chats I’m in with other students and other Canadians, there was just a lot of panic and confusion,” said Harvard Student Thomas Mete. “When I accepted my offer to go to Harvard in 2022, something like this was never on the table.”

The University of Saskatchewan has received a combined $11.8M in funding for its Harrington Plant Growth Facility and Soil Science Field Facility. The funding—which is from a group of industry partners—will support the construction of these two new facilities. The Harrington Plant Growth Facility will provide spaces for breeding programs and pathology research, while the Soil Science Field Facility will feature facilities for plant threshing, plant processing, and more. Part of the Crop Science Field Lab is also undergoing renovation to provide the Crop Development Centre with additional workspace. “These new facilities will be instrumental in advancing critical agricultural research and will set the stage for addressing global challenges,” said USask President Peter Stoicheff.

The Government of Québec Ministry of Higher Education has released a report indicating that Champlain College Lennoxville—which is overseen by Champlain Regional College—has failed to act on recommendations and warnings. According to CBC, the new report details issues “concerning governance, human resources, and the working climate” at the cégep, as well as a failure to act on recommendations to address financial dysfunction. While the campus’s new leadership has already begun to have a positive impact, the report stated, the ministry and Champlain Regional College will need to work together to ensure successful changes at the institution. The cégep has also acknowledged the report and stated its full commitment to the recovery process.

A bomb threat on Friday resulted in the temporary closure of buildings at the University of Waterloo and Western University. “Police received reports of a threat made against multiple locations across the country, including the University of Waterloo’s school of pharmacy building,” said Waterloo Regional Police Service spokesperson Bradley Hickey. CTV News reports that Western closed its medicine and dentistry buildings as well. Threats at both institutions were investigated, and buildings were reopened on Friday after the threat was unsubstantiated. CTV reports that threats were made against 17 locations across Canada that were hosting certain exams.

Briercrest College and Seminary has announced the launch of its first-ever term abroad opportunity. Students will be able to travel to Cyprus to participate in a semester-long Greek intensive program, which will prepare them to better understand religious scriptures and other classical texts in the original language. “One of the non-negotiables as we began to plan this venture was that it be situated in a Greek-speaking context… to ensure that our students will have consistent interaction with native speakers in the early stages of their language learning,” said Briercrest Professor Dr Wes Olmstead. Olmstead noted that the term abroad will be an intellectually, personally, and spiritually formative opportunity for students.

Lakehead University has been selected as the preferred site for a new hospital in Orillia, Ontario. The Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital (OSMH), which received funding as part of the Government of Ontario’s 2025 Budget, will improve patient care and access to health care in the region. “There’s a dynamic and powerful synergy between hospitals and universities that we’ve fully embraced in Orillia since the university first opened in 2006,” said OSMH President Carmine Stumpo. “Becoming next door neighbours would create infinite possibilities to advance those partnerships and progress for decades to come.”

Former University of Manitoba law dean Jonathan Black-Branch has been ordered to pay UManitoba $679K in a default judgment. In a lawsuit filed in August 2024, UManitoba alleged that Black-Branch had “intentionally and maliciously perpetrated fraud” during his employment. A ruling from a Court of King’s Bench of Manitoba disciplinary panel found that Black-Branch had “on many occasions breached his duty of integrity and has therefore committed professional misconduct and/or engaged in conduct unbecoming a lawyer.” Black-Branch has been ordered to pay a total of $679K, which includes court costs.

Kermit the Frog recently delivered a commencement address to University of Maryland graduates. Kermit emphasized that everyone has a place and that each person should embrace their own uniqueness. He said that even though the “show” may not go perfectly, having connections with others means that you do not have to keep going alone. Kermit also provided advice on taking “this big leap into real life,” encouraging students not to use others as lily pads to get ahead. “Rather than jumping over someone to get what you want, consider reaching out your hand and taking the leap side by side, because life is better when we leap together,” said Kermit.