May 28, 2025

Langara College has launched a new brand and strategy for its continuing studies department: Stackable by Langara. Stackable’s courses are modular, industry-responsive, and flexible, with many offered on weekends or in the evenings to meet the needs of working professionals. “This is more than just a brand,” stated Langara President Dr Paula Burns. “It’s a strategy rooted in meeting professionals where they’re at. Stackable by Langara reflects how many professionals want to learn today: flexibly, practically, and with a clear path forward.” In addition to the new name, the brand features a new logo and launch video.

Bow Valley College has launched its Digital Entertainment Nexus Production Hub, which provides students and industry professionals with a state-of-the-art facility for film, television, and digital media production. This facility offers a variety of tools and immersive technology, including an immersive audio room, a post-production editing suite, and a sound-insulated viewing room. Learners will gain hands-on experience as they train for production and post-production careers, while industry professionals will be able to rent the space for their productions. “Now we can convince companies and productions to come into the city, shoot in the city, but also finish in the city. That’s what this whole vision was about,” said Calgary Economic Development CEO Brad Parry.

Philip Steenkamp (Research Universities’ Council of BC, Royal Roads University), Laurie Waye (BC Colleges, Coast Mountain College), and Jeff Zabudsky (Pacific Association of Canadian Institutes and Universities, BCIT) have written an article for the Vancouver Sun calling for investments in the postsecondary sector. Steenkamp, Waye, and Zabudsky assert that the province’s prosperity and productivity are dependent on its ability to prepare skilled graduates for the workforce. However, the loss of the revenue provided by international student enrolment is forcing institutions to make short-term cuts that “will lead to skills shortages tomorrow and to missed opportunities” for the province. They encourage BC to not let the public postsecondary system erode, as “it is the foundation of our shared future.”

Two recent articles from University Affairs debate the recruitment of American faculty and researchers to Canadian institutions. In an article in favour of American recruitment, Dominik Stecuła (Ohio State University) writes that Canada should act due to moral and pragmatic reasons: The broader scholarly community should respond when academic freedom is threatened, and Canada may benefit from attracting research talent. In an article against American recruitment, Ari Gandsman (University of Ottawa) asserts that Canada’s postsecondary sector has a pre-existing issue with Americanization. Grandsman further argues that many hiring committees already prioritize candidates with PhDs from American institutions, which he says affects intellectual diversity, discourages the pursuit of doctoral programs in Canada, and limits Canadian perspectives inthe classroom.

The University of Calgary’s Faculty of Veterinary Medicine has received $9M from the Government of Alberta. This three-year investment will fund the Diagnostic Services Unit, which UCalgary says is AB’s only laboratory offering routine in-province livestock diagnostics. The Diagnostic Services Unit protects against animal diseases that could impact public health and the province’s economic stability. “Securing this funding is not just about increasing services essential for animal health; it’s about investing in Alberta’s economic future,” said UCalgary Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Dean Dr Renate Weller. “By enhancing our diagnostic capabilities, we can reduce reliance on out-of-province testing and keep valuable resources within Alberta.”

Several institutions in Atlantic Canada have shared budget updates and the changes they have made in order to address any deficits. Memorial University’s Board of Regents have approved the university’s 2025-26 operating budget, which was balanced through a base expenditure reduction of $20.85M. The board also directed a one-time pause on Memorial’s tuition reduction grant, which CBC says is being reallocated to other efforts such as student retention and instructors. Mount Allison University has approved its budget, which includes a continued operating deficit. The budget includes a 4.75% tuition increase, which will be used to support several learning, wellbeing, and campus life efforts across MtA’s campus. The University of Prince Edward Island has reportedly proposed several measures to balance its budget, including tuition fee increases of 6.5% for domestic students and 7.5% for international students, expanded recruitment and retention efforts, and deferred strategic priorities.

Several universities have launched dedicated resources to help the next generation of students develop important life skills, reports Marcus Medford-Kerr of CBC Radio. Medford-Kerr spoke to Jean Twenge (San Diego State University) about the conditions—such as living at home for a longer period of time—that have resulted in a generation that develops independence later in life than previous generations. In response, Medford-Kerr says institutions such as the University of Waterloo have launched dedicated resources on topics such as career planning, finances, and the basics of household maintenance to help students develop “adulting” skills. UWaterloo Director of Student Success Pam Charbonneau noted that students are often relieved and grateful to have access to the tools.

Red River College Polytechnic has received a $1.25M gift from Qualico to support skilled trades students. With this gift, RRC Polytech will create a new Navigator positoin and expand capacity in its Introduction to Trades program, which prepares Indigenous learners for direct entry into a trades program.The Navigator position will focus on increasing student participation and wrap-around supports, as well as work-integrated learning supports for RRC Polytech’s certificate trades programs. “Qualico’s support will benefit countless students and will bolster programming in our skilled trades and technologies department, which will in turn help build a stronger industry here in Manitoba,” said RRC Polytech President Fred Meier.

In a recent article for The evoLLLution, Keith Paul (Northern Essex Community College) discusses how institutions can pivot to authentically engage with the next generation of students. Paul emphasizes the importance that Gen Z places on the relevance, tone, and authenticity of messages sent through various platforms and the need for institutions to move to a relationship-building approach with communications. He touches on several key issues affecting the communications landscape, such as communication fatigue. Paul concludes by asserting that authentic communication, strategic personalization, and equity-centered support will be crucial to the future success of colleges and universities.

The University of Regina has unveiled its Microgrid Living Lab, which will serve as a hub for clean energy research, development, and education. The lab—which CBC says is the first of its kind in Saskatchewan—is independent of the university’s main power grid and draws power from renewable sources such as solar, wind, and hydro power. It emulates the performance of a microgrid in real-world conditions, which will enable research into more sustainable, flexible models for bringing energy to remote communities. URegina Microgrid Living Lab Director Irfan Al-Anbagi explained that the microgrid can be used as a hands-on learning tool for students and as a development and testing facility for small and medium enterprises in Regina.