November 19, 2025

The private institution Campus Notre-Dame-de-Foy has applied to become a public cégep. Radio-Canada reports that this change would help the institution provide a more accessible education to students in the region and relieve pressure on cégeps in the region, which are currently at maximum capacity. CNDF directrice générale Caroline Roy said that the institution offers several unique programs that would complement existing cégep offerings. Roy also noted that the change would address CNDF’s financial deficit, explaining that about one-third of surveyed prospective students and parents said that they were deterred by the institution’s costs. Becoming a public cégep would address this issue by reducing course costs. If the application is successful, CNDF would begin the next school year as a public institution.

The Laurentian University Faculty Association (LUFA) is filing a Charter of Rights and Freedoms challenge against the Government of Ontario in relation to a loan it provided in 2022. The union says that the conditions of the $35M loan impede the institution and union from freely negotiating the union’s defined benefit pension plan until the loan is paid off in 2038. “There should not be all these strings attached because they are preventing a free and complete bargaining of all working conditions by the administration,” said LUFA President Fabrice Colin. The Canadian Association of University Teachers and the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations have joined the case as intervenors.

The University of Winnipeg has renewed its partnership with Indspire with a $1M, five-year commitment matched by the federal government. The funding will support Indspire’s Building Brighter Futures: Bursaries and Scholarships program, which will provide UWinnipeg students with $400K in awards and bursaries annually. “Our Indigenous alumni are making exceptional contributions across many fields, so this investment not only supports individual learners but also strengthens our province,” said UWinnipeg President Dr Todd Mondor. “We’re proud to continue working with Indspire to create more opportunities for Indigenous students.”

Collège Boréal and Confederation College have entered a five-year partnership to jointly deliver an Advanced Care Paramedic program in Northeastern Ontario. Boréal’s Sudbury campus will host Confederation’s program, where the program will be delivered in a combined virtual and in-person instruction format. “By combining the strengths of both institutions, we’re helping paramedics build on their existing expertise through flexible, high-quality training that supports the evolving needs of our communities,” said Confederation Dean of Academic Programming Shane Strickland. Boréal Paramedic Program Coordinator René Lapierre added that Boréal’s virtual reality lab and ambulance simulator will be key tools in educating advanced care paramedics.

The University of Calgary and Providence Therapeutics have partnered to research potential treatments in infectious diseases, oncology, and veterinary medicine. The “UCalgary And Providence Therapeutics United for translational Research Excellence” (CAPTURE) program will see UCalgary researchers identify candidate diseases for treatment production using Providence’s mRNA platform. “Building on our successful collaboration in serious late-stage cancers, we hope that, by formalizing this partnership at an institutional level, Providence and UCalgary will continue to drive early access to cutting-edge breakthroughs in a range of disease settings,” said Providence Therapeutics CEO Brad Sorenson.

Assiniboine College will launch a Food Services Management diploma program in September 2026. This program will prepare students for leadership positions in large-scale institutional food service settings by covering topics such as the creation of menus that meet diverse needs, management of staff and budgets, and compliance with food safety legislation. “We’ve built a curriculum that blends leadership, legislation and logistics with a deep commitment to client care and satisfaction,” said Assiniboine Manitoba Institute of Culinary Arts chairperson Karen O’Gilvie. “Our graduates will be equipped to manage complex food systems in a variety of settings with confidence and compassion.”

Memorial University President Dr Janet Morrison recently shared an update on the student and alumni consultations conducted regarding the university’s Harlow Campus. Morrison highlighted the feedback she received around the importance and value of international experiences and the need to ensure more students can take part in these experiences. However, Morrison noted the costs associated with operating the Harlow Campus and contrasted these with the low enrolment, challenges around immigration and on-site teaching, and issues finding alternative revenue streams. No decision has been made about the campus at this time. NL NDP Leader Jim Dinn, who attended Harlow Campus, has reportedly requested a discussion with Morrison about it.

Simon Fraser University has received an independent report that will inform its decision regarding its Red Leafs athletics and the conferences that they compete in. SFU is investigating whether the Red Leafs should leave the NCAA and become a member of U Sport’s Canada West Conference. According to The Province, the report shows that SFU athletics could save over $850K a year if they move back to U Sports; however, this decision would entail cutting the women’s softball and men’s and women’s golf programs. SFU said that the final decision will take into consideration factors such as the impacts of competing in the US and the university community’s feedback. The university intends to make a decision by the end of November as to whether to continue their application to rejoin U Sports.

The Government of Ontario recently announced an externship pilot program as part of a broader investment into attracting and retaining long-term care nurses. The $665K pilot will see up to 40 nursing students working at long-term care homes, where they will gain valuable experience during their studies. The province is also investing in nursing mentorship programs and recruitment incentives for eligible nurses looking to work in long-term care. “By supporting both new and experienced RPNs, RNs, and NPs, we are advancing the compassionate, high-quality care that residents need and deserve. […] These programs will help build a more stable, expert, and dedicated workforce,” said RNAO CEO Dr Doris Grinspun.

In a recent article for Inside Higher Ed, Naledi Saul (University of California, San Francisco) and Dinuka Gunaratne (Northeastern University Vancouver) offer advice for postsecondary professionals who are looking to develop their change-related skillsets. Saul and Gunaratne write that this involves learning to acknowledge and accept reality, assess changes strategically to gain analytical clarity, address these changes skilfully and move forward with integrity, and appreciate achievements—even those that are small. These steps give professionals agency as they respond intentionally, write the authors. “If we teach the next generation of leaders these approaches as part of their training and development, they will be prepared to lead skilfully in a world where the only constant is change,” conclude Saul and Gunaratne.