November 20, 2023

The Government of Canada has announced $248M in funding to support 34 new Canada Excellence Research Chairs (CERCs) at 18 Canadian postsecondary institutions. Annual funding of $1M or $500K for eight years will be provided to support the new chairs as they establish research facilities, leverage domestic and international partnerships, innovate, train junior scholars and scientists, and support economic and social advances. Recipients will also contribute to their institutions’ research and train scholars and scientists. “This new cohort of CERCs will help our postsecondary institutions fulfill ambitious research objectives, address critical challenges facing our planet and better prepare us for the Canada of the future,” said CERC Steering Committee Chair Ted Hewitt.

Bow Valley College has received a $5.5M investment from the Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund to support the development of the Calgary Entertainment Arts Production Hub (CEAPH). This new BVC facility will be located in downtown Calgary and offer training, reskilling, and upskilling programs in the creative digital arts. This will include 3D animation and visual effects, game development, post-production, virtual reality, motion capture, esports, and podcasting. “This investment is a game changer for our students, faculty, and researchers who will go on to contribute their talent and skills to a thriving sector of our economy,” said BVC President Dr Misheck Mwaba. The first and second phases of CEAPH construction are expected to be completed by 2024 and 2025, respectively.   

Brock University President Lesley Rigg and University of Waterloo VP Academic and Provost James W E Rush have each recently penned updates on the need for government funding to support their institution’s financial sustainability. Both writers pointed out how constraints such as frozen operating grants, restrictions to enrolment growth, and cuts to tuition rates have put financial pressure on their institutions. Rush wrote that UWaterloo’s budget cuts and hiring freezes have not been enough to address budget deficits: UWaterloo will end the fiscal year with a $15M operating budget deficit. Rush noted that the institution is far from alone in this, as deficits are also being reported at Queen’s University, Wilfrid Laurier University, and the University of Guelph. Rigg also noted that Brock can “no longer continue to offer a world class education and exceptional student experience” unless the province takes action. Rush echoed this call for action, proposing a one-time infusion of funding as well as an increase to base funding and tuition.  

McGill University has prohibited the use of the social network WeChat on any university-owned or managed device, including computers, laptops, mobile phones, and tablets. McGill has advised that if the application is already installed on any McGill-managed device, it must be removed immediately. This restriction follows McGill’s earlier decision to ban the installation of TikTok on any university devices and takes the lead from the Government of Québec and Government of Canada’s decisions to ban both TikTok and WeChat from government devices. A statement from McGill clarified that this decision reiterates the institution’s commitment to cybersecurity and protecting sensitive information.  

Mohawk College has unveiled its new Climate Action Plan, which intends to bring Mohawk’s direct campus operations to net-zero by 2035, embed sustainability into all program curricula, and support the development of climate crisis solutions. The plan focuses on three key areas: Achieving net-zero operations and sustainability on campus, supporting the transition to a low-carbon economy, and leading decarbonization efforts in the region. Mohawk will also create a School of Climate Action with programming that supports the green economy and, through a legacy gift from the estate of Gina Fraser, establish The Gina Fraser Chair in Skilled Trades for the Green Economy. 

In a recent editorial for The Conversation, Simon Fraser University Assistant Professor Lilach Marom discusses the urgent need for Canadian universities to address antisemitism. Marom writes that many institutional equity, diversity, inclusion, decolonization (EDID) frameworks do not explicitly name antisemitism, and so cannot sufficiently address the ongoing issues in Canada. The author discusses the factors that contribute to the exclusion of antisemitism from EDID work and asserts that this exclusion results in Jewish students becoming targets of microaggressions and hate on campus. Marom discusses examples of antisemitism on campus and underlines that universities must aim to include all lived experiences. To achieve this, the author recommends launching a dedicated task force, addressing hard political conversations, and committing to EDID by actively addressing antisemitism. 

Trent University has announced that its sixth college will be named the Gidigaa Migizi College after late professor and community leader Gidigaa Migizi (Doug Williams). The Anishnaabe name, which translates to “spotted eagle,” was proposed by the University’s Elders & Traditional Knowledge Keepers Council. “Gidigaa Migizi, a respected elder and a pillar in the Michi Saagiig Anishnaabeg and Trent communities, has left a lasting legacy that will continue to inspire and educate our students for generations to come,” said Trent VP, Communications & Enrolment Marilyn Burns. “Gidigaa Migizi College will stand as a beacon of knowledge, diversity, and respect.” The college will open in Fall 2028.  

Université Laval has received a $19.2M investment from the Government of Québec to construct a new pavilion for the educational sciences. The facility–called La Passerelle–will become the heart of ULaval’s Faculté des sciences de l’éducation, providing a learning space for students in teaching, psychoeducation, sports intervention, and school administration, among other programs. La Passerelle is expected to accommodate an additional 175 students and offer practical workspaces, collaborative learning rooms, and the opportunity to practice in classrooms. Construction work on the site will begin in 2026, with La Passerelle expected to open by Fall 2028.  

In an editorial for the Chronicle of Higher Ed, Beckie Supiano draws attention to the debate between using active learning techniques or traditional lecturing styles in the postsecondary classroom. Supiano writes that several recent studies have identified the benefits of implementing active learning strategies in the university environment, such as how they can enhance knowledge retention by promoting a student’s sense of belonging. However, the author notes that calls for instructors to simply “stop lecturing” may overestimate the benefits of active learning and underestimate the advantages of lecturing. Supiano concludes that this ongoing debate demonstrates the need for more research studies on the postsecondary classroom and teaching techniques.  

Collège Montmorency and Lambton College have both added new programs. Montmorency has launched a new program in childhood education techniques. The DEC en Techniques d’éducation à l’enfance includes practical experience and internships and other hands-on learning opportunities. Lambton has added two new agriculture programs for Fall 2024: A Sustainable Agriculture diploma and an Agricultural Automation Technician – Greenhouse Systems Controls diploma program. The sustainable agriculture program will cover business and management principles and topics such as production, logistics, and sustainability; while students in the technician program will learn about how to integrate emerging technology within agricultural business operations and how to install, calibrate, and troubleshoot agricultural industry equipment and systems.