November 5, 2025

The Government of Canada tabled its federal budget yesterday afternoon, which includes announcements on several fronts of interest to the postsecondary sector. Among its contents, the budget proposes legislative and regulatory amendments to its student financial assistance program to address integrity issues; the reduction of immigration targets—including international student admissions—over 2026-2028; and a new International Talent Attraction Strategy and Action Plan to support the recruitment of international researchers, doctoral students, and post-doctoral fellows. Several government departments—including the federal research tri-council—will also be tasked with modernizing their operations in order to reduce their expenditures. The budget will be debated over the coming days.

Concordia University will be launching the School of Performance, which brings its departments of contemporary dance, music, and theatre together in an interdisciplinary hub. The school—officially opening in Fall 2026—will offer opportunities for interdisciplinary projects across the three departments. “By giving students access to the unique strengths of all our performing arts programs … [t]hey’ll expand the very boundaries of creative process and what performance can be,” said Concordia Associate Dean Academic Programs and Pedagogy Shauna Janssen. School of Performance graduates will be prepared for a wide variety of careers, including opportunities in cultural leadership, research, and entrepreneurship.

Sarah Elaine Eaton (University of Calgary) has published a new study on the intersection of neurodiversity and academic integrity in Teaching in Higher Ed. Eaton explains that academic misconduct policies can disadvantage neurodiverse students, such as by misinterpreting behaviours stemming from cognitive differences as misconduct indicators or drawing on assessment designs that introduce new barriers. Eaton recommends reconceptualizing academic integrity beyond punitive approaches and recognizing the value of diverse cognitive styles. “Academic integrity must evolve beyond compliance-based models toward inclusive approaches that honour neurodiversity as human variation that enriches academic communities,” writes Eaton.

The union representing administrative and technical staff at the University of Toronto is pushing back on the university’s shift to fully in-person work. U of T President Melanie A Woodin announced last month that the university would be returning to fully in-person work in January 2026. United Steelworkers Local 1998 responded by stating that the members’ collective agreement includes language supporting alternative work arrangements, and cannot be unilaterally changed by the university. Members of the union have approved $100K in spending in a fightback against the policy. USW Local 1998 Unit President John Ankenman and Unit VP Tamara Vickery told The Varsity that the existing arrangements were adequately serving faculty and students.

Aurora College has delayed 2026–27 applications for its early learning and childcare program until early 2026. Speaking to Cabin Radio, Aurora President Angela James said that the program will need to be revised, as funding has dropped significantly. The Government of the Northwest Territories Department of Education, Culture and Employment told Cabin Radio that the difference in funding was due to the conclusion of a pilot project that ended this year. James added that the delay would have limited impact in admissions as most applications occur in the spring.

In a recent article for the Chronicle of Higher Ed, Clay Shirky (New York University) discusses the challenges with treating copying from generative AI as plagiarism. Shirky explains that plagiarism is an academic “crime” on two fronts, first in that it is deceiving a faculty member, second in that it is a crime against the person whose work is being copied. Since generative AI produces text that is often not from a single source, Shirky explains that students commonly view copying it as a “victimless crime.” The author highlights how institutions have tried to prevent copying from generative AI, but concludes that the culture and policies around academic integrity and AI usage need to be fully reimagined.

The University of Guelph has partnered with the Creative Destruction Lab–Rockies (CDL-Rockies) AgriFood stream, with UoGuelph’s Ontario Agricultural College named as an affiliate site of CDL-Rockies. The program will connect Canadian agriculture and food entrepreneurs with an international network of experts—including UoGuelph expertise—to support work in sustainable and secure food systems. “By working with CDL, we’re extending our impact by helping innovators turn bold ideas into real-world solutions that strengthen food systems everywhere,” said UoGuelph Dean of OAC Dr John Cranfield.

The University of Alberta recently celebrated the naming of the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation Innovation Laboratories, which recognizes the more than $85.5M in support from the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation. The laboratories, located within the Katz Group Centre for Pharmacy and Health Research, provide space for researchers and serve as a hub for training researchers and clinicians. UAlberta Department of Pediatrics Chair Todd Alexander said that the space will bolster collaboration and innovation. “This step of naming the space creates a sense of cohesiveness and pride,” said Alexander. “It’s a win-win-win: it strengthens collaboration, inspires donors and ultimately benefits the children and families we serve.”

Kwantlen Polytechnic University has signed a Letter of Understanding with Progressive Intercultural Community Services (PICS) to help internationally trained professionals transition into work and education. PICS Director of Career Services Raj Brar explained that foreign credentials may not be recognized in Canada and for those who “decide to go back to university, it can be very difficult to know where to start.” Through the partnership, PICS will refer newcomers to relevant programming at KPU, where they may also be eligible for KPU’s Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition option. KPU and PICS also plan to collaborate on EDI initiatives during the partnership and will open an art exhibition exploring the topic in Spring 2026.

Niagara College’s Together campaign has received a $500K donation from the Haj-Ahmad Family Foundation. This donation will support Niagara’s new Healthcare Education building, which will introduce new spaces for teaching, learning, and patient care and create an additional 800 spaces in in-demand health-care program areas. The gift also will support expansion of the Pharmacy Technician program and fund scholarships for its students. “This gift will help train more frontline healthcare providers that are so needed in our region,” said Niagara VP Advancement Gord Arbeau.