Numerous postsecondary institutions have issued statements in response to the recent violence and formal declaration of war in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Many institutions expressed their compassion for all students, staff, faculty, and community members who are affected by the conflict and shared wellness, equity, and care resources with their community. Brock University indicated that it is directly in touch with students and visiting scholars from the region, Sheridan College expressed concern for members of its community with family and friends in the affected region and who have “ties throughout Israel/Palestine,” and the University of Calgary urged its community to “continue to be kind to each other” given the “passionate and divergent feelings” about the broader context of the conflict.
Top Ten News
October 11, 2023
Institutions issue statements on recent declaration of war, violence in Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Kiuna College has opened satellite classrooms in Mauricie and Lac-Saint-Jean to better serve rural and remote Indigenous people across Québec. Last year, the college opened a satellite classroom in Wemotaci, Mauricie as a pilot project. Following the success of the Wemotaci branch, Kiuna has welcomed a second cohort this year to the classroom, as well as opened another classroom in Alma at the Centre Mamik, with the aim of serving the Indigenous community of Lac-Saint-Jean. Kiuna directrice générale Prudence Hannis said that in opening these satellite classrooms, Kiuna hopes to bolster access to education for young people in isolated communities.
Canadian Press reporter Chuck Chiang has penned an article on the implications of recent global shifts for universities that rely heavily on international students from China and India. Chiang discusses the case of the University of British Columbia’s Vantage College, which primarily serves international students and has experienced a sharp decrease in enrolment, as an example of how unpredictable the international education sector can be. Looking to Canada as a whole, he reports that study permits for Chinese students have declined while study permits for Indian students have doubled; however, recent diplomatic relations issues with India have led to instability for Indian students. Universities Canada Assistant Director of International Relations Graham Barber commented that some universities are exploring other source countries to diversify their international student populations.
Cégep de l’Outaouais has received a $33M investment from the Government of Québec to expand the capacity of its Gabrielle-Roy campus. This funding will be used to construct a new building on campus, which is set to open by Fall 2026. The first floor of the building will accommodate students of the cégep’s radiodiagnostic technology program and include an x-ray room, radiation insulation, and a reinforced foundation to eliminate any vibrations that could distort measurements taken by medical equipment. The second floor of the building will be used to improve the cégep’s computer science program; this additional space will allow the program to increase its enrolment capacity from 160 to 215 students.
The University of Calgary’s Student Conduct Office has launched an investigation into a video that appears to show a group of students marching and imitating soldiers from Nazi Germany. The video–which was posted to Instagram last week–reportedly depicts seven young men chanting “Heil Hitler,” participating in Nazi-style salutes, and marching throughout the Kananaskis Hall residence building. The incident was reported immediately to the UCalgary Student Conduct Office by eyewitnesses. “The University of Calgary strongly condemns the actions depicted in this video,” reads a statement from UCalgary. “We are committed to a campus community in which all who work, study and live on campus can flourish in an environment free of hatred, harassment, bullying and discrimination.”
Holland College and Saint Mary’s University have partnered to create a new degree pathway for the college’s environmental applied science technology diploma program students. Eligible graduates from the college’s diploma program will be granted up to 60 credit hours toward SMU’s 120-credit hour science degree programs. “This agreement will create opportunities for research, internships and exceptional mentorship for students who wish to obtain a Bachelor of Science at Saint Mary’s,” said SMU AVP Enrolment Management and Registrar Dan Seneker.
Algoma University, Southeast College, and the University of Northern British Columbia recently revealed their new strategic plans. AlgomaU’s three-year strategic plan commits the university to action in four strategic areas: A quality university experience with cross-cultural learning; community engagement; sharing the university’s story; and offering a high-quality environment for teaching, learning, and working. Southeast’s five-year strategic plan is anchored in the values of innovation, collaboration, and sustainability. The college’s strategy is primarily focused on “reshaping innovation to promote sustainability.” UNBC’s five-year strategic plan is focused on four overarching themes “Cultivate Curiosity, Act on Truth and Reconciliation, Empower Northern Communities, and Foster Local Solutions for Global Impact” with goals reflecting the challenges facing northern British Columbia.
Vancouver Island University, the Nanwakolas Council, and the Government of British Columbia are partnering to address the urgent need for more Indigenous Guardians in the province. VIU and the Nanwakolas Council recently signed an MOU outlining how they will use VIU’s intensive Stewardship Technician Training Program (STTP) to provide more Indigenous Guardians with the skills they need to protect the lands and waters of Vancouver Island and the BC coast. The STTP is an 18-month program that will prepare guardians for future careers in forestry, biology, archaeology, environmental management, and similar fields. The provincial government has promised $1.4M in support for the STTP’s continued development.
The second phase of an environmental assessment of Aurora College’s proposed site for a Yellowknife campus on Tin Can HIll is underway. The second phase will involve taking samples from the site; the results will inform the board of governors’ decision regarding keeping the proposed location. A Q&A provided by the Government of the Northwest Territories noted that “[i]f the risk assessment concludes that [NWT] and Aurora College should not pursue the Tin Can Hill site, both organizations will work with the City of Yellowknife to explore alternative site locations.” While results of the assessment are expected to be ready by the spring, some people are bringing up practical concerns regarding the location, including traffic jams and insufficient housing.
With the academic year well underway, Sandy Jung (MacEwan University) and Jesmen Mendoza (Toronto Metropolitan University) highlight the need for improved sexual assault prevention and intervention, especially at the start of the school year. Jung and Mendoza write that approximately 50% of sexual assaults on campus occur at the beginning of the academic year. The authors discuss the development of a recently-released tool”the Gender-based and Sexualized Violence Community Risk Assessment Tool”that colleges and universities can use to conduct risk assessments on campus. By conducting a risk assessment early, Jung and Mendoza explain that institutions will be better equipped to make decisions about their learning environment, policies and procedures, and student supports to the benefit of the entire campus community.