October 21, 2025

Western University will be using a $5M donation to establish two endowed research chairs named in honor of donors Archie and Irene Verspeeten. The Verspeeten Chair in Translational Cancer Research will focus on accelerating cancer diagnosis and care using cutting-edge tools and approaches, while the Verspeeten Chair in Oncology will work to uncover mechanisms that drive cancer to ultimately improve patient outcomes. The funding—which has been matched by Western—was provided through London Health Sciences Foundation. Western Schulich Professor Dr Michael Ott has been named to the Verspeeten Chair in Oncology. “We envision this role as a catalyst for innovation, helping to develop new therapies and treatment pathways that can lead to patient clinical trials,” said Ott.

Selkirk College will be closing one of its Nelson campuses at the end of the academic year, in order to mitigate an anticipated ongoing budget shortfall of between $3M and $4M in 2026-27. The Canadian Press says that the college has been affected by the decline in international students. Selkirk Board Chair Amed Naqvi called the campus closure a “difficult but necessary step” in ensuring the college’s sustainability. The intakes for the Blacksmithing, Ceramics, and Textile Arts programs offered at the Victoria Street campus have been suspended. All students will be supported through to graduation, and the college is working with unions and impacted employees.

The Government of Alberta has announced that Grade 12 students will be automatically exempted from their November diploma exams this year in light of the teacher’s strike. Students can still request to write the diploma exams, but AB asserted that choosing not to write the exams will not affect a student’s ability to apply to, be accepted by, or attend postsecondary institutions upon graduation. Those who do not write the exams will receive a final grade based on their school-awarded marks. Several students spoke to CBC about how the strike is affecting their education, including their concerns about the impact of lost time with teachers and cancelled athletics games on their postsecondary prospects. The January and June diploma exams, and provincial achievement tests have reportedly not been changed at this time.

Red River College Polytechnic has launched its Centre for Automation and Manufacturing Technology Transfer, which will aid Manitoba businesses in using automation and robotics to increase productivity. A part of the polytech’s Price Institute of Advanced Manufacturing and Mechatronics, the centre will connect businesses, faculty, and students with one another and host manufacturers-in-residence. RRC Polytech President Fred Meier explained that “students will not only hone their skills by leading applied research projects — their insight, energy and expertise will lead to innovative solutions that support Manitoba businesses in today’s competitive global market.”

Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (UQTR) will launch a baccalauréat en nutrition in Fall 2026, becoming the third university in Québec to offer the program in French. Designed for students pursuing careers as dietitician-nutritionists, the 120-credit offering will be delivered full-time at the Trois-Rivières campus and capped at 45 students per year. Students will take courses in population health, food science, and clinical methods, and complete over 1,400 hours of practical training. The new program addresses regional labour market needs and strengthens access to health training in the Mauricie and Centre-du-Québec regions.

Langara Faculty Association is calling on Langara College’s Board of Governors to replace Langara President Paula Burns following a non-confidence vote. The Vancouver Sun reports that 92% of participating faculty voted no confidence at a special general meeting. The vote does not have legal effect, but the faculty association has put a November 1 deadline on their request. “We respect faculty members’ right to share their views and appreciate their commitment to students and to Langara’s learning community,” read a statement from the college’s board. The board will reportedly convene on Wednesday to discuss the issue.

Beckie Supiano of The Chronicle of Higher Education argues that general-education courses must better demonstrate their relevance to foster student engagement and critical thinking. To make this argument, Supiano spotlights Professor Doug Duncan (University of Colorado Boulder) and his reimagined “Introductory Astronomy” course. The course was designed to focus less on content and more on cultivating scientific thinking among non-majors. Duncan used humour, real-life examples, and anti-misinformation assignments to show science’s real-world value. “The easiest mistake for faculty to make is to look at students and think, well, those are kind of like me 30 years ago,” he said. “No, they’re not like you. You became a professor.” Duncan thus encourages instructors to start with why their course matters—and to name the transferable skills students will gain.

Université Sainte-Anne and Université d’Angers (France) have created a dual-degree pathway for students pursuing careers in French-language and culture education. The program is open to students from Canada or France with an undergraduate degree. It consists of one year of study at Angers to attain a master’s degree in language teaching and one year at USainte-Anne as part of a bachelor of education in secondary education program. Any students that complete the program can apply for a Nova Scotia teaching certificate upon completion and receive support from USainte-Anne as they integrate into the province’s education system.

The University of Manitoba has announced a fully online Master of Education program in Language and Literacy, which will begin in Fall 2026. UManitoba said that the program was designed to be delivered fully online to encourage applications from potential students residing in rural and remote Manitoba, though UManitoba Education Professor Dr Jennifer Watt added that applicants from outside MB and Canada are welcome depending on available space. UManitoba says that the program differs from traditional online programs in that it is thesis-based. The coursework of the part-time program is intended to be completed over two years, with added flexibility of approximately one to three years for the remaining thesis component.

Crandall University has announced that its Master of Management and Master of Organizational Management have been accredited by the National Committee for Management Accreditation. As a part of the accreditation, students in either program can register for Associate Membership with the Canadian Institute of Management. Graduates of both programs will also have direct pathways to Certified in Management and Chartered Manager professional designations. The accreditation entered effect on April 25, 2025, meaning that the program is accredited for cohorts from that date onward.