October 29, 2025

Cégep Édouard-Montpetit has received a new $163.5M investment from the Government of Québec to support the construction of a five-storey pavilion on its Longueuil campus. Designed to address growing student enrolment and infrastructure needs, the new space will house student life services, a pedagogical innovation centre, and several health-focused teaching clinics. The new facility is expected to welcome students in August 2029, with full completion slated for May 2030. The new investment brings QC’s total contribution to $182.6M, according to Le Courrier du Sud.

Postsecondary staff and faculty have joined other organizations in pushing back against the Government of Alberta’s Bill 2, which orders striking teachers in the province back to work. The Alberta Federation of Labour published an open letter to the Government of Alberta that was cosigned by province-wide unions such as the Alberta Colleges and Institutes Faculties Association and the Confederation of Alberta Faculty Associations, as well as unions from institutions such as MacEwan University, Mount Royal University, the University of Alberta, and the University of Lethbridge. NAIT issued a letter reminding staff and faculty that any participation in protest activities is expected to take place “outside scheduled work hours, so student learning and supports are not impacted.”

The University of Toronto created an emergency fund to support faculty affected by funding cuts from US research agencies. U of T typically receives about $20M annually through partnerships or awards from US agencies such as the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation, reports CTV News. Due to recent policy changes, several U of T researchers have lost access to this funding. U of T Professor Paul Fraser, whose NIH support for Alzheimer’s research was halted, described the U of T fund as a “lifeline” that will allow him to continue research into Alzheimer’s while seeking new funding. U of T VP Research Leah Cowen emphasized the importance of protecting Canada’s research capacity and called on the federal government to invest in a “sovereign research ecosystem” that supports global collaboration.

Royal Roads University has joined the Academics Without Borders (AWB) network. Royal Roads faculty members will now be able to take advantage of AWB partnerships to engage in volunteer efforts that will strengthen postsecondary institutions in low and middle-income countries. “Joining the Academics Without Borders Network is a natural extension of Royal Roads University’s commitment to global citizenship and community-focused learning,” said Royal Roads President Philip Steenkamp.

St Lawrence College has begun accepting applications for its three-year Bachelor of Commerce: Social Innovation program. The program includes over 300 hours of experiential learning and follows a diverse curriculum that will prepare learners to innovate in the face of socio-economic challenges. Students will take part in the program in a hybrid format through the Kingston campus, with 30% of the coursework delivered online. “What sets this program apart is its emphasis on social innovation, which combines creativity, technology, and business acumen to address evolving socio-economic issues and challenges; it will be a launchpad for those passionate about addressing societal and environmental challenges in creative and impactful ways,” said SLC President Glenn Vollebregt.

In a recent article for Maclean’s, university student Charlotte MacDonald discusses her experience rejecting the “easy road” offered by ChatGPT. MacDonald describes how she has seen students using AI to respond to discussion questions, complete assignments, and achieve “glowing grades [while] still get[ting] a full night’s sleep.” However, she asserts that this use of AI comes at the cost of the point of university: “to broaden our minds and push ourselves to do difficult things.” She concludes by sharing the hope she has gained from working at a university student newspaper with other students who are rejecting AI use, writing that “being in a room full of people who still care about their own voice” reminds her that the “future is still as bright as it ever was.”

A new community clinic in Halifax will serve as a hands-on training site for Dalhousie University’s expanded Respiratory Therapy program. Opening this fall, the Nova Scotia Lung Wellness Clinic will offer clinical placements for students in Dal’s School of Health Sciences, where they will work under the supervision of licensed respiratory therapists. “This initiative is about more than just access — it’s about building capacity,” said Dal Associate Professor Sanja Stanojevic. “By embedding students in community-based care, we’re training future health-care professionals while directly improving patient outcomes.” The clinic is supported by GSK Canada and will provide services such as spirometry testing, chronic disease education, and smoking cessation programs.

Keyano College has launched a one-year Information Technology Specialist Certificate Program, which will be delivered in an apprenticeship-style format. The program, which launches in January 2026, will combine classroom theory with industry placements to prepare students for entry-level IT roles. Students will develop foundational expertise in key topic areas such as PC hardware and systems configuration, network communications, and operating systems and troubleshooting. “The speed of technological change requires specialized training programs that can adapt and deliver skilled workers quickly,” said Keyano Associate Dean of University Studies Dr Benjamin Sey. “[Program graduates] will be assets to any organization in need of tech support.”

The Terrace Standard reports that the University of the Fraser Valley is seeing a notable shift toward gender parity in its automotive collision repair and refinishing program. The university says that this is representative of a larger shift occurring across Canada. UFV attributes the change to targeted outreach efforts—including women-focused recruitment initiatives, community expos, and on-campus events—that have helped raise awareness of trades training opportunities. Students cited the program’s affordability, hands-on learning, and career prospects as key draws.

The University of New Brunswick has launched a graduate fellowship in history, thanks to a $500K gift from philanthropist Loretta Windsor. The Ken Windsor Graduate Fellowship in History—named after the late Associate Professor Kenneth N Windsor—will support graduate students on UNB’s Fredericton campus. The first recipient of the $20K fellowship is UNB Master’s Student Kelsey James, a UNB master’s student and mother of three. “The Ken Windsor Graduate Fellowship helps to provide some peace of mind so that I can focus on the important things, like my family and my studies,” said James.