October 29, 2026

Carleton University’s Sprott School of Business has received a $10M gift from donor and namesake Eric Sprott. The gift was announced at an event celebrating the 25th anniversary of the naming of the business school, matching the original $10M gift donated by Sprott in 2001. The new funds will be used to support innovative curricula and learning environments that emphasize applied learning. “This new gift will help the Sprott School of Business continue to shape tomorrow’s leaders and cultivate the entrepreneurial spirit of business to advance shared prosperity and societal impact,” explained Carleton Sprott Dean Howard Nemiroff.

Statistics Canada has released the initial 2025/2026 data from its Full-time University and College Academic Staff System. As of October 1st, a total of 48,879 full-time teaching staff had been enumerated across Canada. Results since 1970/1971 reveal a closing gender gap in the professoriate, with women now outnumbering men at the assistant professor level. The median age across all ranks of professorship remained the same relative to 2024/2025, but has steadily increased since collection began in 1970/1971. In addition to the table form of the data, Statistics Canada has released an interactive tool to display the data geographically by demographics such as rank, age, and gender.

The Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières Département de biochimie, chimie, physique et science forensique has joined the international Green Chemistry Commitment initiative. This initiative focuses on integrating green chemistry principles into education. By joining this network, UQTR commits to offering high-level scientific training that integrates sustainable development principles. UQTR vice-recteur aux études et à la formation Vincent Beauséjour explained that this education will prepare students to make change within their future workplaces.

650 CKOM and CBC report that several applicants to the Government of Ontario’s Better Jobs Ontario program have experienced delays and uncertainty with funding decisions. Career Colleges Ontario said that its member schools report that Better Jobs Ontario funding has been paused for students at career colleges, but said that it has not been formally notified by ON. ON Ministry of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security spokesperson Bianca Giacoboni said that “other streams of provincial funding to private institutions past and present are under review.”

Collège Lionel-Groulx has launched the Fab Lab CLG to support innovation and experimentation. The space includes a variety of stations with equipment for activities such as 3D printing, laser cutting, multimedia creation, and podcasting. It will also serve as a meeting place where individuals and businesses can access prototyping and project development opportunities. Collège Lionel-Groulx directeur général Philippe Nasr said that the college hopes to use the lab to contribute to the region and support new collaborations.

Vancouver Island University is facing a lawsuit from the VIU Students’ Union after pulling funding for a program that supports refugees coming to study at VIU. The program supports two students per year, with 60% of the funding sourced through a levy on student fees and 40% coming from the university. However, the Times Colonist reports that VIU pulled out of this agreement in February. The recent lawsuit claims that VIU owes the student union $75K for new refugee students who started in September and to cover remaining years for ongoing students.

Nature recently published an article in which a “jury” of researchers weighed in on the topic of teaching assessments. Lan Nguyen Chaplin (Northwestern University) wrote that she stopped caring about approval ratings because she was concerned about them undermining her teaching. Other scientists reached out to Nature with reactions to this approach, indicating that while instructors cannot please everyone, feedback can be a valuable reflection tool. Most respondents emphasized that Nguyen Chaplin should continue putting energy into teaching rather than seeking approval from students. “Academic leadership should not be measured only by popularity, but also by fairness, clarity and the ability to help people grow beyond their comfort zones,” said Universidad Especializada de las Américas Professor Jay Jesús Molino Cornejo.

Concordia University has introduced a new safety feature: students can now text Campus Safety and Prevention Services directly from their phones. Text messages are monitored 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and will be answered in English or French depending on the language used to contact staff. “Technology evolves, and it’s a new tool that we can add to our toolbox,” said Concordia CSPS Assistant Director Gilbert Dagenais. The university has launched a communication campaign that includes signs displayed across campus to inform the university community about the service.

Fanshawe College will cease to provide the Family Legal Services Provider (FLSP) program once the current cohort completes the program. The program provides additional access to legal services for Ontarians. The Law Society of Ontario clarified that Fanshawe’s decision was based on planning considerations. Fanshawe and the Law Society of Ontario are working together to ensure that enrolled students are able to finish the program and meet eligibility requirements so they can take the FLSP exam.

Victoria News reports that the University of Victoria recently went to the defence of Victoria, British Columbia in response to a comment from Heated Rivalry star Hudson Williams. When asked to name the “hot spots” around city, where he was filming a new drama series, Williams reportedly stated: “Hotspots for, like, what? Like retirement homes and fricking bingo, like that’s it. Sorry, Victoria.” UVic, which launched two Heated Rivalry-themed courses this Fall, responded by posting an Instagram post that shows the region’s natural landscape, community events, and recreational activities—including drag queen bingo—while playing a voice clip of Williams’s comments. “Hudson, it’s not just bingo… it’s drag bingo, okay?” reads the video’s caption.