reports that some international students have arrived at Université de Moncton this fall with fake admissions letters from fraudulent recruitment agencies. A UMoncton spokesperson explained that the university reported three cases of admissions fraud to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada this year and refused 40 requests for admission because of fraudulent documents. The spokesperson indicated that in the three aforementioned cases, the students were ultimately granted admission because they were eligible. UMoncton international student association president Jovial Orlachi Osundu said that in the cases she is aware of, students were unaware that they had false papers.

Top Ten News
October 5, 2023
The University of Saskatchewan’s College of Medicine is creating a Department of Indigenous Health and Wellness, which it says will be the first of its kind in Canada. The new department will provide a welcoming space for Indigenous health researchers, learners, and faculty, with the aim of incorporating Indigenous knowledge and systems into medical education and scholarship. The department will be Indigenous-led and will ensure that research is informed by the needs of Indigenous communities. USask’s University Council officially approved the development of the new department in April 2023; the USask team is currently in the first phase of implementation and is focused on staffing and building its capacity in collaboration, mentorship, and networking.
In honour of a $3M donation from the Wesley and Patricia Armour Foundation, New Brunswick Community College has established the Wesley Armour School of Business. The donation will also be used to create a new graduate certificate in non-profit leadership and a professional development certificate in board governance, upgrade NBCC’s training spaces and technologies, establish a dedicated speaker series focused on business and philanthropy, and provide Learning Opportunity Grants to students. The business building has also been renamed the Wesley Armour Building.
The Université du Québec à Montréal’s information technology (IT) team has unveiled an online platform that will raise awareness about cybersecurity. UQAM teachers, employees, and students can use the interactive platform to engage in short courses that can be completed within less than an hour. These courses provide information on how to become a smart user in today’s digital world, including by learning how to identify cybersecurity threats, traps, and best practices. UQAM directeur de la sécurité de l’information Joël Tougas explains that this platform is part of the IT department’s commitment to protecting data within the university community. This platform was rolled out in time for Cybersecurity Awareness Month.
As private-sector companies with hybrid workforces reduce their square footage, Jane Margolies for the New York Times reports that several US-based colleges and universities are taking advantage of the “bargain prices” for commercial office buildings. Margolies reports that 49 private institutions and 16 public institutions have purchased office buildings since 2018, capitalizing on the current commercial real estate market slump at a time when they need to expand without waiting for the construction of a new building. “It’s a different use but doesn’t need special changes to the building,” said economic historian and author Dror Poleg, adding that this trend “stands out because almost nothing else is happening on the office market.” Some institutions have also acquired hotels for use as student housing.
The City of Timmins is endorsing NOSM University’s request to the Government of Ontario for a $4M boost to the university’s annual base funding. The Timmins city council approved a resolution this week that “strongly requests” that the provincial government permanently increase its funding for NOSM U before the end of the fiscal year so that the university can continue to deliver its mandate “in response to the needs of Northern municipalities.” The council noted the “unprecedented” expansion of the university’s medical programming without a proportional base funding increase. NOSM U Director of Communications Joanne Musico explained that this increase in funding will help the university maintain its education model in the face of inflation and other ongoing factors.
Brock University, Northern Lakes College, the University of Calgary, and York University are launching new continuing education and professional development programming this academic year. Brock’s Professional and Continuing Studies worked with the HadiyaË€dagénhahs First Nations, Métis and Inuit Student Centre to develop programming focused on Canadian Indigenous culture and practices. Northern Lakes College will offer PEMAC Asset Management Association of Canada’s Becoming a Certified Asset Management Assessor course, which will enable senior and mid-career professionals to build upon their asset management knowledge. UCalgary Continuing Education and RoboGarden are launching a Machine Learning and AI boot camp program, wherein students can take 10 progressive learning modules online before tackling RoboGarden’s capstone project. YorkU’s School of Continuing Studies will launch a Certificate in Customer Success Management this January. The program will feature workshops and simulations for current and aspiring customer success managers to develop their skills.
To help learners avoid falling victim to misinformation, “educators need to teach skills to function in a world with AI-generated misinformation,” writes Jaigris Hodson (Royal Roads University). Hodson argues that since generative AI tools have the capacity to produce legitimate-looking articles, videos, and graphics that are entirely false, students must be taught to separate evidence-based information from misinformation or disinformation. To do this, educators should prepare learners with three key skills: Lateral reading of texts; research literacy; and technological literacy. Hodson discusses how these three skills can be used to discern fact from fiction and asserts that those with these skills will be “more resistant to misinformation of all kinds.”
The Institut De Tourisme Et D’hôtellerie Du Québec (ITHQ) is celebrating the re-opening of its hotel after undergoing significant renovations. The Hotel de l’ITHQ features 42 updated rooms that are furnished with Québec-based products and is Clé Verte certified for its eco-friendly practices. The space serves as a hands-on-learning environment for ITHQ students who want to refine their skills in hospitality, tourism, and food services. “In light of the ongoing labour shortage impacting our sector, the education of upcoming professionals becomes vitally important,” said ITHQ General Director Liza Frulla.
Redeemer University and Dordt University in the United States have developed a pathway for students interested in a social work career. Graduates of Redeemer’s applied social sciences program can fast-track their progression in Dordt’s online Master of Social Work (MSW) program by having select courses waived. “[Dordt’s] online format provides a highly flexible platform that allows students to tailor the program to their own situations,” said Redeemer Professor of Social Work Dr James Vanderwoerd. “[T]he US-based accreditation is recognized in Canada; and [“¦] it offers one of the only opportunities to pursue an MSW based on the Reformed tradition that Redeemer and Dordt share.”