September 12, 2024

The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) has released its 2024 Sustainable Campus Index. The report evaluates institutional performance in 17 sustainability impact areas and features sustainability stories from around the world. Several Canadian postsecondary institutions were recognized for their performance in these individual impact areas, nine of which appeared in the Overall Top Performers rankings: The top Associate & Short-Cycle Institutions included Humber Polytechnic (#1), Nova Scotia Community College (#2), Seneca Polytechnic (#3), Mohawk College (#6), and Université TÉLUQ (#10); the Master’s Institutions category featured Thompson Rivers University (#1); and the Doctoral Institutions included Université de Sherbrooke (#1), Université Laval (#5), and McGill University (#8). USherbrooke was also listed as the leading International Top Performer.

The University of Alberta has renamed its dental school the Mike Petryk School of Dentistry in honour of the Petryk family, which recently donated $10M to support research and future students. UAlberta alumni Mike and Pat Petryk, along with their children Susan Petryk and Bob Petryk, made the donation to “give back something to dentistry.” This gift will help fund the school’s pro bono work in underserved populations, provide graduate student stipends, support undergraduates in need, and fund faculty research projects. “This generous investment will help the University of Alberta prepare future generations of dental providers to meet the growing needs of our communities,” said UAlberta President Bill Flanagan.

Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (HEQCO) has published a new resource to help postsecondary instructors recognize Indigenous Knowledges in the classroom and encourage critical thinking. The Indigenous Knowledge Implementation Packsack: A Handbook for Embedding Indigenous Ways of Knowing in Your Teaching addresses instructors’ anxieties about working in an Indigenous Knowledge Environment and answers common questions. The handbook is supplemented by four visual guides that instructors can use to navigate this process: The First Way – Wholistic Teaching and Learning, The Second Way – Communicating Through Story, The Third Way – Strong Relational Thinking, and The Fourth Way – Practicing Humility.

The First Nations University of Canada and the City of Regina have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to formalize their commitment to enhancing Indigenous opportunities. The agreement focuses on promoting educational, cultural, and community development initiatives that benefit both FNU and the city. “The [MOU] between First Nations University of Canada and the City of Regina formalizes and publicly demonstrates a commitment to good relations, one that has been forged over time,” said FNU President Dr Jacqueline Ottmann. “This MOU ensures that we continue to come together in ways that are synergistic, meaningful, educational, and life-giving. I also appreciate the positive example of reconciliation that this agreement shares with other communities, cities, this province, and Canada.”

Christina Clark-Kazak (University of Ottawa) and Norah Vollmer (Carleton University) write that Canada should do more to support scientists and artists displaced by conflict in their home countries. The authors highlight the gaps in how Canada’s current policies and processes serve at-risk researchers, including issues with visas, insufficient cross-sector coordination, and reactive approaches. To scale support for displaced researchers, they propose a coordinated national and multi-sectoral plan with three actions: coordinating existing government programs into a dedicated pathway for at-risk researchers, launching targeted initiatives within national and provincial education agencies, and investing in a sustainable national coordination mechanism for campus-based programs. They conclude that these steps would create a “triple win” for Canada by fulfilling international humanitarian commitments; attracting talent; and preserving knowledge, culture, and science.

NorQuest College is bringing back a job skills program for people with developmental disabilities to its Edmonton campus. Transitions to Employment—a year-long program that helps young adults gain job experience and prepare for the workplace—was cancelled in August due to the federal government’s discontinuation of a top-up to labour market transfer agreements. The program was reinstated after the Government of Alberta announced that it would provide about $351K in funding for the program. “Alberta’s government is continuously evaluating the full extent of the federal cut and working tirelessly to support low-income students across the province who will disproportionately bear the brunt of Ottawa’s decision,” said AB Press Secretary for the Office of the Minister of Advanced Education Varun Chandrasekar.

Two postsecondary institutions recently announced that buildings on their campuses have received notable sustainable building certifications. Trent University’s Forensics Crime Scene Facility is the first in Canada to receive the International Living Future Institute’s Zero Carbon Certification. The facility was constructed with climate-friendly materials such as cellulose insulation and wood and is powered by a 33-kilowatt solar panel that generates enough energy to fully power the facility in addition to supporting Trent’s Otanabee College. Algonquin College also shared that two of its buildings have received LEED certification: The DARE district earned LEED Gold Certification, while the Jack Doyle Athletics and Recreation Centre (ARC) received LEED Silver Certification.

Saskatchewan Polytechnic has restructured its academic division into four faculties. The division is now organized into the Faculty of Business and Management; the Faculty of Digital Innovation, Arts and Sciences; the Faculty of Nursing, Health Sciences and Community Services; and the Faculty of Technology and Skilled Trades. This updated structure aims to encourage interdisciplinary collaboration, provide applied learning and research opportunities, and drive innovation in curriculum and applied research.

Western University has closed some campus roads “indefinitely” amid an ongoing labour disruption led by CUPE Local 2361. The strike began over a week ago after Western support workers set up picket lines following stalled negotiations with the university over pay. Western spokesperson Stephen Ledgley stated that the decision to maintain road closures was made to “help ensure the safety of picketers and all community members” and will continue until “the end of this labour disruption.” According to The London Free Press, these closures have caused significant delays and traffic jams for students, staff, and commuters.

The University of Lethbridge Dhillon School of Business will transition its Bachelor of Management program to a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA). ULethbridge Dhillon Dean Dr Kerry Godfrey explained that the BBA title is more widely recognized and better reflects the program’s curriculum and the expectations of today’s business world. With this change, ULethbridge states that its BBA has become the first and only AACSB-accredited BBA offered in Alberta.