Post-Secondary News Digest for October 22, 2009
Canada
U of C prof refuses to shake hands due to swine flu:
(Calgary Sun) The dean of the University of Calgary’s medical school says handshakes are too dangerous with the risk of H1N1 looming and should be replaced. Dr. Tom Feasby says we use the surface of our hands to interact with the world, making it a perfect breeding ground for viruses. Taking a cue from U.S. President Barack Obama, Feasby suggests the “fist bump” or “pound” is a germ-friendly alternative.
Students livid after York might call take-backsies on funding:
(Macleans) Social work students at York University are protesting rumours the university will reduce funding packages. Most students have substantial loans and no time for paying jobs, so the loss of any promised money would make it difficult for them to afford tuition. Erinn Treff, a student in the program, has started a petition to maintain the packages, and has already gathered over 300 signatures. The university has refused to comment.
McGill to create fund for environmental awareness:
(McGill Daily) McGill University has partnered with the Student Society of McGill University to amass an estimated $840,000 annually to raise awareness of sustainability issues. The Sustainable Projects Fund was proposed at a meeting on Oct. 8. The society asked the university to match the money they’re able to raise for the fund, which McGill agreed to do. The fund will be used to financially back campus initiatives to support environmental sustainability.
UNB students work on environmental bill of rights:
( The Daily Gleaner) A law clinic offered by the University of New Brunswick and Université de Moncton is giving eight law students a chance to work on an environmental bill of rights for the province. They will be working with the Children’s Environmental Health Coalition to complete a handbook detailing how to conduct environmental investigations. The clinic is run by New Brunswick’s only environmental law association and exists to provide pro-bono legal services.
UPEI makes retirement mandatory, union finds out 14 years later:
( The Guardian) Support staff at the University of Prince Edward Island say the university informed them of its decision to enforce mandatory retirement at age 65 back in 1995 “after the fact,” and now former employees are fighting to get their old jobs back. The union is hoping to show that the retirement policy breaches P.E.I.’s Human Rights Act. If they win, future employees will have the freedom to choose when they retire.
Alumnus says “Colbert Nation” should annex Alberta:
( The Gateway) University of Alberta alumnus Dan Zinman has stirred up controversy among Albertans by saying on his website that Stephen Colbert should become the supreme leader of the province and rename it “Colberta.” A long time fan of The Colbert Report, Zinman had this idea for years, but didn’t use it until after graduation, when he created his website www.colberta.com. A number of Albertans feel the joke is in bad taste and the group Albertans for Alberta was formed with the intent of shutting Zinman’s website down.
U.S.
Stem cell research debate at U. of Nebraska:
(Omaha World Herald) Researchers at the University of Nebraska say they should be allowed to use new lines of embryonic stem cells in their research. An anti-abortion lobby group is putting pressure on the university’s board of regents to prohibit this, saying it will mean that more embryos will be destroyed for research. Earlier this year, U.S. President Barack Obama approved regulations that would allow research to expand. The board meets on Oct. 22 where they will discuss policy around this issue.
Chancellor quit in U. of Illinois admissions scandal:
(The New York Times) The chancellor at the University of Illinois resigned on Oct. 20 following a scandal that found that the university gave admissions preference to unqualified applicants with connections. A state-commissioned report says Chancellor Richard H. Herman was the “ultimate decision maker” and cited several instances where he lobbied successfully on behalf of politicians to admit certain students. Most members of the university’s board have also resigned, including the former president of the university. The interim president hopes Herman’s resignation will help the school move forward.
War experience class now reserved for vets:
(Inside Higher Education) Ohio State University will require prior war experience as a pre-requisite for “Representations of the Experience of War” when the course begins in January. This comparative studies class, which uses literature, art and film to understand war, was previously open to all students. Program directors want to foster open discussion, but one military student says that was hindered by open enrolment. Directors say this new pre-requisite does not discriminate against non-service members because war experience is necessary to understand the curriculum.
Evaluation of staff effectiveness lagging: conference:
(Inside Higher Education) Universities need to become more accountable by providing internal performance reviews and benchmarks for staff performance, say organizers of a conference held this week. Attendees at the University Professional Association for Human Resources conference found out how to measure the efficiency and productivity of staff. Organizers say benchmarks are needed to see if goals are being met at a time when enrolment is up and revenue is down.
Teacher training “mediocre” -- U.S. education secretary:
(The Washington Post) The U.S. education secretary says universities are doing a “mediocre job” training teachers for today’s classrooms. In excerpts from a speech he will deliver tonight at Columbia University, Arte Duncan states teachers lack training to manage disruptive classrooms and fail to use data to improve classroom results. However, some education professors say classroom management cannot be taught and should be learned on site.
NCAA punishes Florida university:
(Inside Higher Education) The National Collegiate Athletic Association put Florida’s Saint Leo University on two-year probation following major violations by its cross country and swim teams. According to a public report, the men’s cross country coach allowed ineligible athletes to ride with the team and participate under the names of other teammates. Violations made by the swim coach included providing apparel for athletes to use in triathlons. The coaches have also been given individual two-year penalties.
World
Israeli blockade keeps students in Gaza:
(Ynetnews) Palestinian students hoping to cross the border into Israel have to go through extensive red tape. The Palestinian Interior Ministry stated that of the nearly 2,000 students accepted to universities abroad, 838 of those students have not yet received authorization from Israel to leave Gaza. Starting in 2008, students leaving Gaza had to be escorted by a diplomatic delegate from the country in which they were accepted to study.
Chinese focus for new colleges in U.K.:
(Times Higher Education) The Confucius Institute is the University of Liverpool’s latest step in a plan to expand its global focus. The institute is an international chain of schools that dedicate themselves to understanding Chinese language and culture. Liverpool already has connections with China, having a partnership with Xi’an Jiaotong University. Liverpool also confirmed that the new Confucius Institute will be part of a network of new private institutions around the world.
High costs hamper African research:
(Times Higher Education) African universities are having trouble accessing recent and up-to-date research articles due to high access fees. Broadband infrastructure is another problem, with large African universities having the same Internet bandwidth as a North American household. With the cost of research information, which can be upward of 50 times as much as the information in North America, African universities can’t keep up with international institutions.
U.K. academics upset over research priorities:
(Times Higher Education) Academics in the U.K. are unhappy with a report leaked from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, which states that the government is the main audience for the research the centre funds. The centre is launching a campaign to improve the social and economic impact of the research, but it states academics are a secondary audience. Some scientists and researchers are saying the primary role of the centre should be to support science and academic pursuits, not to succumb to political pressure.
Pakistan university bombings a turning point:
(Thaindian) Pakistan’s media are calling the university bombings that took place this week a “watershed” -- as much a turning point in the political landscape of Pakistan as earlier events this month. Officials say the bombings show the desperation of the terrorist organization Tehreek-e-Taliban. University officials say things won’t return to normal anytime soon.
Bible studies saved by U.K. students:
(Times Higher Education) The U.K.’s University of Sheffield was planning to can a number of undergraduate courses in biblical studies, turning them instead into a post-grad research centre. Students who had been unaware of the plans to cancel the undergraduate classes teamed up with the University and College Union to lobby against the proposed change. University officials announced that the students had been left in the dark. Because of this, the university will scrap plans to change the program.
More universities for Nigeria:
(Next) The Nigerian government approved seven licences for new private universities throughout the country. Nigeria already has 34 private universities, but they are generally centred in only one part of the country. The seven new schools are spread out in different parts of Nigeria. The country has a total of 96 universities, but government officials say more are needed to handle the amount of people seeking education. The country could only take on 220,000 students this past year despite receiving over one million applications.