Post-Secondary News Digest for November 4, 2009
Canada
International students good for the economy -- report:
(The Gateway – University of Alberta) International Trade Minister Stockwell Day released a study last week that showed international students generated $6.5 billion while studying in Canada in 2008. More than 178,000 international students came to Canada to study for at least six months last year, almost half of whom were from East Asia. The report showed international students spending money on tuition fees, food, rent and travel. The $6.5-billion figure is higher than Canada’s revenue from certain natural resources such as coal, which brought in $6.07 billion last year.
Dead N.S. student would apply for citizenship today:
(The Chronicle Herald) A Saint Mary’s student who died in a car crash on Monday was planning to apply for citizenship today, friends say. Nima Haghgouei, 20, moved to Canada from Iran with his family three years ago. He was a committed economics student and he wanted to stay in Canada. He crashed his car into a power pole and rolled into a ditch, and died on the way to the hospital. Police are still investigating the crash and have not yet ruled out speed or alcohol.
Ryerson wants to be in your will:
(The Eyeopener – Ryerson) Ryerson has launched a campaign to encourage alumni, faculty and staff to leave the school “planned gifts” in their wills. The university inducts people into the prestigious Egerton Ryerson Society for their posthumous donations. Right now, planned giving is not common in Canadian institutions. But the university supports the idea and thinks those who enjoyed their time at Ryerson should consider this type of donation.
U of T holds first Filipino-Canadian academic symposium:
(McGill Daily) The University of Toronto’s Ontario Institute for Studies in Education held the first-ever symposium for Filipino-Canadian scholars in October. The symposium discussed the challenges facing Filipino-Canadians in Canada. While Filipinos are the fourth-largest visible minority group in the country, there are only about seven Filipino professors in Canada. The symposium touched on issues of political participation for immigrants in Canada and the role of the arts in community activism.
Arbitration board sides with First Nations University:
(CBC) First Nations University of Canada did not violate academic freedoms, according to an arbitration board decision Nov. 3. Five grievances were filed after the university searched employees’ computers four years ago. All complaints were dismissed. The university searched the computers after it was hit with allegations of fraud, The former vice-president of the school has since been charged. In the ensuing five years, staff have complained of a culture of “fear and intimidation” at the university, which persists despite the dismissal of complaints.
Hundreds sick at N.L. university:
(CBC) Flu-like symptoms have spread across the Memorial University campus, felling about 680 of the university’s 17,000 students. This comes at a time when Canada is trying to cope with the oncoming H1N1 pandemic. The university does not plan to cancel classes and sick students are using the Internet to work from home.
Halifax student paying off debt with pennies:
(Metronews.ca) A Dalhousie University student is trying to pay off her student debt with nothing but pennies. Sherry Benteau, 33, wants to raise 10 million pennies to pay off her debt of about $100,000. So far she’s collected about 3,000 pennies from her friends and people who frequent the coffee shop where she works. She had to begin her challenge during her second degree when she became a part-time student, which requires her to start paying back her loans even though she’s in school.
U.S.
Private colleges charge more than US$50K:
(The New York Times) Fifty-eight private colleges in the U.S. charge US$50,000 for tuition, and room and board for one year of college education this year. Experts feel that families will be unable to afford schooling as the cost of education has grown at a faster rate than other goods and services. In 2008, only five U.S. colleges cost more than US$50,000 for one year of schooling.
U.S. government to take control of university loans:
(Baltimore Sun) The U.S. federal government may soon offer loans to students. Washington implemented the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act as private loan companies collapsed with the economy in the recession. Colleges are converting to using the Direct Loan Program that offers student loans directly from the government. Direct lending to students won’t offer better rates. The benefit is that money will be guaranteed to be available to help students pay for school.
Harvard researcher says potential not limited by genetics:
(The Star) A Harvard researcher says nurture is more important than nature. Zachary Stein, a PhD candidate in human education, believes our biology determines about 20 per cent of our life outcome while the other 80 per cent is influenced by how we are raised and educated. Stein says almost everyone’s brains are the same at birth, containing about 100 billion neurons. Stein argues that how these neurons form into synapses as we grow is what makes people more intelligent than others.
IT budgets cut:
(Inside Higher Ed) The need for computing solutions on campuses is becoming more complex and expensive. However, IT departments are not immune to the cuts that many universities have made in an attempt to handle the recession. About 250 of 500 US universities surveyed by the organization that studies the role of IT in American education, say they have shrunk their IT budgets. This is problematic for universities, as enrolments have increased the need for support services such as IT.
Utah State University Press survives:
(Inside Higher Ed) The Utah State University Press has avoided folding after facing budget cuts. The scholarly publisher for Utah State University has changed its business model, embracing open access and is becoming part of the university library. This means that articles written for the press will be available for free online. The USU press will continue to be peer reviewed to uphold its quality.
U of Arizona partners with Sprint:
(Reuters) U.S. mobile phone service Sprint Nextel is teaming with the University of Arizona in an attempt to create more eco-friendly communication products. The University of Arizona and Sprint are going to offer phones from Sprint that are made from eco-friendly material as well as offer a wireless product-recycling program at the school. The university is considered one of the most eco-friendly schools in the U.S.
World
Desperate med students offering to intern for free:
(ABC NEWS) Medical students in Australia are having a hard time finding a place to complete on the job training requirements. There are too many students and not enough doctors and training staff to help the students do their internships. There is a huge demand for doctors in Australia, resulting in a high number of med students. Students have gone as far as offering to do their internships for free, foregoing the starting salary of $55,000, just so they can get a placement.
Student throws shoe at former Australian prime minister:
(THE TELEGRAPH) An Australian student attempted to throw a shoe at former prime minister John Howard while he was delivering a speech at Cambridge University. Howard was speaking about leadership in the new century when the shoe landed in front of him. The student called Howard a racist and said he was “ashamed to be an Australian” for the 11 years Howard was in office. When the throw fell short of the prime minister he told the student he had a “pathetic throw.”
U.S. student may face jail time for urinating on war memorial:
(BBC) Philip Laing, a 19-year-old student at Sheffield Hallam University, may go to jail after a picture surfaced on a local news website of him urinating on a war memorial. Laing had been drinking prior to the event and the court heard he has no recollection of the night’s events. District Judge Anthony Browne said Laing’s actions have caused “distress, shock and sadness” for the community. Laing pleaded guilty to outraging public decency.
China now has Ivy League universities:
(THE AUSTRALIAN) China has chosen nine universities to be the country’s Ivy League. This is the result of an 11-year government plan to raise Chinese education to a world-class level. Most of the universities are in Beijing and a couple are on the eastern seaboard. The Ivy League school system will be referred to as “C9”. The universities will feature services such as flexible student exchange programs and deepened co-operation on training post-graduates.
U of Zululand students damage campus:
(THE TIMES LIVE) Students allegedly went on a rampage of destruction last night at the University of Zululand in South Africa. According to student leaders at the university, the library, computer labs and dining halls were all damaged, and the lecture hall was burnt down. Thabani Mthabela, African National Congress Youth League branch chairman, said, “Police had to fire rubber bullets to disperse students.” The university suspects it had something to do with a serious impasse in the student representative council elections.