Post-Secondary News Digest for January 29, 2010
Canada
U of Calgary considering ‘massive’ tuition hikes:
(Calgary Herald) Tuition fees for professional programs may go up as much as 47 per cent at the University of Calgary next year. The decision comes after the province allowed the school to apply to increase base tuition amounts in certain programs. At least four faculties are being targeted – engineering, business, law and medicine. The university’s vice-president of external relations says the increases would make the school’s tuition similar to other universities, and account for the probable post-graduation income.
UPEI wants more aboriginal students:
(CBC News) The University of Prince Edward Island is looking at ways to bring more aboriginal students to the school. Aboriginals make up only one per cent of the school’s 4,500 students. Local artist Levi Cannon is hoping that the seven poles he’s carving will educate people about aboriginal culture. The poles will be installed on campus March 24 during a two-day celebration of aboriginal culture.
U of Winnipeg must pay out $8.8M in pension funds:
(CBC News) The provincial pension commission has ordered the University of Winnipeg to pay $8.8 million in outstanding disbursements to nearly 600 current and former members of the university’s pension plan. The ruling comes after a lengthy court battle. The institution will make the payments over the next few months by taking out a loan that will cost $24 million.
Changes to Canada’s medical education prescribed:
(CBC News) A report released by the Association of Faculties of Medicine suggests medical schools in Canada need to update their teaching in order to reflect how practices have changed. The report makes recommendations for medical schools concerning online learning and treatment of people living with chronic illnesses for longer times. "Our goal is so that every Canadian can get the kind of care that they need…This is a roadmap to do that,” says Dr. James Rourke, Chair of the association’s board of directors and dean of medicine at Memorial University.
U-pass gets a chance in Ottawa:
(Maclean’s) Despite previous reports that they would cancel the plan, Ottawa’s city council voted in favour of a university transit pass. The ruling came Thursday after a lengthy debate over pricing. The pass will cost students $145 per term and be included in tuition fees – a significant drop from the regular $242 for the OC Transpo semester pass. Before the pass can be issued, a referendum question requiring 1,000 student signatures must be passed at upcoming student government elections at both Carleton University and the University of Ottawa.
U.S.
Male minorities face ‘overwhelming barriers’ at college: report:
(Diverse) A new College Board report highlighting the “overwhelming barriers” American male minorities face in attaining post-secondary education recommends national strategies to erase these disparities. The 42-page report was released on Tuesday at the U.S. Capitol and explores the secondary and post-secondary achievement among African-American, Hispanic, Asian-American, Pacific Islander and Native American males. The report details lagging educational attainment by minority males in comparison with minority women and whites.
Black college merger upsets students:
(Inside Higher Ed) Back in November, Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour proposed merging the state’s three historically black universities, which led to opposition from supporters of the institutions and black leaders across the country. It was seen as the state’s predominantly white establishment either ignoring or undercutting institutions that black students rely on. Yet it was revealed on Wednesday that the president of Jackson State also has a similar plan to merge his school with Alcorn State University and Mississippi Valley State University, with public outcry against the president’s proposal already underway.
Alternative education runs afowl in Oregon:
(Inside Higher Ed) Reed College in Portland, Ore., has an annual week of alternative education where students and alumni use institutional funds to teach short, non-credit courses on any topic. This year’s schedule included courses on “How to Brew Beer,” “How to Pick Locks” and the scandalous course entitled “The Economics of Stripping.” The college community was particularly offended by one course taught by a senior biology major entitled “Chokin’ the Chicken,” which teaches how to properly slaughter, clean and dress a chicken.
Obama focuses on college costs:
(The Tufts Daily) In U.S. President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address, he stressed the importance of creating jobs and coping with rising tuition costs. He called for increased aid for college students and an end to the Federal Family Education Loan Program, which gives taxpayer subsidies for student loans directly to banks. He also proposed changes to the Income Based Repayment Program, which allows graduates who can’t repay their loans to repay only 15 per cent of their salary per year.
Legislation would crack down on phony degrees:
(Inside Higher Ed) Diploma mills that award bogus degrees to fake students are a major problem in the U.S., and new legislation unveiled Thursday plans to take aim at defining and regulating diploma mills on a higher level. The legislation, proposed by two Congressmen, would first define what constitutes a phony diploma mill, ban federal agencies from using degrees from diploma mills and give the Federal Trade Commission increased authority to crack down on deceptive practices by institutions.
No tuition cuts for Arizona students:
(AZ Central) Arizona’s state government is refusing to contribute any money to help its university system provide lower-priced bachelor’s degrees to students. University officials want to allow students to take more online courses, transfer more credits from community colleges and earn a bachelor's degree in three years. Universities are dealing with steep state funding cuts as a result of the unstable economy. About 130,000 students attend state universities in Arizona, and between now and 2015 an additional 25,000 are expected to enroll.
World
Watchdog: U.K. university hid climate data:
(ABC News) Britain’s data-protection watchdog announced Thursday that the University of East Anglia broke freedom of information laws by refusing to acknowledge public requests for data on climate change. The announcement follows the international frenzy over thousands of emails between British scientists leaked in December 2009. British Climate Research Unit Director Phil Jones wrote in one email, “Don’t any of you three tell anybody that the U.K. has a Freedom of Information Act.”
Indian state takes action following hazing suicide:
(Sakaal Times) A state in India plans to investigate cases of hazing after a law student recently committed suicide. The state governor of Maharashtra and chief minister will sit on the government committee, which wants to introduce a program to help students become more informed about the anti-hazing law. The law can bar students from admission to any higher education institution for five years.
Fees help financial stability: U.K. universities:
(BBC News) Universities U.K., a group of university vice-chancellors, has reported to a tuition fee inquiry that fees help keep universities financially stable. The U.K. government’s Browne panel is reviewing university fees and funding. Universities receive $2.2 billion per year from “top up” or tuition fees of about $5,000 from students. The money is used for faculty and student support, as well as to improve facilities. The National Union of Students has a different opinion on the fees. Its president said, while fees have risen, “overall student satisfaction has increased by just one per cent.”
Less financial support for U.K. students:
(BBC News) The national organization responsible for student loans in the United Kingdom has reported that 44 per cent of students who applied for a student loan in 2009 were denied, compared to 30 per cent in 2008. The government changed the income threshold for students to qualify for loans this year. Sally Hunt, the general secretary of the University and College Union, says The Student Loans Company and the government should “urgently investigate” the decrease in loans.
U.K. prisoners attend university with help:
(The Independent) A government-supported organization in the United Kingdom has sent more than 60 prisoners to higher education institutions in the past three years. The national average of reoffending is 67 per cent but within the Aimhigher education program, it’s only six per cent. The project gives prisoners access to mentors and gets them thinking about future careers. It costs $34,000 to set up and less to run annually.
South African campus closed after protest:
(News 24) The Tshwane University of Technology campus in Soshanguve, South Africa was closed Thursday after students from the Pan Africanist Movement of Azania staged a political protest. Hundreds of students were ordered off the campus by a court and several student council members were suspended. The campus’ executive management committee cited protesters for “lawlessness, hooliganism, alcohol and drug abuse.” One student has been hospitalized and it is unknown when classes will resume.
Chinese students hike 400km home:
(Shanghai Daily) Two Chinese university students arrived home Thursday night after a 400km hike they began on Jan. 21. The 19- and 20-year-old students set out on the hike “to improve their ability to endure hardship.” Jiang Wenlong is a freshman at Central South University of Forestry and Technology and Zhang Linghui is a freshman at Xiangtan University. The students said their experience will “sharpen their minds, increase their survival skills,” and make them more independent.