Post-Secondary News Digest for January 26, 2010
Canada
Queen’s has new digital take on the board game:
( CNET) Researchers from Queen’s University are trying to advance standard board games with technology that turns each game board into a graphics-saturated mini-display. This would merge the physical aspects of the board game with computer-generated action seen in games such as World of Warcraft. The technology would allow groups of people to play electronic games in a social setting that would make for truly immersive gaming in a way not seen before.
No transit breaks for Ottawa post-secondary students:
(CBC) Ottawa plans to cancel a proposed post-secondary transit pass discount, which has resulted in outcry from the university community. The proposed $3-million program, known as U-pass, would have allowed post-secondary students to use transit as subsidized rates. The city is trying to reduce spending by $58 million this year, and is increasing property tax by 3.9 per cent. Even with the extra funds generated by these actions, other city programs are being cut to curb spending. The head of the Carleton University Students’ Association, is hoping councillors will reconsider.
$16M in funding for 7 N.S. projects:
(Metro News) The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency is giving seven research and development projects in N.S. a total of $16.7 million in funding over a period of five years. Some of the funding will go toward the Nova Scotia Agricultural College. It will receive $2.4 million for a project aimed at retaining balsam fir tree needles. Dalhousie University’s Brain Repair Centre will also receive $1.9 million for research. ACOA's program will invest a total of $61.1 million in projects throughout Atlantic Canada.
U of Windsor could outsource teaching:
(Windsor Star) Professors at the University of Windsor are concerned their school may soon start outsourcing teachers, becoming one of the first in Canada to do so. Work would be sent to Study Group International in Australia, which recruits international students and provides them first-year instruction in academic, English and cultural courses. If approved next month, this would allow students who pass to enter into the University of Windsor automatically in their second year.
Ont. colleges negotiate over strike:
(Macleans) Talks between Ontario colleges and the union that represents them have resumed today in an effort to avoid a strike. Faculty voted in favour of a strike on Jan. 13 and the Ontario Public Service Employees Union released an update on the talks Saturday. Contracts have been amended to include a two per cent wage increase for the second year of a four-year contract, although OPSEU had been asking for a 2.5 per cent increase in each year of a three-year agreement.
SMU basketball player’s fate is up in the air:
(The Chronicle Herald) Saint Mary’s basketball player Lia Milito may be allowed to play after being suspended for the rest of the season last week. She elbowed UNB forward Jessica Steed in the head in a Jan. 16 game in Fredericton. Steed received a serious head injury and has been unable to play since. Milito’s fate is in the hands of an Atlantic University Sport judicial review committee, yet it appears she will be able to play for two weekend home games against the Cape Breton Capers.
Maritime business students compete for best solution:
(NB Business Journal) Teams of business students from five universities across the Maritimes are competing in a contest to find the best solution to a challenging real-life business problem. The annual contest was developed by J.D. Irving Limited alongside Dalhousie University, Mount Allison University, l'Université de Moncton and University of New Brunswick's Saint John and Fredericton campuses. Teams are given details of an actual supply chain problem, which includes data and conditions that the manager of JDI faced at one time.
Acadia among green projects receiving funds:
(The Chronicle Herald) Twenty-one N.S. businesses and municipalities are receiving $728,000 from the province, including the Arthur Irving Academy for the Environment at Acadia University. The money comes from the ecoNova Scotia Fund for Clean Air and Climate Change, which has already set up 88 projects since being set up three years ago. Acadia will receive $120,000 to carry out a community emissions challenge to inspire the reduction of personal and household air emissions.
U.S.
UCLA hits pause on class videos:
(Inside Higher Ed) Faculty members at the University of California at Los Angeles are no longer permitted to post copyrighted videos online for their courses. The policy came into effect in earlier this month after the Association for Information and Media Equipment charged the university for violation of copyright law last fall. UCLA is the only university to be accused so far, but the association’s president plans to investigate other schools. UCLA officials state the university hasn’t broken any laws.
College education linked to marriage:
(Wall Street Journal) A study released today suggests women with a university education are more likely to be married by the age of 40 than women who are not university-educated. Two economists at the University of Pennsylvania conducted the study. It also showed that university-educated women were more likely to report happiness in their marriages. Divorce rates for women with university education were also lower than for those without.
Colleges market no-fee applications:
(New York Times) The College of Saint Rose in Albany, N.Y., has increased its applications by 25 per cent annually over the past few years. Last fall, it sent applications to 30,000 high school seniors and waived the $40 application fee. The seniors also didn’t have to write the standard essay and their applications arrived with their names and information already filled out.
College gender gap remains stable: 57% women:
(USA Today) The American Council on Education, a higher-education organization, has reported that female students make up about 57 per cent of the average campus population, while male students make up 43 per cent. The gap is not expected to grow any larger, the organization says. It urges “policymakers and educators” to focus on Hispanic enrolment, as only nine per cent of young Hispanic males and 14 per cent of Hispanic females have a bachelor’s degree.
Plagiarism prevention without fear:
( Inside Higher Ed) A study released Monday suggests plagiarism among university students can be reduced through education, rather than the fear of getting caught. The National Bureau of Economic Research conducted the study, which determined the success of online tutorials about plagiarism. Students who took the tutorial “were less likely to plagiarize.” The study also showed students with low SAT scores – a group that’s usually more likely to plagiarize – responded best to the tutorial.
Health-care debate to affect college students:
(Diverse Issues in Higher Education) Most university students in the United States have access to low-cost health insurance – but that may not last for long. Higher education leaders are concerned that health-care reform will affect three million students on campuses across the country. Student programs are often considered group health plans, but the government could soon “regulate them as health plans for individuals.” This would increase the cost to universities and students.
World
Australian universities a hotbed for organized crime:
(The Australian) Organized crime groups smuggling illegal immigrants into Australia are increasingly using universities. A consultant’s report for the country’s immigration department suggests about 40 per cent of the visas the department denied last year were for study at universities. That number increases to 53 per cent dating back to June 2008. The department declined to say if it knew about the organized crime scam, but a spokesperson believes there is no specific cause for concern within the universities.
U.K. teachers could vote to axe standardized tests:
(The Guardian) Standardized math and English tests for 11-year-olds may give way to teacher assessments - if teachers want it. Teaching unions in the U.K. want to do away with the SATs. Twenty-five per cent of teachers responded to an initial ballot last year and three-quarters supported a boycott. All teachers will be involved in the upcoming vote. Prime Minister Gordon Brown wants teachers to avoid the boycott. It would occur at the same time as a general election and could reflect poorly on the government.
Increased education spending needed for Spain:
(Penki News) The best way to create a social Europe is to strengthen the link between education and the economy, according to Spain’s education minister. Speaking to a culture and education committee of the European Parliament, Ángel Gabilondo said his government will work to improve the quality and availability of education. “The best social policy is education,” he said. Gabilondo added that in order further develop education (in Spain and Europe overall), more spending on education is needed.
Malaysia looks into education for everyone:
(AsiaOne) Malaysia’s deputy prime minister is looking to develop the country’s education system with other Asian nations. Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who is also the education minister, is leading a Malaysian delegation participating in a conference with other South-East Asian education authorities. He will propose initiatives to promote education for women and the disabled, as well as development of transition support programs.