Post-Secondary News Digest for January 27, 2010
Canada
Applications up at U of T:
(Daily Exchange) The University of Toronto is the first choice for many Ontario high school students. Applications have increased eight per cent since last year – by almost 1,000 more applicants – the biggest increase seen since 2003. The faculty with the highest number of applicants was Physical Education and Health, by 29 per cent. The university’s president, Cheryl Misak, says this is partially due to a better outreach process to prospective students. The university’s website has also been redesigned.
N.S. proclaimed Canada's university capital:
(The Chronicle Herald) The province of Nova Scotia announced a new campaign to market universities in the province Tuesday at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa. The campaign calls Nova Scotia “Canada’s University Capital.” The province is aiming to make the province an education destination for new students. Its universities have 6,000 students from outside Nova Scotia and more than 4,000 international students from 100 countries enrolled in programs in 2009.
U of Ottawa student second in video contest:
(Ottawa Citizen) Brendan Conway-Smith, a student at the University of Ottawa, placed second in a video contest held by the Fraser Institute. Students from across Canada and the United States entered the contest and were asked to make a video to explain “the appropriate role of government in the economy.” More than 100 students submitted videos, including the winner from Fairfax, Va. Conway took the second place prize of $1,500 for his video called Letting Be.
U of Alberta students protest pro-rogue:
(The Gateway) University of Alberta students gathered on Mondayat Gazebo Park to protest Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s decision to pro-rogue Parliament. One student, Lauren Wheeler, says she hopes the protest will result in less political apathy among Canadians and more co-operation between opposition parties. Wheeler learned about the pro-rogue protest through the “Canadians Against Pro-Roguing Parliament” Facebook group, created in December. The group has more than 200,000 members.
U.S.
Kansas looks to increase education budget:
(Kansan.com) The Governor of Kansas wants to increase the budget funding for higher education in the state, after implementing tough cuts to the education sector last year. The state levied US$106 million in cuts to schools across the state, specifically US$35 million to the University of Kansas, the state’s largest university. Governor Mark Parkinson recommended that the state increase its budget by US$10 million for 2011, bringing it to a total of US$757 million. Parkinson has said the decrease in state funding is coming at a time of record enrollment.
UWash budget cuts inflate class sizes:
(The Seattle Times) Class sizes at the University of Washington have grown dramatically as a result of budget cuts and reduced government funding. An introductory biology class at the school had 400 students last year. This year enrolment is at 700. The university has cut 850 positions over the past year, as the government has cut US$500 million the past two years, and expects to cut US$90 million more this year.
U of Montana debates shortened week:
(The Missoulian) The president of the University of Montana is proposing a four-day week. This comes in the midst of expected shortages in government funding for the school. George Dennison said by going to a shorter week, the school could save about US$450,000 per year in utility costs, or 15 per cent of the overall budget. Dennison, who on Monday announced he’s retiring in August, said students would still get to take all required classes for graduation.
Professors could be packing heat in Arizona:
(AZCentral.com) A senator is proposing a bill in the Arizona legislature that would allow faculty at schools to carry guns on campus. Senate Bill 1011, advocated by Republican Jack Harper, would allow faculty members at community colleges and state universities to have a concealed-weapons permit. Harper said a professor at the University of Arizona proposed the idea to him. The bill will be heard next week in the Senate and Harper is optimistic the bill will pass.
NYU Brooklyn campus expanding:
(NYUNews.com) The Polytechnic Institute of New York University is going to redesign its Brooklyn campus. Dennis Dintino, Assistant Vice-President for Finance and Administration, said the US$250-million project would involve an upgrade of existing facilities and construction of new buildings in downtown Brooklyn. The project is expected to take about 10 years, and is part of NYU’s overall plan to expand by about 558,000 sq. m by 2031.
Not finishing college is bad for relationships: study:
(The Wall Street Journal) A study out of the University of Pennsylvania suggests that people with a college degree are less likely to get divorced than those who do not attend post-secondary education at all. The highest divorce rates come from those who start college but then drop out. Economists believe it is because those who drop out lack the work ethic and will power to finish their tasks – attributes that can carry over to marriage.
Drexel to give scholarships to inner-city graduates:
(The Philadelphia Inquirer ) Drexel University is going to create 250 full-tuition scholarships for Philadelphia graduates over the next five years. The West-Philadelphia-based school will give 50 scholarships each year to students from low-income families that meet admission requirements. The announcement comes after Philadelphia’s mayor said more students from Philadelphia must go through college. The scholarships will cost Drexel about US$28 million. Tuition at the school is about US$36,000 per year.
World
Independent probe into UCL’s ‘suicide bomber’:
(Times Higher Education ) An independent review will take place to assess whether Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab was radicalized during his time at University College London. Abdulmutallab is the man accused of attempting to detonate plastic explosives on a U.S. passenger jet on Christmas Day. UCL says the review will examine Abdulmutallab’s time at the college, including the period he served as president of the student Islamic Society. UCL’s president said police are trying to determine whether the radicalization of Abdulmutallab “occurred during or as a consequence of his experience at UCL.”
U.K. and Pakistan to share degree:
(BBC News) Students studying at Comsats Institute of Information Technology in Lahore, Pakistan will now share a degree program with Lancaster University in the U.K. Students can take courses in business administration, computer science and electrical engineering, and earn international qualifications without the cost of studying in the U.K. After they complete four years worth of studies at the college, they will be awarded a degree from their university as well as a degree from Lancaster University.
Facebook exam protest widens in U.K.:
(BBC News) Protest groups have surfaced on Facebook after students in the U.K. claimed the questions on their A-level biology exam were unfair because they did not match the material they studied. The exam was taken by students on Monday who are now worried their marks will drop and they won’t be able to pursue careers in medicine or dentistry. The exam board promised it would take the students’ concerns into consideration. One group on Facebook has more than 9,000 members.
U.K. tuition fees for overseas students have risen sharply:
(BBC News) Tuition fees have gone up approximately five per cent this year for international students in the U.K., according to an annual survey conduction by Universities UK. Fees for international students are not capped by the government but are for local students. Tuition fees have gone up from about $14,565.70 to more than $54,835.80, depending on course. Lab fees have also gone up by eight per cent. A review of student finances commissioned by the Westminster government is underway.
U.K. student loans firm closes 150 posts and relocates 45:
(BBC News) The public-sector organization in the U.K. that provides student loans is cutting 150 jobs and moving another 45. The change will disrupt tens of thousands of loans and grants that are underway for university students in England. The cuts and redeployment by the Student Loans Company come after the company made a shift to handling student applications for financial support online. A spokeswoman for the government’s Department of Business, Innovation and Skills said the company is working on processing the applications and recognizes “the significant issues students had with applications last year.”
Melbourne mulls graduate entry tests:
(The Australian) The University of Melbourne may consider introducing standardized tests next year to “allocate limited commonwealth-supported places for its new graduate students.” There is a strong demand for the placements because without them, students face full fees. The proposal for the tests is found in a discussion paper on how to run graduate schools. Schools could use interviews, auditions and personal statements to award the placements. Medicine and law graduate schools already use standardized tests for acceptance.