Weekly News Roundup

UNIONS | INSTITUTIONS | GOVERNMENT

Join CUFA BC each week for a roundup of news in BC’s post-secondary sector

Prof’s Palestine Motions Target of Alleged Hack And Legal Challenge at SFUFA

First, a routine vote by members of a university faculty union was targeted by an apparent hack. Then, the vote became the subject of a legal battle at the B.C. Supreme Court over the very purpose of a union. It’s a lot of drama for two fairly standard motions that urged Simon Fraser University (SFU) to condemn Israel’s destruction of Gaza’s educational institutions and divest from weapons companies. But the protracted conflicts show just how high tensions have risen on Canadian campuses, and highlight the extent of the challenges faced by critics of Israel’s war on Gaza. In May, members of the Faculty Association of Simon Fraser University (SFUFA) were asked to vote on two motions brought forward by their colleagues. As summer continued, the motions faced a different battle. On July 30, a petition was filed at the B.C. Supreme Court by 13 faculty members challenging the right of SFUFA to even put the motions to a vote. The case argues that under B.C.’s Societies Act, the law incorporating SFUFA, unions are prohibited from carrying out activities or exercising powers in ways that are contrary to their purposes. 

BC | The Maple

Dr. Nadine Caron inducted into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame

UNBC Faculty member and UBC Northern Medical Program Professor Dr. Nadine Caron is being inducted into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame (CMHF) in recognition of her transformative leadership in Indigenous health and surgical practice. A surgical oncologist at the University Hospital of Northern British Columbia, Caron has led ground-breaking projects focused on cancer, personalized medicine and health care services in rural and remote settings. This work addresses the stark disparities in health outcomes for Indigenous communities.

BC | UBC | UNBC

B.C. NDP promise Punjabi language professor at SFU

BC NDP candidates for Surrey North Rachna Singh and Surrey-Fleetwood Jagrup Brar on Friday announced that if re-elected, the BC NDP will partner with Simon Fraser University (SFU) to create a role for a Punjabi language and Pedagogy professor. Kan Sandhu, founding member and past-president of the Indo-Canadian Business Association of BC (ICBABC) and coordinator for SFU’s Punjabi language program, said he is happy to see the B.C. NDP promise to move forward with creating the role. Sandhu met with B.C. NDP leader David Eby a few months ago to discuss the idea. “We had SFU make up a proposal, what the total would be,” he said. After forwarding to the premier and some back-and-forth, it was approved.

BC | North Delta Reporter | Voice Online

Voters invited to candidate debate focused on the environment at UNBC

Voters in Prince George are invited to attend a candidate debate focused on nature and climate. The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, British Columbia (CPAWS-BC) and UNBC students are hosting the non-partisan event, with all parties from the three ridings being invited to address concerns on the matter. The debate will be at the Weldwood Lecture Theatre at UNBC Wednesday at 6:30 pm.

BC | My PG Now

In her fourth address to the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade, SFU President Joy Johnson will share SFU’s approach to partnerships and lead a discussion about how universities and businesses can work together to stimulate the economy and build a brighter future, today and for future generations. The event takes place October 24 in Vancouver.

BC | Board of Trade

A $7-million donation from the Dan On Foundation will fund the building of UBC’s Food and Beverage Innovation Centre (FBIC), set to formally open in early 2025. The FBIC will help the agri-food industry in B.C. and beyond by providing access to state-of-the-art technologies and facilities. It will enable research partnerships with industry, growers and government to explore innovative methods for food preservation, waste reduction and upcycling byproducts into new products such as sustainable packaging materials. The building will be one of few at UBC named after a refugee: Dan On, the founder of Dan-D Foods Ltd. Mr. On came to Canada in 1979 as an 18-year-old Vietnamese boat refugee.

BC | UBC

In August, students, faculty, staff, and others who contributed their passion and ingenuity to SFU’s early days gathered on Burnaby Mountain for, a reunion to reconnect, reminisce, and see how the university has evolved. They traveled from Ontario, Alberta, Washington State, and all throughout B.C and brought with them photos, memorabilia and stories to share. SFU’s first decade, 1965-1975, saw rapid construction, a variety of student clubs, protests, symposiums, innovative learning, concerts and so much more. The boisterous energy and sense of community belonging established during SFU’s beginning has really set the tone for our university as a place for creativity, experimentation, inclusivity, and excellence.

BC | SFU

Celebrating the contributions of women at UNBC, including Indigenous leaders Dr. Deanna Nyce and Chancellor Darlene McIntosh, who are advancing education, inclusivity and reconciliation in the University community and beyond. Women’s History Month is a time to celebrate the remarkable strides women have made and reflect on the ongoing journey towards equality.

BC | UNBC

NVIT is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. John Chenoweth as its new President & CEO. Dr. Chenoweth, a member of the Upper Nicola Indian Band (Okanagan Nation) in the Nicola Valley of British Columbia, brings a wealth of experience and a lifelong dedication to serving Indigenous communities. Throughout his distinguished career, Dr. Chenoweth has worked to advance Indigenous education and has a deep commitment to supporting marginalized people within the educational system.

BC | NVIT

Thompson Rivers University (TRU) is a significant economic driver for the B.C. Interior, injecting $2.2 billion into the provincial economy and $885.2 million into the regional economy through operations spending, construction, student spending and alumni impacts. An economic impact report compiled by independent consultant Lightcast maps out the financial benefits that the university, its employees, students and alumni have within the province and the region. As a major employer, TRU’s day-to-day operations added $242.6 million into the provincial economy and contributed $234.6 million regionally. The university’s investments in its infrastructure through new buildings and upgrades to existing structures generated new jobs and supported construction services by $21.1 million throughout the province and $19.6 million in the region. TRU’s alumni have gone on to start businesses of their own or have contributed to the economy in other ways that added $1.8 billion to the B.C. economy and $558 million regionally.

BC | ENC

Coralee Oakes, former post-secondary shadow minister and independent candidate for the BC Legislature, is advocating for the introduction of a targeted operating grant for rural post-secondary institutions. In a press release, Oakes highlighted the pressing challenges faced by rural communities, including significant labour shortages affecting sectors like healthcare and skilled trades. She emphasized that many individuals are finding it increasingly unaffordable to leave their communities for training opportunities, saying local training is essential for creating an inclusive workforce that offers well-paying jobs aligned with local labour market needs. Rural BC needs sustainable, targeted funding to support small, rural post-secondary institutions, which often face higher operational costs due to their geographic remoteness and smaller populations

BC | PG Citizen

Over the past few months, the number of SFU students found sleeping at the SFU Burnaby campus has increased. The lack of affordability and accessibility to housing and Burnaby campus dorms are reported to be a major problem. The Peak spoke with SFSS president Emmanuel Adegboyega, who said he has “seen certain students living on campus and staying in academic buildings.” The SFSS is proposing for SFU and the provincial government to expand housing beyond Burnaby campus. The SFSS is also proposing for SFU and the BC government to start company partnerships that will help students find housing.

BC | The Peak

The provincial election takes place on October 19 and parties have all released their political platforms. The Greater Vancouver Board of Trade organized a presentation from all three leaders of the parties in October at which BC NDP David Eby, BC Conservative John Rustad, and BC Green Sonia Furstenau each presented on their platforms and shared their vision for the province. CUFA BC has also released a campaign calling for candidates to support post-secondary education.

BC | BC Conservative | BC Green | BC NPD | Greater Vancouver Board of Trade Event

Government of Canada renews historic funding for Indigenous health research from coast to coast to coast

British Columbia Election Manifesto Analysis, 2024

Higher Education Strategy Associates’ Alex Usher discusses the upcoming BC election and its impact on post-secondary. The BC Conservative party makes no mention of post-secondary education in the platform. The BC NDP has few commitments to post-secondary institutions. That said, in government the NDP has been relatively generous. On the student side it created a new student grant worth $35 million/year. On the institutional side, it has been by far the most generous government in the country over the past five years in terms of institutional funding. Of course, it has been fairly directed funding – it’s almost all i) paying for higher faculty and staff salaries or ii) paying for a new medical school at Simon Fraser. That’s not nothing, of course. But neither does it suggest that the NDP has any specific ambitions from the system, other than ensuring the well paid quasi-public servants remain well-paid quasi-public servants. The Green Party Manifesto has a commitment to create a dedicated fund to support First Nations-mandated institutions, but no commitment to greater funding for anyone else in the system, except insofar as to spend money on sexual violence prevention.

BC | National | HESA

The Government of Canada has revealed the new requirements for Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) eligibility for international students, which will come into force in November. Graduates from bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, or PhD programs will be required to demonstrate English- or French-language proficiency by achieving a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 7. International students in college-level programs will be required to achieve a CLB level 5. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has released a list of 966 CIP codes in five broad field of study categories—agriculture and agri-food; healthcare; science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM); trade; and transport—in which college students must study to receive a PGWP.

National | Immigration News | IRCC | Times Higher Ed

Study: International students in private colleges, 2021

There were an estimated 16,610 international students enrolled at private colleges in Canada in 2021, a group that was highly concentrated in a small number of institutions. Most of these students were from India, and they largely studied in business or liberal arts programs. The rising number of international students in Canada over the past decade has been a topic of great public interest. One of the questions raised about this phenomenon concerns the role of private colleges and the quality of education that international students receive there. International students accounted for 16.9% of all students enrolled at a private college. Most international students in Canada attended a public university (53.2%) or a public college (37.6%) in 2021.

National | StatCan