Around and about

• TONIGHT: “The Debate: U of Have, U of Have Not,” The Agenda with Steve Paikin, TVO (Oct. 27/09, 8pm EST): “Should Canada have a tiered university system with some institutions concentrating on scientific research and graduate studies and others concentrating on undergraduate studies? Or, is that elitist? And, what’s wrong with elitism anyway? Five university presidents debate their visions of Canada’s university system.”

• “Only English Spoken,” Dan Edelstein, Inside Higher Ed (Oct. 26/09): in defense of studying languages: “How many of our students can imagine not being American? If they can’t, then we must recognize that we have failed to provide them with a genuine liberal education.”

• “Why Faculties Shouldn’t ‘Give Back’ During Negotiations,” Howard Bunsis, Chronicle of Higher Education (Oct. 25/09); reposted by the American Assn. of University Professors: “Recently, the American Association of University Professors adopted a ‘no giveback’ resolution. It states: ‘The sustainable path to higher education’s recovery, and contribution to the nation’s recovery, lies not in further depleting our faculties, the country’s intellectual capital, but in building capacity, reinvesting in faculty and academic professionals, who are essential to increasing student access and success, thereby expanding the nation’s human, cultural, and social capital.'”
• “Mandatory retirement disapproved, loophole closed in federal Act,” Lancaster House: Labour Law On-line (Oct. 25/09): “it is likely only a matter of time before a Charter-based challenge is mounted against the bona fide pension plan exception.”

• Dr. Eddy Campbell’s Installation Address.

• “Studying the value of online graduate programs: U of C researcher looks into efficacy of the e-PhD in Canadian universities,” UofCalgary News and Events (Oct. 22/09)” ““Traditional doctoral programs have their successes and failures,” admits [U of C researcher Liam] Rourke, “but my sense is that we will be doubling the instances of failure if we move forward with electronic graduate degrees offered entirely online.”

• “Province agrees to fee hike for MDs: Increase is same as agreed to last year in cancelled tentative deal,” CBCNews.ca (Oct. 21/09).

• “If Colleges Valued Students, They’d Value Adjuncts,” Isaac Sweeney, Chronicle of Higher Education (Oct. 20/09).
• “Provincial gap in tuition fees is growing, StatsCan finds: Undergrads in Ontario pay an average of $6,000 a year, twice what is charged in Nfld., Quebec; students group seeks federal transfers,” Elizabth Church,  Globe and Mail (Oct. 20/09): New Brunswick is number four, after Ontario, Nova Scotia, and Alberta. N.B. students pay an average of $5,479 a year, while the national average is $4,917.

• “Love of Teaching Draws Adjuncts to the Classroom Despite Low Pay: A ‘Chronicle’ survey of part-timers in Chicago provides insight into their motivations and concerns,” Chronicle of Higher Education (Oct. 18/09).

• “University Sues Student Blogger,” David Moltz, Inside Higher Ed. (Oct. 16/09): Yikes!

• “What One University Got for $5-Million in Stimulus Funds: 137 Jobs,” Chronicle of Higher Education (Oct. 15/09).