News Roundup Coverage: Nov 15 – Nov 30

USB formally inaugurates new state-of-the-art microbiology lab (French) (Nov 16)

The Université de Saint-Boniface officially inaugurated a new, state-of-the-art microbiology laboratory. The space is configured for both teaching and research, and has advanced features such as an anteroom with automatic doors, a water filtration system, and specialized hoods. The construction of the lab was funded by nearly $1M in investments from the provincial government and USB. Peter Dorrington, USB’s vice-president of education and research, said that the opening of the laboratory is another sign that French science education is gaining momentum in Manitoba.

Globe and Mail: Business schools reach out to Indigenous students (Nov 17)
University of Manitoba’s Asper School of Business is seen as one of the business schools in Canada leading the way in Indigenous business education through its Indigenous Business Education Partners unit. Originally started in 1994, its name reflects its goal of doing “everything in partnership,” he says, “with corporate partners, with donors, and with our tutors. The work we do is really facilitating relationships to benefit our students’ experience as they work on their BComm [bachelor of commerce].”

Imagining a “reconciled education system” (Nov 23)
Universities and colleges continue to face challenges in pursuing the goal of Indigenization, writes Martha Troian. One of these challenges, the author notes, is how Indigenous faculty can burn out when facing a growing list of demands at their schools, on top of the demands of liaising with Indigenous community members. Reflecting on the recent Building Reconciliation Forum at the University of Manitoba, Troian notes that many speakers touched on the importance of recruiting more Indigenous faculty as a path to reconciliation. The article explores how a number of schools are working to pursue this and other goals.

USB ratifies agreement with University of Ottawa Faculty of Law (French) (Nov 24)

The University of Saint Boniface (USB) today ratified an agreement with the University of Ottawa and the Société de la francophonie Manitobaine (SFM) to support young Franco-Manitobans wishing to pursue law studies in Quebec. Thanks to this agreement, the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Law now reserves five places per year for students who have obtained an undergraduate degree in USB and meet the admission requirements of the Juris Doctor (JD) program.

UWinnipeg’s MDP earns Cando certification (Nov 27)
Graduates of the University of Winnipeg’s Master’s in Development Practice will now receive a certificate from the Council for the Advancement of Native Development Officers (Cando). A UWinnipeg release states that the MDP program is “the only program in the world to focus on how Indigenous knowledge and experience can help shape a sustainable path for development, rooted in culture and identity.” The release further states that the Technician Aboriginal Economic Developer certificate that graduates will receive from Cando will enhance students’ career prospects. “It surely enhances the professional opportunities for our students,” said Jennifer Ledoux, MDP career counsellor, UWinnipeg. “Networking opportunities offered to those with Cando certification will be a huge plus for our MDP graduates.”

New collaborative laboratory for environment and society research to open at UWinnipeg (Nov 29)
The federal government has announced a major investment in environmental research at The University of Winnipeg, with the appointment of Dr. Ryan Bullock as Canada Research Chair in Human-Environment Interactions. Alongside the chair, UWinnipeg has received funding from the Canada Foundation for Innovation and Research Manitoba to open the Environment and Society Collaborative Laboratory (ENSO Co-Lab). This new learning space is designed to support research and knowledge mobilization in environmental and social change, and will include a project room with smart technologies, six workstations, and a resource centre. Users and partners will also have access to a secure online platform containing boreal case information that will be developed over the course of the research.

RRC launches Indigenous language courses to support revitalization (Nov 29)

Red River College has launched two new Anishinaabemowin language and culture courses, which are the first of their kind at the college and will support Indigenous language revitalization in Manitoba schools. “Language and culture is such an integral part of our identity and sense of self, so as a post-secondary institution it’s important to support and create more learning opportunities for Indigenous learners in our province and across the country,” says Rebecca Chartrand, RRC’s Executive Director, Indigenous Strategy. “These courses will help fill an important gap that’s missing in our classrooms currently, and will create more resources for students to take these skills and drive change in our communities beyond the traditional school setting.”

BrandonU, ACC to deliver joint public history program (Nov 29)
Assiniboine Community College and Brandon University will be delivering a joint public history program after BrandonU’s Board of Governors gave the program a green light. The university-college program will offer four four-year streams that will see history combined with multimedia and web design. “This program will allow Brandon University (students) to take a full year of courses at ACC and receive a degree at BU as well,” said Meir Serfaty, BrandonU’s Acting Vice-president Academic and Provost. ACC Vice-President Academic Deanna Rexe added that the general education and applied skills offered by the program would put students at an advantage in the labour market.

Red River College and University of Manitoba in Manitoba’s Top 30 Employers list (Nov 29)

A trio of Red River College initiatives focused on staff positivity have helped land RRC on Manitoba’s Top Employer list for the eighth year in a row. Those initiatives include the College-wide wellness strategy known as Healthy Minds, Healthy College; Cheers for Peers, an ongoing peer-to-peer recognition program; and a day-long professional development event called RED Forum.

U of M was also named as one of Manitoba’s Top 30 Employers. They credit it to employee programs that include the Live Well @ Work, created to acknowledge the ‘whole selves’ that staff and faculty bring to work each day; and employee and family assistance programs that cover everything from nutritional counselling to legal help. Recognized with a 2017 Canada’s Best Diversity Employers award, UW is also a leading partner in national Indigenous reconciliation efforts.