In Other Schools
December 6, 2006
UBC to become a city or join Vancouver
VANCOUVER (CUP) – The University of British Columbia could become its own city in the near future, as the school gets set to undergo a governance review by the provincial government.
The university, with a student population of 46,000 and $1 billion in annual revenue, is currently the largest North American post-secondary institution without a municipal structure.
While it is currently part of a rural area called Electoral Area A, the university has outgrown its rural status, as the permanent resident population is projected to grow to roughly 18,000 by 2021. Most rural areas, such as the islands of Bowyer, Passage, and Barnston, have an average population of 500.
During a special joint meeting in October between the Greater Vancouver Regional District and UBC, a unanimous decision was made for the school to receive a governance review. As a result, the university could either join the city of Vancouver or become its own city.
A municipal structure would allow for UBC to implement bylaws and be patrolled by the Vancouver Police, rather than the RCMP.
U of O students sue over TA shortage
OTTAWA (CUP) A group of six students at the University of Ottawa have filed individual lawsuits against the university, stating their class was not provided with an adequate number of teaching assistants (TAs).
The lawsuits, filed Nov. 23, aim to get back two thirds of the tuition fees that the students paid for their Science in Society class, which would amount to approximately $344 per claimant.
The class had two TAs for 113 students and would often separate into groups of 10-15 to discuss the subject matter. However, because of the lack of TAs, the students said their learning experience did not reach its full potential.
“The teaching assistants would have really made a difference,” said Valérie Duchesneau, one of the students involved in the lawsuit.
The professor, Denis Rancourt, wrote letters asking for more assistants. His letters were sent to Andre Lalonde, the acting dean of science; Robert Major, the university’s vice-president of academics and provost; and President Gilles Patry. His request was not granted.
“I’m quite pleased that they’re taking charge of their education,” Rancourt said. “They’re taking on personal responsibility and their place in society – a professor couldn’t be happier about that.”
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