In Other Schools: Prof shortage, Students protest
January 23, 2008
Prof shortage in Canada
OTTAWA (CUP) – The Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC) conducted a study in November estimating that almost 21,000 Canadian faculty members will retire or leave in the next ten years.
The departure of these faculties could present problems for Canadian universities and colleges in order to fill these positions. Ph.D programs are going to have to try even harder to attract new students both within the country and abroad, by making their programs more attractive and academically stronger. Furthermore, the need for new teachers will increase salaries, allowing only some universities the ability to compete.
The Ontario government mandated increased enrolment targets for graduate studies in order to lessen the blow early on. However, according to Mark Langer, director of external relations for the Carleton University Academic Staff Association and vice-president of the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations, in order to admit more students, “there’s a great temptation to lower your standard of admission.”
Some universities have started emphasizing effective recruitment as a possible solution.
Students protest in McGill principal’s office
MONTREAL (CUP) – At 7:45 a.m., ten students from McGill University sat and occupied Principal Heather Munroe-Blum’s office on January 10 for four hours, demanding free education.
The peaceful protest was organized to raise awareness of the rising tuition fees. Munroe-Blum’s office was chosen, according to history student Fred Burrill, because the “space has been used for years for the Principal and the administration to advocate higher tuition.”
Provost Anthony Masi and Deputy Provost Morton Mendelson claimed that the administrative affairs of the used building went relatively undisturbed, but “didn’t bring anything to light that the administration wasn’t already aware of.”
The students used the example of Quebec’s tuition rates, which was the result of decades of student protests.
“The student movement history is the reason tuition was lower here than in the rest of Canada,” said Jessyka Boulanger, a member at the sit-in.
“If we let [increasing tuition] happen, the work done by other generations will be worthless,” she added.
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