Colleges – Spoke

OPINION: Colleges should heed warnings about performance-based funding

A major switch in how Ontario’s 45 publicly-assisted colleges and universities are funded could have negative consequences, writes Patrick Spencer.

Campus free speech policies mandated by province

By Phillip Courtemanche, Spoke News Ontario colleges and universities have been told by the provincial government that they must develop a free speech policy that would apply to students, faculty, staff, management and guests. The policy is required to meet the minimum standards outlined by the government which includes a definition of freedom of speech. The standard also states that speech that violates the law is not allowed. If colleges … Continued

Prolonged semesters raise concerns

BY REBECCA SOARES Christmas may not be ruined for college students but their school year definitely got more difficult. On Oct. 16, colleges across Ontario began a strike that lasted five weeks and because of it, the remaining semester, as well as the winter semester, got extended. While the strike didn’t impede Christmas plans for many students, it affected those with jobs. In October and November, students couldn’t sign up … Continued

Celebrating 50 years with cake and a free barbecue

Spoke reporter Rebecca Soares covered Conestoga College’s 50th anniversary celebration on Oct. 5 at the Doon campus. Ontario’s college system began in 1967, and now boasts more than two million graduates. On Oct. 5, a celebration was held at the college, which included a free barbecue hosted by CSI, which was enjoyed by Conestoga students, employees, graduates and retirees. Also part of the event was an Amazing 50 trailer which … Continued

Faculty strike looms

BY TAYLOR PACE A potential strike looms at Ontario’s 24 public colleges as faculty near the end of their contract. Professors, instructors, counsellors and librarians at colleges throughout the province, represented by the Ontario Public Services Employee Union (OPSEU), voted in favour of a strike mandate on Sept. 14. Conestoga College faculty members received an email from Lana-Lee Hardacre, president of OPSEU Local 237, stating that of the 782 eligible … Continued

Strike looms

BY MIKE TURCOTTE It’s not uncommon to hear in the news about teachers wanting to strike with demands like increased wages and less work. We immediately think of the big school strike that happened in 1997, where more than 125,000 public and Catholic school teachers were off the job for two weeks. It seems that another major strike may be on the horizon, this time at Ontario colleges. According to … Continued

Colleges provide quality education

BY SCOTT BLINKHORN Education and health care are the only items on a provincial budget that will never be cut. There are a variety of reasons for this of course, but the most compelling is simply that Canadians believe wholeheartedly in the importance of both of them. In terms of education, in addition to actually teaching the next generation, the K-12 system also helps students figure out their lives. It … Continued

Conestoga grads getting jobs report finds

BY ALEX RIESE For many, postsecondary education is the first step to a career. And, according to Conestoga College’s graduate employment report, students at Conestoga are on sturdy ground. The report is collected on behalf of the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities to evaluate how effective post-secondary institutions are at preparing graduates for the working world. The most important statistic is the overall hiring rate, which details the percentage … Continued

Tag: Colleges