Every month we send our supporters a newsletter with the latest CAUT and post-secondary education sector news. This newsletter was published on January 23, 2024. Subscribe to get the newsletter straight to your inbox.
In this issue:
- Federal research security announcement
- International student cap: CAUT urges overhaul of strategy
- CAUT Francophones’ Conference
- CAUT committees call for nominations
- CAUT award nominations due February 1
- J.H. Stewart Reid Memorial Fellowship for Doctoral Studies
Federal research security announcement
On January 16, the federal government released a new policy on Sensitive Technology Research and Affiliations of Concern (STRAC).
The policy establishes that grant applications involving “sensitive technology research areas” will not be eligible for funding if any of the associated researchers are affiliated with institutions on the “Named Research Organizations” list. The list includes both state and non-state actors, with 85 from China, 12 from Iran, and6 from Russia.
CAUT has voiced concerns about how the policy could affect academic freedom, international scientific collaboration, and discriminate against researchers with prior or assumed affiliations with listed organizations.
Members are encouraged to share their views about the policy with Justine De Jaegher, Director of Political Action and Communications at dejaegher@caut.ca.
International student cap: CAUT urges overhaul of strategy
In response to yesterday’s announcement that the federal government will be capping the number of international student visas, CAUT said Ottawa and the provinces need a comprehensive overhaul of their international student strategy.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Minister Marc Miller announced that the number of new international study permits will be reduced to 35% below 2023 levels for the next two years, with some provinces seeing their numbers cut in half.
“The government deserves credit for trying to crack down on the unethical recruitment and abuse of international students by some actors, including poor quality private schools,” said CAUT Executive Director David Robinson. “However, a cap is a blunt instrument on its own. If the goal is to crack down on the bad actors, then they should be directly targeted.”
Read our full statement on our website.
CAUT Francophones’ Conference
The 4th CAUT Francophones’ Conference will take place at the Ottawa Hilton Garden Inn on February 2-3, 2024.
The conference will explore the future of French-language academic work. Participants will discuss federal government support for French-language instruction in minority settings and the anglicization of higher education in Canada, among other topics.
The conference aims to identify solutions to protect French-language post-secondary institutions and promote the rights of francophone academic staff.
Speakers include:
- Raymond Théberge, Commissioner of Official Languages
- Stéphanie Chouinard, Royal Military College of Canada
A full list of conference sessions is available on the CAUT website.
Contact Karl Bélanger, Policy Advisor, at 613-820-2270 ext. 201 or by email at belanger@caut.ca, if you have any questions.
CAUT committees call for nominations
CAUT is seeking nominations for its Standing Committees of Council and its Executive Committee.
The deadline for sending nominations to the standing committees is February 1, 2024. The nomination form and list of vacancies are available on the CAUT website.
The deadline for sending nominations for positions on the Executive Committee is March 1,2024. The procedures, description of positions, terms of office, and nomination form are available on the CAUT website.
CAUT encourages nominations from Aboriginal peoples; women; racialized academic staff; academic staff with disabilities; and lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, trans, queer and two-spirit academic staff.
CAUT award nominations due February 1
Do you know a CAUT member who has made distinguished contributions with broad implications for the academic profession? Learn more about CAUT’s awards and how to submit a nomination here.
The nomination deadline for the Bernice Schrank Award, the Donald C. Savage Award, and the CAUT Equity Award is February 1.
J.H. Stewart Reid Memorial Fellowship for Doctoral Studies
Applications for the 2024-2025 J.H. Stewart Reid Memorial Fellowship for Doctoral Studies are now open. The one-year $5,000 scholarship is open to doctoral students studying in any discipline at a Canadian university. Visit stewartreid.caut.ca for more information and to apply.
- Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream – Graduate Communication in Engineering | University of Toronto
- Tenure-Track Assistant Professor Position in Flight Dynamics and Control | University of Calgary
- Tenure-Track Assistant Professor Position in Data Science for Aerospace Engineering | University of Calgary
- Tenure-Track Assistant Professor in Financial Economics, Development Economics or Health Economics | University of Winnipeg
- Assistant Professor or Lecturer, Tenure-Track Position in Developmental Psychology | Acadia University