In this episode, we talk with James Roussain, the William D. Sharpe Chief Librarian and Director of Special Collections at the John M. Kelly Library at St. Michael’s College at the University of Toronto. In both his paper and our discussion, James critiques the invisibility of academic librarians and explains the barriers faced as they sought to professionalize their field, helping us understand the complexity of information sciences and how universities really can’t function without librarians. 

In this episode - instead of chatting with one of Grace's former students - we sit down with a mentor and former dean of OISE, Glen Jones!

We discuss Glen's introduction to the field of Higher Education, alongside his early work on the Manitoba Project and 1990 editorial, "Imminent disaster revisited, again: The crisis literature of Canadian higher education" in The Canadian Journal of Higher Education.

In this episode, we sit down with Imani King, Academic Advisor for Equity & Outreach at Victoria College, at the University of Toronto. Imani introduces us to the University of the West Indies (UWI) and its one-of-a-kind open campus initiative - a transnational university system operating across three campuses in three different Caribbean countries, fostering regional connection and educational access.

We also discuss how UWI successfully navigated the shift to distance education during the COVID-19 pandemic, and what lessons emerged from that experience. The conversation lastly highlights Imani’s work at U of T, where she reflects on the state of Black student supports and the ongoing efforts to foster equity, inclusion, and community on campus.

In this episode, we discuss nursing programs in Ontario with Kate Savelberg, a Senior Manager at the Centre for the Enrichment of Teaching and Learning (CETL) and Professor of Nuclear Medicine & Molecular Imaging Technology (NMMIT) at The Michener Institute of Education at UHN.

Kate and Grace discuss the emergence of nuclear medicine and its current education at institutions such as Michener. They also discuss the difference in accreditation offered for nursing and medical imaging programs across Ontario and Canada - from diplomas to Bachelors degrees - and the "legitimizing" processes through which private institutions must traverse to offer them. Kate highlights how this can - and does - impact the future of healthcare in Ontario with how hospitals and medical centres hire based on not just accreditation and experience, but also geography.

In this episode, we discuss students and their decision-making processes when choosing a post-secondary institution with Carrie Ngo, the Student Success Counsellor and Post-Secondary advisor at Holy Trinity School.

A booming area for both current and future research, students transitioning between secondary and post-secondary school weigh several factors when deciding where to go, from prestige to programs to proximity. Carrie and Grace discuss their own experiences with making these decisions, while discussing several relevant theories such as Bordieu's theory of capital.

Continuing our International Education Week series, we sit down with Laurie Lockington-Wong, a Professional Engineer and the Engineering Ethics Coordinator and Lecturer at the Thompson Centre for Engineering Leadership & Innovation at Western University. Laurie sheds light on her classroom observations, noting that international students can benefit not only from increased integration into the university, but also from increased collaboration with their domestic peers. For engineering students, the classroom is a microcosm of their future workforce, where all types of students should be encouraged to engage in public speaking and teamwork in order to succeed.

We also discuss efforts to increase enrolment of international students coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, and strategies to accordingly support them as needed. Not only do international students contribute to visible diversity on campus; they also enrich the knowledge economy with diverse perspectives and ideas.

Mental health struggles and isolation were already two major issues that student affairs practitioners were helping international students tackle prior to the COVID-19 outbreak. For International Education Week, we chat with Clayon Levy, formerly the Quarantine Accommodations Officer at the University of Toronto, about how these issues were elevated for international students during the pandemic.

Now Assistant Dean, Administration & Operations at the University of St. Michael's College in the University of Toronto, Clayon discusses the lessons we can learn from the pandemic as practitioners. He also outlines some areas of improvement that universities should capitalize on to best support international students as we recover and higher education continues to evolve.

In this episode, we dive into the world of university rankings, exploring the criteria and metrics used to evaluate and rank institutions worldwide. From academic performance to student satisfaction and research output, we break down the key factors that contribute to these rankings. The episode also examines how these rankings influence student decision-making when choosing a university and whether they are truly reflective of the student experience. 

Tune in as we chat with Hannah Bild-Enkin, the First Year Advisor, Student Success & Transition at the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering here at the University of Toronto, and gain insight into the pros and cons of relying on rankings for higher education choices!

Universities contribute to our economy in all sorts of ways  - from start-up companies in the local neighbourhoods to advising on national economic policy. But what about their global impact? Agnes Mak,  joins the show to explain how universities are actually essential players in what scholars are referring to as the global knowledge economy. 

How can universities quantify their societal impact and make their graduates  adaptable to technology changes? Agnes explains.

There is a high rate of burnout for student affairs professionals and this increases when we look at the experiences of those who identify as people of colour. The emotional load and compassion fatigue are unsustainable. Tiara De Koning joins me in her role at Hart House, University of Toronto.

We need to tackle staff attrition and Tiara has some strategies to improve our working conditions and decrease the emotional load we place on our BIPOC colleagues.