More Money Needed to Support Students: C Ote

0 N C 0 R D I A,S SDAY _____ PORT VOL. 2I SEPTEMBER 26, I996 N " 2 More money needed to support students: c ote of almost $5,000 per year. ships (awarded after first year). BY PHILIP FINE Unfortunately, Concordia has not McGill, more healthy in that catego hirty million dollars will need to been shoring up much of that differ- . ry as well, ranked first; it can offer a Tbe raised by Concordia to catch ence. This past academic year, fully whopping 28 times more than up to the student assistance provided 97.7 per cent of Concordia's student Concordia to its students. by other universities, the Director of financial aid came from provincial The low ranking can be blamed Financial Aid and Awards told and federal sources. partly on the fact that the University Concordia's Board of Governors. The University ranked low in stu is only 26 years old, and that it "We need to secure additional dent assistance when compared to doesn't teach medicine or law, which resources for student support," Roger other institutions of its size. In terms produce high-earning alumni. Cote said at the Board's Sept. 11 of entrance scholarships, Concordia Finishing touches are being made meeting. A $30-million endowment ranked fifteenth out of a total of 19 to the table of needs for Concordia's universities surveyed (17 in Ontario Capital Campaign, and Rector lr would translate into an extra $1.5 ::, million after investment, and interest and two in Qyebec). The other Qye Frederick Lowy has promised that it ~ bec university, McGill, ranked fourth will give high priority to putting ~ on the capital would be given to z struggling students. for those same scholarships, and was more money into the pockets of 1i g According to figures from Cote's able to offer five times more money needy students. ~ department, the average undergradu to its students than Concordia. An estimated 17 per cent of Qye- ~ ate student living independently and Other results of this review were bee university students need to inter depending solely on loans and bur even less favourable. Concordia rupt their studies, often because of saries as well as earnings from part ranked last among all the surveyed financial difficulties. Flora Planchat, time work will experience a shortfall universities for in-course scholar- See Cote,p. 11 S\Namy reconciled lNith administration Professor MN S. Swamy, who was Subsequently, NSERC, not satis Concordia's Dean of Engineering and fied with the accuracy of the Levi Co mputer Science, was persuaded to audit, co nducted its own indepen take his retirement in July 1994 after dent audit. In June 1995 NSERC the major public granting agencies .froze cleared Dr. Swamy of any financial his research accounts and an audit com wrongdoing with regard to its funds, mission by the University raised ques and published an article in the fall tions about his handling of research 1995 issue of its magazine Contact monies. However, the Natural Sciences reflecting this position. NSERC fur and Engineering Research Council sub ther determined that he did not sequently reversed its position, and Dr. commit any academic misconduct. Swamy and supporters have sought to As a consequence, NSERC not clear his name. What fallows is a state only restored Dr. Swamy's research ment read by Rector Frederick Lowy to funds and reinstated him as the Concordia University Senate on researcher in MICRONET, a Sept.13. National Centre of Excellence, but also extended his research support n June and July 1994, Concordia for another year. There is no evi ·I released two reports which inves dence of mismanagement or misuse tigated allegations made by convict of any other funds under Dr. ed murderer Valery Fabrikant. The Swamy's control. reports, usually referred to as the The tragic events that marked our Arthu.rs report and the Levi audit, institution _almost four years ago made certain statements critical of have left their scars on many per Dr. M .N.S. Swamy. sons. Dr. Swamy, like others close to Considerable negative publicity the situation, has suffered in many ensued, both in the scientific and ways. His reputation, his family and the public media. The Natural Sci friendships from over 25 years in the ences and Engineering Research field have been deeply affected. Council of Canada (NSERC) froze As Rector of the University, Dr. Swamy's research grants on the I deeply regret what has happened basis of these statements, and the and the consequent pain that he and University negotiated his separation his family have suffered. I would like from his functions through early to take this opportunity to recognize retirement. See Swamy,p. 11 'In academia, there are no borders': Sahni Processing of international students will be streamlined the Centre for Continuing Educa BY MOSES GEEPU-NAH TIEPOH tion is active through its intensive conomics Professor Balbir Sahni English-language programs. Eis determined to give Concordia Last spring, the CIAC joined a a more dynamic approach to the rest network of seven Canadian Educa of the world. tion Centres established by the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada to As Director of the Centre for >- International Academic Co-opera promote Canadian education in the ; tion (CIAC), Sahni wants to see Pacific rim. Sahni said more links are 0 Concordia strengthen its links with being pursued with a number of ; 5 other countries. "In academia," Sahni other countries, including several in § the Asia-Pacific rim, Europe and the ~ said in an interview, "there are no cj borders." Americas. ::i Last January, a group of academic The International Students Office About nine per cent of the aid or Martin Singer is congratulated by Rector. Frederick administrators with international continues to provide special pro given by the federal government's Lowy at the;,l~unching of his book about academic exchanges with interests met to discuss the recruit grams and services for foreign stu Canadian International Development China. Le~ding the applause are Valdemar Larsen, Manager of ment of international students and dents attending classes here, and will lnternatio · ·.- rograms fort Association of Universities and Colleges Agency goes to non-governmental the role of the CIAC. They con work more closely than ever with the of Canad .Professor B S~hni, Director of Concordi tre for organizations and institutions, ,_. ~'ff'·' » firmed the Centre's mandate to mon CIAC since an administrative reor lnternationa ..., cademic Co-operation. itor and co-ordinate Concordia's ganization last spring. including universities. While this is a .. international academic activities, but Sahni describes international aca valuable source of support for pro they also found the University's sys demic co-operation as a continuum, jects, competition is fierce and the tem for processing exchange students ranging from student exchange pro p0ssibility of cutbacks looms. Martin Singer publishes cumbersome, with serious informa grams to major outside-funded pro After one year as Director of the tion gaps and delays. jects. "Different programs fit at Centre, Sahni has been re-appointed sequel to book on Sino Concordia has fewer internation different points," he said. for five more years as Director of the al students in degree programs than Concordia is expected to partici Centre. He has a strong record of Canadian exchanges most other Canadian universities pate in a fall conference sponsored international involvement, including positions with the Shastri lndo development assistance policy for - about 1,000, of whom only 225 by the Association of Universities BY MOSES GEEPU-NAH TIEPOH are part of the International Stu and Colleges of Canada, called Canadian Institute and membership China, jeopardizing projects funded dent Exchange Program. Only 49 Internationalization: Moving from in Canada's National Committee on anadian and Chinese academics by the Canadian International Concordia students are currently Rhetoric to Reality. Sahni said that Pacific Economic Co-operation. Chave accomplished a great deal Development Agency (CIDA). studying abroad in an exchange Canadian policy-makers have begun David Lysne, of the Department of together in the past 25 years, but Another source of disappointment, program. to view international academic co Foreign Affairs and International they have also had frustrations and Singer writes, is the cutting of fund However, Concordians are operation as a way to develop eco Trade, will speak at 2:30 next Wednes disappointments. ing for co-operative research projects involved in major teaching or nomic relations. Universities day in the seventh-floor lounge of the That's the theme of Academic with China over the past decade, and research projects in China, Jordan, certainly benefit in research opportu Henry F. Hall Building about The Relations Between Canada and China, CIDA's termination in 1994 of most South Africa, Tunisia, the West nities, pedagogical development and Marketing of Canadian Educational 1970-1995, by History Professor university linkage projects with that Indies and Zimbabwe. In addition, cultural enrichment. Institutions Abroad. Martin Singer. Friends and col country (worth, in total, between $75 leagues helped the Chair of the His and $100 million). tory Department launch his latest Information to be shared Professors adopt interdisciplinary approach book last month in a celebration in Not all his criticism is reserved for the downtown Faculty and Staff the government, though. Singer Lounge. writes that Canadian universities Singer interviewed or surveyed Centre on Citizenship created have not adequately shared their nearly 900 academics from China formed the Centre are interested in intervene in the public debates over China-related information and expe BY MICHAEL ORSINI and Canada to compile a critical riences, thereby blunting the impact exploring new ways of thinking these issues and in developing overview of how their universities of their work.

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