Children of immigrants more likely to attend university
By the age of 21, both first and second-generation children of immigrants are more likely to attend post-secondary education than their non-immigrant counterparts, especially university.

Two professors at the universities of Lethbridge and Ottawa conducted the study. They conclude that these differences are due in part to parental educational attainment, since immigrant Canadians tend to be more educated than non-immigrant parents. This is because the Canadian point-system for immigration systematically favours better-educated immigrants.

Important differences remain even after taking parental education into account — children of immigrant parents with lower education levels also tend to attend university at higher rates. The study also found people from different countries of origin have varying access rates. While those from Asian countries and Africa have the highest rates and those from the Americas (excluding the U.S.) have the lowest rates.

A study has also been released comparing the participation rates among rural and urban youth, pointing in favour of urban populations.

For more information on both studies, visit mesa-project.org.

Two U of S scholars enter the Royal Society of Canada
Biologist Larry Fowke and sociologist Peter Li will enter an elite group of scholars Nov. 28, receiving Canada’s senior academic honour.

They will be among 77 new fellows inducted into the Royal Society this year. It is the country’s oldest association of scientists and academics who are leaders in their fields. Inductees are selected for the honour by their peers.

Fowke is described by the Royal Society as a world authority in his field and has over 30 years of experience in plant cell biology. Fowke has developed methods for generating large quantities of conifer embryos for forestry. He has won numerous awards in his career, including the University of Saskatchewan’s distinguished researcher award and the award of innovation.

The Royal Society describes Li as one of the most accomplished sociologists in North America. He has been with the U of S since 1975 and has been a pioneer in his work, which focuses on race and ethnicity, Chinese Canadians and multiculturalism. Li has received numerous awards for his research and has acted as consultant and advisor for various federal government departments.

November’s induction will bring the number of current and former U of S faculty who are members in the Royal Society to 28.

Report from USC – October 1, 2009
University Students’ Council nominated five councillors to sit on the University Senate.

Councillors Alex Steffen of arts and science, Brent Laroque of engineering, Jordan Forbes of engineering, Freeman Chimanga, international students representative and Reid Nystuen of the Edwards School of Business all accepted nominations to represent the student body as members of one of the three main governing bodies of the university.

The senate meets two times a year to “discuss everything the university does,” said University of Saskatchewan Students’ Union president Warren Kirkland. The senate also confers honourary degrees.

Mayoral Debates
USSU vice-president external affairs Chris Stoicheff rose to outline the events planned on campus in conjunction with the upcoming civic election. There will be a meet-and-greet with the city council and mayoral candidates in Browsers’ on Oct. 7 and on Oct. 14 there will be a mayoral debate on campus.

“I was hoping to get John Gormley to come (to the debate),” Stoicheff said. “Hopefully we can get someone controversial like him.”

As well, there will be advance polling in Place Riel on Oct. 19. This is available to all students regardless of which ward they live in.