CAUT's local hearings initiative began again this fall with a number of additional events scheduled for the new year.

The faculty association at Université Sainte-Anne in Nova Scotia held the first of a series of local public events on Nov. 30 to consider the role of post-secondary education in the 21st century.

The November event marked the second in a series of cross-country hearings being held to solicit the views of students, faculty members, administrators and the general public about the problems facing post-secondary education and about what can be done so universities and colleges can better serve the public interest.

The faculty associations of the University of Northern British Columbia and the College of New Caledonia will be jointly hosting a hearing on Jan. 17 which will focus on the importance of the two institutions in serving the singular needs of northern residents.

"These hearings are a unique opportunity for us to engage in a real dialogue about the future of post-secondary education in this country," said CAUT president Tom Booth.

Hearings are also being planned for the new year in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Windsor, Sudbury and Sackville, NB.