The University of Sudbury’s (U of S) board of regents announced a historic decision September 16, changing the institution to one that is non-denominational and officially French-language. The move will allow the university to apply for public funding, another step in the U of S move to become a standalone institution.
Formally a federated university under the umbrella of Laurentian University (LU), the institution has been seeking status as an accredited institution since LU filed for insolvency in February, dissolving the federation agreement with U of S, as well as Thornloe and Huntington University. Since then, the francophone community of Sudbury and beyond have been demanding the francophone programming still at LU be switched to U of S, as well as all funding received. Francophone leaders in Sudbury say that faith is lost in the ability of a predominantly English institution like LU to teach French programming.
In a release from the University of Sudbury, Pierre Riopel, president of the board of regents states the “decisive decision” is one that meets all of the province’s requirements to establish public funding. “We are working hard to offer programming that will contribute to the economic, social and cultural development of Greater Sudbury and all of French Ontario and the Canadian Francophonie," said Riopel.
Serge Miville, president and vice-chancellor of U of S said the move is in response to demand.
"The Franco-Ontarian community has asked the University of Sudbury to transform itself into a university governed by, for and with Francophones,” states Miville in the release. “The adoption of this new regulatory framework is one more step in fulfilling the commitment of our Board of Regents and the Franco-Ontarian community to have a French-language university as soon as possible.”
