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Feds pledged $ 5 million for French university in the north, but green light and provincial support needed needed
Author of the article:
• Reporter for the local journalism initiative 
Serge Miville, President of the University of Sudbury.
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The University of Sudbury has drawn up a viable business plan and is now seeking help from the province to become an independent French-speaking institution.
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The university’s new president and vice chancellor Serge Miville said the federal government has pledged $ 5 million if the province promotes French-speaking post-secondary education in Sudbury.
“Of course we are in a really difficult situation. Our financial pipeline ran through Laurentian University, but now we need a new one because bankruptcy has basically closed that valve. But there is hope, ”said Miville, who took up his new role at the university on June 17th.
“We’re doing everything we can. Now we are turning to the provincial government so that we can open our doors and francophone students can continue their studies as soon as possible. “
Laurentian University filed for protection under the Federal Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA) in February 2020.
The bankruptcy process has proven complex with the university hooked up in northern Ontario alone with dozens of creditors for millions of dollars. A total of 100 professors were dismissed and over 60 programs were canceled.
Miville said these cuts had a disproportionate impact on French courses and students don’t know what their future will be in September.
“There is a sense of urgency to act now. There is of course no guarantee that we will be successful, but if we don’t try, we will fail, ”he said.
“We are really concerned that we are going to have bloody students. I already know that some students are moving away and some are considering leaving the province altogether. There is also the risk that students will drop out of their studies completely, let alone leave the field. “
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Miville, who was born in Smooth Rock Falls, said he came from the working class – he remembers the shutdown of the mill in his hometown and the impact on his community.
“I know this dance. I’ve been here before. I was lucky. I was the first generation in my family to graduate from university, ”he said.
“Northern Ontario has many first-generation students. I was there. I have to find a way to inspire them to stay. “
The university has prepared a 53-page business plan that “details what a comprehensive, publicly funded, French-speaking university facility” in Sudbury would look like.
Miville said the plan, which is currently closed to the public, is a credible and viable roadmap to success.
“This plan has been sent and we are waiting for an answer. We already know that students, families, organizations and the entire Francophone community are behind us, ”he said.
“We also have a truly unprecedented opportunity ahead of us. We have a new Minister for Colleges and Universities with a background in French-speaking post-secondary education. We ask Minister (Jill) Dunlop to help us now because our students need our help and we need to ensure that no irreparable harm is done to their future or their education. “
While the university is waiting to meet the minister, it is also in talks with its indigenous partners and other post-secondary institutions.
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“We are not yet ready to reveal anything about this, but there are discussions and the move to a French-speaking institution is being made in connection with the possibility of empowering indigenous communities to let their own education decide by and for them. Said Miville.
“That is part of my mandate and we are committed to both of these things. We are also committed to entering into a dialogue with every post-secondary institution, be it French or English like Laurentian University. “
Now is not the time to build competition, he added.
“Our city doesn’t need cutthroats at the moment. We need leaders who work together to keep these kids here, ”he said.
“We’re working hard on it. We have a plan. We need the green light. As soon as we get the green light, we are all there. “
The University of Sudbury also wants the community to know that they are not part of Laurentian’s CCAA bankruptcy proceedings.
“I think it’s important to let everyone know that we are not insolvent. There are still people working at the university and they are still getting paid, ”Miville said.
“We had to lay off some people because our funding pipeline was closed. We currently have fewer employees, but as soon as we turn to a French-speaking institution, we hope that will change. “
sud.editorial@sunmedia.ca
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source https://collegeeducationnewsllc.com/u-of-s-waiting-for-green-light/
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