The Task Force on Programs and Services in French at the University of Ottawa released its final report on August 29, 2007. The report offers direction for solidifying and promoting French on campus.
The report includes 31 recommendations aimed at strengthening the standing of French at the University by 2012. The recommendations address issues such as University governance, linguistic balance in the student population, academic programs offered in French and the presence of French at the University.
“We are confident that the report’s recommendations will allow the University of Ottawa to maintain the current programs and services in French and make significant progress over the next five years,” say task force co-chairs Sylvie Lauzon, associate vice-president, Academic, and Pierre de Blois, member of the Board of Governors.
On matters of governance, the task force advises the immediate creation of a Standing Committee on Francophone Affairs and Official Languages that would be responsible for the systematic and ongoing planning, implementation and evaluation of French programs and services at the University.
The task force also proposes steps that would improve the University’s linguistic balance, including capping student enrolment at its current level while increasing the numbers of francophone students, anglophone students wishing to study in French and bilingual students.
The number of francophone students at the University has never been higher. However, Lauzon pointed to the need to reverse the trend which has seen the proportion of francophone students decrease from 38 per cent to 31 per cent of the student population between 1995 and 2005. While the francophone recruitment pool may be smaller than the anglophone pool, President Gilles Patry said that an important source of potential students for the University are those in French immersion programs across Canada.
With a view to increasing access to top-quality French-language education, the task force recommends that by 2012 students who wish to study in French be able to complete their entire course of study in French. To achieve this, the University must offer all compulsory undergraduate courses in French and expand the number of optional courses available in that language.
The task force also makes a number of recommendations that would create an environment at the University in which francophones could truly reach their potential. These include a renewed effort to recognize and promote the history and role of the French language and of the Franco-Ontarian community, and to strengthen the partnership with this community.
Task force members also emphasized the importance of ensuring that all services offered at the University are available in French, including services provided by subcontractors.
Pierre de Blois points to the important role the University can play in support of the need for bilingual staff at the federal, provincial and municipal government levels. He highlights a recommendation to develop a University of Ottawa Second-Language Proficiency Certificate. This initiative could support the recruitment efforts for bilingual staff in government sectors.
The 15-member task force received more than 100 communications and 27 briefs during a public consultation conducted in the fall of 2006.
The report and its recommendations will be tabled at the September 10 meeting of the Senate and discussed at a special Senate meeting on September 17. Details on the Senate’s reaction to the report will be in a future issue of the Gazette.
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