Message from Principal and Vice Chancellor Suzanne Fortier on the importance of French at McGill University
Following this week's media reports, Principal and Vice-Chancellor Suzanne Fortier would like to clarify the situation regarding the importance of French at McGill University. Although McGill is an English-speaking institution of higher education, French holds a special place and the majority of the University's roughly 50,000 students and employees speak French.
“McGill University has always been deeply committed to teaching and promoting French in Quebec and worldwide,” said Principal Fortier. “The University also plans to continue to strengthen its French communication practices, including updating its language policy.”
“McGill is dedicated to promoting and nurturing Quebec’s vibrant culture and the French language,” Principal Fortier added, “and works actively to communicate in French with members of its community. More than half of the University’s senior leadership are Francophones, as I am, and we all speak French.”
The recent decision by the School of Continuing Studies to suspend the specific French Language and Cultureprogram was based on a steady decline in enrollment in the program for over a decade now. This decline is due in part to the increased availability of French‑language education in Quebec, much of it free of charge, which is good news in its own right. The School of Continuing Studies continues to develop and offer French‑language learning programs tailored to the current and future needs of students and employers, and has four other French‑language learning programs with very high enrollment rates.
In addition to its Département des littératures de langue française, de traduction et de création, which provides a full and rigorous education in French literature and Quebec literature, McGill has developed a series of French‑language learning programs offered to undergraduate and continuing education students. Last year, the University also launched a four‑year undergraduate medical program taught in French at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences’ Campus Outaouais in Gatineau, the first of its kind and one of several French‑language residency and clerkship programs that McGill offers in the area.
McGill’s efforts to promote and teach French also include the work of its French Language Centre (FLC), which offers French-language courses taken by more than 3,000 students annually.
Furthermore, McGill University is the largest testing site for the Test d’évaluation en français au Québec (TEFaQ). This assessment of French knowledge and proficiency in oral comprehension and expression is recognized by the Quebec government.
“This commitment to the French language is a source of great pride for me personally and for our whole University community,” said Principal Fortier.
About McGill University
Celebrating 200 years of discovery and education, McGill University ranks among the top universities in Canada and around the world. McGill’s mission is the creation and dissemination of knowledge, by offering the best possible education, by carrying out research and scholarly activities judged to be excellent by the highest possible international standards, and by providing service to society. This mission is carried out on three campuses, eleven faculties, thirteen professional schools and some three hundred programs of study. McGill welcomes over 40,000 students every year, over 30% of them coming from more than 150 countries, and has the highest percentage of doctoral students of any Canadian research university.
