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Professor Jason Carey, Dean, accompanied by colleagues, welcomed new students to Campus Saint-Jean on Tuesday, 2 September.

Campus Saint-Jean, the ß÷ßäÉçÇø's francophone campus,  is undergoing an unprecedented period of transformation, marked by major infrastructure renovations, the development of innovative programmes and a renewed commitment to its student and faculty body. These changes are breathing new life into ß÷ßäÉçÇø's only French-language university campus, positioning it as a centre of excellence and innovation for decades to come. They are also enabling ß÷ßäÉçÇø's only French-language university campus to increase its capacity, which is crucial given the almost exponential growth of its student population. The campus now has a record number of nearly 1,240 students and aims to reach 2,000 students across its two campuses in Edmonton and Calgary in the near future.

The study and work environment underwent significant changes over the summer with the renovation of the McMahon Hall entrance lobby, student lounge and administration offices. A modern and refined architectural vision now characterises these spaces, allowing students to take full advantage of more open, accessible and modern areas.

These renovations were appreciated by the approximately 120 participants in the two-week transition programme, which allowed them to get a head start on adapting to university life and begin their academic year with confidence and strong bonds with their peers.

At the heart of this transformation is a vast infrastructure modernisation programme, made possible by significant investments from the federal and provincial governments. Major funding under the Canada-ß÷ßäÉçÇø Minority Language Education Agreement had previously enabled the replacement of essential elements such as the electrical vault and heating system throughout the campus, ensuring a more reliable and energy-efficient learning and working environment.

The vitality of Campus Saint-Jean depends in part on the excellence of its faculty. In an effort to ensure stability and recognize the contribution of its teachers, the campus has undertaken to convert the majority of multi-year contracts to permanent (‘career’) positions. This initiative offers greater job security and demonstrates the institution's commitment to retaining talent and investing in long-term excellence.

The arrival of new faculty members, such as Gillian Robinson in education, whose work focuses on anti-oppressive and anti-colonial education, reflects this desire to strengthen existing teams and explore new fields of research relevant to today's society. In addition, recent appointments to tenure-track positions in various fields such as biology, science education, and studies on the Global South and French-speaking sub-Saharan Africa confirm this commitment to the sustainability and development of excellence in research and teaching on campus.

To support this important development of the Campus, the administrative team has also been expanded, with new positions within the Office of Practice and External Relations. Positions in international navigation and admissions, funded in part by IRCC, have also been created.
This synergy between infrastructure modernisation, programme innovation and a firm commitment to its teaching and administrative staff positions Campus Saint-Jean as a leader in French-language post-secondary education in Canada. This profound transformation promises a bright future for the Francophone community in ß÷ßäÉçÇø and Western Canada.